Hunting Licenses, Big Game Drawing Applications Now Available

Media Contacts:
Maria Melchiorre, CDFW License and Revenue Branch, (916) 928-6881
Craig Stowers, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 445-3553
Janice Mackey, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-8908

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced hunters may now apply online for the Big Game drawing and purchase 2013-2014 hunting licenses. Transactions may be conducted at any CDFW license sales office, license agent or online.

All hunt tags for premium deer, elk, antelope and bighorn sheep are awarded through CDFW’s Big Game drawing. To qualify, the sales transaction must be completed before midnight on June 2, 2013. When completed, the customer will receive a receipt to show their hunt choices have been entered in the drawing. Mail-in applications will not be accepted. Beginning June 21, hunters may contact a CDFW license sales office or look online to check the results.

The following resources are available to assist hunters:

•To find a license agent near you or to purchase items online, visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing.

•To learn more about the Big Game drawing application process, view the 2013 California Hunting Digest (2013 Big Game) at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/publications/digest/.

•To purchase a license and submit drawing applications by telephone, contact the license sales line at (800) 565-1458.

Fund-raising Drawing Opportunities
CDFW’s random draw fund-raising program includes tags for deer, elk, pronghorn antelope and a bighorn sheep. Last year, those opportunities generated more than $300,000 for wildlife conservation.

The drawings for deer, elk and antelope are open to anyone 12 years of age or older as of July 1, 2013. The bighorn sheep drawing is open to anyone 16 years of age or older as of July 1, 2013. The cost to enter the drawings is $5.97 per entry, per hunt. Applicants do not need a valid hunting license to apply, and may apply for the drawings as many times as they wish by June 2, 2013. Winners will be required to purchase an annual hunting license. However, the tag will be issued at no additional cost.

Marble / Clipper and South Bristol Mountains Desert Bighorn Sheep Tag
The fund-raising random drawing bighorn sheep tag allows the hunter to hunt in the Marble / Clipper and South Bristol hunt zones with any legal method. The hunt dates are from Nov. 2, 2013 to Feb. 3, 2014, which is one month in advance of the general season. Any resident or nonresident who will be age 16 or older as of July 1, 2013 may apply as many times as they want. If successful, the hunter must attend CDFW’s mandatory bighorn sheep hunter orientation meeting before the tag is issued. Free guide services have been offered to the recipient of the random drawing fund-raising sheep tag.

Open Zone Deer Tag
An open zone deer tag allows the hunter to hunt during the authorized season dates of any hunt, using the specific method and meeting any special conditions of the tag for that hunt. Any resident or nonresident who will be age 12 or older as of July 1, 2013 may apply.

Northeastern California Pronghorn Antelope Tag
The fund-raising random drawing antelope tag allows the hunter to hunt in any of the northeastern antelope zones, (Mount Dome, Clear Lake, Likely Tables, Lassen, Big Valley and Surprise Valley) with any legal method. The hunt dates are from Aug. 3 to Sept. 22, 2013. Any resident or nonresident who will be age 12 or older as of July 1, 2013 may apply.

Owens Valley Elk Tag
The fund-raising random drawing tule elk tag allows hunting in any of the Owens Valley zones (Bishop, Independence, Lone Pine, Tinemaha, West Tinemaha, Tinemaha Mountain, and Whitney) with any legal method. The hunt dates are from July 27 to Aug. 25, 2013. Any resident or nonresident who will be age 12 or older as of July 1, 2013 may apply.

CDFW and CWA offer spring turkey and pig hunts

Contacts:
Victoria Barr, CDFW Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement Program Coordinator, (916) 445-4034
Kyle Orr, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-8958

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Program and the California Waterfowl Association (CWA) are offering public hunting opportunities on private lands. These spring turkey and pig hunts take place from Redding to King City.

Hunt applications cost $4 each. To provide applicants an equal opportunity to participate in the hunt program, applicants are only allowed to apply once per hunting opportunity. For more information on the hunts and directions on how to apply, please visit CWA at www.calwaterfowl.org.

The goal of CDFW’s SHARE Program is to provide additional hunting, fishing and other recreational access on private lands in California. For more information about the program, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/share.

 

Commission Adopts Big Game Hunting Season and 2013 Big Game Hunting Digest Now Available at Vendor and Online

Media Contacts:
Joe Hobbs, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 445-9992
Adrianna Shea, FGC Deputy Director, (916) 653-4899
Harry Morse, CDFW Communications, (916) 323-1478

The California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) adopted big game hunting season regulations for 2013 recently in Santa Rosa.

Regulations of each of the big game species and the proposed number of tags available for each were reviewed and approved by the FGC. Most of the seasons adopted were similar to last year’s seasons. There were some reduction in tags in X zones for deer and antelope and harvest levels in two Tule elk hunts were adjusted. FGC adopted a regulation to potentially increase the number of bighorn tags available to non-residents from 5 percent to 10 percent. Each year, tag quotas for all big game species are adjusted in relation to animal population surveys. Applications for big game tags must be submitted and transactions completed before midnight June 2, 2013.

This year 208,880 deer tags are proposed statewide. There are no changes to the A and B zones. In X zones 1, 3B and 12 the number of available tags was reduced due to low population indexes and a low ratio of bucks to does. In X5B the tag numbers were reduced due to fire impact, which may cause hunter crowding. More information on deer harvest, management and tag allocation is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/deer/deerhunt.html.

“We are appreciative of the Commission’s review and adoption of the big game hunting season package,” said Eric Loft, CDFW Big Game Branch Chief.  “California offers some of the most exciting and challenging hunting opportunities in the nation.”

The full regulation package approved by the Commission will be available at www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/2013.

The FGC actions coincide with the release of the California Big Game Hunting Digest, which is now available at license vendors and via download at  www.dfg.ca.gov/publications/digest.

The Big Game Hunting Digest includes information on proposed seasons, how big game drawings work, including tag drawing application instructions for deer, elk, antelope and bighorn sheep and the deadline for applications. A big game drawing worksheet is included to assist applicants in pre-selecting their choices in the big game drawing. Drawing statistics are provided for each big game species, giving applicants a realistic idea of the likelihood they will be drawn on each hunt. New regulations on hunting with hounds are addressed along with other information on bear and pig hunting.

Applicants can now also apply on line at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/ols. All applications must be submitted and transactions completed before midnight June 2, 2013.

Fundraising random drawings for one of each of the following species will also be held this year: deer, bighorn sheep pronghorn antelope and elk. The drawings are open to anyone 12 years of age or older, for $5.97 per chance, per tag. Applicants do not need a valid hunting license to apply, and may apply for the drawings as many times as they wish. Applications must be submitted and transactions completed before midnight June 2, 2013.

Proceeds from all fundraising tags are deposited into the newly established Big Game Management Account, which is used to benefit antelope, elk, deer, wild pigs, bear and sheep populations. An advisory committee reviews and provides comments to CDFW on all proposed projects funded from the account. Recent activities funded by revenue from the fundraising tags have included helicopter surveys, other deer and bighorn sheep studies and improving both hunting access and water source improvements for sheep and deer.