California Desert Bighorn Sheep Tag Sells for $45,000

A California Desert Bighorn Sheep tag sold for $45,000 at the 41st Safari Club International Convention in Reno, Nevada.   The tag was sold through the Safari Club International Foundation (SCI Foundation). Each year the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) authorizes the sale of a limited number of big game permits through various conservation organizations to support wildlife programs in the state. All proceeds from the sale will be used to fund conservation efforts in California.

The tag was sold to Jim Craig of Indiana to hunt Zone 2, the Kelso Peak and Old Dad Mountains in San Bernardino County. The season for this tag will run from Nov. 2, 2013 to Feb. 2, 2014. Craig has purchased a California Desert Bighorn Auction tag for three years running. He is an ardent sheep hunter and donates to bighorn sheep conservation projects along with buying auction tags. He cites California’s wildlife management and personnel as some of the best in the West.

“California Fish and Wildlife biologists have done an excellent job at managing their desert bighorn sheep population,” said Craig. “We all have to chip in and help with conservation efforts.”

Most of the sheep tags issued each year are allotted through a randomized drawing; two are available for auction and one through a fund raising randomized drawing. In 2012, CDFW issued 27 California Desert Bighorn sheep tags for specific units from Imperial County to the White Mountain Units. To date 23 hunters harvested sheep. The number of rams to be harvested each year is based on biological surveys and herd health.

California Desert Bighorn Sheep tags are one of the most coveted and prized tags. Each year more than $200,000 is raised by the three Desert Bighorn Sheep tags at auction and the fundraising randomized drawing. By law, revenue from sales of fundraising tags is deposited into a Big Game Account and used in the CDFW respective species management program. Generally, three bighorn sheep, 10 deer, three elk and two pronghorn antelope tags are available for auction annually.

“Non-profit conservation organizations, like SCI Foundation, that auction conservation tags provided by CDFW play a vital role in helping obtain funding for conservation projects,” said Eric Loft, Wildlife Branch Chief. “In 2012 CDFW received a record $546,010 for research and management from auction and randomized drawing tags.”

This year’s second Desert Bighorn Sheep auction tag, the open zone tag, will be auctioned at the California Wild Sheep Foundation Banquet in Carmichael, Calif. on April 27. For more information on this tag go to: www.cawsf.org.

Media Contacts:
Regina Abella, Desert Bighorn Sheep Coordinator, (916) 445-3728
Harry Morse, CDFW Communications, (916) 323-1478

DFG Partners with California Waterfowl Association to Offer SHARE Hunts

Through a unique partnership with landowners, The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is opening up additional hunting opportunities on private lands previously closed to the public.

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DFG and the California Waterfowl Association (CWA) are offering hunting opportunities through the Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) program.

DFG was awarded a grant through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) in 2011. The grant is designed to assist states and tribal governments by encouraging owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land to make that land available for public access to hunting.

Beginning this month DFG and CWA will institute a three-year effort allowing hunters of all ages the ability to hunt on lands otherwise unavailable for public use. These opportunities are offered through CWA’s Hunt Program and will increase land owner participation in offering public hunter access.

Through the partnership 70 individual landowners who collectively own more than 50,000 acres have allowed access to their respective properties for hunting opportunities. More than 400 hunters will be able to hunt on lands for waterfowl, pheasant, dove, turkey, and wild pigs. In addition to providing hunts to the general hunting public, the program will host specialty hunts that cater to all hunters. Hunt locations range from the Klamath Basin to southern California.

Please visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/share or http://www.calwaterfowl.org for more information.

Contacts:
Victoria Barr, DFG Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement Program Coordinator (916) 445-4034
Jeff Smith, California Waterfowl Association Hunt Program Coordinator, (530) 305-9234
Kyle Orr, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8958

DFG Southern California Special Hunts Applications now Available

Applications for the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) special hunts program are now available on DFG’s web site.

The pheasant hunts will be offered at Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve, San Diego County, and at Peace Valley near Gorman in Los Angeles County.

The program consists of three types of hunts: family hunts that can accommodate 18 hunters, women’s hunts that can accommodate 10 hunters and youth hunts that can accommodate 12 hunters for each of the sessions.

These special hunts are provided by DFG’s Upland Game Bird Special Hunt Program, in cooperation with many volunteer organizations. These hunts are meant to provide a high quality and educational experience that supports hunter education. They also provide an additional public hunting opportunity for upland game birds on both public and private lands.

For additional information pertaining to the Special Hunt Program within the South Coast Region, contact the DFG, Upland Game Bird Special Hunt Program/South Coast Region, at (805) 965-3059.

Hunt Locations:
Peace Valley, Los Angeles County, is located at Interstate 5 and state Highway 138, 8 miles south of Gorman. This hunt is on property owned by the California Department of Water Resources.

Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve, San Diego County, is located in eastern San Diego County between the towns of Jamul and Delzur. This hunt is on property owned by DFG.

Applications are available at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hunting/ 

Any questions regarding application process please call the DFG License and Revenue Branch at (916) 445-3418.