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2C Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011
Bulletin, Progressive, Record, Reporter
On photography, landmarks
CALIFORNIA
OUTDOORS
CARRIE WILSON
California Dept. of Fish & Game
CalOutdoors@dfg.ca.gov
"Pursuing" wildlife
for a photo
Question: California Fish
and Game defines "take" as to
"hunt, pursue, catch, capture
or kill" or attempt to do so.
Much discussion and conjec-
ture has been generated
amongst wildlife photogra-
phers regarding use of the
term "pursue" in this defini-
tion and how it may apply to
them. Some photography and
wildlife watching groups have
recently gone so far as to rec-
ommend their members ob-
tain sporting licenses due to
uncertainty surrounding in-
terpretation of the word "pur-
sue." However, this is of little
use if a picture is taken of
something that cannot be
"taken" under the authority of
a sporting license. For exam-
ple, if a photographer informs
a warden they are searching
for the endangered southern
mountain yellow-legged frog
to capture on film with their
telephoto lens, could this per-
son be cited for "take" by "at-
tempting to pursue"?
For the sake of discussion,
please assume photography is
for recreation, habitat is not
altered and that wildlife is nev-
er touched, possessed or other-
wise under the control of the
individual behind the lens.
The wildlife watching and
photography community
would greatly appreciate clar-
ification on this point.
--Mason Y.
Answer: Although the most
literal interpretation of "take"
could apply to a wildlife pho-
tographer looking for and/or
pursuing wildlife during pho-
tographic opportunities, the
pursuit as listed within the
"take" definition includes on-
ly pumuits that result in take
or attempted take of the ani-
mal. According to Department
of Fish and Game (DFG) Lt.
Todd Tognazzini, a hunting or
fishing license is not required
for a wildlife photographer.
Landmarks required
for harvest tags
Question: I will be hunting
for deer and bear this year. I
noticed that the tags ask for
the distance and direction
from the nearest landmark.
I'm unsure as to what the
nearest landmark is, and just
what kind of landmark they
are asking for. Can you please
clarify?
--Dan B.
Answer: Harvest data, in-
cluding the location where an
and fish
animal is taken, is an impor-
tant component of wildlife
management. The geographic
location helps biologists ob-
tain specific location informa-
tion so the more accurate you
can be with distinguishing
landmarks, the more helpful it
is to managing our wildlife.
There are many acceptable lo-
cations found on any map for
your planned hunt area.
Please just provide distance
and direction to the nearest
mountain, creek, river, city,
town, campground or other
landmark.
Extra fish head
Question: I have a salmon
head from a hatchery fish that
I'd like to bring in. Where am
I supposed to bring it? Last
time I brought one to the local
fish hatchery but they didn't
really know what to do with it
and so froze it until they could
find out.
--Kristina Alley
Answer: Since the head of
your fish was not taken by one
of our biologists at the launch
ramp the day you caught it, it
is outside of our sample and
not needed by DFG for salmon
management. If you would
like information on where
your fish came from, you can
drop it off at our Eureka, San-
ta Rosa, Belmont or Monterey
off.me.
Hunting unposted lands
Question: Is it true that
heads
land that is outside the city
limits, is neither posted, un-
der cultivation nor fenced,
and is more than 150 yards
away from an occupied
dwelling, would be legal to
hunt? Would there be any dis-
tinctions between hunting
with a bow, rifle or shotgun?
--Charlie C.
Answer: No, there are
many areas meeting this de-
scription that would not be
open to hunting. Some exam-
ples include: 1) County, state
or federally designated parks,
2) Recreation or historic ar-
eas, 3) Any unincorporated
area designated as a firearms
closure area by city or county
ordinances, and 4) Lands
• within one mile of most feder-
ally designated campgrounds,
Such as those in a National
Forest.
It may make a difference in
some of these circumstances
(like in an area that is closed
to the discharge of firearms)
whether or not you were us-
ing a firearm or archery
equipment. Hunting trespass
is a serious violation and you
must make certain that the
area you wish to hunt is open
not only for entry but also to
the discharge of firearms and
take of wildlife. Your game
warden can provide the best
and most current information
for the area in question. To
contact a game warden, go to
dfg.ca.gov/regions.
No fishing license needed Sept. 3
The Department of Fish remain in effect. Every an- Days were set for the Satur- anglers about fishing ethics,
and Game invites Californi- gler must have an appropri- days preceding Indepen- fish habits, effective methods
ans to kick off their Labor ate report card if they are dence Day and Labor Day for catching fish and fishing
Day weekend celebration fishing for abalone, steel- (July 2 and Sept. 3) because tackle. You can even learn
by fishing in our state's head, sturgeon or spiny lob- they fall on holiday week- how to clean and prepare
spectacular waters. Satur- ster anywhere in the state, ends, when a fishing excur- your catch so you can enjoy
day, Sept. 3, is the second of or salmon specifically in the sion is likely to be most con- it for dinnerthat night.
