Moving wing waterfowl decoys

Question: With waterfowl season approaching, I was wondering if you could clarify Regulation 507 regarding duck decoys that move?

That regulation specifies moving wings or blades are prohibited until after Nov. 30, but I cannot find a prohibition regarding motor powered decoys that simulate swimming (clamp on propeller), or water movement to simulate feeding (magnate type), or battery powered jerk string.

In short, are ONLY moving wing decoys prohibited during the first six weeks of the season? (James Scott, Oakley) 

Answer: The prohibition is only for electronically powered spinning wing, or spinning wing simulated devices.

There are no prohibitions to any other electronic devices which flap wings, allow the decoy to swim, feed, or cause movement other than the spinning of a wing or wing simulated device.

How to pay an old ticket?

Question: One of my friends received a ticket about five years ago for abalone taken from the Fort Ross area. Afterwards he moved out of state.

He recently moved back to California though and would now like to pay his ticket but he does not have any information.

How should he go about paying it? How can he find out the amount owed and where should he send payment? Thanks for any help. (James Y.)

Answer: If your friend left the state without paying the fine for the ticket he received, then the court probably issued an arrest warrant for him.

Fort Ross is in Sonoma County, so he should contact Sonoma County Superior Court as soon as possible.

If contacted by law enforcement prior to doing this and it is determined there is an active warrant, your friend will be cited or arrested for not taking care of his ticket.

Game wardens also lead-free in condor zone?

Question: Does a Fish and Wildlife officer’s pistol that he carries in the field contain lead-free ammunition?

I ask because if I'm in the woods in the lead-free zone under a carry concealed weapon permit (CCW) and just camping, I must run lead-free, correct? The law should be consistent for everyone. (Dale G.)

Answer: No, the lead ban pertains to hunters.

It is illegal to use, or possess with a firearm capable of firing, any projectile containing more than 1 percent lead by weight while taking or attempting to take big game or nongame within the condor range. This includes centerfire as well as black powder/muzzleloader and rimfire projectiles.

Since wildlife officers are not hunting while on duty, their firearms may contain lead ammunition in the condor range.

Any people who are not taking or attempting to take wildlife, including CCW holders, may use or possess lead ammunition.

Woodpeckers are driving me crazy!

Question: I’ve got a bunch of woodpeckers that keep pecking at my house and they are driving me crazy!

Can I use a pellet gun to haze them and chase them off? Thanks. (Alan H., Ukiah)

Answer: No, woodpeckers are a nongame species so you will have to find a non-lethal method to haze them away from your house.

You could try hanging shiny mylar tape like they use in orchards to scare the birds away from the fruit or try posting an owl decoy. You might also try covering the wood with metal mesh hardware cloth.

This is a USFWS question and they do have a permit process for a number of species under federal depredation provisions unless designated a fully protected bird.

For additional tips and information, please check with the University of California Integrated Pest Management Program online at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/menu.house.html#VERT .

Deployed gear through MPAs

Question: Is it legal to travel through a State Marine Reserve (SMR) on a kayak with fish and non-deployed fishing gear on board?

Does "fishing gear deployed" mean having a hook and line in the water? Or does it go so far as to require fishing hooks be removed from any fishing line on board a kayak?

The term "deployed" is not defined in the regulations and I am wondering how it is enforced by the officers. (Brian M.)

Answer: Yes, you may travel through a state marine reserve with catch on board as long as no fishing gear is deployed in the water (per Section 632(a)(8) on pg. 52 of the current Ocean Sport Fishing regulations booklet).

Deployed means that the gear (hook and line) is in the water.

If you wish to remove all doubt, you could remove the hooks, but that is not required by law.

Just make sure your gear is out of the water and secured before transiting a state marine reserve, and you will be abiding by the law.

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. .