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Recreation
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Moving wing waterfowl decoys
Question: With waterfowl season approaching, I was wondering if you could clarify Regulation 507 regarding duck decoys that move?
That regulation specifies moving wings or blades are prohibited until after Nov. 30, but I cannot find a prohibition regarding motor powered decoys that simulate swimming (clamp on propeller), or water movement to simulate feeding (magnate type), or battery powered jerk string.
In short, are ONLY moving wing decoys prohibited during the first six weeks of the season? (James Scott, Oakley)
Answer: The prohibition is only for electronically powered spinning wing, or spinning wing simulated devices.
There are no prohibitions to any other electronic devices which flap wings, allow the decoy to swim, feed, or cause movement other than the spinning of a wing or wing simulated device.
How to pay an old ticket?
Question: One of my friends received a ticket about five years ago for abalone taken from the Fort Ross area. Afterwards he moved out of state.
He recently moved back to California though and would now like to pay his ticket but he does not have any information.
How should he go about paying it? How can he find out the amount owed and where should he send payment? Thanks for any help. (James Y.)
Answer: If your friend left the state without paying the fine for the ticket he received, then the court probably issued an arrest warrant for him.
Fort Ross is in Sonoma County, so he should contact Sonoma County Superior Court as soon as possible.
If contacted by law enforcement prior to doing this and it is determined there is an active warrant, your friend will be cited or arrested for not taking care of his ticket.
Game wardens also lead-free in condor zone?
Question: Does a Fish and Wildlife officer’s pistol that he carries in the field contain lead-free ammunition?
I ask because if I'm in the woods in the lead-free zone under a carry concealed weapon permit (CCW) and just camping, I must run lead-free, correct? The law should be consistent for everyone. (Dale G.)
Answer: No, the lead ban pertains to hunters.
It is illegal to use, or possess with a firearm capable of firing, any projectile containing more than 1 percent lead by weight while taking or attempting to take big game or nongame within the condor range. This includes centerfire as well as black powder/muzzleloader and rimfire projectiles.
Since wildlife officers are not hunting while on duty, their firearms may contain lead ammunition in the condor range.
Any people who are not taking or attempting to take wildlife, including CCW holders, may use or possess lead ammunition.
Woodpeckers are driving me crazy!
Question: I’ve got a bunch of woodpeckers that keep pecking at my house and they are driving me crazy!
Can I use a pellet gun to haze them and chase them off? Thanks. (Alan H., Ukiah)
Answer: No, woodpeckers are a nongame species so you will have to find a non-lethal method to haze them away from your house.
You could try hanging shiny mylar tape like they use in orchards to scare the birds away from the fruit or try posting an owl decoy. You might also try covering the wood with metal mesh hardware cloth.
This is a USFWS question and they do have a permit process for a number of species under federal depredation provisions unless designated a fully protected bird.
For additional tips and information, please check with the University of California Integrated Pest Management Program online at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/menu.house.html#VERT .
Deployed gear through MPAs
Question: Is it legal to travel through a State Marine Reserve (SMR) on a kayak with fish and non-deployed fishing gear on board?
Does "fishing gear deployed" mean having a hook and line in the water? Or does it go so far as to require fishing hooks be removed from any fishing line on board a kayak?
The term "deployed" is not defined in the regulations and I am wondering how it is enforced by the officers. (Brian M.)
Answer: Yes, you may travel through a state marine reserve with catch on board as long as no fishing gear is deployed in the water (per Section 632(a)(8) on pg. 52 of the current Ocean Sport Fishing regulations booklet).
Deployed means that the gear (hook and line) is in the water.
If you wish to remove all doubt, you could remove the hooks, but that is not required by law.
Just make sure your gear is out of the water and secured before transiting a state marine reserve, and you will be abiding by the law.
Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at
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- Written by: Editor
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) projects that Klamath River anglers will have met their upper Klamath River catch quota of 702 adult fall-run Chinook salmon above the Highway 96 bridge by sundown on Friday, Oct. 10.
Starting Saturday, Oct. 11, anglers may still fish but can no longer keep adult Chinook salmon over 22 inches.
They may still keep a daily bag of three Chinook salmon under 22 inches in the Klamath River above the Highway 96 bridge at Weitchepec.
The fall-run Chinook salmon quotas on the Trinity River are 681 adult Chinook salmon from the confluence with the Klamath River up to Cedar flat and 681 adult Chinook from Cedar Flat up to the Old Lewiston Bridge.
These sub-area quotas have not been met yet, and anglers may retain one adult Chinook salmon as part of their three fish daily bag limit.
CDFW reminds anglers that a salmon report card is required when fishing for Chinook salmon in anadromous portions of the Klamath basin.
Steelhead fishing remains open, with a daily bag of two hatchery steelhead or trout and possession limit of four hatchery steelhead or trout.
Hatchery steelhead or trout are defined as fish showing a healed adipose fin clip (the adipose fin is absent). Anglers are also required to possess a steelhead report card when fishing for steelhead.
Anglers may keep track of the status of open and closed sections of the Klamath and Trinity rivers by calling 800-564-6479.
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- Written by: Editor
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Advanced Hunter Education Program is sponsoring a Wilderness First Aid Clinic on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area.
The clinic’s goal is to provide outdoor enthusiasts and individuals hunting in remote locations with the knowledge, skills and ability to make sound decisions in wilderness emergency situations.
Taught by Alex Van, a 30-year veteran firefighter, paramedic and world traveler, this clinic will include hands-on training in the treatment of cuts, broken bones, burns and gunshot wounds, as well as addressing first aid kits and basic survival equipment.
The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $45 for adults. Youths 16 years and younger are free but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
CDFW’s Advanced Hunter Education Program will provide all necessary class equipment.
Space is limited, so participants are asked to preregister online at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/advanced/index.aspx .
After registering, participants will receive an e-mail with a map to the facility and a list of items to bring.
Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area is located 3 miles east of Davis – three miles west of West Sacramento – off Interstate 80.
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- Written by: Editor
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Redbud Audubon October field trip will be a bird walk at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Susanne Scholz, who has more than 10 years of experience leading walks at Anderson Marsh, will lead this outing identifying songbirds, wildfowl, wildlife and plant life.
The walk will begin at 9 a.m. and will last for two hours.
It is a fairly easy walk, but wear good shoes. Bring water, snack, and your binoculars.
Meet at the main parking lot at 9 a.m.
The fee to park is $4 per car or you may park on the Anderson Marsh Parkway.