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December 19, 2007

Commentary
Economic impact of sportsmen
is overlooked by politicians

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

A new report compiling information from a number of government and private sources points out the tremendous economic and political clout provided by hunters and fishermen. In California, 1.7 million hunters and fishermen spend more than $3.6 billion a year on hunting and fishing. On the national level, 34 million sportsmen age 16 and older spent more than $76 billion in 2006, supporting 1.6 million jobs. 
But what do those numbers mean?
If a single corporation grossed as much as hunters and anglers spend nationally, it would rank among America's 20 largest, ahead of Target, Costco, and AT&T.
The new report, "Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy -- A force as big as all outdoors," was compiled by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation with assistance from a number of industry groups. It
spotlights the immense impact hunters and anglers have on the economy at the national and state level.
In California, spending by hunters and anglers directly supports 53,500 jobs, which puts $2 billion worth of paychecks into pockets of working residents around the state. These figures demonstrate that season after season hunters and anglers are driving the economy from big businesses to rural towns, through booms and recessions.
"Because sportsmen enjoy hunting or fishing alone or in small groups, they are overlooked as a constituency and as a substantial economic force," said Jeff Crane, president of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. "When you compare spending by hunters and anglers to other sectors, their impact on the state's economy becomes more tangible."
-- Sportsmen support more jobs in California than the 32nd Street Naval Station in San Diego (53,500 jobs vs. 43,000).
-- Annual spending by California sportsmen is more than the revenues of Milpitas-based SanDisk Corporation ($3.6 billion vs. $3.3 billion).
-- Annual spending by California sportsmen is greater than the cash receipts of the state's grape crop ($3.6 billion vs. $3 billion).
-- More California residents hunt and fish each year than attend Sacramento Kings, San Diego Chargers, and Oakland Raiders games combined (1.8 million vs. 1.7 million).
-- The economic stimulus of hunting and fishing equates to an astounding $9.8 million a day being pumped into the state's economy.
"Spending by sportsmen benefits not only the manufacturers of hunting and fishing related products, but everything from local mom and pop businesses to wildlife conservation," said Doug Painter, president of National Shooting Sports Foundation. "And because most hunting and fishing takes place in rural areas, much of the spending benefits less affluent parts of the state."
Here’s a real kicker: If all hunters and anglers had voted during the last presidential election, they would have equaled 31 percent of all votes cast. If all hunters and anglers living in California voted, they would have equaled 17 percent of all votes cast here.
"It is a fairly simple equation -- hunters and anglers mean jobs in states and local communities that have made the effort to maintain their hunting and fishing opportunities," said Crane. "The economic impacts that sportsmen have on state economies should be a wake-up call to state governments to welcome and encourage hunting and fishing in their state."
It is also easy to see why there is such a concerted effort by the extreme environmental and animal rights minority to try to continue to whittle away at our ranks. If California’s 274,000 hunters and 1.5 million anglers have this kind of impact economically and politically, imagine the impact we’d have today if there were still over 2 1/2 million fishermen and just over a million hunters in the state. We had those kinds of numbers in our ranks just 25 years ago. With better management of our state’s resources, simpler regulations, and decreased fees, our numbers could be that high again -- and there would be an even greater impact, both politically and economically.
The report "Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy -- A force as big as all outdoors" is available on the Internet at www.sportsmenslink.org and www.nssf.org.

BEAR HUNTING SEASON CLOSES

For the first time since 2001, the statewide black bear hunting season has closed early because the quota of 1,700 bears was taken. The season would have closed Dec. 30 had the quota not been reached, but the Department of Fish and Game announced the closure on Tuesday this week.
Not since the statewide bag limit was raised from 1,500 to 1,700 in 2002 has the season closed because the reported kill reached the quota before the calendar closure. The Department of Fish and Game requires that all bear hunters report their bear kill within 10 days and submit the skull to a Fish and Game official to have a tooth extracted so the animal can be aged.
Tags yet to be received by the DFG will place the statewide harvest slightly above the 1,700, according to the agency, but this will not have an impact on the estimated statewide bear population of over 30,000. In fact, in most areas of the state, black bear numbers continue to increase.

