By JIM MATTHEWS

www.OutdoorNewsService.com

The full page Walmart advertisement on the back page of the California Department of Fish and Game’s 2012 Big Game Hunting Digest depicts unsafe and unethical hunting behavior. But apparently no one cares.

The ad shows a camouflaged hunter sitting in a tree stand, and Walmart lists all many of brands of outdoor products carried in its stores for hunters. There are two glaring problems with the ad.

First, the hunter in the image is aiming a bolt-action big game rifle that has no sights. None. No iron sights. No scope sights. He is obviously about to shoot the gun because his gloved finger is resting on the trigger -- and everyone who has ever had any kind of firearms or hunter safety class knows you don’t put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot the gun. So the image is depicting a hunter about to discharge a gun where the impact of the bullet is largely unknown. You might be able to hit a barn if it were 50 yards away or less shooting a rifle without sights. But it would need to be a big barn and you still might miss.

Second, the hunter is sitting in the tree stand without a safety harness. The safety harness attachment appears to be attached to the tree above the hunter, but there is no harness visibly attached to the hunter. I suppose someone could argue, as the DFG does, that a belt harness is around the hunter’s waist and that a fold of clothing is hiding the harness. Besides, you’re not required to wear a safety harness. But this is an ad in the state’s hunting publication -- wouldn’t you want it to depict safe hunting practices?

Apparently not.

The response from everyone over how such an ad appeared in state publications has either been non-existent, finger-pointing, or downright lame.

But I don’t want you to take my word for it: Here’s the complete written response from the California DFG’s Kirsten Macintyre, Communications Manager with the DFG’s Office of Communications, Education and Outreach in the Sacramento office:

“Thanks again for giving us a chance to respond to your concerns about the Walmart ad on the back of our 2012 Big Game Hunting Digest. As I mentioned, last week we received another e-mail asking about the absence of a scope on the rifle, so I already had a call in to Walmart to get more information. They've told us that this is a co-op ad with Mossy Oak, and is intended to showcase their camo clothing and the rifle stock (Mossy Oak products sold through Walmart). Mossy Oak doesn't make a scope, and thus they didn't include one in the ad.

“The ad didn’t raise any concerns on initial review (prior to publication), but I had several hunters and wardens, including our hunter ed program administrator, take another look at it this week. They concurred that:

“(1) We believe the strap above the hunter’s head is a safety strap (it’s too high to be part of the stand). It appears to be a belt strap connection system that clips at the hunter’s waist, which is considered legitimate safety gear. The model is not wearing harness-type safety gear, but hunters are not legally required to do so.

“(2) It’s implausible that any hunter would even try to hunt from a tree stand with no sights or scope. But it’s not illegal, either.

“(3) This is a staged advertising photo, and as such, there’s no context provided -- we don't know what he’s supposed to be aiming for or exactly what he’s supposed to be doing. It is not intended to illustrate DFG's recommended hunting practices and shouldn't be interpreted as such.

“We do have the right of refusal with our advertisers, and we have exercised it in the past. If an advertisement that depicted a hunter breaking the law or otherwise behaving unethically was submitted to us, we wouldn’t run it. But that’s not the case here.”

My mouth is hanging open after reading that again.

Walmart simply didn’t respond to my requests for a comment, and Archer Consulting, which produced the document and sold the advertising for the DFG, obviously didn’t care about anything except its sales commission. Matthew Archer at least offered an apology “if the ad has offended you.”

The advertisement and DFG’s lame justification/excuse have offended me by allowing hunters to be shown as such buffoons in an official state publication. I can understand the corporate ignorance of honchos at Walmart and Archer Consulting for not knowing any better and catching such errors, but the state DFG staff should have caught this and said: “We can’t have this kind of unsafe, unethical stupidity illustrated in our hunting publication.”

But instead of admitting they simply missed catching the errors and turn it into a positive (perhaps by having a hunters’ contest where we point out all the “wrongs” in the image), the increasingly non-hunting DFG staff has shown its total disregard of hunting and hunters by dismissing hunters’ concerns.

I’m going to paraphrase each of the DFG’s rationale numbered and quoted above because this is what I heard when reading the excuses: 1) It’s OK to depict unsafe hunting practices so long as they’re not illegal. 2) We don’t care if you wound and lose game or shoot unintended targets (maybe another hunter) because you don’t have sights on your gun. Why? Because it’s not illegal to be stupid and unsafe, so we don’t care. 3) We don’t recommend people do stupid things, but if advertisers in our publications want to do that, well, that’s OK with us.

