June 4, 2008

Commentary
Condor dies from lead poisoning, and the
USFWS has no clue on source of the lead

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

Over the past 3 1/2 weeks, seven endangered California condors have been found to have dangerously high blood lead levels, and one of the birds died after three days of intensive treatment at the Los Angeles Zoo, according to Jesse Grantham with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Santa Barbara.
Grantham said the current crisis with lead-poisoned condors comes after a relatively long period without significant lead incidents in California. It also comes on the eve of a lead ammunition ban for big game and varmint hunting set to take affect July 1 this year in the range of condors.
The current lead poisoning incidents have baffled condor scientists. There are no major hunting seasons open on public lands where the condors might have been feeding, and the Tejon Ranch – which is where the birds poisoned are suspected to have been feeding – banned lead hunting ammunition in January this year, so it is highly unlikely they were getting lead bullet fragments there.
“The Tejon Ranch has gone out of their way to work with us on this, but it’s a mystery right now,” said Grantham.
While some of the environmental groups who have pushed for the lead ban were quick to jump on the issue and say even more restrictive lead regulations are needed, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff are scratching their heads and trying to figure out where the birds are getting the lead.
The Tejon Ranch has even agreed to a 30-day moratorium on hunting on the ranch beginning Monday to allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to investigate further.
The incident began nearly four weeks ago when the USFWS biologists were doing some routine trapping to refit birds with new radio telemetry equipment. During this trapping, the birds’ blood levels are checked for lead poisoning. Two of the birds had very high lead levels and were taken into captivity for treatment, and one of those birds subsequently died. The metal fragments found in the two birds’ intestinal tract were sent to U.C. Santa Cruz for analysis.
This prompted the USFWS to trap more birds and test for lead. Three more birds were found to have elevated levels of lead and one regurgitated some metallic fragments while being treated for lead poisoning. More trapping was done and two more birds were found with high lead levels. This led the scientists to check the five chicks in nests this year and their parents. One of the chicks had very high lead levels and one of its parents was “off the charts,” indicating the chick was getting the lead-taited food from its parents. All of these birds now have declining lead levels and are expected to survive.
The lead-poisoned condors were all known or suspected to be feeding on the Tejon Ranch, the Wildlands Conservancy’s Windwolves Preserve, and the Bitterwater National Wildlife Refuge (where carcasses are put out to feed the birds). Biologists immediately focused on the Tejon because of its wild hog hunting program, but with the Tejon aggressively enforcing its lead ammunition ban, it is simply impossible hog gut piles on the Tejon are the source the lead.
With all of the money that has been thrown at California condors over the past two decades, I find it incredible that all of them are not wearing GPS locators that can tell the exact location of the condors continuously. This would allow the agency to pinpoint the exact locations where they had been feeding and find the source of the problems – instead of speculating and making recommendations and decisions based on assumptions instead of facts.
Right now, the Tejon Ranch has agreed to shut down its wild hog hunting program for 30-days (at a cost of around $50,000), while the USFWS spins its wheels some more and continues to speculate.
The analysis of the metal fragments at U.S. Santa Cruz next week will undoubtedly come back as “lead bullet fragments,” even though the science can’t tell if the lead is from a bullet, a wheel weight, or an ancient toothpaste tube picked up at a dump. The analysis won’t say “possibly a bullet fragment,” which would be more honest.
The USFWS has already made up its mind on the source, and the environmentalists are already staging and will be banging the drum for a complete lead ammunition ban in California even before the current one is tested.
I wouldn’t even be surprised if a lead-tainted carcass wasn’t put out by these people just to “reinforce” their point. Sadly, that makes as much sense as any explanation the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering.
DUCK CALLING EXPERT AT SHOOTING SPORTS FAIR: One of the finest duck callers in the country is a late seminar entry into the Raahauge’s Shooting Sports Fair being held this Friday through Sunday at Mike Raahauge’s Shooting Enterprises in Prado Basin.
Shane Rossen, a guide for North Sound Waterfowl in Bothell, Washington, was the fifth runner up in the 2007 World Duck Calling Championship held in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and he has qualified for the event again by winning this year’s Northern Illinois River Regional Duck Calling Championship. He is also the 2006 and 2007 Washington state champion.
