Category Archives: Disposal

Practice Caution With Wild Rabbits

Posted on July 5, 2012 | 1 Comment

Cottontails and other wild rabbits may carry a disease called “Tularemia,” so hunters should use caution when field dressing. (USFWS photo)

Question: I’d like to try some cottontail rabbit hunting but hear they may carry some kind of disease. Is this true? If so, is this anything to be concerned about and what precautions should I take? (Jeff J., Stockton)

Answer: You may be referring to “tularemia,” a bacterial disease that wild rabbits occasionally carry. To be safe, hunters should take precautions by wearing latex gloves when field dressing their rabbits to minimize exposure to the disease. Be sure to properly cool the animal after field dressing it, and to always cook it thoroughly. Tularemia is named after the place where it was discovered – Tulare.

Carp rights
Question: I know that Department of Fish and Game (DFG) regulations make it illegal to waste game fish and other resources. Knowing that, since carp are considered in most waters to be an invasive species, does this regulation also pertain to the take of carp? Would it be illegal or against DFG regulations to simply dispose of a carp, say at a fish cleaning station? I’ve heard debate on this one and I would like to clear it up. (Dale S.)

Answer: Yes, it would be illegal. There is a prohibition in the regulations against wasting fish, and this prohibition applies to all fish, including carp (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 1.87). The California Fish and Game Commission regulations do not have a designation for “game fish.” ”Fish” as used in the regulations means any/all finfish and shellfish.

Reasonable accommodations for hunter ed exam?
Question: I have a question about hunter education requirements for a learning disabled hunter. I know a child with severe dyslexia (a reading and writing disability) to the point where he is only able to read and write very basic sentences. He would easily pass the hunter education exam if he could read it. However, I don’t think that will be possible for some time. Is there an exception for people in these circumstances? Can someone read the test questions to him? He really wants to hunt but this disability is standing in the way of him being able to successfully pass the hunter education test. (Steven C.)

Answer: In California we provide reasonable accommodations for all entitled students. Anyone with a disability can ask the DFG for reasonable accommodation and it will be provided on an individual basis taking into consideration that person’s specific needs. DFG Hunter Education Instructor (HEI) leader Lt. James Kasper recommends that the parent, guardian or mentor contact the  the DFG  before the course about requesting accommodations.

The key to success for any student is to study for the hunter education exam by assembling all of the pertinent information beforehand and tailoring it to their own learning approach. Here are a few resources to do this:

1. Get the hunter education manual in advance and work with a partner to complete the chapter reviews at the end of the book.

2. In addition to the manual, get the hunter education workbook and answer the questions. Both the manual and the workbook can be obtained ahead of time by contacting the HEI who will be teaching the course, or from a local DFG office.

3. Go to any of the DFG-approved home study online courses and study the material on their websites. The websites are http://www.hunter-ed.com/california/ or http://www.huntercourse.com/usa/california/ or www.ihea.com/hunter-education/online-courses.php.

Lt. Kasper recommends these websites for a couple of reasons. First, the Today’s Hunter in California (www.hunter-ed.com/ca/) website belongs to the same company that makes the hunter education manuals we use in California, so the material is very similar. This site has California-specific information, good animations and they will be adding video in the near future. Second, HunterCourse.com (www.huntercourse.com/usa/california/) is a great website, especially for students without strong reading skills, because it incorporates more visual learning tools. The Today’s Hunter and Huntercourse.com websites both have additional audio narration functions.

On a side note, these websites do not charge for using them unless the person wants to print out a voucher. Therefore, don’t get scared away when it looks like a pay website. Lt. Kasper recommends using these websites for studying. A voucher is not needed for a traditional hunter education course.

For additional questions on what reasonable accommodations may be available, please contact DFG Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator Tina Johnson at (916) 651-1214.

Limit on number of crab traps to fish?
Question: Is there a limit to the number of crab traps a person can fish from a private boat? Is it unlimited? (Craig B.)

