Question: In the regulations it says it’s legal to use bow and arrow to take bullfrogs. Does this mean we are also allowed to take them using compound bows? (J. Riggs)

Answer: Yes, compound bows are a kind of bow, so you can use them to take bullfrogs. Bowfishing for bullfrogs will also require you to have a California sport fishing license.

Amphibians may be taken only by hand, hand-held dip net, or hook and line, except bullfrogs may also be taken by lights, spears, gigs, grabs, paddles, bow and arrow or fishing tackle (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 5.05(e)).

Since there are some protected species that may coexist with bullfrogs, please be sure you are correctly identifying your frog as a bullfrog, Rana (Lithobates) cataesbeiana, before releasing your arrow!

Taking a deer to a butcher across the state line?

Question: I live in Lake Tahoe on the California side, and hope to tag my first buck this fall.

If I have a successful hunt, is it legal to take the buck to our favorite butcher who happens to be just across state line in Incline, Nevada? Or, would I need to find a butcher in California to help process the animal? (Scott Y., Lake Tahoe)

Answer: You will need to check with Nevada Department of Wildlife regarding their importation laws.

Each state regulates importation of dead wildlife under its own regulations. California’s Fish and Game laws do not prohibit this, but when you bring the meat back into California, you will need to file a “Declaration for Entry” form. T

his form and all directions can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/enforcement/entry-declaration.aspx .

No deer tag, so what can we hunt?

Question: Half of our group drew tags for our favorite hunting zone and half did not. The unlucky ones will be helping with chores, fishing and hunting coyotes.

Can we carry a rifle for coyotes while riding with the hunter with a tag? Many times we'll drop the deer hunter off and then come back to pick them up, meanwhile calling coyotes to kill the time.

Is it legal or would it be best to leave the guns at camp and separate the two activities? (Mark)

Answer: This would be legal as long as the coyote hunters are clearly not attempting to hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill a deer.

If your friends are hunting deer and you are hunting coyotes, it’s best to keep the two practices separate. This is especially true during deer season so the coyote hunters will not be mistaken by others to be deer hunting without a tag.

In addition, as coyote hunters, you cannot engage in driving deer for your friends to shoot while in possession of a rifle because this is considered take of deer.

Take is defined as to “Hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill, or the attempt to hunt pursue, catch, capture or kill.” If the coyote hunters are involved in any activity which results in the pursuit of deer, they would be in violation.

Keep in mind that coyote hunting methods are often not compatible with deer hunting, so wardens sometimes encounter hunters claiming to hunt coyotes when in fact they are deer hunting and trying to fill a friend’s tag. This is a significant problem in areas where drawing a tag is difficult, such as the X-1 zone, so the wardens are watching for this.

Fishing in isolated ponds

Question: As our creeks dry up, ponds are formed, with some of them at the road culverts. Is it legal to fish these ponds with a pole, by hand or a dip net? (Jeanne G., Portola)

Answer: No. In intermittent streams like you describe, what appear to be ponds are actually isolated pools.

Although not apparent during the dry season, water may still be flowing, out of sight, under the streambed surface. This is often called “intragravel flow.”

Because a creek is still a stream and not actually a pond or lake, the same regulations for the stream will still apply. Fish can only be taken from these waters under the regulations currently applicable for that stream, including seasons, limits, methods of take, etc.

To view the current sport fishing regulations for inland waters, please go to www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/ or pick up a copy of the booklet wherever fishing licenses are sold.

Are artificial fish scent attractants considered bait?

Question: Are products like artificial, scented fish eggs considered "bait" when it comes to areas where the regulations call for artificials only? My guess is they would be considered bait, but what about just plastic salmon egg imitations with no scent? Or, does scent play into the regulations at all? (Mike S.)

Answer: An artificial lure “… does not include any scented or artificial baits” (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 1.11). This means attractants may not be applied to the lure while fishing in waters restricted for artificial lure use.

In addition, some people spray WD-40 on their lures. This substance contains petroleum and is specifically prohibited by law to be deposited or introduced into the waters of the state (Fish and Game Code, section 5650).

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. .

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The HVL Men’s Niners Golf Club held a two-man team, Pinehurst Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 7.

