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Recreation
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California's 2016 general spring wild turkey hunting season will open statewide on March 26 and extend through May 1, with an extended archery season May 2 through May 15.
Hunters who have a current junior hunting license may also hunt the weekend before the opener, March 19 to 20, and after the general season, May 2 through May 15, using shotguns or any other legal method of take.
Shooting hours for wild turkeys are from 30 minutes before sunrise to 5 p.m.
Both a hunting license and upland game bird validation are required, although a validation is not required for hunters with junior licenses.
The bag limit is one bearded turkey per day and no more than a total of three turkeys during all seasons combined (general, archery and junior).
Hunters strive to be stealthy and frequently wear head-to-toe camouflage due to the keen eyesight and good hearing possessed by wild turkeys.
In the springtime, the birds exhibit mating behavior and are more active than in the fall hunting season, making them susceptible to a strategic call made by a hunter.
"Spring is the most popular season for wild turkeys in California, in part because of the opportunity to call in a strutting gobbler," said Scott Gardner, coordinator of CDFW's Upland Game Program. "Hunters use calls and decoys, imitating female wild turkeys to call in the males."
The statewide wild turkey population is estimated at 240,000. CDFW estimates that approximately 36,000 hunters bag about 28,000 turkeys during the spring season each year statewide.
Wild turkeys are found in most counties in California, with the top 10 for spring harvest being Shasta, Butte, Placer, El Dorado, Tehama, Sonoma, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada and Lake counties.
Rio Grande turkeys are the most widespread subspecies of wild turkey in California, occupying much of the mixed oak and pine woodlands of the Coast Ranges, Central Valley, Sierra Nevada and Cascade foothills.
Merriam's turkeys are found in habitats dominated by pines in northeastern California, but are also found in the Transverse Range in Kern County.
The eastern subspecies can be found in isolated pockets along the northern coast and eastern/Rio Grande hybrids inhabit areas along the south coast.
Many populations range on private land, but turkeys can also be found on public lands administered by CDFW, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
A list of state wildlife areas and ecological reserves can be found on the CDFW Web site.
Upland game hunters are reminded that as of July 1, 2015, nonlead ammunition is required when hunting on these properties. For more information please visit CDFW's nonlead ammunition page.
For more general information, hunters can visit the Upland Game Bird Hunting Web page.
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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is reminding sturgeon anglers to return their 2015 sturgeon fishing report cards as required by law.
Although the deadline to report their catch was Jan. 31, so far only about 13,000 (or 27 percent) of the 48,338 report cards sold have been returned.
The sport fishing regulations require that all sturgeon anglers return their report cards, even those who did not encounter sturgeon and who did not fish for white sturgeon.
Without the data gleaned from the roughly 35,000 late report cards, CDFW's scientific understanding of the white sturgeon and green sturgeon populations is incomplete. This makes it harder for scientists to assess the white sturgeon population and to document accidental catch of the threatened green sturgeon.
Addressing the uncertainty could mean new harvest restrictions and certainly means more expense.
“Anglers who return their report cards are providing very good data that is otherwise unavailable. They are also helping to protect the white sturgeon fishery and rebuild both sturgeon populations,” said Marty Gingras, CDFW Sturgeon Program Manager. “Anglers who do not return report cards – especially the many thousands of avid sturgeon anglers – are complicating those efforts. We're asking anglers to send the information to us now, even though the deadline has passed.”
Anglers can return the overdue report cards by mail to the address printed on the card or – until April 1 – use the CDFW Web site at www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/fishing#758846-harvest-reporting .
In continuing efforts to both encourage anglers to return their 2015 Sturgeon Fishing Report Cards as required by law and to understand more about the missing data, CDFW used the Automated License Data System and a scientific phone survey to contact more than 6,000 avid sturgeon anglers during the last few months.
The phone survey showed that many avid sturgeon anglers are choosing not to (rather than forgetting to) return their report cards and that substantial catch data is being withheld. Both reasons were previously considered plausible but had never before been quantified.
White sturgeon and green sturgeon are anadromous, meaning they move from the salt and brackish water to spawn in freshwater.