Rossen, who is founder of “Callers for Christ” and a member of the Buck Gardner Calls pro-staff, and Southern California caller Craig Wilson will have a booth at Raahauge’s all three days of the show, giving tips on calling and hunting and talking about their duck calling ministry.
Rossen’s calling seminars will be 4 p.m. on Friday, 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
For those of us who’ve cursed our poor shotgun shooting and inability to call ducks for years, a lesson from an expert and a prayer in the duck blind might not be a bad idea.
The Raahauge’s Shooting Sports Fair is the largest hands-on consumer gun show in the nation, and the only show of its kind in the West. Gun enthusiasts can actually try out all of the new firearm products from the nation’s leading manufacturers and importers. Hours for this year's Shooting Sports Fair are from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the show is $12 for adults per day and parking is $5. There are $2 off admission discount coupon at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores and on-line at the Turner's Outdoorsman web site (www.turners.com) and Raahauge’s web site (www.raahauges.com). On Friday, women are admitted free, and kids 14 and under get in free all three days. For more information or directions, call Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises at 951-735-7981.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY FALL TURKEY SEASON: In the Department of Fish and Game’s usual bass-ackwards thinking, the agency has proposed a fall hunting season for turkeys in San Diego County. The reasoning? You’ll love this: San Diego County is the only county in the state without a fall hunting season for turkeys. It is also the only county in the state with a turkey population that seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. According to the annual “Game Take Hunter Survey” done by the DFG, the spring turkey harvest has climbed from 406 birds in 2003 to around 1,000 birds in 2006.
There are a lot of biologists and hunters who believe that California’s fall turkey season – when hens can be shot along with the male birds – is why our heavily-pressured turkeys on public lands are not doing well. San Diego County sort of proves the theory. But instead of actually studying to see if fall hunting is the problem in California, our DFG wants to simply allow fall hunting in San Diego County because there are lots of birds there. Huh? The opposite argument could also be made: Let’s close the fall season in all of Southern California and a couple of select counties in the Sierra or Central Coast with lots of public ground and see if turkey numbers increase and spring hunting gets better. Instead, the DFG wants to see if we can screw up San Diego County.
Oh, an if the DFG gets it way and San Diego’s turkey hunting goes in the tank, how much to you want to bet they’ll say it’s because of drought or wildfires and has nothing to do with fall hunting?
Your comments on the proposal should be sent to the Fish and Game Commission, 1416 Ninth Street, Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090. They must be received no later than August 5.
REMOVING THE LIMIT ON COLLARED DOVES: Even when the DFG has the right idea, they can’t seem to get it 100 percent right. Another proposal for this fall is to remove the limit on Eurasian collared doves. This is a non-native species that is taking over the southern tier of the country, and removing the limit would allow hunters to take as many of the prolific birds as they wanted. This is a good idea. But we could still only hunt them during the regular dove season.
While that’s better than nothing, why is there a closed season at all on bird you’d prefer to eliminate? It doesn’t make sense.
I know where this proposal originated. Game wardens think hunters are too stupid to tell the difference between a collared dove and a mourning dove in flight and would shoot the wrong bird if the season was open year around on collared doves. I have mourning doves, collared doves, and barnyard pigeons in my neighborhood. You might, if you were a real novice and really not paying attention, confuse the collared dove with the pigeon, but never would you confuse either with a mourning dove. Besides, it’s the hunter’s job to know the difference. Cite the dummies who screw up.
The DFG needs to put collared doves and rock doves (barnyard pigeons) on the unprotected list, allowing for their hunting all year. Right now, technically, barnyard pigeons are not supposed to be hunted except during “dove” season, too. But the DFG just sort of winks about the pigeons, and they are shot year around.
There’s a chance here for the state to get something right, expand hunter opportunity, and fix this in time for the Fish and Game Commission to make the right decision on this proposal in August. As with the fall turkey season, your comments have to be to the Commission no later than August 5.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

