Recreation

Details

Written by: Cal Fire

Published: 04 June 2020

FORT BRAGG, Calif. – Cal Fire’s Mendocino Unit will open seasonal roads and closed roads within the Jackson Demonstration State Forest on Wednesday, June 10, for the dry period.

Motorists are advised that it is always unlawful to operate unlicensed vehicles – including off-road vehicles with or without green stickers – on state forest roads.

Off-road travel with motorized vehicles is not permitted on the state forest. Please do not drive on roads that are wet and have soft surfaces, even if they are formally open.

Other closed roads may still be used for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding if outside of an active timber operation area.

Each year, seasonal openings/closures occur, please refer to the website or contact the office for current information.

The Cal Fire Jackson Demonstration State Forest office is located at 802 N. Main St. in Fort Bragg, telephone 707-964-5674. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed from noon to 1 p.m. weekdays.

Multiple uses that benefit the public, the economy and natural resources are what our demonstration forests are all about.

Details

Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Published: 27 May 2020

As requested by county officials, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham is lifting the delay of the trout opener in Inyo County.

Beginning May 28, trout season will be open in the county.

The trout season was originally scheduled to open in Inyo County on April 25.

In April, CDFW had discussions with county leadership regarding trout fishing, which typically draws a high tourism influx to the area.

Local officials were concerned about the transmission of COVID-19 and its potential to put a strain on their healthcare systems.

Further, all nonessential businesses including lodging, dining and camping options were closed in compliance with state and local public health officers' orders.

Thus, CDFW, in consultation with Fish and Game Commission President Eric Sklar, delayed the opener through May 31.

However, in a letter on Tuesday, Inyo County officials requested that CDFW end the delay before May 31, indicating that the county received approval from the California Department of Public Health to move into the Governor's Phase Two, Stage Two Resilience Roadmap and would begin discussions of reopening.

Though county officials requested the opening on May 27, CDFW required one additional day for consultation and processing this request, thus the delay in Inyo County will expire at midnight on May 27 and fishing can resume on May 28.

This decision does not affect the trout season in any other county.

CDFW reminds anglers to abide by all state and local health guidelines regarding non-essential travel and physical distancing. Staying home in order to stay healthy is still the best way to keep yourself and others safe.

Anglers are also advised to check with local authorities on the status of access points as many site closures and access restrictions exist and may change daily.

Pursuant to the emergency regulation approved by the Commission, CDFW will provide accurate information for the angling public at this website or by phone at 916-445-7600.

Details

Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Published: 25 May 2020

What's going on with these scruffy deer?

Question: I photographed these two scruffy looking deer near my home in Mariposa. Are the disheveled, ratty hides caused by ticks and irritation? (Ralph)

Answer: We showed your photos to California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Nathan Graveline, who has worked with deer populations for over a decade.

He says there are several possible explanations for the way the deer look. Their scruffiness could simply be due to the time of year. In late spring, deer are shedding their winter coats, which are several months old and can start to look tattered.

Other possibilities include old age, a copper deficiency or parasitic lice (or an overabundance of other external parasites).

But Graveline says his best guess is that the deer are being fed by locals. The deer in the front looks thin and drawn-in around the belly, which we often see in suburban deer that are being fed by residents.

The deer digestive system can't handle consumption of large amounts of grain. When a deer eats too much grain, its rumen (a chamber in its stomach) produces excessive amounts of acid, which can lead to ruminal acidosis, a disease that leads to declining health or even death.

This is just one reason why feeding big game mammals is a bad idea – it's also against the law, as per California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 14, section 251.3.

Fishing with cod liver oil?

Question: I've seen people dip their bait in cod liver oil to catch trout in reservoirs. Is cod liver oil legal to use as a fish attractant? (Patrick)

Answer: Since cod liver oil is a fish oil, you should be fine using it to catch trout in reservoirs. There are also many commercially available attractants sold in sporting goods stores that you can use.

However, be mindful that there is a prohibition against putting any substance or material in the water that is deleterious to fish and/or wildlife, per Fish and Game Code, section 5650. You'll want to make sure there are no additional ingredients in the cod liver oil that could be harmful. We see this issue come up when people use petroleum-based products like WD-40 as an attractant to catch fish. The statute specifically prohibits petroleum-based products, so using WD-40 is illegal.

Applying for the big game drawing as a nonresident

Question: I have acquired 16 preference points for elk in California's Big Game Drawing over the years. Last year, I moved to Oregon and now I'm thinking of applying for a California elk hunt as a nonresident.

How does that work? Are nonresidents entered into the same pool as residents for the drawing of elk tags? Can a resident and nonresident apply together on the same party application? (Anthony)

Answer: Both California residents and nonresidents compete in the same pool for elk tags in California's annual Big Game Drawing.

The good news is that you keep all the elk preference points you acquired over the years, improving your chances of drawing a tag. The bad news for you is that nonresidents collectively are limited to one elk tag per year in the entire drawing, which makes the odds of drawing an elk tag pretty difficult. Nonresidents may not apply as a party. (CCR Title 14, section 708.11(b))

Other California elk hunting options you may want to consider are those hunts offered through CDFW's SHARE program, which stands for Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement. These are public elk hunts that take place on private property through participating landowners and awarded via a separate lottery.

These hunts are open to both California residents and nonresidents with no quotas or limits on nonresidents. Applications for these hunts go on sale June 16, 2020, after the Big Game Drawing results are announced.

So, if you strike out in the Big Game Drawing, the SHARE hunts are additional elk hunting opportunities you can pursue. Preference points do not apply and are not gained or lost in SHARE hunts.

Utilizing a lifetime license

Question: I'm considering purchasing a California lifetime fishing license. My family may move out of California. If I too decide to move out of state, will I be able to utilize my fishing license? (Mike)

Answer: Good news! If you move out of California, your lifetime fishing license will still be valid. But make sure to get the license before you move out of state, as you must be a California resident at the time of purchase.

If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . While they cannot answer every question, they will answer a few in each column.