The results were:

• “A” Flight: The teams of Don Dornbush/Jim Stratton and Bill Kyle/Bruce Hamilton tied for the top spot at net 30. The teams of Fred Figg/Jeff Markham and Arch Madsen/Stan Kalata tied for third at 32. Jim Brown/Cliff Hughes was fourth at 33.
• “B” Flight: The team of Bob Costello/Olie Smith took first with the lowest net of the day, 27. Jim Hodges/Jay Hodges and Mike Riley/Byron Hoss tied for second with 29. Bill Helt/Ron Hallman and Dick Kistner/Bill Stricklan tied for third, 32.

Closest to the par 3 pins were Doug Healy and Pete Gascoigne. Dennis Day scored a chip-in.

Fifty six men (28 teams) participated in this event.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will offer several Monday pheasant hunting opportunities at Northern California Type A wildlife areas in 2013.

The general pheasant season opens Nov. 9 and extends through Dec. 22, 2013.

For the 2013 hunting season, wildlife areas will be open for pheasant hunting as follows:

• Most Type A wildlife areas in the Sacramento Valley (Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Delevan National Wildlife Refuge, Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area and Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area) will be open for pheasant hunting on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays, and only the first Monday (Nov. 11) of the pheasant season. The exception is Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, which will be open for pheasant hunting on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays and only the second Monday (Nov. 18) of the pheasant season.

• Most Type A wildlife areas in the San Joaquin Valley (Los Banos Wildlife Area, Mendota Wildlife Area, North Grasslands Wildlife Area and San Luis National Wildlife Refuge) will be open for pheasant hunting on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays during the pheasant season. The exception is Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge, which will only be open for pheasant hunting on the first Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Nov. 9-11) of the pheasant season.

• The Wister Unit of Imperial Wildlife Area in Imperial County will be closed to pheasant hunting this year.

• San Jacinto Wildlife Area in Riverside County, which will be closed to pheasant hunting this year.

• Type C wildlife areas will remain open as normal.

In 2010, CDFW reduced the number of days that certain wildlife areas would be open for pheasant hunting due to a decline in the number of hunters targeting pheasant and the cost to operate check stations during the first week of the season. This reduction remains in effect.

In response to the continued decline, CDFW is using some of its upland game bird stamp funds to implement pheasant population assessments and research projects on public areas to develop potential management actions.

The modifications of the shoot days on Type A wildlife areas are pursuant to subsections 550(b)(1) and 550(b)(2) of Title 14, California Code of Regulations.

The Fish and Game Commission also authorized an early pheasant archery season this year from Oct. 12 through Nov. 3, on Type C wildlife areas only. Archery is not an authorized method of take for pheasant on Type A or B wildlife areas during the early archery or general seasons.

For more information on specific hunting opportunities, please contact your regional CDFW office; a list of offices can be found at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/ .

Like CDFW on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDFW and Twitter @CaliforniaDFW.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reminds veterans that service-related injuries need not keep them from enjoying wildlife and the great outdoors.

America’s disabled veterans get a break on the price of sport fishing and hunting licenses and are provided some special opportunities.

CDFW offers reduced-fee hunting and fishing licenses to both resident and nonresident disabled veterans.

Any honorably discharged, disabled veteran with a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability who wants to hunt birds or mammals, or fish in California is eligible.

The 2014 Sport Fishing License (Reduced – Disabled Veteran) and Disabled Veteran Hunting License cost only $6.95 when purchased at CDFW license counters.

Special hunting blinds have been constructed to be accessible to people with mobility impairments at some state wildlife areas and ecological reserves, and at some National Wildlife Refuges.

CDFW also works with military installations on wildlife management and provides tags for those installations to issue to military personnel for deer and Tule elk hunting opportunities.

Certification from the United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs and proof of completion of a hunter education course is required at the time of application.

The first license must be purchased from a CDFW License Sales Office. Subsequent licenses may be purchased from any license agent or online, and at that time, a copy of a previous year’s California Disabled Veteran’s Hunting License will serve as identification.

CDFW offices are located in Eureka, Fresno, Los Alamitos, Monterey, Napa, Rancho Cordova, Redding, Sacramento, San Diego and Stockton.

Hours, addresses and phone numbers can be found on the CDFW Web site, www.wildlife.ca.gov .

Subsequent licenses may be purchased from any license agent or online.

Fish and Game Code, section 7150, authorizes CDFW to issue Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing Licenses to anglers who meet specific criteria.

Additional validations or cards are required for certain species and areas and must be purchased at the regular fee.

All California sport fishing licenses are valid Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 each year, and make excellent holiday gifts for veterans.

The 2014 reduced-fee fishing license applications are on CDFW’s Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/fishing/sportfishingfreereduced.html .

