May 28, 2009

Commentary
San Bernardino County
shooting area map is
delayed one more time

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

     In a process that has been dragging on for at least a decade, a shooting map for San Bernardino County has been delayed again, thanks to some last-minute intervention by the Department of Fish and Game.
     The previous map, which shows legal shooting and hunting areas throughout San Bernardino County, was re-published in 1994 without any revisions to take into account new housing, city boundary changes, or updated Fish and Game laws, and it has been seriously outdated for over 15 years.
     The San Bernardino County Fish and Game Commission has been wrestling with revising the old map and getting a new version printed for so long all the current commissioners weren’t on the Commission when the process started. John Bishop, chairman and senior member of the Commission, has been with the body for five years, and the process had been ongoing when he joined the Commission. Responding to requests from the shooting and hunting public to get the map completed, Bishop and the other Commissioners pushed the process forward this year, and they thought the new map was finally compete and ready to go to the printer.
     That was when local Fish and Game wardens intervened and complained about how boundaries were drawn up (using roads and landmarks instead of arcane section, township, and range descriptions). The DFG wardens also didn’t like some of the revisions made after years of public hearings and investigations by county staff and volunteers.
     “It all seems a little discouraging,” said Bishop. “But it’s still closer to getting done than it has been in years and years. We’re at a point where we’re ironing out the last details out.”
     The final draft of the map, the one objected to by the DFG wardens at this late date, was just a vote away from being approved by the county Fish and Game Commission and Board of Supervisors. It likely would have been approved by now if the Commission meeting last week hadn’t been cancelled because of a lack of a quorum.
     “We supposedly had a finished map two years ago,” said Jesse James, webmaster of Jesse’s Hunting and Outdoors web site with a forum of hunters who have been pushing for the map to be finished for several years. “We need to get [the map] right, but we’d like this expedited or it’s going to be another year.”
     The shooting and hunting ordinance map is a guide for local law enforcement, wardens, hunters and shooters about what is legal when it comes to firearms use in the county. There isn’t a hunter or shooter in the county who doesn’t have a story about being told by a law enforcement person that he couldn’t shoot or hunt in an area where the activity is completely legal.
     Personally, I’ve had a game warden, a U.S. Forest Service enforcement ranger, and several sheriffs try to run me off legal public hunting areas. Being able to pull out an official county shooting map would have solved all these problems.
     And San Bernardino County is way ahead of other counties on this front. Most other Southern California counties either don’t have shooting maps or their versions are even more out of date than San Bernardino County’s map.
     Los Angeles County is a complete nightmare. The Angeles National Forest publishes a list of county, city, and state ordinances regarding firearms use and hunting that are wildly conflicting (and inaccurate). Cities have regulated hunting within their jurisdictions, which they have no authority to do, and city and county rules conflict with state rules.
     The state Department of Fish and Game could do the hunting and shooting public a huge service by reviewing city, county, and state rules, and asking the state attorney general to litigate or negotiate conflicts that discriminate against legal gun use and hunting. It should then work with all county governments to produce maps like the one San Bernardino County has been struggling to complete for years.
     There also needs to be a massive audit of how counties spend their portion of Fish and Game fine monies. County governments are supposed to have a Commission, like San Bernardino, that allocates its fine monies to benefit sportsmen, fish and wildlife within that county, or wildlife education programs. Riverside and Orange counties did away with their Fish and Game Commissions years ago, and an audit of how the fine money is spent there would almost certainly show most of it has been misused. Using some of it to do new shooting maps is a good use of those funds.
     In San Bernardino County, at least one member of the Board of Supervisors needs to assign a staff person to help shepherd the new shooting map through the correct channels so it gets done before this fall. We don’t need to wait another decade.
     BIG BEAR TAGGED TROUT EVENT: A tagged trout worth $50,000 is swimming in Big Bear Lake, but the fish must be caught by a paid entrant in this weekend’s “Fishin’ for 50K Trout Derby.” Entry fee is $35 for adults and there are nine other tagged trout worth cash and prizes. The event is limited to the first 750 entrants, and there will be a huge drawing at the end of the event for all those entered. For more information on this event or to register log onto www.BigBear.com or call 800-424-4232.
     Big Bear produced two new lake record fish over Memorial Day weekend, one for rainbow trout and the other for channel catfish. Erin Dominguez, Trabuco Canyon, landed the record 18.69-pound rainbow trout off the south shore on a nightcrawler. Her fish shattered the old lake record by four pounds. Meanwhile, Kevin Bremer, Fontana, caught his record 27.82-pound channel catfish near Gilner Point. This fish bettered the old record by .79 pounds.
     Neither of those fish were worth $50,000, however.
     HANDFUL OF TAGS REMAIN FOR D12: As of Wednesday evening, only 177 deer tags remained for the D12 desert hunting zone along the lower Colorado River. Southern California’s other popular desert hunting zone, D17, filled May 15. Both zones were supposed to be included in this year’s premium tag drawing, but a SNAFU by the state Fish and Game Commission delayed the change for at least another year.
     The deadline to apply for other premium deer tags, along with elk, pronghorn, or bighorn sheep tags, is June 2 this year. Hunters must have their applications at the DFG License and Revenue Branch in Sacramento by 5 p.m. that day. Drawing results will be available by phone and online on June 24. Hunters can check the availability of first-come, first-serve or left-over deer tags at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/biggame/deertagsavailable.html.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

