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.

 

CDFW Accepting Applications for Deer and Pig Hunting in Western Merced County

Media Contacts:
Roger Wilbur, CDFW Los Banos Wildlife Area, (209) 826-0463
Janice Mackey, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-8908

Tags, access permit and reservations required for opening weekend

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting applications for a limited number of deer and pig hunt access permits on opening weekend, Aug.10-11, in Zone A for the general season.

The locations for this hunt include Upper and Lower Cottonwood Creek and the San Luis Reservoir wildlife areas.
Interested hunters may apply for an access permit, which may be obtained by calling the CDFW Los Banos office at (209) 826-0463 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or online at http://www.wildlife.ca.gov/lands/wa/region4/cottonwoodcreek.html.

Applications may be submitted via email to roger.wilbur@wildlife.ca.gov or mailed to CDFW’s Los Banos office at 18110 W. Henry Miller Avenue, Los Banos, CA 93635.

Applications must be received before 4:30 p.m. on July 5. The drawing, which is open to the public, will be held July 8 at 11 a.m. at the Los Banos office. Successful applicants will be notified by mail within five working days of the lottery. Applicants may not apply for both days or for multiple areas.

Reservations are required for access to the wildlife areas and only 30 permits will be issued for each day. Reservations will be selected by a computerized drawing. Applicants will be allowed to apply for a one-day hunt on one area only and successful candidates will receive special permits in the mail stating what area and day they may hunt.

Junior license holders must apply with an adult hunter. Up to three persons may apply as one party by including all the required information on the 2013 Zone A application form. Only official applications will be accepted. An individual’s name may appear in the drawing only once and multiple applications received will be rejected.