Recreation

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Written by: Lake County News Reports

Published: 22 December 2017

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Kelseyville High School’s boys and girls wrestling squads traveled to Oregon last week to compete in a tournament.

The wrestlers took part in the Winter Bash in Grants Pas on Dec. 15 and 16.

Coach Adam Garcia said the results were as follows.

Boys Varsity

– Alex Garcia, third place, 4-1, 152 pounds.
– Javante Gregoire, 3-2, fifth place, 220 pounds.
– Mike Beverlin, 1-2 DNP, 126 pounds.

Boys JV

– Jacob Jensen, 2-2 DNP, 132 pounds.
– Jayto Bonson, 3-2 DNP, 138 pounds.
– Kris Perkins, 1-2 DNP, 152 pounds.
– Tyler Stottsberry, 2-2, fifth place, 285 pounds.

Lady Knights

– Kylie Marlin-Ambriz, 2-0, first place, 101 pounds.
– Bailey Huggins, 4-0, first place, 126 pounds.
– Brianna Thomas, 3-1, second place, 126 pounds (loss to Huggins in the finals).
– Elisa Jaquez, 3-2, sixth place, 135 pounds.
– Melanie Guerrero, 3-2, fifth place, 145 pounds.
– Vanessa Gonzalez, 3-1, third place, 145 pounds.
– Fernanda Mosqueda, 0-2 DNP, 126 pounds.

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Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Published: 17 December 2017

Why do I need to report the number of days I hunted?

Question: Why does the deer harvest report questionnaire ask about the number of days spent hunting? Why is this question important? What is the purpose of this information? (A.J.)

Answer: Your timing is perfect, as the deer tag reporting deadline of Jan. 31 is fast approaching.

Deer tag reporting is now mandatory for all deer tag holders, successful or not. Successful deer tag holders are required to report their deer within 30 days of take or by Jan. 31, whichever date is first.

Unsuccessful deer tag holders, whether they hunted or not, are required to report no harvest by Jan. 31 (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 708.5).

Among the information deer tag holders must provide when reporting their tags is the number of days they spent hunting deer. This question gives our deer biologists some insight into the level of effort and a rough indication of population trends.

For example, if the level of effort – or number of days spent hunting deer – keeps increasing for both successful and unsuccessful hunters, it could mean deer populations are declining.

And the opposite holds true, too. If the number of days successful deer hunters spend in the field decreases over time, it could mean populations in a particular deer hunting zone are on the increase.

We want to thank you, A.J., for reporting your deer tag. A record high 84 percent of deer tag holders submitted harvest report for 2016. That information has provided our deer biologists with more accurate and precise harvest numbers than they've ever had.

It's an additional data tool in our biologists' tool box – combined with traditional deer surveys and other field work – that is critical for calculating deer tag quotas for the next year and conserving our deer populations for the future.

Landing net requirements

Question: I know that according to the fishing regulations, "no person shall take finfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without having a landing net in possession or available for immediate use to assist in landing undersize fish of species having minimum size limits; the opening of any such landing net shall be not less than eighteen inches in diameter."

But I have several questions about the 18 inch diameter landing net requirement.

First, it is my understanding that when fishing from a kayak, one is required to have a landing net that meets this requirement. However, I have also heard that if there is a group of kayakers fishing together, as long as one member of the party has a net, the requirement is also met for the members of the party. Is that true?

Second, folding landing nets are becoming more common and are convenient when space is limited. Since the shape of the "hoop" tends to be a triangle, what is the equivalent way to determine that nets of this design will meet the "not less than eighteen inches in diameter" requirement? (KC)

Answer: The regulation you referenced in your question comes from the California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 28.65(d), which requires people fishing from a kayak or other floating device to have landing nets in possession and available for "immediate use" to facilitate release of a fish inadvertently caught that is unlawful to take.

Yes, you should have one in your possession in your kayak. A landing net on another kayak adjacent to you is most likely not "immediately" available unless the kayaks are physically tied together or constantly no less than one arm's length from the other.

For a triangular shaped landing net, the inside diameter should be no less than 18 inches at any point. You should be able to take a circular hoop that is no less than 18 inches and have it pass through the entire opening of the triangular landing net.

The circular hoop must be laid flat along the same plane as the triangle (picture a circle small enough to fit inside a triangle on a piece of paper).

Tracking game onto State Parks property

Question: Just a quick question about tracking a deer or hog. If we're hunting on private property, with permission of course, and an animal is wounded and its trail leads into a state park that borders the private property, what do we do? Contact the ranger of that park or just go in and retrieve it? I know we can't have weapons in state parks. (Dean)

Answer: The best thing to do in this situation would be to contact your local wildlife officer and ask them to help facilitate the retrieval of the animal.

When archery hunting, it is recommended to hunt farther from property boundaries to avoid this type of problem as animals taken with archery equipment usually travel farther after a lethal wound than those shot with a rifle.

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

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Written by: Editor

Published: 16 December 2017

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is offering a special apprentice youth waterfowl hunt at the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in Solano County on Wednesday, Dec. 27 – a rare, midweek hunt for young hunters during their holiday break from school.

The 12 blinds in the Crescent Unit of the wildlife area will be closed and available only to junior hunting license holders (17 and younger) and their adult chaperones.

An adult chaperone (18 or older) is required to accompany and supervise junior apprentice hunters.

The adult may hunt with the junior hunter and must possess the required 2017-18 California hunting license, the California Duck Validation, Federal Duck Stamp and the free Harvest Information Program (HIP) validation. Junior license holders 16 and older must have a Federal Duck Stamp and the free HIP validation to hunt waterfowl.

All available blinds can accommodate two people - the junior license holder and his or her adult chaperone. Nontoxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required for waterfowl hunting. A minimum of 12 duck decoys are required at all blind sites and chest waders are highly recommended.

To receive a reservation, please call the Grizzly Island headquarters at 707-425-3828.

Applicants will need to provide the following information: Junior licensed hunter's name, junior hunting license number, e-mail address, phone number and name of chaperone.

Reservations will be issued to applicants who call on a first-come, first-served basis and others will be placed on a waiting list. There will be 12 reservations issued for the Dec. 27 hunt date.

The Grizzly Island Wildlife Area will also accept junior hunters on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the hunt to use the free roam areas and to fill any no-shows from the reservations.

As a reminder, all chaperones who wish to hunt must have either a Type A One-Day Pass, Type A Two-Day Pass or Type A Season Pass, and these must be purchased prior to arriving at the check station through either a License Agent or online at www.wildlife.ca.gov (allow two weeks' mailing time if ordering online).

West Family Unit

CDFW would also like to encourage use of the West Family Unit, which is a spaced blind unit open during the waterfowl season reserved exclusively for junior license holders.

Hunt days are Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the open season. An adult chaperone is required. Five double blinds, including one mobility-impaired blind and one three-person blind is available.

The unit is north of Benicia on Goodyear Road. From Highway 680 take the Marshview Road exit and turn right onto Goodyear Road from the off-ramp and the well-marked hunt area will be on the left.

Post-Season Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

The Grizzly Island Wildlife Area also will be open to junior hunting license holders and their non-hunting adult chaperones on Saturday and Sunday Feb. 3 and 4 during the state's Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days.

Junior hunting license holders can apply for reservations online through CDFW's Automated License Data System. Grizzly Island will also accept junior hunters on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the hunts.