Tag Archives: archery

Scouting with Scuba for Abalone?

Posted on May 30, 2013 by | Leave a comment
(Photo by Derek Stein for CDFW)

Scuba divers cannot assist a free diver in any way when pursuing abalone (CDFW photo by Derek Stein)

Question: Is there any regulation prohibiting a photographer with scuba gear from also scouting out large abalone for a regulation-compliant abalone diver to take? Thanks in advance, and for all you do. (Dave C.)

Answer: The photographer in scuba cannot assist the free diver in any way. The action you describe falls within the definition of “take” under the Fish and Game Code and its regulations (see Fish and Game Code, section 86 and California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 1.80). Both the abalone diver and the photographer with scuba gear may be cited for violating CCR, Title 14 section 29.15(e), which prohibits the use of scuba gear to take abalone.

Ocean whitefish fillet size limit
Question: I noticed in the new ocean sport fishing regulations that ocean whitefish fillets are required to be a minimum length of 6½ inches long and retain the entire skin intact. However, there is no minimum size limit for the whole fish. Why is there a size limit on fillets but not on the whole fish? (Jim Martinez)

Answer: The reason is because previously in the regulations, the basses (kelp, sand and spotted) all had 12 inch minimum total lengths or 6½ inch minimum fillet lengths, and were required to retain 1-inch patches of skin still attached for identification. Ocean whitefish fillets looked so similar to the bass fillets that they too were required to measure a minimum of 6½ inches with skin attached to avoid confusion with the basses. This year though fishery managers increased the minimum lengths of the basses to 14 inches and the minimum fillet lengths to 7½ inches. Because there was no biological reason to increase fillet lengths on the ocean whitefish, scientists chose to leave their minimum fillet lengths at 6½ inches and to require all skin to be left on so that there still could be no mistaking ocean whitefish fillets with fillets of one of the three bass species.

Hunter Ed question regarding a someone with a felony
Question: My father-in-law is interested in big game hunting. Unfortunately for him, he has a non-violent felony conviction which bars him from possessing a firearm. This will allow him to only hunt via archery methods.

Does he still have to take the standard hunter safety course or is there a special class for archery only? I have a feeling he has to take the standard course even though all the firearms questions will have no bearing on his archery tackle pursuit. If he does take and pass the course, may he still hunt during the general deer season using a crossbow with me?

I pride myself on knowing CDFW law well, but this wrinkle throws me for a loop. He is a great guy who just made a bad choice more than 12 years ago. Now that I married his step-daughter and am such an avid hunter, he wants to get in on the fun, but only as the law allows. (Anonymous)

Answer: He will still have to take Hunter Ed, but he will have to find a class that does not use real firearms or have a live-fire requirement in the class. While signing up for the class or else at the very beginning of the class, your father-in-law should notify the instructor immediately of any firearms restrictions he may have. Then the instructor can determine how best to accommodate him during the class. For a list of available hunter education classes in his area, please go to http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/hunting/.

Hunter Ed isn’t just about firearms. It includes all forms of hunting, hunter safety, conservation, ethics, etc. In most cases convicted felons are not restricted from using archery equipment or air rifles but he should check with his parole officer or the court to make sure the conditions of his case do not preclude using these methods of take for hunting.

Practicing spearfishing in rivers?
Question: I know it is not legal to spear fish in rivers. However, if I want to take my spear to the river to practice my technique with no intention of taking any fish, am I abiding by the law? (Zoe D., Trinidad)

Answer: Spearfishing is permitted in some rivers, such as those in the Colorado River District and the Valley District (as authorized under CCR Title 14, section 2.30) but primarily only for a few species of non-game fish. New this year, spearfishing for stripers is now legal in the Valley District. Even if just practicing your techniques, don’t forget your fishing license! Otherwise, the use and possession of a spear within 100 yards of any canal, river, stream, lake or reservoir is specifically prohibited (CCR Title 14, section 2.09).

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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 Cal.Outdoors@wildlife.ca.gov.

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Posted in Abalone, Fines/Penalties/Citations, Fisheries Management, Freshwater Fishing, Methods Of Take, Methods Of Take, Uncategorized

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Archery Practice Down a Dirt Road?

Posted on May 9, 2013 by | 1 Comment
(Photo by Michigan DNR)

The most important factor to always keep in mind while archery shooting is public safety (Photo by Michigan DNR)

Question: My neighbor who lives a few houses down from me has a 15-year-old son who shoots his BB gun in his backyard. I used to shoot my bow in my backyard until my dad found out it’s illegal. I am 13 and live in the mountains of Southern California (close to San Bernardino) and am hoping it might be legal to practice my archery by shooting down a dirt road? Can you please let me know ASAP? Thanks. (Ashmanger)

Answer: Generally, Fish and Game Code laws only regulate the use of archery equipment or firearms while hunting. However, the same rules for firearms apply to archery equipment in this situation – you may not shoot over or across a road or within 150 yards of a neighbor’s home, barns or outbuildings, even if just archery target shooting (Fish and Game Code, section 3004). If you are on a private road on private property (off the public roadway), no Fish and Game Code law prohibits target practice with your bow and arrow. Beyond this, different counties and communities may have more restrictive ordinances that they enforce so you should check with your local law enforcement office for this information.

The most important factor to always keep in mind is public safety. Well-traveled roads and highways, or even those occasionally traveled, are not appropriate places to shoot. If you were to injure another person or livestock, or damage property, you could be subject to civil and possibly criminal prosecution. While shooting even just off a road may be legal, it may not be safe.

