June 18, 2009

Commentary
Fish and Game Commissioner
Sutton investigated for conflict of
interest over marine reserves

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

     Michael Sutton, a member of the California Fish and Game Commission, is being investigated by the Fair Political Practices Commission in response to a complaint filed against Sutton by the Central Coast Fisheries Conservation Coalition, a sportfishing and commercial fishing interest group.
     The group has charged that Sutton violated conflict of interest provisions in the Political Reform Act of 1974 when he voted on Marine Life Protection Act issues as a member of the Commission.
     The MLPA is legislation that was passed in 1999 and required the establishment of a series of marine reserves off the California coastline. The south Central Coast region was the first to have its marine reserves established, and sportfishing and commercial interests felt that most of the viable fishing areas were included in reserves completely closed to sport and commercial fishing. A battle is raging in Southern California right now about what areas will be protected and what areas will be left open.
     Melvin de la Motte, CCFCC president, said Sutton’s votes on MLPA issues would have a material financial effect on his own income and on his employer and source of income, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation, which is a violation of law. De la Motte also said Sutton violated Fish and Game Commission policy by failing to disclose his employment with the Aquarium. De La Motte said Sutton’s votes also opened him up to legal action.
     The FPPC has 45 days to investigate Sutton from May 19, the date it accepted the complaint.
     “The right thing for him to do would be resign,” said de la Motte.
     Adrianna Shea, external affairs and special advisor to the Commissioners, said this was something the Commission has ever had to deal with in the past, but that Sutton would continue in his role as Commissioner, including voting on issues.
     Shea also said that Sutton did not vote on Central Coast MLPA regulations because those rules were adopted before he was a Commissioner.
     De la Motte disputed that, saying Sutton voted against amending the existing marine life protected areas on the Central Coast because the Center for the Future of the Oceans, which he runs, played a “key role” in passing MLPA legislation and pushing the vast protected area closures on the Central Coast.
     Shea said the 45-day period of Sutton’s investigation and decision will end before Sutton is scheduled to vote in August on the next round of MLPA reserves, the north Central Coast region. If Sutton is removed from the Commission, Shea did not know if the Commission would have to revisit issues where his vote was the determining voice, and expected the FPPC would give them guidance on that issue.
     The filing and threat of a lawsuit point out how contentious the whole MLPA process has become, and most people in the sportfishing community feel that vast closed areas are going to be rammed through in spite of the public process that is showing the majority of the public is opposed to closures of all the best fishing regions.
     There is a solution to this whole process that would make sense and give fishermen, the scientific community, and environmental groups solid data on which to push their causes.
     Since the process is already in its second decade, why not look at the data coming from the Central Coast closures, which have been in place for two years, and see if it is working. While most scientists say it will be 10 years before they can make determinations about the closures successes, that only adds another eight years to the process. If, as sportfishermen suggest, the data doesn’t support the closures, we can rethink the rest of the coastal areas and take other conservation routes.
     A process that moves slow and bases decision based on science for our coast would make far more sense and rushing to judgment on closures now that may or may not have the desired impacts.
     There’s also the issue of funding. With state and federal governments that are broke, it doesn’t make sense to heap more expenses on the system in enforcement and study costs. Let’s enforce and study the Central Coast now and see where we should go with the rest of the state’s coastal waters.

Profits in poaching
exceed the fines
if you get caught

     Three generations of poachers from Williams were caught and convicted, trumpeted a Department of Fish and Game press release this week. Career game crooks all, their total fine was $5,500 each, three years of probation, and loss of hunting license privileges for a year.
     The trio had 47 goose tracking collars on their property, valued at over $5,000 each. They poached countless protected geese and shorebirds, committed tag fraud, poached over a dozen deer, and had illegal assault guns.
     And all they got was a $5,500 fine -- proof that game crime does pay. It pays so well that it is being passed on from generation to generation.
     Several Western states publish how much the fines are for poaching different game animals, which seemed like an invitation to poach to me. The fines are generally far less than legitimate hunters will pay at auction for a tag to hunt bighorn sheep or moose or even deer.
     Wardens work diligently to make cases like these, and when their time and effort costs more than the fines the career criminals receive from the court, it makes a mockery of their efforts.
     Other people feel the same way. In an almost unprecedented event, environmental groups, hunters, fishermen – just about everyone who spends time outdoors – are looking at AB 708 sponsored by assemblyman Jared Huffman, a bill that would finally create stronger penalties for poachers, particularly repeat offenders. The bill recently passed the assembly on a unanimous vote and it now in the state Senate
     The California Department of Fish and Game declared 2008 “the year of extreme poaching,” according to Audubon California. The rise in extreme poaching matches that of poaching overall. Violations rose from 6,538 in 2003 to 17,840 in 2007, even with the warden force now shunk to less than 200 activy-duty wardens statewide. It’s way past time to get tough.
     NOT-SO-GOOD BILLS: Dog owners, especially hunting dog owners, are under assault in the state legislature, with three bad bills pending. SB 250 would mandate spaying or neutering of your dog with very limited exceptions. It would basically eliminate many breeders who take proven field performers and breed them. I got my latest Labrador from such a breeder, and if this bill has passed two years ago, Duke wouldn’t have been born. It’s a bad bill but it passed the state Senate and is now in the House. Well intentioned (it wants to halt puppy mills), the authors haven’t figured out a way to protect those of us who are legitimate and concerned breeders of specialty dogs. And apparently they don’t care. AB 241, also supposedly after puppy mills, would limit how many dogs you can own at one time. It would put out of business many small kennels and trainers breeding specialty dogs, especially hunting breeds. It’s just more bad legislation. Last, AB 1122 would prohibit the sale of dogs in public places. Doesn’t sound bad on the surface, but it would make it illegal for you or I to get a hunting dog at a field trial, performance event (dog show), or sportsmen’s show or fundraiser. All three are marching through the legislature.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

     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.