September 18, 2008

Commentary
Too many blue-collar
hunters now unable to
afford to big game tags

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

Another American dream is turning into an American myth. Between the high cost of gasoline, skyrocketing ammunition fees, and big game tag fees that have far outpaced inflation, many blue-collar hunters can no longer afford to hunt big game.
Late last year I was asked by my long-time friend Lee Hoots, who is the editor of Petersen’s Hunting, to do a piece for the magazine on non-resident tags fees in the West. While I don’t know if was my whining about how much a trip to Montana last year had cost me just in tag fees and gasoline, he knew it was a story that would resonate with long-time sportsmen. Doing the research for the piece was an eye-opener. [That story is in the Sept., 2008 issue of the magazine on newsstands now.]
When I bought my first deer tag as an 18-year-old here in California in 1972, it cost $3, and really included two tags as part of the package and an application for a third tag. That made the tags $1.50 each. Today, a single resident deer tag costs about $26. If pegged to the cost of inflation that $1.50 tag would cost $7.65 in today’s dollars. The $26 tag is a 1,733 percent increase over what it should cost.
Sonke Mastrup, the Department of Fish and Game’s deputy director, will tell you that every license or tag fee increase translates directly into fewer hunters taking to the field. For a percent of guys each year, the increase is the final straw and they simply give it up, especially with the disproportionate increase in other costs like gasoline and ammunition (both lead and non-lead). It wasn’t all that long ago that California had about 1 million resident hunters, but today we’re less than 1/3 that number.
If you figure that each deer hunter has to make up for the money formerly paid by his two counterparts who gave up the sport, you can get a ballpark idea where today’s $26 tag fee comes from. Fewer and fewer hunters are paying more and more.
But it goes well beyond just higher tag fees. Sportsmen are getting far less for the investment today. Back in 1972, we had unit biologists throughout the state who actually did annual deer composition counts, there were hunter check stations, and about three times as many wardens as we have now. That means we had about 12 field biologists for Southern California who spent time studying and working with deer. Today we have, I think, two – but it might just be one. They don’t do annual deer surveys, there hasn’t been a check station here in decades, and there’s no such thing as field data and biology anymore. We make management decisions based on what someone wrote about our herds decades ago. Some of us are so tired of the shop-worn excuses why our deer herds are fractions of what they once were, that we tune out those who spout the rhetoric. Today’s DFG biologists have other priorities and are even afraid to try to grow more deer on public land. Sadly, this is true almost everywhere in the West.
Yet, there are still deer here almost in spite of the California DFG and other game agencies and their lack of management (or active mismanagement, some would say). There are deer here in spite of poaching, in spite of habitat loss, in spite of more roads and road kills than in history, in spite of the highest predator base we’ve had in over 100 years. Some places actually still have good deer numbers and great public land hunting.
Today, the vast majority of big game hunters can only afford to pursue game in their home states (if that) because of high non-resident tag fees, even though most hunting in the West is on federal lands, not state lands.
When I first hunted pronghorn antelope in Wyoming, I was reasonably assured of getting a $100 tag when I applied. Today, to reasonably assure myself of getting the same tag, I’d have to spend just a tick over $600. Once upon a time, I applied for bighorn sheep tags in all of the Western states each year, only paying the $2 to $5 application fees in each state, knowing my hunting buddies would collectively loan me the $150 to $300 for the tag and license if I was drawn and couldn’t come up with it myself. I’d have done the same for them. Today, you have to apply with the whole tag fee amount (which the state usually keeps for three to six months) and in some states you have to actually buy the non-resident general hunting license before you can apply for a tag. With the non-resident gouge on bighorn tags running from $1,700 to $2,300, a lot of us can’t even afford to apply to one state, never mind all of them.
Part of the problem is that most Western states are in bed with outfitters who have good lobbies in the state capitols. They insist their livelihoods are at stake and because of declining tag numbers, and they believe they should get a percentage dedicated just to their clients. Most states have set aside a large pool of special tags they sell at higher prices, making sure that hunters who can afford $5,000 to $12,000 or more guided hunts can reasonably be assured of getting a tag. Do you need a translation for that? It’s “blue-collar hunters stay home.” Unfortunately, a lot of rural community businesses relied on those blue-collar guys, and the little cafes, grocery stores, motels have closed up shop in small towns throughout the West.
There are a lot of ways to exclude anyone but the wealthy. Wyoming says you must have a guide or outfitter to hunt in designated wilderness, and their “preference” tags are about double the cost of the regular tags. Montana simply has set aside a portion of its tags each year for the guides and floats the price based on demand. If the tags don’t sell out by September each year, they reduce the price the following year; if they do, they increase the price. So the Montana non-resident outfitter deer license has gone from $795 to $1,100 in just the last three years, jumping about $150 a year. (The general non-resident deer license is $353 with about three to one adds of drawing.) All the Western states auction off one or more of their coveted bighorn sheep tags to the highest bidder and rake in $60,000 or a lot more from some wealthy guy. All this is simply wrong.
