Friday, 29 March 2024

Recreation

Can a hunter have two shotguns in a duck blind?

Question: Is it legal for one person to have two shotguns in a duck blind? (Bob G.)

Answer: Yes, but while it’s legal to have more than one shotgun in your blind, keep in mind there is a 25 shell limit on most public shooting areas (state and federal refuges).

Hunters often forget this and bring a box of shells for each gun they have but then find themselves in violation of the 25 shell limit.

Also required, each gun must be plugged and not capable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined, and lots of times nothing larger than 10 gauge shells are allowed in these areas.

For more information, please check the Upland Game Bird Regulations available at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/ .

Can I become a fishing guide if I have a citation on my record?

Question: I want to apply for a fishing guide’s license but am worried because I had a hunter trespass citation many years ago that was honestly unintentional.

It was a case of poor mapping and unmarked fence lines. I paid my fine and it never went any further.

This was 12 years ago and I have never had any other convictions for any sort of law breaking.

Does my single-hunter trespass ticket exclude me from applying for guide status in this state? I am seriously interested in teaching others to care for and respect our outdoor privileges and would love to apply for a guide’s license.

I don’t want to go through the process and pay all the costs though only to be denied at the time my application is reviewed.

Can you please tell me if my mistake from years ago will cause my application to be denied? (Doug M.)

Answer: Because your citation was 12 years ago, it was your only citation and you took care of the fines, you should not have a problem getting a guide’s license.

Applicants are evaluated mostly for recent activity (within five years), or repetitive activity. And for applicants who apply but are denied, any application fees are refunded.

How to accurately measure fish?

Question: What is the legal and proper way to measure a fish, particularly largemouth bass?

Is it with an open mouth, closed mouth, fanned tail or pinched tail?

I would appreciate some fish measuring guidelines to determine whether a catch is legal. Thank you. (Rick B.)

Answer: The first rule when measuring fish is to lay the fish flat on its side and always pinch the mouth closed.

All freshwater fish, including largemouth bass, are measured to total length. This is the longest straight-line distance from the tip of the head to the end of the longest lobe of the tail (California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 1.62).

The most accurate method is to place the fish’s snout against a perpendicular surface and then measure along the intersecting horizontal surface to the end of the tail.

Don’t measure using a flexible “tape” over the fish itself or you will be given a longer false reading.

All freshwater fish with a minimum size limit are measured this way.

On the ocean side, most saltwater fish with minimum size limits are measured to total length, but there are some that are measured to fork length instead (e.g. bonito, albacore, barracuda and yellowtail).

Fork length is the straight-line distance from the tip of the head to the center of the tail fin (CCR Title 14, Section 1.62).

So again, lay the fish flat on its side, pinch the mouth closed and take your measurement from the tip of the head to the center of the fork of the tail.

These are the only two measurements that you will need to know for the purposes of the regulations when measuring whole fish.

Giving pheasants away to other hunters to keep hunting?

Question: Once I shoot my limit of pheasants, can I give one of my birds to another hunter in the group and continue hunting? (Jerry)

Answer: No. Once you reach your bag limit you are finished hunting for the day.

You can give your birds away to other hunters but that does not then allow you to continue hunting that day.

Underwater lights when ocean fishing?

Question: Is it legal to use underwater attractor lights in ocean waters to attract fish to the boat? (John V.)

Answer: Yes. There are no prohibitions from using underwater attractor lights in ocean waters.

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Bikram Yoga Petaluma will host the 10th annual California Yoga Championship on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Lucchesi Community Center.

Yoga students from all over the state will perform a very challenging and inspirational routine of yoga positions.

Three groups of yoga athletes will compete: youth (ages 11-17), adults and senior (ages 55+).

People will be of all ages, shapes and sizes. Many will be competing for the first time, showing that yoga is for everyone.

More than 100 yoga studios throughout California are sponsoring the championship.

The winners at Petaluma will compete in the Nationals.

The cost is $20, with special rates for students and people in need.

The Lucchesi Community Center is located at 320 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma.

For more information call 707-775-2400 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

USA Yoga ( www.usayoga.org ) is a nonprofit organization with the goal of introducing yoga to the Olympics.

Dreissenid mussels (quagga or zebra) have been discovered in Lake Piru in Ventura County.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is working with United Water Conservation District and Lake Piru Recreation Area staff to contain the infestation.

All boaters are being required to clean, drain and dry their watercraft upon exit from the lake.

This discovery marks the first time quagga or zebra mussels have been found in a Southern California waterbody that does not receive water from the Colorado River.

On Dec. 18, Lake Piru Recreation Area staff reported the discovery of potential quagga mussels to CDFW.

The mussels were found attached to a Lake Piru patrol boat and several additional mussels were subsequently found on devices deployed in the lake for the purpose of detecting mussels and on the shoreline.

CDFW staff tentatively identified the mussels, which range in size from one-half to three-quarter inches long, as quagga.

Genetic testing is under way to confirm this identification. Lake Piru Recreation Area staff are working to determine the full extent of the infestation.

Lake Piru, which is managed by United Water Conservation District, is located downstream of Pyramid Lake. Lake Piru drains into Lower Piru Creek, a tributary of the Santa Clara River.

Quagga and zebra mussels, non-native freshwater mussels native to Eurasia, multiply quickly and encrust watercraft and infrastructure, and compete for food with native and sport fish species.

These mussels can be spread from one body of water to another attached to nearly anything that has been in an infested waterbody, or via standing water from an infested waterbody entrapped in boat engines, bilges, live-wells and buckets.

People who launch vessels at any body of water are subject to watercraft inspections and are encouraged to clean, drain and dry their motorized and non-motorized boats, including personal watercraft, and any equipment that comes into contact with the water before and after recreating at a waterway.

