CDFW to Offer Wild Pig Hunting Clinic in Monterey County

Media contacts:
Lt. Dan Lehman, CDFW Law Enforcement, (916) 358-4356
Kirsten Macintyre, CDFW Education and Outreach, (916) 322-8988

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Advanced Hunter Education Program and the Pacific Coast Hunter Education Association will offer a wild pig hunting clinic on April 6. The clinic will be held in Lockwood (Monterey County).

Designed for all skill levels, the clinic will cover will pig biology, hunting techniques, legal requirements, methods for locating wild pigs, locations to hunt, hands-on field dressing and care of wild game.

The clinic runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $45 for adults. Youths 16 years and younger are free but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Space is limited, so advance online registration is required. The registration form is available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/advanced/wildpig_salinas.aspx.

CDFW’s Advanced Hunter Education Program will provide all necessary class equipment. Meals are not included but lunch can be purchased from the Pacific Coast Hunter Education Association for $10 on the day of the clinic. Lunch includes country ribs, salad, beans and a drink.

Registered participants will receive an e-mail with a map to the facility and a list of items to bring.

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.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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 Offers Wild Pig Hunts at Tejon Ranch in Southern California

Contact:
Victoria Barr, DFG Wildlife Branch, (916) 445-4034
Media Contact:
Janice Mackey, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8908

The Department of Fish and Game will hold permit-only wild pig hunts in Southern California from December 2012 to April 2013.

Offered through the Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Program, a total of 50 hunters will be selected to hunt wild pigs through a random drawing for an access permit.

Located 100 miles north of Los Angeles and 25 miles southeast of Bakersfield, hunts will be held at the Tejon Ranch. Hunters will have access to approximately 100,000 acres of beautiful rugged mountains, steep canyons and oak covered rolling hills.

Allowing SHARE hunters to participate in the Tejon Ranch wild pig management hunts helps the ranch achieve long-term conservation management objectives, which include providing public hunting opportunities and controlling the wild pig population.

A total of 5 SHARE access permits will be provided to wild pig hunters through a random drawing for each two day hunt. Successful applicants will be allowed to bring a hunting partner.

Hunt dates:
Dec 7-9, 2012
Feb 1-3, 2013
Feb 22-24, 2013
March 22-24, 2013
April 19-21, 2013

Hunters with a valid California hunting license may apply through the Automated License Data System. A $10 non-refundable application fee will be charged for each hunt choice. Applicants may apply for multiple hunt periods but will only be drawn for one period per property. To apply for these hunts please go to www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/ols/. For step by step instructions please go to the SHARE Program link below.

The SHARE Program offers incentives to private landowners who allow wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities on their property. The goal of the SHARE Program is to provide additional hunting, fishing and other recreational access on private lands in California. Participating landowners receive liability protection and compensation for providing public access to or through their land for recreational activities.

For more information about the Tejon Ranch Wild Pig Management Hunts or the SHARE Program please go to: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/share/.