There’s so much grim news in the sporting outdoor world (see below), that I wanted to kick off this round-up with a bright spot: hunter conservationists working their butts off to do good things for wildlife where it matters most -- on the ground.
     Desert Wildlife Unlimited and the Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep are both doing December projects that will benefit desert critters. While one project is primarily for desert mule deer and the other for desert bighorn, when you add water to a spot in the desert that didn’t have it before, the place suddenly becomes an oasis for all kinds of desert dwellers than need that drink of water to survive. Since very little wildlife is capable to getting by without a drink, the water projects are critical.
     New volunteers are welcome at both projects. The first is being held Dec. 4-5 in the desert between Brawley and Blythe. While the second is Dec. 11-13 in the East Mojave just south of Interstate 40 between Barstow and Needles. For the first, contact Leon Lesicka with DWU at 760-344-2793 or e-mail DesertWildlife@aol.com. For the second, call or e-mail Gary Thomas with the SCBS at 951-206-6410 or g.cranky@verizon.net. You’ll do some good work, camp in the desert, and eat beans around a campfire with good people. Sure, these projects help mitigate a little for all of the bad stuff that’s going on, but mostly they help give you a little of your sanity back by proving there are still people out there who have common sense and care about the right thing.
     LOSS OF DESERT WILDLIFE HABITAT: Two proposed projects in the West Mojave north of Apple Valley do the opposite thing as the work projects. Both would have a disastrous affect on wildlife and hunters in this region.
     There is a proposal by Granite Wind for 29 windmills standing 400 feet tall on the peaks of the Sidewinder Mountains east of where Johnson Road ends, most situated on public lands. This is historic bighorn sheep habitat and has some of the best chukar hunting in the region. Long-time chukar hunter Gary Hatfield has brought me droppings (What are friends for?) from the peaks where the wind towers would sit that he says prove sheep still use the ridge. The sheep, of course, wouldn’t use that ridge if there were windmills there. No one is talking about sheep, chukar, or loss of public access, except a handful of guys like Hatfield.
     But it’s worse. Immediately south of this area in the Fairview Valley, a developer is proposing a sprawling, 3,100-home enclave in the valley tucked between the Fairview, Sidewinder, and Granite mountain ranges. The development is on private property surrounded by Bureau of Land Management (public) property. Called Hacienda at Fairview, the environmental document on the development is circulating now with comments due in December. While the document gives lip service to public access, it’s not likely hunters with shotguns and hunting dogs would be allowed access into some of the best chukar hunting in the region if this development is approved, and we all know that San Bernardino County is a rubber stamp to any development project.
     REMOVING DEER FROM CATALINA: Apparently some of the whack-job environmental groups are again suggesting that California mule deer transplanted to Catalina Island are causing damage to native plants there and want the deer removed. Never mind that if 100 years of overgrazing by wild goats and pigs didn’t wipe out the plants, it’s unlikely the deer will do it. Never mind that the Catalina Island Conservancy can’t or doesn’t have the gumption to get rid of bison on the island, which are causing far more damage. But now there is another push to get rid of deer that evolved with the identical plants that live across the Catalina Channel. You’ve got to be kidding me.
     SANTA ROSA ISLAND REFUGIA: To harp on the island issue a little more. Santa Rosa Island, now owned by the National Park Service, has an amazing, disease-free population of elk and mule deer that were transplanted to the island from the mainland decades ago. As non-natives, the Park Service plans to eradicate them all in a few years.
     Again, there is no documentation that the deer and elk have caused any serious damage to the island native plants (most evolved with similar herbivores when the island was still part of the mainland), and hunters are currently just about the only non-park service staff who visit the island, forking out big bucks to hunt there. If the park service were to take over the hunting program, they could raise enough money each year to finance the recreation and scientific staff to operate the rest of the island park. But no, the NPS wants to kill off the golden-egg-laying chicken and make the island pristine -- and to what end? Wouldn’t it make sense to keep those disease-free deer and elk just in case something horrific happens here on the mainland? The big deer are also a wonderful tourist draw.
     HORNADY ANNOUNCES NON-LEAD RIMFIRES: While it’s looking more and more like lead from hunter’s ammunition is not where California condors are getting all the lead in their bloodstreams, we’ve had a lead ban shoved up our collective hunting gun chambers in a big chunk of the state, and that ban is likely to be extended in the next few years. The good news is that excellent non-lead bullets and ammunition is starting to come from manufacturers scrambling to make non-lead products.
     Hornady Manufacturing announced the first non-lead .17 HMR and .17 Mach II rimfire ammunition that would be condor-zone compliant, along with a non-lead .22 Magnum rimfire, .204 Ruger, and .223 loadings. The new bullets are called NTXs and are available in the Varmint Express line of cartridges. Hornady will also be offering component NTX varmint bullets in .204 and .224 for reloaders, and the company has expanded the GMX line of condor-safe solid copper big game hunting slugs and loaded ammunition to include everything from .243 to .338. You can find out more at www.hornady.com/new-products.