California's two 2011 Free Smith and Klamath-Trinity venient for the public. Anglers should check the
Fishing Days, when people River systems. Free Fishing Days provide rules and regulations at
can try their hand at fish- DFG offers two Free Fish- a low-cost way to give fishing dfg.ca.gov/regulations/for
ing without having to buy a ing Days each year - usual- a try. Some DFG regions of- the waters they plan to fish.
sport fishing license, ly in conjunction with the fer Fishing in the City pro- Wardens will be on duty to
All fishing regulations, Fourth of July and Labor grams where you can go fish- enforce them. For more in-
such as bag and size limits, Day weekend when it's le- ing in major metropolitan ar- format ion on Free Fishing
gear restrictions, report gal to fish without a sport eas. Fishing in.the City and Days~=:~,~lease= visi~
card requirements, f~s~j~ ~,fishing license. Free Fishing Day clinics are dfg.caigo~?~censing/fishing'
hours and stream closures This year, the Free Fishing designed to educate novice /freefishdays.html.
C
i=
s3 700
1
REWARD
For information leading to .the
arrest and conviction
of the person or persons
responsible for the vandalism
causing millions of dollars
in damage at
Sierra Cascade Aggregate
and Asphalt Product's
gravel pit,
located in Chester
All responses will
be kept confidential
Contact the
Plumas County
Sheriff's Office
283-6363
Check
Out Our
h's useless to argue
the size offish with
catch and release
r
Michael Condon
Staff Writer
mcondon@plumasnews.com
There's a fine line between
fishing and just standing on
the shore like an idiot.
--Steven Wright
High elevation lakes
We are fortunate to have
quite a number of high eleva-
tion lakes within very short
travel distance.
These little jewels are my
favorite fishing venues this
time of year.
Some of the better lakes re-
quire a bit of a hike to reach.
The lakes of Caribou Wilder-
ness just east of Lassen Park,
and Lakes Basin out of Graea-
gle both offer great fishing in
beautiful little lakes just a
short day hike from the trail-
head.
Some can be easily reached
by a short scenic drive. Some
of my favorites are along the
highway through Lakes
Basin. A bit north of Chester
there is Echo Lake, Silver
Lake and Caribou Lake.
If ATVs or four-wheel dri-
ves are your thing, check out
the High Lakes area on the
Almanor Ranger District of
the Lassen National Forest or
the Tahoe National Forest
portion of the Lakes Basin,
which has a network of trails
connecting a number of small
lakes.
Your best guides to these
tiny gems are the maps of the
national forest. These are
available at your local Forest
Service offices. If you know
you are looking for lakes in a
particular Wilderness area or
recreation area~ theywill usu-
ally have more detailed maps
of these areas.
These lakes typically have
a shorter season and the fish
are not as picky as their low
elevation counterparts.
Rainbow trout and brook
trout are the most common
species in these smaU lakes.
These usually aren't big fish.
Sometimes brook trout will
overpopulate a lake and it
will be tough to find a fish
over 10 inches. But then some
of the lakes will surprise you
with larger fish.
In years past I have caught
some very large fish both in
the Caribou Wilderness and
Lakes Basin.
My favorite was a brook
trout I estimated at 3 pounds
from a small lake in Lakes
Basin.
I love estimating trout size.
I released the fish so who can
argue with my estimate? I re-
ally believe that was an hon-
est estimate. But maybe it
was only 2.5 pounds. Who
cares? I just know it was the
biggest brook trout I have
ever caught.
I like to fly fish in these
small lakes. A small zug bug
or woolly worm, in one of its
many variations, works best. I
prefer dark colors with a bit of
sparkle. Try fishing them just
under the surface early in the
morning and then deeper as
the sun gets on the water.
If you prefer spin fishing,
try Kastrnasters. They cast
beautifully allowing the shore
angler to cover lots of water.
They have an enticing wobble
and an attention getting shine.
They are heavy for such a
small lure. If you start your re-
trieve as soon as the lure hits
the water, you can fish them
just under the surface.
Let them sink for a minute
or so before you begin your
retrieve and you can fish the
very bottom of the lake.
My other go-to lure for high
elevation lakes is the Thomas
Boyant. I don't know why
they work so well. I just know
they work.
Stream fishing
Streams are also in good
shape now. Flows are reduced
from their early summer tor-
rents. Water clarity has im-
proved and temperatures
have risen as the snowmelt
has diminished, Insect hatch-
es have increased and the
trout are feeding actively.
Mayflies, caddis flie~ find
stoneflies are all hatching.
Evenings are like magic right
now.
If bait fishing is your thing,
I have one word for you:
crickets.
Your best bet is fishing
right before dark. Carry a
flashlight and don't go home
too early.
Trout plants
This week trout were planted
in Jamison Creek, Little Grass
Valley Reservoir and the Mid-
die Fork Feather River.
Now Available in
Susanville
& Surrounding Areas
ASPHALT * PAVING
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