Special Turkey Hunting Opportunities Offered in North Central Region

Media Contacts:
Sara Holm, DFG Wildlife Program, (530) 346-6305
Kirsten Macintyre, DFG Communications, (916) 323-8988

 

Public Contact:
North Central Region Hunter Information Line, (916) 358-2839

 

Turkey hunters awaiting the spring turkey season can visit the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) website to apply online for special hunts.

Photo courtesy of the National Wild Turkey Federation

The website lists numerous hunts statewide, including opportunities in the DFG North Central Region, which includes Plumas, Sierra, Butte, Glenn, Lake, Colusa, Yolo, Sutter, Yuba, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Sacramento, Amador, Alpine, Calaveras and San Joaquin counties.

The DFG North Central Region will offer wild turkey hunts at the following locations: Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area, Spenceville Wildlife Area, Oroville Wildlife Area, Gray Lodge Wildlife Area and the Cosumnes River Preserve. Applications and information are available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/hunting.

 

Hunters must create an account using a valid e-mail address and submit an application for their choice of hunts. Hunters may apply only once for each hunt, either as an applicant or as a guest. Submitting multiple applications will result in disqualification. Hunt application deadlines vary depending on the starting day of the hunt.

 

To apply online you will need the hunter’s name, e-mail address, mailing address, phone number, 2012 hunting license GO ID and, if applicable, information about mobility impairment and special accommodations needed.

 

Hunters will be selected by a computerized drawing for only one hunt, and only successful applicants will be notified.

 

Special hunts are provided in cooperation with many volunteer organizations. The purchase of an Upland Game Bird Stamp supports these special hunts and other programs that provide additional Upland Game Bird hunting opportunities. All upland game bird hunters, except those with Junior hunting licenses, must purchase an Upland Game Bird Stamp.

Big Game Fund-Raising Opportunities Expected to Generate Over $300,000 for Wildlife Conservation in 2012

Media Contacts:
Brad Burkholder, DFG Wildlife Branch, (916) 445-1829
Dana Michaels, DFG Communications, (916) 322-2420

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is pleased to announce the awarding of annual fund-raising hunt tag opportunities for big game in 2012.

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In cooperation with several hunting-oriented conservation organizations, DFG will offer 13 big game fund-raising license tags for eight mule or black-tailed deer, two desert bighorn sheep, one Grizzly Island tule elk, one multiple zone elk and one pronghorn antelope. Following a competitive bidding process, DFG proposes to award agreements for the auction or sale of the 13 tags to the following organizations: Wild Sheep Foundation (National and California Chapter), Safari Club International (Orange County and San Francisco Bay Area chapters), The Mule Deer Foundation (National, Central Coast, and Shasta-Lassen chapters), and the California Deer Association (North Valley, Chico, Redding, Salinas Valley, Gridley and Mount Saint Helena chapters).

These conservation organizations submitted a bid package describing their intent to auction off a particular tag at their annual fund-raising dinners/conventions during late winter/early spring. Auction of these tags typically generates more than $300,000 per year for DFG to put back into conservation and management actions that include surveys, habitat improvement, applied research and translocation of animals to historical ranges where they may currently be absent. Such translocation efforts in California have been a great success for tule elk, desert bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope.

“California’s hunting organizations continue to demonstrate they are at the forefront in support of wildlife conservation through their support for these auction tags and for the purchase of licenses and tags by their members, as well as all hunters,” said DFG Director Charlton H. Bonham.

In addition to the auction tags, DFG is expanding the random drawing program initiated earlier this year through the Automated License Data System (ALDS), when chances for a deer tag and an elk tag opportunity were offered to the public for $5.40 each. The drawings for those two opportunities alone generated more than $130,000 for conservation in 2011.

“In our continued support of hunting and quest to increase hunting and fishing opportunity in California, I’m pleased that our hunters can purchase multiple chances through our ALDS application process for a special hunt tag next year,” said Bonham. ”And I am particularly excited that this year we will include a once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn sheep tag as well as a coveted northeastern California pronghorn antelope tag.”

As an added bonus for the hunter who draws the sheep tag from that random drawing,  a private entity, San Gorgonio Wilderness Outfitters, has offered free guide services for the hunt in the Kelso Peak/Old Dad Mountains zone to the recipient.

“This is a wonderful offer and commitment by the San Gorgonio folks and demonstrates the great support of one another within the hunting community,” said Bonham.

Availability of all fund-raising tags remains contingent upon the approval of annual hunting regulations by the Fish and Game Commission.

Apprentice Waterfowl Hunts Open at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area

Media Contacts:
Patrick Graham, DFG Bay Delta Region, (707) 425-3828
Eric Larson, DFG Bay Delta Region, (707) 944-5528
Janice Mackey, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8908

Public Contact:  (707) 425-3828 or (707) 944-5500

Permits will  be issued for two California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) special apprentice waterfowl hunts at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in Solano County.

Sunrise at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area. DFG photo.

On Saturday, Dec. 10 and Wednesday, Dec. 28, spaced blinds on Pond 11 and the Crescent Unit of the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area will be available only for apprentice hunt participants. The area will be closed to the general public on those days.

An adult chaperone (18 years or older) must accompany and supervise each apprentice hunter. The adult may hunt with the apprentice and must possess the required 2011-2012 California hunting license and state and federal waterfowl stamps and the free Harvest Information Program (HIP) validation.

Holders of a Junior Hunting License must have the free HIP validation to hunt waterfowl; if a Junior has turned 16 years of age, they must also possess a federal waterfowl stamp.  All available blinds can accommodate two persons: the apprentice hunter and the adult chaperone. Nontoxic ammunition approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required for waterfowl hunting. A minimum of one dozen duck decoys are required at all blind sites and chest waders are recommended.

To apply, please mail a standard-sized post card to Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, 2548 Grizzly Island Road, Suisun, CA 94585. On the back of the card, please include the following information:

• Apprentice hunter’s name
• GO ID number
• Mailing address and phone number
• Name of chaperone
• Hunt date desired

Each hunter may apply only once and for one date. Application cards must be received by close of business on Nov. 23. Apprentice hunt reservations will be filled by a random drawing conducted on Nov. 28. There will be 24 reservations issued for each date, and all successful applicants will be notified by mail.

The Grizzly Island Wildlife Area will also accept apprentice hunters on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the hunt to use the free roam areas and to fill any no-shows from the reservations. As a reminder, all chaperones who wish to hunt must have either a Type A One Day, Two Day or Season Pass, which must be purchased prior to arriving at the check station. These can be obtained through either a License Agent or online at www.dfg.ca.gov (allow two weeks mailing time if ordering online).

DFG would also like to encourage use of the West Family Unit, which is available only to apprentice hunters. Hunt days are Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the open season. Gates will be opened approximately two hours before shoot time. An adult chaperone is required and five double blinds, including one mobility-impaired blind and one three-person blind are available.

The unit is north of Benicia on Goodyear Road; from Highway 680 take the Marshview Road exit and turn right onto Goodyear Road from the off-ramp and the hunt area will be on the left.