June 10, 2009

Commentary
Turner’s Outdoorsman is
purchased; will be run by its
former operations manager

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

     Turner’s Outdoorsman has new owners. Sort of.
     The 13-store chain of retail stores in Southern California specializes in firearms, hunting, and fishing gear, was purchased Monday by four investors, including a name familiar to Turner’s staff and a well-known part of the company’s long history in Southern California.
     Gene Lumsden, who was formerly vice-president and operations manager of Turner’s when it was still owned by Shirley Andrews, will become one of the four new owners and will take over as president and chief executive officer of the firearms chain.
     Lumsden currently lives in Reno, Nevada, where he runs Legacy Sports International, a firearms importing business that brings sporting rifles, shotguns, handguns and optics into this country. The other owners are John and David Fuller from Australia and the Sporting Goods Fund, a sporting goods group out of the United Kingdom, who are also partners with Lumsden in ownership of Legacy Sports.
     The amount of the sale was undisclosed, but the new partnership now owns the controlling interest in the company and will be taking over day-to-day management immediately.
     Turner’s Outdoorsman started business in 1971 as Andrews’ Sporting Goods with a single store in Long Beach, and grew to become the largest seller of handguns in California and one of the most respected firearm and fishing tackle retailers in the nation under the leadership of Shirley Andrews. Andrews sold the company in 2005 to an investment group from outside the industry, almost four years ago to the day of Monday’s sale.
     But Turner’s Outdoorsman languished under the new management for the past four years, slipping into a steady economic and customer-service decline. It had been rumored the company was flirting with bankruptcy for the past year, and if it wasn’t for the booming sales in firearms spawned by the Obama administration, the company might have closed its doors.
     Lumsden said the erosion of one of the nation’s most successful firearms and outdoor chain stores was ending as of this week.
     “Finally there are people back in charge who know and love this business,” said Lumsden, who ran Turner’s from 2001 to 2004, during three of the company’s most profitable years. Lumsden, a California native who was inducted into the California Trapshooting Hall of Fame in 2005, said the new controlling owners, are all avid outdoorsmen. “And many of the people who were here at Turner’s during its successful past will be here for its future, making this company very viable and helping it move forward.”
     Lumsden said that Turner’s Bryan Harris will become vice-president of the company and continue to direct buying, purchasing, and vendor relations, and that Bill Ortiz will stay as director of store operations overseeing personnel.
     Lumsden said that Turner’s reputation with customers and the industry, a reputation that his long-time friend Shirley Andrews built and nourished during the thirty-plus years she ran the company, was still viable if taken in the right direction.
     “Seeing the potential, we’re looking forward to building and moving forward from where it was in 2005,” said Lumsden.
     Lumsden said he will initially be splitting his time between the Ontario headquarters of Turner’s and the Reno headquarters of Legacy.

Gourment fish soon to be on tap
for Southern California anglers
     Anglers can thank the economic downturn for this one.
     The short version of the story is that Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake will begin planting catchable-sized sturgeon starting next week, just in time for Father’s Day weekend. And unlike with past plants of huge sturgeon, anglers will be able to keep these three to 15-pound gourmet fish.
     The initial plant will consist of 5,000 pounds of mainly three to five-plus pounders, but subsequent regular plants in both lakes will have fish mostly in the five to 15 pound class.
     “These are gourmet fish,” said Craig Elliott with The Lakes. “We’ve been able to work out an exclusive deal and get quite a few of them and we plan to plant them for anglers -- maybe forever.”
     The white sturgeon are from a Caviar-producing operation near Sacramento, and the meat from surplus fish and those harvested for the eggs are generally sold around the world to gourmet restaurants. Chefs love their firm, dense, white meat that is always tender and moist. The economic downturn, however, has led to declines in the sales of the fish into the restaurant trade, and Elliott said they were able to lock up a deal on these fish.
     “I wouldn’t be surprised if they quickly become our most popular fish,” said Elliott, touting their jumping and fighting abilities along with their table fare. “We’ve been planting ‘Nebraska Tailwalkers’ during trout season, and these fish might end up being called ‘California Tailwalkers’ once anglers start hooking them. And after they’ve had them on the barbecue, there’s no doubt in my mind the word will spread quickly.”
     Sturgeon have been planted in waters throughout Southern California, most notably in Hesperia Lake. But they have also been planted in Santa Ana River, Corona Lake, Irvine Lake, and Lake Cuyamaca, and perhaps others. But most stockings at all of these waters have been small numbers of big fish from 25 to 100 pounds or more, and most -- except for Hesperia Lake -- have a strict catch-and-release policy on the big sturgeon.
     Elliott said that anglers will be disappointed in the table qualities of sturgeon if they don’t follow some simple steps in cleaning and aging the fish. The most important steps are bleeding, cleaning, and then chilling and aging the fish for 48 hours. The last one is critical, said Elliott. Sturgeon meat takes that long to “relax” from rigor mortise. If the meat is cooked before it is relaxed, it is likely to be rubbery and tough. Complete step-by-step photo instructions of the sturgeon filleting technique and recipes are on The Lakes’ website at www.fishinglakes.com.
     Sturgeon are bottom-feeding fish, like catfish, and at Hesperia Lake, they are caught on the same baits used for catfish, and even trout anglers hook them on popular trout baits.
     Let me know if they jump and taste as good as advertised.

     DUCK STAMP PRICES COULD GO UP: Legislation introduced by John Dingell of Michigan and Robert Wittman of Virginia would jack up the cost of the federal duck stamp from $15 to $25 for the 2010-11 hunting season, and then jump to $35 in 2020 if passed. It has been 18 years since there was an increased in stamp fees. According to Dingell's office, a $15 duck stamp in 1991 (the first year at that price) would be just shy of the proposed $25 if adjusted for inflation. with inflation added to the $15 stamp since 1991, the price now would be just shy of the proposed $25.... A CORRECTION ON AB 962: In last week’s newspaper column on AB 962, it was reported the bill would limit ammunition sales to 50 round per month. It would not limit individual sales. That was a component of previous piece of legislation. AB 962 would still create registry of gun owners and mandate that you be thumbprinted each time you buy ammunition. It’s horrible legislation that does nothing to fight crime and only discriminates again legal gun owners.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

     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 SAN JACINTO WILDLIFE AREA HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day hunter safety class will be held at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area in Nuevo beginning 6:30 a.m., Saturday, June 20, at the area headquarters office. The class is free, but all students must pre-register and receive a DFG Hunter Education manual before attending. There will be a potluck lunch barbecue. For information, call Scott Sewell at 951-634-4652, Tom Trakes at 951-236-3040, or the office staff at 951-928-0580.
     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 11-12 DEL MAR GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West 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 Fair Grounds, Del Mar. Admission is $10. The next Del Mar gun shows will tentatively be on Oct. 3-4, and Dec. 12-13. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
     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.
     AUGUST 15 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. 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.
     AUGUST 15-17 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 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.
     SEPTEMBER 12-13 VENTURA GUN SHOW: The McMann’s Roadrunner Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, 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.
     OCTOBER 24-25 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 tentatively be Oct. 24-25. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons 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. 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.