Answer: When fishing from a private boat, there are no limits on the numbers of traps a person can fish. Keep in mind though that you will also have to be able to manage and service each trap you deploy. And if fishing for Dungeness crabs, each person may only keep 10 crabs. On a good day you might get that many crabs in one trap. You’d still need to check all of the other traps regularly.

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Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week. Please contact her at CalOutdoors@dfg.ca.gov.

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Posted in crabs, Disposal, Freshwater Fishing, Hunting, Uncategorized

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If the fish will die anyway, shouldn’t I keep it?

Posted on July 15, 2010 | Leave a comment

Question: If I catch an undersized fish that swallows the hook so deep that it starts to bleed from the gills, should the fish still be released even though it will most likely die? If I do keep the fish under these circumstances, how could I prove to a game warden that I didn’t want to waste the fish because it was going to die anyway? (Eddie H.)

Answer: Unfortunately, even if your fish is undersized and going to die anyway, you must still return that fish immediately. It won’t be wasted as it will go into the food chain as nourishment for other fish, invertebrates, and maybe marine mammals and birds. The bottom line is you cannot keep any fish that does not meet the minimum size requirements. If you deeply hook an undersized fish, it is best to not lift the fish out of the water and to quickly cut the line as close to the mouth as possible.  Fish are more likely to survive with the hook left inside than if you try to dig it out, tearing the gills or stomach in the process.

Am I trespassing?
Question: I have been hiking upstream though a riverbed to fish the Sespe River in the Los Padres National Forest. A man who thinks he owns the river told me that I’m trespassing. What are my rights and what is the best way to show him I know it is my right to stay on the river in order to pass through “his” property? (Kyle L.)

Answer: It is possible that the man is accurate and you are trespassing. According to Department of Fish and Game Ret. Captain Phil Nelms, generally, surface water belongs to the state but stream and lake bottoms and shorelines are often in private ownership. Property rights questions are only minimally covered in California Fish and Game laws and the circumstances you describe are not included. You will probably need to speak with an attorney or other person licensed to provide legal advice for a solution you can rely on with confidence.

Why no nocked arrows?
Question: Why will I get a citation if I have a nocked arrow in or on a vehicle?

Answer: The regulations say no person may nock or fit the notch in the end of an arrow to a bowstring or crossbow string in a ready-to-fire position while in or on any vehicle (California Code of Regulations, Title 14 section 353 (i)). It is as much the DFG’s role to promote hunter safety as it is to promote hunter ethics.  Hunters have been seriously wounded by nocked arrows in vehicles. It is not very sporting to shoot an animal from a vehicle, nor does it make for the most accurate placement of the arrow.

Can I hang chum from a buoy to attract fish?
Question: If I am trying to attract fish to a spot to fish them, can I sink some chum there? I would tie the chum to a rope that’s connected to a buoy, throw it overboard and then let it soak. In a couple of hours I’d come back and first retrieve my chum, rope and buoy, and then would fish on that spot. Is there any problem with this? (Ricky Z.)

Answer: Chumming in inland waters is generally illegal, but in the following locations (CCR Title 14, section 2.40), it is allowed:

1.  The Colorado River District, where only the approved bait fishes for the District may be used as chum (CCR Title 14, section 4.15) except in the Salton Sea, where corn may also be used.

2.  The Carquinez Strait and Suisun Bay and their tributaries and saltwater tributaries.

3.  The Sacramento River and tidewater of tributaries downstream from Interstate 80 bridge.

4.  The San Joaquin River and tidewater of tributaries downstream from Interstate 5 bridge.

“Chumming” is defined as “placing any material in the water, other than on a hook while angling, for the purpose of attracting fish to a particular area in order that they may be taken” (CCR Title 14, section 1.32).

Chumming is not prohibited in the ocean.

Steelhead cards needed for youngsters?
Question: I plan to take my young niece and nephew steelhead fishing. Since they are too young to need fishing licenses, are they required to have steelhead report cards? We’re getting different answers. Thank you. (Scott H., Redding)

Answer: Even though your niece and nephew are too young to need fishing licenses (under 16 years old), they must still have Steelhead Fishing Report and Restoration Cards in their possession while fishing for steelhead. This law changed a couple of years ago. Now everyone who fishes is required to buy the card, regardless of age.