Hooks for salmon in San Francisco Bay?
Question: When fishing for salmon from the bank in the San Francisco Bay with spinning lures, is a single barbless hook ok or does it have to be a barbless circle hook attached to the spinning lure? (Terry D.)

Answer: Barbless circle hooks are only required when fishing with bait and angling by any means other than trolling. Since you’re not using bait, no circle hooks are required, even though you are not trolling. You must be doing both things – using bait, and fishing in a manner that is not trolling – to be required to use barbless circle hooks. In addition, you should be using no more than two single-point, single-shank barbless hooks with your spinning lure (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 27.80.)

Fishing attractant or pollutant?
Question: I have heard that spraying WD-40 on a fishing lure as a fish attractant works well. Is it legal to use? There seems to be much confusion as to what is actually in WD-40. I would also like to know if the sunscreen I put on before entering the water is hazardous to marine life. (Ray I.)

Answer: It is not legal to spray WD-40 on your fishing lures as an attractant. The same goes for any substance that may be harmful to fish (e.g. sunscreen).WD-40 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). When it comes to sunscreen, I would just try to use discretion as any foreign substance, even sunscreen, may carry chemicals that may be harmful to fish and other aquatic life if introduced in large enough quantities. General rule of thumb is when applying sunscreen, wait 20 minutes before swimming for it to completely soak into skin so that it is less likely to wash off in the water.

How to determine private vs public property?
Question: How do I find if a body of water is legal to fish out of? I am wondering about a local lake with a public road that leads up to it. There are no private property signs posted anywhere. However, from a boat you can see signs are posted in some of the yards. (Anonymous)

Answer: Even though private property perimeters are required to be either fenced, under cultivation, or posted with no trespassing signs at 1/3 of a mile intervals (Penal Code Section 602.8) so the public knows or can determine correctly if the property is private, it’s best to stay on the safe side. If you can’t find signs specifically prohibiting access, trespassing and fishing, you may want to contact your local sheriff’s office, which should be able to define which waters and properties are public, which are private and where the boundaries are.

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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 CalOutdoors@wildlife.ca.gov.

The most important factor to always keep in mind while archery shooting is public safety

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Posted in Archery, Saltwater Fishing, Tackle, Uncategorized

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You’re Never Too Old to Learn How to Hunt

Posted on September 6, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Hunter education courses are widely offered and an excellent way to help people new to hunting gain important information and skills to begin hunting. (Photo courtesy of National Shooting Sports Foundation)

Question: Most hunters that I know learned in their youth. I am an adult male who has never hunted but would like to learn. Are there classes or programs for adult males to learn? If so, can you please give me some information? (Edward H.)

Answer: Yes, and an excellent first step is to take a hunter education course. This is required to get a hunting license in California and provides good entry level instruction about firearms safety, first aid, wildlife management, etc. (http://dfg.ca.gov/huntered/). Most local communities have sportsmen’s clubs which usually are associated with a gun range. This would be another location to learn a great deal about firearms and to discuss hunting with experienced people. A number of Advanced Hunter Education classes are offered by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) throughout the state, including wild pig seminars, waterfowl seminars, wild turkey seminars, etc. These can be found on the DFG website at http://dfg.ca.gov/huntered/advanced/. In addition, there are many books and magazines that provide many resources about hunting, and the Internet is also full of information that would help (e.g. http://www.nssf.com/hunting/getstarted/). Good luck!

Landing net required?
Question: I understand when fishing for salmon from a boat in the ocean, you are required to have a net on the vessel for landing the fish. Are there size restrictions for the net? (Jeff)

Answer: Yes, while fishing in ocean waters, you are required to have a landing net aboard any boat or other floating device with an opening that measures no less than 18 inches in diameter (CCR Title 14, section 28.65(d)).

Archery during the rifle season?
Question: I am an archery hunter. If I am not able to fill my tag during the archery season, can I still hunt during the rifle season with my bow?

Answer: Yes, but it may depend on what type of tag you get. If it’s an Archery Only (AO) tag then you can only use archery equipment even during the rifle season. The “rifle” season you refer to is more accurately called the “general” season. During general season with a tag for that area, you can use any legal method for deer, including bow and arrow.

Is it legal to have wild bird feathers?
Question: Is it illegal to have wild bird feathers? I live in the national forest and I often find feathers around. I never know if it is ok for me to keep them. I am an artist and need to know if I can gather feathers to use in my artwork to (hopefully) sell. Please let me know what I can and cannot have. (Cedar)

Answer: Generally, California and U.S. laws protecting wildlife prohibit both possessing and selling any part of any bird found in the wild in California. However, there are some exceptions:

1)     You may possess but not sell or purchase the feathers from any wild bird which was harvested legally during the open season (e.g., ducks, geese, quail, pheasants, etc.) You don’t have to take the birds yourself. They can be acquired from another person who took them, but there can be no sale or bartering involved in you acquiring them.

2)     You may possess and sell the feathers of any bird which you acquire from any person who is licensed to possess and raise game birds for commercial purposes.

3)     Feathers of bird species commonly sold in hobby or pet stores (e.g. canaries, parrots, parakeets, etc.), or any species of domestic poultry, are not protected by Fish and Game laws and may be possessed and sold. Although I realize these are probably not the feathers you are inquiring about, they may be found in various locations throughout California.

Additional and specific information regarding the laws protecting birds is available online. Go to www.dfg.ca.gov/enforcement/ and in the “Helpful Information” column on the right side of the page, choose the link to the Fish and Game Code. Specific laws to study include: Sections 22, 2000-2002, 3039, 3504-3513, 3800-3801.6.

For federal laws protecting birds, please check with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website at www.fws.gov/.

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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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