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- Written by: Editor
Artists are invited to submit their original artwork to the 2015-2016 California Duck Stamp Art Contest. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will accept submissions from May 1 through June 3.
The contest is open to U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older as of March 4, 2015. Entrants need not reside in California.
The winning artwork will be reproduced on the 2015-2016 California Duck Stamp. The top submissions will also be showcased at the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association's art show in July.
The artwork must depict the species selected by the California Fish and Game Commission, which for the 2015-16 hunting season is the American green-winged teal.
The design is to be in full color and in the medium (or combination of mediums) of the artist's choosing, except that no photographic process, digital art, metallic paints or fluorescent paints may be used in the finished design.
Photographs, computer-generated art, art produced from a computer printer or other computer/mechanical output device (air brush method excepted) are not eligible to be entered into the contest and will be disqualified.
The design must be the contestant's original hand-drawn creation. The entry design may not be copied or duplicated from previously published art, including photographs, or from images in any format published on the Internet.
All entries must be accompanied by a completed participation agreement and entry form. These forms and the official rules are available online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Duck-Stamp/Contest .
Entries will be judged at a public event to be held in June. The judges' panel, which will consist of experts in the fields of ornithology, conservation, and art and printing, will choose first, second and third-place winners, and an honorable mention.
Since 1971, CDFW's annual contest has attracted top wildlife artists from around the country. All proceeds generated from stamp sales go directly to waterfowl conservation projects throughout California.
In past years, hunters were required to purchase and affix the stamp to their hunting license. Now California has moved to an automated licensing system and hunters are no longer required to carry the physical stamps in the field (proof of purchase prints directly onto the license).
However, CDFW will still produce the stamps, which can be requested by interested individuals at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/collectorstamps/ .
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- Written by: Editor
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The combined high school swim team, made up of 20 swimmers from Clear Lake High School and Kelseyville High School, competed in their first swim meet last week in the newly developed Coastal Mountain Conference.
Swimming with eight new swimmers to the team, four of whom are freshmen, the team came out strong with 20 first-place finishes out of 22 races.
“This was an extraordinary first meet for our swim team. I have never seen us start out with such strength,” according to Head Coach Agustin Merodio. “Our veteran swimmers mentored our new swimmers and everyone proved that, with enough practice, we can dominate in the water.”
Freshman Alberto Sturr was the most decorated new swimmer with two individual wins and two wins in the relay races.
Freshman Nikki Hanson raced in two winning relay teams and Freshmen Danielle Erickson and Mikayla Parrott both had second place finishes in relay events and individual events.
New to the team this year, Hayden Turner finished first in the 100 Freestyle, Ethan Smith raced with three winning relay teams, Sean Whitmire swam in a winning relay team and Hallie Holmes raced in two newly formed relay teams – finishing second in both races.
Veteran swimmers finishing first were Lauren Rudnick in the 500 Freestyle, Kaylie Williams in the 500 Freestyle, Liz Fricker in the 200 Freestyle and 100 Breaststroke, Shannon Fronsman in the 100 Butterfly, Amelia Tejeda in the 100 Freestyle, Paige LaVrar in the 100 Backstroke, Tasia Jardstrom swimming in the 400 Free Relay, Diego Tejeda in the 200 Individual Medley, and Owen Lawler in the 100 Butterfly and 100 Breaststroke.
Injured swimmers Tim Peterson and Max Madrzyk traveled with the team but were unable to compete due to leg injuries.
The high school swim team is swimming at Quail Run Fitness Center and has been practicing since the beginning of February.
“It was a rough start due to some technical issues but with the support of coaches and parents we were finally able to get in the water. I am incredibly thankful for the support we get from the community, school districts, parents and fans of this team – without their support we would not be in the water,” said team President Jennifer Hanson.
“We keep in touch with past swim team members who are now swimming at college and their continued successes make us more determined than ever to sustain this team for many years to come,” Hanson said.
The high school swim team and the Lake County Channel Cats will be hosting their eighth annual Family Bingo Night on April 11 at the Lakeport Senior Center.
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- Written by: Tami Cramer
SEASIDE, Calif. – Two months of practice got put to the test on Sunday, March 1, as the Clear Lake and Kelseyville High School Mountain Bike Teams competed in their first race of the season.
Approximately 667 riders in the NorCal Cycling League competed over the course of the two-day weekend at Fort Ord, a decommissioned US Army base turned National Monument just north of Monterey.
Conditions were close to perfect on Sunday due to rain showers the day before. Athletes competed on the five-mile course wrapping thru coastal oak, rolling grasslands and vernal pools.
The sandy soil proved well packed and smooth providing for fast conditions as the riders raced two to five laps, or 10 to 25 miles.
Experienced veteran riders proved to have the most success out of the 10 locals to compete.
Two Clear Lake High riders stood atop the podium at the awards ceremony helping to put CLHS in fifth place out of 31 teams in Division 2 of the NorCal North Conference.