Every hunter I know said the behavior depicted in the advertisement is unethical, but the DFG said the pictured hunter wasn’t “behaving unethically.” What?

Welcome to the “new” Department of Fish and Game, an agency with a staff consisting of more vegetarians than hunters today. The sad reality is that there may not have been a single person in the department in charge of this publication who had any hunting or shooting background and would have recognized the errors.

But do you think it’s too much for hunters to expect that the agency that is in charge of the management of our state’s wildlife and hunting programs to have a little more knowledge and sensitivity to this issue?

MORE STUPID DFG TRICKS: This is a good news, bad news story. The good news is that the DFG has a new web site (http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishPlants/) where anglers can find the latest trout plants in a fairly easy-to-use format. The bad news is two-fold. First, they don’t remove the old plants in a timely fashion so there is stuff from a month ago that you have to wade through to get to the current plants. Second, they continue to run DFG trout truck lingo instead of actual descriptions of where the trout are plants. For example, do you know were Section 2 of the Owens River is located. How about Section 3? There are sections 0 through 6 on the Kern River. So where are those spots exactly?

In the past, the DFG information would say that the stretch of the Owens River from Stewart Lane to Laws Bridge was planted. Is that Section 2. If you click on “Map It” for Section 2, it shows a mark further south on the Owens, so I’m not sure if this is where they’ve planted for years or a new spot. If the stretch of the Owens above Crowley Lake was planted, the staff would include that gem of information instead of writing Section 3.

This is just another way the DFG is expanding its customer service void, providing less and less for the core constituency group that still pays most of the bills.
END


OUTDOOR CALENDAR – 16may12

MAY 18-20 WATER-FOR-WILDLIFE WORK PROJECT: Volunteers are needed for the Mojave Desert Water-for-Wildlife Volunteer Group’s work party from Friday through Sunday, May 18-20. Spearheaded by Cliff McDonald, the work party will restore guzzlers in the Old Woman Mountains south of Interstate 40 in the East Mojave. Morning and evening meals will be provided to volunteers. The final guzzler repair project for this year will be June 8-10. For more information, contact Cliff McDonald at 928-788-4107 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
MAY 19-20 DEL MAR GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the Del Mar Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar. Admission is $10. The next Del Mar gun shows will be July 14-15, September 29-30, and Dec. 8-9. Information, directions, tickets, and $1 off coupons are available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
May 19-20 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES: Bass Pro Shops is offering hunter safety classes five days per month on the first and third full weekends, with classes on Saturday and Sunday of those weekends. Classes are also held the third Saturday. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $20 per person, but each student who passes the course receives a $20 Bass Pro Gift Card. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
JUNE 1-3 RAAHAUGE’S SHOOTING SPORTS FAIR: The Raahauge’s Shooting Sports Fair will be June 1-3 at Mike Raahauge’s Shooting Enterprises, Norco. This is California’s only hands-on gun show where you get to see and shoot firearm products from all of the nation’s manufacturers and importers. Shooting exhibitions and hunting seminars are held all three days of event. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday, June 1; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 2; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 3. Admission is $12 per person, parking $5. For more information, call 951-735-7981.
JUNE 2-3 COSTA MESA GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Costa Mesa Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Orange County Fair and Event Center (Orange County Fairgrounds), Costa Mesa. Admission is $10. The next Costa Mesa shows will be August 18-19 and November 24-25. Information, directions, tickets, and $1 off coupons are available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
JUNE 2-3 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES: Bass Pro Shops is offering hunter safety classes five days per month on the first and third full weekends, with classes on Saturday and Sunday of those weekends. Classes are also held the third Saturday. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $20 per person, but each student who passes the course receives a $20 Bass Pro Gift Card. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
JUNE 7-10 NSCA CALIFORNIA STATE SHOOT: The National Sporting Clays Association will have its California State Shoot June 7-10 at Mikke Raahauge’s Shooting Enterprises, Norco. There will be 700 registered targets in a wide range of events, and $10,000 added money and a 13 gun giveaway in the main event classes and each concurrent class. For more information, call Raahauge’s at 951-735-7981 or go to http://www.californiastateshoot.com/
JUNE 9 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: Bass Pro Shops is offering hunter safety classes five days per month on the first and third full weekends, with classes on Saturday and Sunday of those weekends. Classes are also held the third Saturday. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $20 per person, but each student who passes the course receives a $20 Bass Pro Gift Card. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
JUNE 16 RAAHAUGE’S HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge’s Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The 2012 class dates are July 7, Aug. 11, Aug. 18, Aug. 25, Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10, and Dec. 1. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge’s at 951-735-7981.
JUNE 16-17 BAKERSFIELD GUN SHOW: The Central Coast Gun Shows Bakersfield event will be held this Saturday and Sunday at the Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield. The next dates for the Bakersfield gun shows are Aug. 25-26, and Nov. 17-18. For information, call 805-481-6726 or go to www.centralcoastgunshows.com.
JUNE 16-17 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES: Bass Pro Shops is offering hunter safety classes five days per month on the first and third full weekends, with classes on Saturday and Sunday of those weekends. Classes are also held the third Saturday. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $20 per person, but each student who passes the course receives a $20 Bass Pro Gift Card. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
JUNE 23 BRIDGEPORT REGION TROUT TOURNAMENT: The Bridgeport Trout Fishing Tournament will be held Saturday, June 23, with all proceeds to benefit the Bridgeport Fish Enhancement Foundation, which has been privately raising and planting trout in the Bridgeport Region. Entry fee is $50 for adults, $30 for kids 15 and under and the price includes barbecue dinner. For more information and entry forms, go to www.bridgeportfishenhancement.com.
JULY 14-15 DEL MAR GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the Del Mar Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar. Admission is $10. The next Del Mar gun shows will be September 29-30 and Dec. 8-9. Information, directions, tickets, and $1 off coupons are available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
JULY 28-29 ONTARIO GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Ontario Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Ontario Convention Center, Ontario. Admission is $10. The next Ontario gun show will be Oct. 6-7. Information, directions, tickets, and $1 off coupons are available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.

