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PROTECT HUNTING
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| "The unified and organized campaign that the formation of this Alliance offers is critical if we are to stop the further erosion of what we value as sportsmen and women." |
Phil Martinelli,
Past State President,
National Wild Turkey Federation |
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| Fish and Game Commission |
Commission Adopts 2010/2011 Upland Game Regulations
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The California Fish and Game Commission voted 4-0 on their August 18th, 2010 teleconference call to approve a 2010/2011 upland game regulatory package which includes season and bag limits for pheasants, quail, chukar, turkey, doves and other upland game birds.
Seasons and bag limits for most upland species remain unchanged from last year -- with the notable exception of sage grouse. Earlier this year, under pressure from the Audubon Society and other enviromental groups, the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) proposed to close the sage grouse season statewide. Aware that the best available science showed that sage grouse populations were at or above their ten-year averages in three of the four zones, the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA) met with DFG to discuss the data and press them to reconsider their recommendation. Following our meeting and some additional research, DFG revised their recommendation to allow continued hunting in three zones, closing only the Central Lassen zone this fall.
With all areas of concern fully addressed, COHA was pleased to testify on the conference call in strong support of the DFG's proposed 2010/2011 upland game package - providing the only comments in support of Department's recommendations.
For a complete summary of the 2010/2011 upland game hunting seasons and daily bag limits visit the Department of Fish Game website. |
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Commission Adopts Liberal 2010/2011 Waterfowl Regulations
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With waterfowl numbers for many species at or above their long-term averages, the California Fish and Game Commission voted 4-0 on their August 18th, 2010 teleconference call to approve a 2010/2011 waterfowl hunting regulatory package that offers hunters liberal season lengths and bag limits in California again this fall. The California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA) was pleased to testify on the call in strong support of the package, which was also recommended to the Commission by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG).
Of particular note, for the first, time hunters will enjoy an early Canada goose season within the Balance of the State Zone (excluding Humboldt and Del Norte Counties) this October. With “local” Canada goose populations exploding and large flocks of birds wearing out their welcome in parks, golf courses, around airports and in other urban venues, COHA and California Waterfowl proposed the new early season for honkers to the Department of Fish and Game earlier this year. The early season will begin the first Saturday of October (October 2nd) and run for five consecutive days, through October 6th. The timing of the five day season was carefully selected in order to not conflict with the Northeast Zone (NE) opener or the Junior NE Zone hunt.
The 2010/2011 regulations also again allow for a pintail limit of two birds – liberalization that had been actively sought by COHA, DFG and the California Waterfowl Association (CWA) after years of unreasonably restrictive pintail regulations.
The liberal regulations approved by the Commission on their August teleconference call meeting are the culmination of months of hard work by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), DFG and others. In late July, following months of waterfowl surveys, habitat analysis and other data gathering, the USFWS provided the Flyways and states with a “federal framework” (or regulatory sideboards) within which the Commission must make the final determination on the season length and daily bag limit regulations for the five separate waterfowl zones throughout the state.
Recognizing that it is in the best interest of the “waterfowl community” to bring forth unified support of the recommendations to the Commission, COHA also works closely with DFG and CWA in the months and weeks leading up to the annual August Commission adoption meeting to build consensus. These efforts include meeting with the CWA Regulations and Traditions Committee – comprised of “unattached/refuge” hunters and duck club shooters from around the state – to discuss current waterfowl population status and to obtain their thoughts, preferences and guidance in identifying individual recommendations for each zone.
Because the federal framework directly impacts the annual state regulatory package that the Commission can consider, COHA also works closely with CWA and DFG at the federal level to ensure that the “models” utilized to arrive at the annual frameworks brought forth to the Pacific Flyway include the most current biological considerations and data. Although these models are, in theory, to be based solely on science, the fact is that the final determination of how they are assembled and applied is based on politics. Hence, having COHA’s political muscle combined with the biological expertise of the USFWS, DFG and CWA at the federal level is critical and effective. Past successes of this “bio/political” partnership on the federal front include helping with the incorporation of western mallard populations into the basic model and the inclusion of a “compensatory component” into the Pintail Model – an important element in the liberalization to a two bird daily pintail bag in the Pacific Flyway during the upcoming 2010/2011 season.
The goal of this close coordination on both the state and federal fronts is to provide the joint biological and political strength to ensure that California’s waterfowl hunters are provided with the maximum scientifically justifiable waterfowl hunting opportunity each year.
For the complete regulations by zone visit the California Waterfowl website. |
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COHA Weighs in on 2010-2012 Mammal Regulations
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At the early February 2010 meeting of the California Fish and Game Commission, the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) unveiled their proposed mammal hunting regulations for 2010 through 2012. While the recommendations for deer, elk and other mammals were of little relative concern, the Department’s proposed bear regulations were met with intense opposition from several animal rights groups – led by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). At center stage was the DFG proposals that consider increasing the statewide annual bear harvest to 2,500 animals, would allow Houndsmen to use GPS to locate their lost dogs, and the opening of the season in San Luis Obispo County and a handful of other areas for the first time. With bear populations at all-time highs (4 times what they were in the 1980’s), and reports of human/bear conflict at record levels, DFG believes that the increase in bear quota is not only fully warranted, it is also necessary.