     We’re still waiting for a .22 long rifle rimfire non-lead round. It has been the hardest nut to crack from a design-performance standpoint. It’s coming though.
     SPORTS FAIR IS BACK: Ending on a happy note, I just received word this week that the popular Shooting Sports Fair will return to Mike Raahauge’s Shooting Enterprises in Prado Basin for 2010. This event is the only hands-on gun show in the state where you can actually handle and shoot the latest firearms from most of the major manufacturers -- handguns, shotguns, and rifles. The dates are set for June 4-6. The Fair was cancelled this past June when not enough ammunition was available to hold the event.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

     NOVEMBER 21-22 WILDLIFE ART FESTIVAL: The 27th annual Wildlife Art Festival, which features the winning art work and the top 100 entries in the federal Duck Stamp art competition, will be held Nov. 21-22 at the San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands. For more information, call the county museum at 909-307-2669 or go to www.sbcounty.gov/museum/.
     NOVEMBER 21-22 BAKERSFIELD GUN SHOW: The Central Coast Gun Shows Bakersfield event will be held this Saturday and Sunday at the Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield. Information at www.centralcoastgunshows.com or call 805-481-6726.
     NOVEMBER 21-22 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES: Bass Pro Shops is now having hunter safety classes four days per month on the first and third full weekends, with classes on Saturday and Sunday of each weekend. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $10 per person. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
     NOVEMBER 28-29 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 shows are scheduled for Jan. 30-31, Mar. 27-28, June 5-6, and Aug. 28-29. Information, directions, tickets, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
     DECEMBER 4-5 DESERT WILDLIFE DRINKER PROJECT: Desert Wildlife Unlimited needs volunteers for desert big game drinker project to be done Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5 in the desert between Brawley and Blythe. Dinner will be provided Friday evening and lunch on Saturday. Four-wheel drive vehicles are required to reach the work site. All volunteers should bring water, food, hat, sun screen, work gloves, and camping gear if you spend the night. For more information and directions, contact Leon Lesicka at 760-344-2793 or e-mail DesertWildlife@aol.com.
     DECEMBER 5 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. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     DECEMBER 5-6 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES: Bass Pro Shops is now having hunter safety classes four days per month on the first and third full weekends, with classes on Saturday and Sunday of each weekend. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $10 per person. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
     DECEMBER 11-13 BIGHORN SHEEP DRINKER PROJECT: Volunteers are needed for a bighorn sheep desert drinker project from Friday evening through and Sunday morning, Dec. 11-13. Coordinated by the Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep, volunteers will install a new tank and fittings at Teresa Spring south of the Mojave Preserve between Barstow and Needles on Saturday. Volunteers will meet at the camp site Friday evening or 8 a.m. Saturday and then work until early afternoon. Dinner will be provided Friday and Saturday evenings. For more information and directions, call Gary Thomas at 951-206-6410 or e-mail g.cranky@verizon.net.
     DECEMBER 12 DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE CHARITY FISHING EVENT: A combination bass and trout fishing competition will be held at Diamond Valley Lake December 12 with proceeds to benefit Valley Wide Recreation, a group benefiting youth athletic and outdoor activities in the Hemet-San Jacinto area. Entry fee is $220 for bass anglers ($80 in options available) and $60 for trout anglers (or $20 for kids 15 and under). Anglers fishing this event will be the first to use the new ramp to launch private boats and fish the lake. For more information or to sign up, call Last Chance Bait and Tackle in Hemet at 951-658-7410 or to to www.lastchancebaitandtackle.com.
     DECEMBER 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 2010 class dates have not be set up yet. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     DECEMBER 12-13 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 be held Feb. 13-14, May 22-23, and July 17-18. Information, directions, tickets, and $1 off coupons are also available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
     JANUARY 2-3 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 Shows will be held May 15-16 and July 31-Aug. 1. Information, directions, tickets, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
     JANUARY 9-10 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 Mar. 13-14, June 5-6, Sept. 11-12, and Nov. 13-14. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.mcmannsroadrunner.com.
     JANUARY 30-31 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 shows are scheduled for Jan. 30-31, Mar. 27-28, June 5-6, and Aug. 28-29. Information, directions, tickets, 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.
     GOLDEN STATE FLYCASTERS: The Golden State Flycasters and Trout Unlimited Chapter 920 meets 6 to 9 p.m. Monday before the third Thursday of each month at Tio Leo’s Restaurant, Del Mar. Information at www.goldenstateflycasters.org.
     HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly meetings on the second Tuesday 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 Hunny’s Restaurant, Main Street and 4th Street, Corona. 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. The club’s web site is www.tcsportsmen.org.
     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.

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