     MAY 28-31 WATER-FOR-WILDLIFE DESERT WORK PROJECT: The High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited will be having a work project to repair and improve Stoddard Spring and three guzzlers in the West Mojave desert north of Apple Valley. Volunteers are needed. For more information, contact Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or via e-mail at fathercruz@verizon.net, or John Shaver at josh4264@msn.com.
     MAY 30-31 BIG BEAR LAKE FISHING FOR 50K TROUT DERBY: The Fishing for 50K Trout Derby will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at Big Bear Lake. The event will feature 10 tagged trout, with the top fish worth $50,000 if caught during the two days of the event by a registered angler. Entry fee is $35 for adults, $20 for anglers 15 and under. For more information or to register, call the Big Bear Lake Resort Association at 800-424-4232 or go to www.BigBear.com.
     MAY 30-31 SNAKE AVOIDANCE CLINIC FOR DOGS: The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited will be holding a snake avoidance clinic for dogs Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31 at the Sierra Madre Dog Park. Sessions are by appointment only and arranged from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Cost is $65 per dog. For an entry form, e-mail sgvqu@onebox.com or call 866-206-9070 x6715 and leave a message with your mailing address.
     MAY 30 INLAND EMPIRE FRIENDS OF NRA FUND-RAISER: The Inland Empire Friends of the National Rifle Association will have its annual fund-raising banquet beginning 6 p.m., Saturday, May 30, at the Elks Lodge, 2055 Elks Dr., San Bernardino. Dinner tickets are $45 each. Information: Kurt Wampole at 909-586-5395 or via e-mail at kcw911@roadrunner.com.
     JUNE 5-7 WATER-FOR-WILDLIFE DESERT WORK PROJECT: The Mojave Preserve Water-for-Wildlife Volunteer Group will have a guzzler repair project in the Lanfair Valley area of the Mojave National Preserve June 5-7. Food will be provided two evenings and two mornings, but everyone should bring camping gear, water, firewood, food or lunch and snacks, and gloves. For more information and directions to the camp site, contact Cliff McDonald at 760-326-2935 or via e-mail at bigmc@citlink.net.
     JUNE 5-7 SHOOTING SPORTS FAIR: The Raahauge’s Shooting Sports Fair has been cancelled for 2009 due to a severe shortage of ammunition. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     JUNE 6-7 BIG BEAR LAKE CARP ROUND-UP: The 6th Annual Carp Round-Up bowfishing tournament will be held at Big Bear Lake the weekend of June 6-7. Cash prizes for most carp poundage taken over two days. Entry fee is $40 per two-person team and there are shoreline and boat categories. The event has turned into a rivalry between Southern California and Arizona bowfishermen. For more information, contact Mike Stephenson at 909-866-5796 or go to www.bbmwd.org.
     JUNE 6-7 COSTA MESA GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Costa Mesa Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 6, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at the Orange County Fair and Event Center (Orange County Fairgrounds), Costa Mesa. Admission is $10. The next Costa Mesa gun shows will tentatively be Aug. 15-16 and Nov. 28-29 (Thanksgiving weekend). Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
     JUNE 6-7 VENTURA GUN SHOW: The McMann’s Roadrunner Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 6, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at Seaside Park, Ventura. Admission is $9. The next Ventura gun shows will be Sept. 12-13 and Nov. 7-8. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.mcmannsroadrunner.com.
     JUNE 13 BIG BEAR VALLEY FRIENDS OF NRA FUND-RAISER: The Big Bear Valley Friends of the National Rifle Association will have its annual fund-raising banquet beginning 6 p.m., Saturday, June 13, at the Big Bear Convention Center, 42900 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake. Dinner tickets are $35 each. Information: Lissa Davis at 714-832-1355 or via e-mail at ldavis@nrahg.org.
     JUNE 13 NORCO 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 remaining 2009 class dates are July 11, Aug. 15, Aug. 22, Aug. 29, Aug. 30, Sept. 12, Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Nov. 7 and Dec. 12. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     JUNE 20-21 BAKERSFIELD GUN SHOW: The Central Coast Gun Shows Bakersfield event will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21 at the Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield. The next dates for the Bakersfield gun show include Sept. 5-6 and Nov. 21-22. Information at www.centralcoastgunshows.com or call 805-481-6726.
     JULY 11 NORCO 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 remaining 2009 class dates are Aug. 15, Aug. 22, Aug. 29, Aug. 30, Sept. 12, Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Nov. 7 and Dec. 12. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     JULY 16 RIVERSIDE QUAIL UNLIMITED FUND-RAISER: The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited will be hosting its annual fund-raising dinner beginning 6 p.m., Thursday, July 16, at Vince’s Real Italian Spaghetti Restaurant, 1206, W. Holt Blvd., Ontario. Cost is $25 per person. For information or reservations, contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or via e-mail at gibbent@gte.net.
     JULY 18 YOUTH SAFARI DAY: Help expose youngsters who've never had a chance to experience the outdoors by rounding up neighborhood kids, inviting single moms, and bringing your own clan to the 14th Annual Youth Outdoor Safari Day, where they can learn to fish, rock climb, shoot .22s and shotguns, kayak, make quail calls, and identify wildlife. Registration begins at 7 a.m., Saturday, July 18 at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises in Norco. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.

