DFG to Offer Upland Game Hunting Clinic in Southern California

Media Contacts:
Lt. Dan Lehman, Advanced Hunter Education Program Coordinator, (916) 358-4356
Kirsten Macintyre, DFG Education and Outreach, (916) 322-8988

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is offering Southern California upland game hunters an opportunity to sharpen their skills prior to the start of the fall season. A one-day upland game hunting clinic sponsored by DFG’s Advanced Hunter Education Program will be held on September 22 at Peace Valley near Lebec.

Upland game hunters of all skill levels will benefit from this informative class. Species to be discussed include dove, quail, chukar and pheasant. Specific topics include hunting regulations, where to hunt, proper types of firearms and ammunition used for upland game hunting and upland game bird habitat. Instructors will also address hunting alone vs. hunting with others, hunting with or without a dog and hunter responsibilities and ethics. The clinic also features a dog and game care demonstration.

The clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $45. Students 16 years and younger are free, but must be accompanied by adult. Space is limited and participants must register online in advance at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/advanced. After registering, participants will receive an e-mail with a map to the facility and a list of items to bring. DFG’s Advanced Hunter Education Program will provide all necessary class equipment.

Peace Valley is located along Interstate 5, approximately 30 miles south of Bakersfield and 60 miles north of Los Angeles.

DFG to hold Judging Event for 2012 California Upland Game Bird Stamp Contest

Media Contacts:
Karen Fothergill, DFG Wildlife Branch, (916) 716-1461
Kyle Orr, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8958

The winning entry in California’s 2012 Upland Game Bird Stamp art competition will be selected at a judging event on April 16 in Davis. The public is invited to attend the judging, which will take place in the conference room of the Yolo Wildlife Area Headquarters beginning at 10 a.m.

Eight artists from around the country have entered the competition, which is sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG). Each artist submitted their own original depiction of a Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata). The setting and details were determined by the individual artists, but entries had to include at least one adult Band-tailed Pigeon and if background detail was included in the design it needed to be accurate and representative of the species’ natural habitat in California.

The entries will be judged by a panel of citizens selected for their expertise in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing. Designs will be judged on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy, and suitability for reproduction as a stamp and a print.

The winning entry will be reproduced on the 2012 California Upland Game Bird Stamp. An upland game bird stamp is required for hunting migratory and resident upland game birds in California. Money generated from stamp sales can only be spent on upland game bird-related conservation projects, the creation of hunting opportunities, and outreach and education.

DFG sells about 200,000 upland game bird stamps annually, including sales to stamp art collectors.

For more information about the California Upland Game Bird Stamp program, please visit the DFG website at www.dfg.ca.gov/upstamp.

DFG to Accept Upland Game Bird Stamp Artwork Contest Entries Until Feb. 29

Media Contacts:
Kirsten Macintyre, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8988
Karen Fothergill, DFG Wildlife Branch, (916) 716-1461

  

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has extended the deadline to submit entries for the state’s 2012 upland game bird stamp contest. Artists can submit their contest entries up until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 29.

 

The contest is open to all U.S. residents who are age 18 or older. The species selected to appear on the 2012 upland game bird stamp is the Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata). The design must include at least one adult Band-tailed Pigeon. Designs will be judged on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and suitability for reproduction as a stamp and print.

 

This is the fourth design that will be featured in the “Encore Edition” since returning to the use of original artwork for the stamp’s image in 2009.

 

An upland game bird stamp validation is required for hunting migratory and resident upland game birds in California. The money generated from stamp sales is used to fund upland game bird related conservation projects, education, public hunting opportunities and outreach. Hunters are no longer required to physically attach the stamp to their license, but the stamps are still produced and mailed to purchasers upon request.

 

DFG sells almost 200,000 upland game bird stamps annually, which includes sales to collectors who value them for their artist depiction of upland game birds.

 

The upland game bird stamp contest will be judged by a panel of experts in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing. The winning artist will be selected during a public judging event to be held in the spring of 2012. A date has not yet been set for the judging.

 

For contest information and entry forms, please visit the DFG website at www.dfg.ca.gov/upstamp.