The California Fish and Game Commission, which took public testimony on the proposed mammal regulations for the first time at the February 2010 meeting, took additional public testimony at their March 3rd meeting in Ontario, California. Fully aware of the scientific need to manage these burgeoning populations, COHA was pleased to provide testimony in full support of DFG's biologically based proposals at both Commission meetings. COHA was joined at the podium by representatives from COHA member organization the California Houndsmen for Conservation (CHC).
COHA will provide testimony for the third and final time on this regulations package at the Commission's April 8th public meeting in Monterey. The Commission will vote on adoption of the final approved regulatory package via teleconference on April 21, 2010. |
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California Fish and Game Commission Agenda April 2010 |
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Commission Receives Petition to Ban Most Hunting in the Mojave National Preserve
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A petition was recently filed with the California Fish and Game Commission by the Center for Biological Diversity and other environmental groups to revise rules governing hunting within the Mojave National Preserve. The petition seeks to place several new prohibitions on hunting, ostensibly to protect populations of desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) which are listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act, by amending Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR). These proposed prohibitions include:
• A ban on the hunting of a variety of game species, nongame species and furbearers, including cottontail rabbits, jackrabbits, bobcats, coyotes, gray fox and badgers.
• A ban on all hunting from February 1st through August 30th, with the exception of limited hunting for bighorn sheep in February.
• A ban on the use of dogs for hunting any mammal.
• A ban on the use of spotlights for hunting furbearers and nongame species.
COHA has submitted a letter to the Commission strongly opposing the petition, and has asked Commission members to reject the petition in it’s entirely. COHA's letter points out that these additional proposed restrictions are unnecessary, would not aid in the recovery of desert tortoise populations, and would adversely affect local hunting opportunity for the public. In particular, COHA's letter notes that no scientific data or peer reviewed studies are cited in the petition which specifically link hunting or the use of hunting dogs with declining populations of desert tortoise.
COHA supplemented their written comments by also providing verbal testimony to the Commission regarding the petition at their February 2010 meeting in Sacramento. Following testimony from COHA and others, the Commission directed the Department of Fish and Game to treat the petition as they would any other public input and/or request to the Commission - in essence tabling the topic until further notice. |
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COHA Letter |
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Commission Denies Proposal to Expand Lead Ban
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At their August 2009 meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission voted 4-1 not to expand the ban on the use of lead ammunition to the taking of small and migratory upland game in the range of the California condor. The California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA) joined the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), California Rifle and Pistol Association and the NRA in testifying against the proposed expansion at the hearing, noting that the best available science simply does not warrant such a move. The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) also recommended against an expansion of the lead ban. The Commission’s negative vote on the expansion proposal maintains the ability of hunters to use traditional lead ammunition for small and upland game in the range of the condor.
Currently, non-toxic loads are required for the hunting of big game within the range of the condor pursuant to the passage of AB 821 in 2007 and the promulgation of detailed Commission regulations which followed the passage of the measure. DFG was required to offer the expansion of the ban to small and upland game as an “alternative” within the 2009 season regulatory package, and the Commission had to consider the alternative, pursuant to the recent settlement of a long-standing lawsuit filed by several environmental organizations. For the past several months, COHA has been closely monitoring the DFG analysis of this possible regulation change and working with DFG and our partners to ensure that the final regulation adopted by the Commission was based purely on science, and not the emotions surrounding the general lead bullet debate.
In their testimony, COHA noted that – in contrast to big game – the carcasses of small and upland game are removed from the field in their entirety, leaving no gut piles or other body parts for condors to feed upon. Further, COHA noted that, according to DFG records, there is no single documented incident of a condor feeding on small or upland game. Finally, COHA pointed out that Commission adoption of a ban on lead ammunition for the hunting of small and upland game was not required in the state legislation (AB 821) that mandated the use of non-toxic loads for big game, nor was it required by the recent lawsuit settlement.
When the original lead ban legislation, AB 2123, was first being considered in the California State Legislature in 2006, COHA’s initial opposition convinced the bill’s author, Assembly Member Pedro Nava, to exclude small and upland game from the bill. A short time later, COHA played a key role in killing AB 2123 in committee. |
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Legal Resources for Hunters
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| Hunting near urban areas and on navigable waters can often be challenging in California because of anti-hunting sentiment and/or ignorance of the law, even amongst seasoned law enforcement officers. However, the California Constitution does provide a reasonable level of protection for hunters in these areas when hunting can be undertaken safely under state laws and regulations. Please see the following State Attorney General Opinions for a detailed legal analysis on these subjects. |
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Hunting Near Urban Areas/Within City Limits |
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Hunting Naviable Flood Waters |
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