Once upon a time, hunters from across the country dreamed of packing up family truck or sedan and heading to the high sagebrush and aspen country of the West and hunting mule deer, elk, and pronghorn. Not that long ago, a working man could save his money and afford to do just that on a one- or two-week camping vacation on public lands. Not any more. Now poorer hunters are even being squeezed out by costs in their home states.
America’s big game doesn’t belong to the people anymore. It belongs to an increasingly fewer number of wealthy people.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 20 SAN JACINTO WILDLIFE AREA WORK DAY: The staff of the San Jacinto Wildlife Area in western Riverside County near Lake Perris will be hosting a volunteer work day at the wildlife area to prep its waterfowl hunting areas for the coming season. Volunteers will be rebuilding blinds, adding vegetation to the site, and removing trash. Volunteers should bring waders or mud boots, gloves, and hand tools (saws, shovels, rakes). Also bring a side dish and drinking water. There will be a barbecue-pot luck lunch following the morning’s work party. Contacts: Scott Sewell at 951-634-4652 or Tom Trakes at 951-236-3040.
OCTOBER 4 SAN FERNANDO FRIENDS OF NRA FUNDRAISER: The San Fernando Valley Friends of the National Rifle Assocation will have its fundraiser beginning 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Elks Lodge, 20925 Osborne St., Canoga Park. This is a new FNRA banquet. Cost is $50 per person with $20 tickets for a special Kimber NRA Freedom Warrior .45 drawing. For an event flyer, go to http://friendsofnra.org/eventdocs/California/SFV08.pdf. Contact: Lissa Lee via e-mail at llee@nrahq.org.
OCTOBER 4 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.
OCTOBER 4-5 CONCEALED CARRY WEAPON COURSE: A 16-hour California Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) course is being offered by Firearms Training Associates at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises this Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $180 per person. This course meets the state requirement for 16 hours of training to qualify for a CCW (not valid in San Bernardino County). Other dates for 2008 classes are Nov. 1-2 and Dec. 6-7. Contact FTA at 714-701-9918 or 877-544-4867. The web site is www.ftatv.com.
OCTOBER 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 2008 class dates are Nov. 1 and Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
OCTOBER 16 KERN COUNTY CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION FUNDRAISER: The Kern County Chapter of the California Waterfowl Association will have its annual fundraiser banquet beginning 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 at the Elks Lodge, 1616 30th Street, Bakersfield. Cost is $75 per person, $125 per couple. Contact: Jim Delmarter at 661-327-1486 or go to the CWA web site at www.calwaterfowl.org.
NOVEMBER 1 BIG GAME DRINKER REPAIR: The Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep is coordinating and hosting an extensive big game drinker repair effort Saturday, Nov. 1 in the Kingston Range (north of Baker). The Right Wrong Ridge Drinker needs fencing, rain matt repair, and new plumbing. Volunteers should be in moderately good condition (the drinker is a half-mile hike in) and be willing to work at least a half-day. Bring work clothes, gloves, and hiking boots. Food will be provided Friday evening and after the work project, but volunteers should bring water and snacks. Contact Gary Thomas for more information and directions via e-mail at g.cranky@verizon.net.
NOVEMBER 1 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 date is Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
NOVEMBER 1 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.
NOVEMBER 1-2 VENTURA GUN SHOW: The McMann’s Roadrunner Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at Seaside Park, Ventura. Admission is $9. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.mcmannsroadrunner.com.
NOVEMBER 15-16 GLENDALE GUN SHOW: The Glendale Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, Glendale. Admission is $9. The next Glendale gun show will be March 7-8, 2009, Aug. 8-9, 2009, and Nov. 21-22, 2009 Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.glendalegunshow.com.
NOVEMBER 22-23 BAKERSFIELD GUN SHOW: The Central Coast Gun Shows Bakersfield event will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22-23 at the Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield. The 2008 dates for the Bakersfield gun shows include Jan. 5-6, April 5-6, June 21-22, Aug. 30-31, and Nov. 22-23. Information at www.centralcoastgunshows.com or call 805-481-6726.
DECEMBER 6 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 2009 class date schedule has not be set yet. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
DECEMBER 6-7 CONCEALED CARRY WEAPON COURSE: A 16-hour California Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) course is being offered by Firearms Training Associates at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises this Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $180 per person. This course meets the state requirement for 16 hours of training to qualify for a CCW (not valid in San Bernardino County). This is the final date for 2008 classes. Contact FTA at 714-701-9918 or 877-544-4867 for information about this class of the 2009 schedule. The web site is www.ftatv.com.
DECEMBER 20 CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL IMPERIAL VALLEY FUND-RAISER: The Imperial Valley Chapter of the California Waterfowl Association will have its mid-season fund-raising dinner banquet beginning 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. at the St. Patricks’s Community Center, 133 E. Church, Calipatria. Dinner tickets are $55 per person, $80 a couple. Contacts: Frank Bailey at 760-359-0200 or Keith Cowell at 760-455-8990. Web site: www.calwaterfowl.org.

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 (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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