SANTA ROSA DEER AND ELK TO BE SLAUGHTERED

Congress passed a rider on the budget bill passed this week that will lead to the slaughter of all of the Kaibab mule deer and Roosevelt elk on Santa Rosa Island over the next four years. Orange County Register outdoor writer Dave Strege reported the details in this week’s column, which is available on-line at this address: http://www.ocregister.com/sports/island-animals-elk-1946652-deer-public.

LIKE A BAD PENNY

A year-long poaching investigation has led to the arrest of two infamous wild hog and bear hunting “guides” and three others.
The Department of Fish and Game announced that Don Hennagan Jr., his wife Tiffany Hennagan, both of Dos Palos, Cruz Villegas of Merced and Michael Tilton Jr. of Mariposa were arrested this week. All four were charged with conspiracy to operate as hunting guides without a valid guide license and various poaching charges. Hennagan and Villegas also faced felony charges, Hennagan for felony perjury and Villegas for illegal possession of a firearm by a felon.
Don Hennagan Sr., Dos Palos, was also arrested on a bench warrant from a 2001 conviction on similar charges, when both father and son were fined $910 each on misdemeanor offenses that included cruelty to animals, operating canned hunts, and releasing domestic hogs for clients who believed they were wild hogs. In its investigation, the DFG learned the fines had never been paid and bench warrants had been issued but never served. The DFG served the bench warrants at the same time as the other arrests.
The Hennagan’s have operated the Panoche Valley Game Ranch, but the DFG said the operation was never legally permitted. The five also faced various other charges including illegally guiding bear hunters in the Stanislaus National Forest, hunting bears over bait, hunter trespass, illegal take of mountain lion, waste of game, and use of more than one dog per hunter during deer season.
“These guys are bad,” said Captain Brain Naslund, a DFG warden who worked on the operation. “They don’t care about California’s natural resources. They’re only interested in profits.”
Naslund said the DFG was pleased the Mariposa County district attorney’s office was willing to file felony charges in this case.
Rick Bean, editor of California Hog Hunter, said the newsletter staff was looking into the possibility the top two archery-killed hogs listed in the California Bowman Hunters record book were actually released hogs killed with the Hennagans on canned hunts.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

JANUARY 5 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 2008 class date schedule is Feb. 16, Mar. 8, Apr. 5, May 3, June 21, 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.
JANUARY 12 SCBS WILDLIFE DRINKER REPAIR: The Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep will be coordinating a wildlife drinker installation project, Saturday, Jan. 12 on the new “West 40” drinker. Volunteers are needed. Contact Gary Thomas at 909-981-5487 or via e-mail at g.cranky@version.net.
JANUARY 12 BALD EAGLE CENSUS: Volunteers are needed for the winter census of bald eagles at Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Silverwood Lake, and Lake Hemet on Saturday, January 12. Counts are conducted the same day and same times at all four waters. Volunteers need to bring binoculars, a watch, and wear warm clothes. For more information about eagle counts, please call Marc Stamer with the San Bernardino National Forest in Big Bear at 909-382-2828 to count at Arrowhead or Big Bear; Heidi Sellers at the San Jacinto Ranger Station at 909-382-2945 to count at Lake Hemet; or Rick Reisenhoffer at 760-389-2281 to count at Lake Silverwood. Other count dates this winter are Feb. 9 and March 8.