They are both native California species and can live to be more than 100 years old. California's sturgeon populations were substantially reduced by commercial fishing in the 19th century and the recreational and commercial sturgeon fisheries were (with minor exceptions) closed from 1901 through 1953.
Only recreational fishing for sturgeon has been allowed since 1954, and that fishery has become increasingly restricted over time in an effort to rebuild the populations and protect the fishery. Green sturgeon is a threatened species and may not be fished for or harvested.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Clear Lake/Kelseyville combined high school swim team battled the elements on Thursday to compete against the Willits High swim team.
Both the girls and the boys won every race – handily scoring the most overall points – making both teams 2-0 in league competition.
“The success of this team lies with the dedication of the year-round swimmers and the tenacity of the new swimmers,” said head Coach Agustin Merodio. “Our year-round club swimmers are earning the first and second place finishes but our new swimmers are placing high in the ranks and scoring points for the team as well. We have a lot of talent in the water.”
Earning first place victories for the girls were Shannon Fronsman in the 100 Breaststroke, Lauren Rudnick in the 500 Free and 100 Fly, Nikki Hanson in the 200 Free and 100 Back, Kaylie Williams in the 100 Free and 50 Free, and Emma Larson in the 200 Individual Medley.
For the boys, first place victories to Charlie Adams in the 200 Free and 500 Free, Nick Dobusch in the 200 Individual Medley and the 100 Back, Max Madrzyk in the 50 Free and the 100 Free, Owen Lawler in the 100 Fly and 100 Breaststroke events.
The relay teams also were highly successful.
According to Merodio, “The boys have a relay team that may be breaking a lot of records this season. Another record fell on Thursday – the 200 Free Relay team made up of Diego Tejeda, Max Madrzyk, Nick Dobusch and Charlie Adams – beat another team record that was established in 2006. This team is one to watch throughout the season.”
Also taking first place honors was Rudnick, Hanson, Fronsman and Williams in the 200 Medley Relay; Rudnick, Hanson, Larson and Williams in the 200 Free Relay; Iris Vasquez, Catherine Braider, Shannon Fronsman and Mikayla Parrott in the 400 Free Relay; and Dobusch, Lawler, Adams and Madrzyk in the 200 Medley Relay.
Next up for the team is a league meet against Calistoga on Thursday.
The team reminds the community to come out and support them at Family Bingo Night on April 23 at the Lakeport Senior Center.
Doors open at 5 p.m. and the team is hoping to see everyone come out for this fun event.
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WILLITS, Calif. – On Tuesday, March 8, Terrace Middle School sent 16 wrestlers – eight boys and eight girls – to compete in the Baechtel Grove Middle School Wrestling Tournament.
The Vikings won 12 total medals – six golds, four silvers and two bronze medals.
Gold medal winners
Donald Mingo went 4-0 with four pins to win his gold medal.
“He has really stepped up, had some nice shots and put the pressure to his opponents,” said Coach Rick Pyorre.
Frank Weiler went 3-0 with two pins and close battle to take first place.
In the girls' division, Mavis Pyorre went 4-0 to take first place with four pins, including one against a girls middle school state fifth placer from last year.
This was also her birthday and the entire gym sang to her during the medal ceremony. Mavis and her said, “Thank you, it was much appreciated!”
Ashley Vasquez went 3-0 with two pins to win her gold medal
Teagan Miller went 2-0, with two pins for her first place medal.
Carlie Green had one pin and another couple close battles to win her gold medal.
Silver medalists
Elijah Alvarez was 3-1 with two pins to win his silver medal.
Sterling Wong had one pin to take his second place medal.
Cheyenne Hayden won her silver medal that included a major decision against one of her opponents.
Merari Alvarez also won a second place medal, with some close battles along the way including and overtime match.
Bronze medalists
Jesse Lewis had one pin on his way to win his bronze medal.
Enzo Torres won his match by decision and had couple other close exciting matches to take his third place medal.
Also wrestling for the Vikings was Dominic Legendre, Raymond Gonzales-Shoaf, Mackenzie Markham and Delia Shirley.
“Everyone gave it their all, kept fighting and no one quit, that’s all I can ask,” said Head Coach Steve Fisher.