Reduced-fee hunting license applications are at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/hunting/reducedfee.html (hunting licenses are valid July 1 through June 30).

Fishing and hunting regulations and more information about licenses are available on the CDFW Web site at www.wildlife.ca.gov .

Question: Is there a place in the regulations that talks about what I've heard hunters call “want and waste”? Can you point me in the right direction for the regulations if such a regulation even exists?

The question comes up because my hunting partners and I often argue about what is and is not considered edible on a deer. Could I get a ticket because I do not eat the lungs or the liver or heart?

Some people I know feel the ribs are not even worth eating. What is the definition of waste? I've heard someone say 30 percent can be left in the field but I've never seen what the regs say about the specifics of what you could possibly get a ticket for not taking home to eat. (Anonymous)

Answer: In California, hunters must make reasonable efforts to retrieve edible portions of game birds and game mammals.

After a hunter has harvested an animal, the law requires that no portion of the flesh usually eaten by humans can be left, either through carelessness or neglect, to go needlessly to waste.

Harvesting any deer and detaching or removing from the carcass only the head, hide, antlers or horns while leaving edible parts to needlessly go to waste, is deemed to be “wanton waste” and the hunter can be cited (Fish and Game Code, section 4304).

The intent of the law is to prevent trophy hunting and to stop people from taking animals just for mounts.

Why are Dungeness crabs in San Francisco Bay protected?

Question: Why it is illegal to keep Dungeness crab from San Francisco Bay? (Judy K.)

Answer: San Francisco Bay is an important Dungeness crab nursery area, so that’s the reason this area has always been considered off limits to the take of Dungeness crab by both sport and commercial fishermen.

Baited traps to catch bait fish?

Question: Can baited traps, such as a minnow traps, be used to catch surf smelts, anchovies or sardines to use as bait? I will be fishing in Southern California in Orange, Los Angeles or San Diego counties. (Jackson T.)

Answer: No. Baited traps can be used only for the take of shiner surfperch, Pacific staghorn sculpin and longjaw mud suckers in San Francisco and San Pablo bays and their tributaries, and in the open ocean and the contiguous bays of Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin counties.

In addition, traps cannot be over three feet in greatest dimension. Any other species taken must be returned to the water immediately (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 28.80.)

Access rights through public land?

Question: Can someone hunt on a riverbank that is considered public land if the person entered through a legal public access or had been given permission by another property owner up river? Can the property owner down river run me out? (Anonymous)

Answer: If the riverbank is clearly public land and you accessed it legally, the landowner should not run you out. It is not legal for someone to interfere with a legal hunting activity (Fish and Game Code, section 2009). The neighboring landowner should not run you out either unless you are on his/her land.

Keep in mind that riverbanks and the beds of rivers beneath streams and lakes are often deeded to be “land” in California, and thus you may actually be trespassing.

In addition, depending on the location, there may be local ordinances that would prohibit you from hunting in these areas.

You might also check with the agency that has jurisdiction over the land or look up their regulations to make sure that hunting is allowed on the public land you are using.

There is also the concern of game retrieval. While you may be able to access the river section, should the game you take land on private property that you do not have permission to be on, you could find yourself in a situation where you engage in either hunter trespass, or if you fail to retrieve the animal, waste of game. Both of these situations constitute citable offenses.

Picking seaweed

Question: Is it legal to pick seaweed along the Mendocino coast? (Raymond L.)

Answer: Yes. Generally, up to 10 pounds wet weight per day may be harvested per person (with no more than 10 pounds in possession at any time). Exceptions include the following prohibited species: sea palm, eel grass and surf grass.

However, there are marine protected areas (MPAs) where the take of all living marine resources are prohibited (e.g. Point Cabrillo State Marine Reserve, Ten Mile State Marine Reserve, etc.), so be sure you are not in a restricted area before harvesting seaweed.

For information about MPAs, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mpa/ .

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. .

The fall wild turkey and late dove hunting seasons are scheduled to open Nov. 9 in California.

The fall wild turkey season will continue through Dec. 8 with a limit of one turkey of either sex per day and a season limit of two.

The second half of the dove season will continue through Dec. 23.

There is a limit of 10 per day of mourning doves and/or white-winged doves with a 30-bird possession in the field.

There is no limit on spotted doves, Eurasian collared doves or ringed turtle doves.

For a summary of the 2013-14 upland and small game hunting seasons and limits, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/upland-summary-13-14.html .