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. At the December meeting a free trip to Palmas de Cortez in Baja will be given away. Contact Phil Friedman at 310-328-8426.
     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 steve@sdchilds.com. Web site: www.csvca.com.
     CANYON OAKS SPORTSMAN’S CLUB: The Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at it’s 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 idpamike@yahoo.com.
     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 fish_90605@yahoo.com.
     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 m_r_cross@yahoo.com.
     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.
     HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month at The Apple Valley Fire Conference Center, 19235 Yucca Loma, Apple Valley. Contact John Rose at 760-247-5966.
     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 incareal@juno.com.
     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 mhitis1@yahoo.com or Terry Mathers at 714-299-9938 or coyote@jps.net.
     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 nrajrc@msn.com.
     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 prendergasts@netzero.com.
     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 meet 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Denny's restaurant, 7490 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Contact Rickey Macy via e-mail at rickmacey@juno.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club. Contact Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or fathercruz@verizon.net.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse (located at the entrance to Riverview Golf Course) in Santa Ana. Contact Craig Riedel at 714-282-1194 or criedel@mflex.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (RIVERSIDE CHAPTER): The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Prado Olympic Shooting Park, 17501 Pomona Rincon Road, Chino (one block west of Euclid, just off the 71 freeway). Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or gibbent@gte.net. 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 davidpreddy@cox.net 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 sgvqu@onebox.com.
     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 Lance Cochrane at 909-919-4309 or Ray Gauthier at 951-785-4986. 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 sssarmi@sbcglobal.net.
     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 crowshot1@cox.net or Skip Gildner at 562-900-9020 or mtnhigh5@excite.com.
     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 TCSPresident2006@yahoo.com.
     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.