CALENDAR RESOURCES
For a complete list of HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES held throughout the state, including times, dates, and locations, go to the Department of Fish and Game’s web site at this address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/classes.aspx.
For the rules and regulations on GRUNION RUNS, along with a complete schedule and the expected times of the runs, go to this web site address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/gruschd.asp

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
The following is a list of hunting, shooting, and fishing clubs and organizations in Southern California with contact information and regular meeting dates:
976-TUNA ROD AND REEL CLUB: The 976-Tuna Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. Contact Phil Friedman at 310-328-8426.
CALIFORNIA DEER ASSOCIATION (SOUTHERN CALIF0RNIA CHAPTER): The Southern California Chapter of the California Deer Association meets 10 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. Contact Glenn Tessers at 310-429-5222.
CALIFORNIA STATE VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The California State Varmint Callers Association meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Denny's just north of the 210 freeway at Irwindale Ave., Irwindale. Contact Steven Childs at 626-407-8826 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Web site: www.csvca.com.
CANYON OAKS SPORTSMAN’S CLUB: The Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at its clubhouse in Lakeview Terrace-Sylmar. The club has regular trap, skeet, smallbore, big bore, handgun, and Cowboy Action shooting events. Contact Gary White at 818-998-7240, Mike Totta at 818-362-2181 or Mike Nickoloff via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
CERRITOS ROD & GUN CLUB: The Cerritos Rod & Gun Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at Heritage Park in Cerritos. Contact Charles Sharp at 714-317-8290 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
CLUB FISH: Club Fish, a 20-year-old fishing club, meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse, Santa Ana. The clubhouse is located at the entrance to Riverview Gold Course. Contact Mike Cross at 949-854-5258 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
CONEJO VALLEY BASS CLUB: The Conejo Valley Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Elks Club, Thousand Oaks. Events are the third Saturday. Contact Kevin Gelsinger at 818-951-1630.
DEEP CREEK FLY-FISHERS: Deep Creek Fly-Fishers meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League clubhouse in Fairmont Park, in Riverside. Go to www.deepcreekflyfishers.org to download a map to the club house. Contact Brett Browning at 909-793-8912.
GOLDEN STATE FLYCASTERS: The Golden State Flycasters and Trout Unlimited Chapter 920 meets 6 to 9 p.m. Monday before the third Thursday of each month at Tio Leo’s Restaurant, Del Mar. Information at www.goldenstateflycasters.org.
HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at The Apple Valley Fire Conference Center, 19235 Yucca Loma, Apple Valley. Information at hidesertflyfishers.com/wordpressblog/.
HIGHLAND PARK SPORTSMEN'S CLUB: The Highland Park Sportsmen's Club meets at 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2035 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles. Contact Mauro Garcia at 323-254-0763 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
NATIONAL VARMINT HUNTERS: The National Varmint Hunters meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars club located on Grand Avenue, just west of 17th Street, Santa Ana. Contact Mark Harris at 714-655-6954 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Terry Mathers at 714-299-9938 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (High Desert Chapter): The High Desert Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club, 16699 Stoddard Wells Road, Victorville. Contact Karen Shackleford at 760-887-1092.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (INLAND EMPIRE CHAPTER): The Inland Empire Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, 7777 Victoria Gardens Lane, Rancho Cucamonga. Contact David Halbrook at 760-694-1191 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at The Firing Line, 17921 Jamestown Lane, Huntington Beach. Contact Pat Ryan at 714-373-3688 or Casey Rasmussen at 714-377-5859.
ORANCO BOWMEN: The ORANCO Bowmen meet the second Tuesday of each month at the club range, 17504 Pomona Rincon Rd., Chino (Euclid Avenue one block north of the 71 freeway). The range is open to the public on Sundays 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 909-597-7582. Web site: www.oranco.org.