Nathan Barnett, a CLHS senior racing in the highly competitive Varsity Category, placed second out of the 26 racing for five laps.
Barnett and another rider broke away from the main group creating a good-sized gap by working together. In their first lap, they set a new course record lap time of 17 minutes, 30 seconds.
Unfortunately near the end of the fourth lap, while Barnett was leading into a downhill, he shifted into a higher gear, “went over a breaking bump and my chain came off the front chain ring. I had to get off my bike to fix it and saw my opponent attack to create a gap on me. I tried to make up time but it just didn’t work out.”
Jeffrey Morton, a CLHS junior, placed fourth in the JV category out of 76, the largest field of the day.
Despite having mechanical problems as well, Morton was able to pull back up and gain a place by the end of his four-lap race.
Solano Dominguez, CLHS sophomore, placed seventh of 56 in the sophomore category.
Other racers of the day included Kelseyville High riders Craig Andre, Mike Pease, Jadon Lindsey (12 of 56 in JV) and Kia Kohler, and CLHS riders Gabe Wind, Taylor Buchholz and Zoë Cramer.
With race No. 1 complete, eyes were opened, new goals set, and sites are set on the March 14 race at Granite Bay State Park on Folsom Lake.
To learn more about the team and see more pictures, like them on Facebook at Lake County High School Mountain Bike Teams, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-High-School-Mountain-Bike-Teams/445252418916518 .
For further information about the NorCal Cycling League, visit www.norcalmtb.org .
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Collecting and returning tidepool animals
Question: I have two small daughters that are very much into marine life. I thought it would be exciting for them to catch small critters, fish, etc. and put them into an aquarium at home.
I figured they could then return the marine life back to the ocean every few weeks. I looked into this online and it appears that you need to obtain a permit to collect marine life in this fashion.
Do you think it is possible for me to obtain the proper permits in order to do this with my kids?
If so, do you have any idea how I would go about applying and the general costs? (Charles K.)
Answer: Unfortunately, as nice as this sounds, it is not legal for your daughters to do. Here are three reasons why:
1. First of all, they cannot transport any finfish from the ocean, period. Moving live finfish from freshwater or ocean waters is illegal.
2. Second, anything that is not legal to take with a California sport fishing license requires a scientific collecting permit and they wouldn’t qualify for one of these because they are issued only to scientists doing bona fide research or to schools or aquariums where the animals taken will be on display for the public to view.
3. Third, they can remove invertebrates that are legal to take with a sport fishing license (although if under 16 years old they do not need a license), but nothing can be returned alive to the ocean. If they take them, they need to keep them. This is because there’s always a possibility that fish or invertebrates may have picked up parasites or diseases when kept in private aquariums. We don’t want anything being introduced to fish and invertebrates in the wild.
The permit you are probably referring to is a Marine Aquaria Collector’s Permit which is intended to allow for certain species of fish and invertebrates to be collected for the aquarium industry.
Unfortunately, I think you will find it cost-prohibitive as it is a business license that costs more than $1,000.
For the time being, it would be best for your girls to stick with fish and invertebrates that they buy from licensed aquarists or stores that sell aquarium species legally.
They can, however, visit most tidepools and enjoy the fish and invertebrates in their natural environments … just don’t take them away from their homes.
Driving on a private road with a loaded gun in the vehicle?
Question: I know that it is not legal to have a loaded gun in a vehicle when on public roads and in public accessible areas, but what about when on privately owned property where all access is controlled via locked gates? (Scott H.)
Answer: You are correct that it is against the law to carry loaded guns in a vehicle when upon or along a public way (Fish and Game Code, section 2006 and Penal Code 25850).
When behind locked gates, however, there are no laws preventing this, although common sense and safety should preclude doing so.
Many of the hunting accidents we investigate are caused by people getting into or out of a vehicle with a loaded firearm.
Despite this allowance, it is still unlawful to shoot at any game bird or mammal from a motor vehicle, even when on private property (FGC section 3002.)
Cherry picking the best crabs
Question: I often see Dungeness crab fisherman holding onto crabs in excess of their limit while they continue crabbing.
Then after pulling all their pots, they cherry pick the best ones and throw back the extras. Is this legal?
Say for example I’m fishing alone and drop three pots. When I retrieve the pots, the first one contains 10 crabs, and I put them all in my fish box.
The second pot also has 10 crabs and I also put them all in the box. I pull the last pot, then sort through all the crab and throw back all but the biggest 10 before heading into the harbor.
This is how I would prefer to fish but don’t think it would be illegal. Am I correct? (Jesse)
Answer: What you describe is high-grading and is absolutely illegal. Recreational fishermen are limited to 10 Dungeness crabs onboard or in possession.
Every crab over the limit that is in the fisherman’s possession, even if just for a short time, could get them cited for possession of an overlimit.
Once a limit is in possession, all other crabs must be immediately returned to the water. If the fisherman keeps 10 legal-sized crabs from his first pot, all other crabs in any subsequent pots must be released.
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