For more information on boat inspection programs and preventing the spread of quagga and zebra mussels visit CDFW’s Web site ( www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/quaggamussel ).

Quagga mussels were first detected in the Colorado River system in January 2007 and were later found in San Diego and Riverside counties. They are now known to be in 26 waters in California. Zebra mussels were discovered in San Justo Reservoir in San Benito County in January 2008.

012613contradance

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The next contra dance will be held this Saturday, Janu. 4, at Armstrong Hall (home of Lake County Jazzercise) in Middletown.

This dance will be led by Lea Smith. The live, old-time fiddle music will be provided by “Tradition!” from Sonoma County.

Contra dancing is a great low pressure and fun way to socialize for people of all ages.

If you are unfamiliar with contra dancing, it is somewhat similar to square dancing, but less formal. There is no fancy footwork that you have to learn or memorize; you are led through each dance by the caller.

Because it’s a social dance, you don’t need to arrive with a partner; in fact, most people don’t.

When you dance, you dance with a partner, but you also have many neighbors that you dance with too. At the end of a dance, you say goodbye to your partner and get another one.

Armstrong Hall is located at 15642 Armstrong St. in Middletown, two blocks behind the post office.

The dance begins with easier dances at 7 p.m. and gently progresses to more challenging figures until 9:30 p.m.

Admission is $5 at the door. Please wear clean shoes that won’t harm the hardwood floor and bring your own water bottle.

For more information, contact Beth Rudiger, 707-260-2900 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

California sturgeon anglers will see a small change to sturgeon tags issued beginning Jan. 1, 2014.

Sturgeon anglers have been required to tag all retained legal sized sturgeon for many years.

In the past, the date, location and length of the fish caught were recorded on each tag.

Now, in addition to legibly and permanently writing the date, time, location and length, the new tags require the angler to physically punch out the date and month printed on each tag.

The bag limit for sturgeon remains at one per day and up to three sturgeon per year. Failure to attach a properly filled out tag to a retained sturgeon is a misdemeanor violation.  

The California Fish and Game Commission passed the regulation change on Oct. 2, 2013.

Changes were approved by the Office of Administrative Law then filed with the Secretary of State on Dec. 23, 2013.

Shooting birds on the water or on the ground?

Question: Is it lawful to shoot a bird that is on the water, or if I’m field hunting, to shoot a bird that is standing on the ground?

I do not consider it sporting, but I was with a group of hunters that took part in the above actions.

Just curious what the official word is on this. (Nick V.)

Answer: It’s not illegal, but it’s certainly not sporting as it violates the Fair Chase Principle. “Fair chase” is the ethical, sportsman-like, lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an unfair advantage over such animals.

In addition, it can also be unsafe to shoot birds on the ground or on the water because nearby hunters might be in your line of fire.

Is it legal to keep legal-sized fish caught in hoop nets?

Question: If I catch fish in a hoop net while lobster fishing, are they legal to keep provided they meet any size requirements?

I have been throwing them back because I’m not sure it is legal to catch them that way. Someone told me they must be caught on fishing line only.

What about sea snails and octopus that are caught in my hoops? Can other line-caught sportfish, such as tuna, be used as bait in lobster hoops? Please advise. (Steve G.)

Answer: You were correct to return fish caught in your hoop nets because hoop nets are not a legal method of take.

Finfish may only be caught by hook-and-line except in very specific circumstances listed under “Finfish – Gear Restrictions” in the Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 28.65).

Taking sea snails and octopus caught incidentally in your lobster hoop net is not allowed (CCR Title 14, section 29.10(a)).

Any finfish that is legal to take or possess in California may be used as bait in your lobster hoop net.

If license is forgotten, will a photo copy of license do?

Question: My son and I fish from our private boat almost exclusively and keep our sport fishing licenses aboard so they are always present.

On rare occasions we will attempt to fish without the boat, and a few times have forgotten to bring our licenses.

To prevent us from mistakenly being without our fishing licenses, can we show a photo copy of our licenses or can the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) issue more than one copy to a sport fisherman? (Murray C.)

Answer: Good questions, but the answers to both are no.

You must have a valid fishing license in your possession when fishing or attempting to take fish, and you must present it to a game warden upon request.

Additionally, only one license may be issued to a person per year.

Importing buffalo hides and products?

Question: Are there any restrictions on importing buffalo hides or buffalo art productions into California? (Anonymous)

Answer: No. American buffalo (Bison bison) are considered a domestic breed of bovine (like cattle, goats and sheep) and thus no Fish and Wildlife laws regulate them.

American buffalo hides are not restricted by CDFW and so they may be imported or possessed as long as they were obtained legally.

However, the live importation of other species of true buffalo (e.g. African Cape Buffalo, etc.) or their hides is restricted by law (CCR Title 14, section 671).

Is it legal to catch carp and trout by hand?

Question: I recently read a post from people saying they had caught carp by hand in a lake.

Is this legal in California?

I have caught trout by hand in streams when I was younger, but wasn’t sure if that was legal either.

Can you please clarify? (Nick)

Answer: There are no freshwater finfish species that can be legally taken by hand from any California lake waters within the state (only exception: a few fish species are allowed to be caught by hand during specific times in a few non-lake areas, as per CCR Title 14, sections 1.76 and 2.30.)

Electronics and hunting

Question: Is there any law against mounting a camera to the scope of a rifle to record my hunting experience? (Barry N.)

Answer: No, there is no law against this as long as there is no light emitted from the camera.

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Second annual Bunny Brunch
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lake County poet laureate inauguration
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Lakeport Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt
1Apr
04.01.2024
Easter Monday
1Apr
10Apr
15Apr
04.15.2024
Tax Day

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