JUNE 6-8 RAAHAUGE’S SHOOTING SPORTS FAIR: The Raahauge’s Shooting Sports Fair will be held June 6-8 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 all three days of event. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday, June 6; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 7; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 8. Admission is $12 per person, parking $5. For more information, call 951-735-7981. For a $2 coupon go to http://www.outdoornewsservice.com/hogs/SportsFair2008.pdf.
JUNE 7 RANCHO CUCAMONGA HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Bass Pro Shop, Rancho Cucamonga. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. These free classes are held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at Bass Pro and limited to 40 people. Reservations by calling Bass Pro at 909-922-5500.
JUNE 7-8 BIG BEAR CARP BOWFISHING TOURNAMENT: The Fifth Annual Big Bear Carp Roundup will be held June 7-8 at Big Bear Lake. Sponsored by the Big Bear Municipal Water District, the two-day event has shore and boat categories for bowfishermen working in two-person teams. Entry fee is $40 per person, which includes entry, t-shirt, raffle ticket, mesh fish bag, and lunch at awards ceremony on Sunday. Prizes are $1,000, $500, and $300 for the top teams in each category. Contact Mike Stephenson at 909-866-5796. Entry forms available on line at Municipal’s web site at www.bbmwd.org.
JUNE 7-8 VENTURA GUN SHOW: The McMann’s Roadrunner Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 7, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 8, at Seaside Park, Ventura. Admission is $9. The next Ventura gun shows will be Sept. 6-7 and Nov. 1-2. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.mcmannsroadrunner.com.
JUNE 12-15 MARINA DEL REY BOAT SHOW: The 33rd Annual Marina del Rey Boat Show will be held June 12-15 at Burton Chace Park, Marina del Rey. Approximately 200 vessels will be displayed in the water on 2,000 feet
of floating dock. Show hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults, children 12 and under free. For show information call 949-757-5959 or
visit the show web site at www.marinadelreyboatshow.com.
JUNE 14 HOG HUNTING SEMINAR: There will be a two-hour wild hog hunting primer at Bass Pro Shop, Rancho Cucamonga beginning 10 a.m., Saturday, June 14. The free seminar will be conducted by Jim Matthews, editor of California Hog Hunter, a newsletter on hunting wild hogs, and Durwood Hollis, hunting book author and public land hog hunting expert. Information and reservations by calling Bass Pro at 909-922-5500.
JUNE 20-22 BLYTHE CATMASTERS FISHING TOURNAMENT: The West Coast Catmasters will have its second annual Blythe Flatmasters Gathering and Tournament June 20-22 at Mayflower Park, Blythe. Entry fee is $25 per angler with $20 going to the big stringer pot and $5 to the big fish pot. More information at www.westcoastcatmasters.com.
JUNE 21 LAKEVIEW HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A free one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Lakeview (near Moreno Valley). Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. This annual class features a mid-day barbecue for the students and parents. Wildlife area tours are run after the barbecue for those not attending the class. Students should call in advance to register and to get a copy of the hunter’s education manual. For information or to register, call the wildlife area at 951-928-0580 or e-mail Scott Sewell at ssewell@dfg.ca.gov.
JUNE 21 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 2008 class dates are July 12, Aug. 2, 16, 23, 24, 30, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
JUNE 21-22 VICTORVILLE GUN SHOW: The Victorville Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at the San Bernardino County Fair Grounds, Victorville. Admission is $9. The next Victorville gun show will be Sept. 27-28. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.victorvillegunshow.com.
JUNE 21-22 HESPERIA SNAKE AVOIDANCE CLINIC FOR DOGS: The High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited will be hosting two days of snake avoidance training for dogs at the Kingston Elementary School, 7473 Kingston Ave., Hesperia. The classes are run by Bob Kettle, an expert in this kind of training, and cost is $55 per dog. Appointments are scheduled from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18. Space is limited so early registration is recommended. All proceeds are used to improve wildlife habitat in the West Mojave. This class was rescheduled May 17-18. Contact John Shaver at 760-956-8160 to sign up or for more information.
JUNE 21-22 BAKERSFIELD GUN SHOW: The Central Coast Gun Shows Bakersfield event will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 21-22 at the Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield. The next Bakersfield gun shows will be August 30-31 and Nov. 22-23. Information at www.centralcoastgunshows.com.
JULY 5 RANCHO CUCAMONGA HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Bass Pro Shop, Rancho Cucamonga. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. These free classes are held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at Bass Pro and limited to 40 people. Reservations by calling Bass Pro at 909-922-5500.
JULY 12 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 2008 class dates are Aug. 2, 16, 23, 24, 30, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
AUGUST 9-10 GLENDALE GUN SHOW: The Glendale Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, Glendale. Admission is $9. The next Glendale gun show will be Nov. 15-16. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.glendalegunshow.com.

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 (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 Rd., Victorville. Contact Dave Recce at 760-956-7092 or Dave Halbrook at 760-553-2794.
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.

[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 odwriter@charter.net. 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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