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Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week. Please contact her at CalOutdoors@dfg.ca.gov.

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Posted in Archery, Bait, Catch & Release, Disposal, Fines/Penalties/Citations, Fishing, Info, Licensing/Permits/Stamps/Report Cards, Waterways

Can’t blame it on the hunting dog!

Posted on March 18, 2010 | 1 Comment

Hunting dogs are an extension of the hunter (DFG photo)

Question: Is it legal for a dog to grab a wounded duck on the way to the blind before shooting time? Last duck season a buddy and I were at Wister and at 4 a.m. we started for the blind and the dog was ahead of us going in and out of the water canals. When my buddy called him back, he showed up with a wounded duck that was still alive. Was it OK to keep that duck? (Bill S)

Answer: A dog is considered a legal method of take by DFG regulations. Dogs may be used to locate, retrieve and may actually “take” game by catching live game. According to DFG Northern California Chief Mike Carion, although it is legal for the dog to take game, you have to remember that any game it takes becomes part of the bag. In the scenario you have described, the dog’s take was done before legal hours and would be a technical violation of the law. In addition, if the hunter were to discard the bird it would be a violation of waste of game laws. In order to avoid issues of illegal take (for instance take before or after season, or before or after legal hours of take), your dog should be on a leash and under control so this scenario does not happen to you!

Cleaning fish in lakes and streams?
Question: Occasionally, I see a few knuckleheads who after a great day of fishing will decide to clean their fish and toss the remains into the lake, thus bringing the sea gulls in. You can probably imagine what the fishing is like for the rest of us then who want to continue fishing. Is there a regulation regarding fish cleaning in lakes and streams? (George L.)

Answer: No. While under some circumstances it may attract birds looking for an easy snack and end up spoiling the fishing experiences of anglers close by, this practice does not violate Fish and Game Code. According to Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Game Warden Nick Buckler, the Fish and Game Code only prohibits the disposal of mammal viscera or carcasses and dead bird carcasses into the state’s waters (FGC section 5652). Depending on the waters, there may be special county park ordinances though requiring all fish cleaning to be done at cleaning stations or away from the fishing waters, but there is no state law requiring this. These answers are based on the Fish and Game Code and California Code of Regulations, Title 14 only. There may be other laws that are applicable

Can casting barbless teasers still be considered fishing?
Question: I invited a fishing buddy to go fishing with me this week. He had not yet obtained a license so we came up with the idea to remove the hooks from one of his swimbaits so that he could toss it out just as a teaser. It didn’t seem to be considered angling since the regulations say: pursue, hunt, capture or attempt to do so (roughly), and that the fish has to voluntarily take hook in mouth and no snagging is allowed. Since we would have no hooks on the lure, is this considered fishing as described in the regulations? (Brian S.)

Answer: Tell your fishing buddy to do his practice casting onshore or get a license. They are available online at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/.

According to DFG ret. Capt. Phil Nelms, based solely on your description, it would not be surprising if a game warden issued him a citation. It appears from the description that he is helping you “take” (e.g. pursue, hunt, capture, or attempt to do so …) fish, and if so, then he needs a fishing license.

Can we hunt marmots in California?
Question: Can marmots be hunted in California?

Answer: Yes, marmots are nongame mammals (rodents) and may be taken by hunters with a current hunting license. Marmots have no seasons or bag limits but some regulations on hunting hours and methods of take for nongame mammals apply. Check the current Mammal Hunting regulations book beginning on page 43 (see CCR T-14, sections 474-475) available online at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/.

Other nongame birds and mammals (not classified as threatened or endangered) that may be legally taken at any time of the year and in any number (except as prohibited in Chapter 6) include: English sparrow, starling, coyote, weasels, skunks, opossum, moles and rodents (excluding tree and flying squirrels, and those listed as furbearers, endangered or threatened species (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 472.)

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Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week. Please contact her at CalOutdoors@dfg.ca.gov.

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Posted in Bait, Disposal, Fishing, Hunting, Methods Of Take, Methods Of Take, Regulations, Waterways

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