ORANGE COUNTY BASS CLUB: The Orange County Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the Garden Grove Elk's Lodge. Contact Steve Pendergast at 949-651-8172 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
PLUNGE CREEK COWBOYS: The Plunge Creek Cowboys, a new Cowboy Action Shooting club in the Inland Empire, has shoots the third Saturday of each month at the Inland Fish and Game range on Orange Street in East Highlands. Authentic or replica firearms and garb required. Information: www.plungecreekcowboys.com.
PREDATOR CALLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY: The Predator Callers of Orange County usually meet 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Old World German Restaurant, 7561 Central Ave., Huntington Beach. 2011 schedule of meetings: Jan., Feb., Mar., first Wednesday of month, other months first Tuesday. Contact Rickey Macy via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
QUAIL AND UPLAND WILDLIFE FEDERATION: The Santa Clarita Valley Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation meeting the third Thursday of every month beginning 7:30 p.m. at the Oaktree Gun Club. Contact Derek Fong at 661-297-0876 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Web site: www.scvquwf.com.
QUAIL FOREVER (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of Quail Forever meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club. Trap tune-up shoots are the first Sunday of each month beginning 9 a.m., also at Apple Valley Gun Club. Contact Phil Garo at 760-241-9011 or go to the web site at www.highdesertquailforever.org.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (RIVERSIDE CHAPTER): The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Hunny’s Restaurant, Main Street and 4th Street, Corona. Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Web site: www.quriverside.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN DIEGO CHAPTER): The San Diego Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at DFG Headquarters at 4949 Viewridge Rd., San Diego. Contact David Preddy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.sdqu.org.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHAPTER): The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Triple B Clays in El Monte. Contact Tim Bovard at 866-206-9070, ext. 6715 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
QUAIL UNLIMITED (VENTURA COUNTY CHAPTER): The Ventura County Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at Smogie’s Smog Shop, 3940 Market St., Ventura. Contact Till Tocci at 805-659-2226 or 805-981-3426 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
REDONDO ROD & GUN CLUB: The Redondo Rod & Gun Club meets 8 p.m. every Thursday of every month at its own clubhouse. The club has promoted hunting, fishing, sport shooting and the outdoors since 1948. The clubhouse is located at 2023 Vanderbilt Lane, Redondo Beach. Contact 310-379-7772.
RIVERSIDE VARMINT CALLERS: The Riverside Varmint Callers meet 7 p.m. the last Saturday of each month at Flo's Country Kitchen, Riverside. Contact Jeff Simonides at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Steve Prough at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Web site:www.californiavarmintcallers.com/chapters.html/.
SAN DIEGO SPORTING DOG CLUB: The San Diego Sporting Dog Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Animal Medical Center, 600 Broadway, El Cajon. Contact Steve Sarmiento at 619-659-9393 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The Southern California Varmint Callers Association meets 8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Denny's Restaurant at Pioneer Blvd and Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Contact Granville Crow at 310-548-6221 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Skip Gildner at 562-900-9020 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
TEMPLE CITY SPORTSMEN: The Temple City Sportsmen meet the first Thursday of each month at the Temple City Civic Center in Temple City. Contact Jim White at 626-201-7782 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The club’s web site is www.tcsportsmen.org.
TURNER'S OUTDOORSMAN ROD AND REEL CLUB: The Turner's Outdoorsman Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Marie Calendar’s Restaurant, 2300 Foothill, Pasadena. Contact Richard Crowe at 626-960-9610.

[Want your event or club listed here? Send the information to Jim Matthews, Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427-0007 or e-mail it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Following the style used above for events and clubs makes our life easier and increases the likelihood of it being included here.]
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