JANUARY 12-13 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. Other dates for 2008 classes are Feb. 9-10, Mar. 29-30, April 19-20, May 17-18, June 21-22, July 12-13, Aug. 2-3, Sept. 6-7, Oct. 4-5, Nov. 1-2, and Dec. 6-7. Contact FTA at 714-701-9918 or 877-544-4867. The web site is www.ftatv.com.
JANUARY 14 SCBS WILDLIFE DRINKER REPAIR: The Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep will be coordinating a wildlife drinker repair project, Monday, Jan. 14 on the “Bee Jay” drinker. Volunteers are needed. Contact Gary Thomas at 909-981-5487 or via e-mail at g.cranky@version.net.
JANUARY 17 SCBS WILDLIFE DRINKER REPAIR: The Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep will be installing a water monitor on the “Old Dad” drinker Thursday, Jan. 17. Volunteers are needed. Contact Gary Thomas at 909-981-5487 or via e-mail at g.cranky@version.net.
JANUARY 25 HEAVYWEIGH BASS CLASSIC TOURNAMENT: The Heavyweight Bass Classic will be held Friday, Jan. 25 at Casitas Lake to determine the best of the big bass anglers. The event is limited to 50 anglers with a $200 entry fee and the winner takes all -- not to mention having bragging rights at the best big bass angler in the country. For more information, contact Ron Cervenka, P.O. Box 800342, Santa Clarita, CA 91380 or e-mail socalteams@hotmail.com.
JANUARY 26 SCBS WILDLIFE DRINKER REPAIR: The Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep will be installing a water monitor on the “Paiute” drinker on Saturday, Jan. 26. Volunteers are needed. Contact Gary Thomas at 909-981-5487 or via e-mail at g.cranky@version.net.
FEBRUARY 9 CWA INLAND EMPIRE SHOOT: The California waterfowl Association will be having its Inland Empire Shoot and Lunch fund-raiser beginning 7 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 9 at Mike Raahauge’s Shooting Enterprises, 14995 River Road, Corona. Cost is $60 per shooter, $25 per shooter, $300 per squad. Contact Frank Moore at 714-803-7374, Debbie Davis at 909-730-7730, or log on to www.calwaterfowl.org.
FEBRUARY 9 BALD EAGLE CENSUS: Volunteers are needed for the winter census of bald eagles at Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Silverwood Lake, and Lake Hemet on Saturday, February 9. Counts are conducted the same day and same times at all four waters. Volunteers need to bring binoculars, a watch, and wear warm clothes. For more information about eagle counts, please call Marc Stamer with the San Bernardino National Forest in Big Bear at 909-382-2828 to count at Arrowhead or Big Bear; Heidi Sellers at the San Jacinto Ranger Station at 909-382-2945 to count at Lake Hemet; or Rick Reisenhoffer at 760-389-2281 to count at Lake Silverwood. The last of these winter counts is March 8.
FEBRUARY 9-10 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. Other dates for 2008 classes are Mar. 29-30, April 19-20, May 17-18, June 21-22, July 12-13, Aug. 2-3, Sept. 6-7, Oct. 4-5, Nov. 1-2, and Dec. 6-7. Contact FTA at 714-701-9918 or 877-544-4867. The web site is www.ftatv.com.
FEBRUARY 15 CWA SAN DIEGO COUNTY DINNER: The California Waterfowl Association’s San Diego County Chapter will have its annual fund-raising dinner beginning 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15 at the Elks’ Club, 1400 E. Washington, El Cajon. Cost is $65 per person, $95 per couple. Contact John Howard at 619-440-8319, Tom Homen at 209-587-0886, or log on to www.calwaterfowl.org.
FEBRUARY 16 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 2008 class date schedule is Mar. 8, Apr. 5, May 3, June 21, 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.
MARCH 5-9 FRED HALL LONG BEACH SHOW: The Fred Hall Fishing Tackle, Boat, and Travel Show will be held March 5-9 at the Long Beach Convention Center. This is the West Coast’s granddaddy of sportsman’s shows filling the convention center with exhibitors. Admission to the Hall Show is $15 for adults and kids are free. For more information, go to www.fredhall.com or call 805-389-3339.
MARCH 8 BALD EAGLE CENSUS: Volunteers are needed for the winter census of bald eagles at Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Silverwood Lake, and Lake Hemet on Saturday, March 8. Counts are conducted the same day and same times at all four waters. Volunteers need to bring binoculars, a watch, and wear warm clothes. For more information about eagle counts, please call Marc Stamer with the San Bernardino National Forest in Big Bear at 909-382-2828 to count at Arrowhead or Big Bear; Heidi Sellers at the San Jacinto Ranger Station at 909-382-2945 to count at Lake Hemet; or Rick Reisenhoffer at 760-389-2281 to count at Lake Silverwood.
MARCH 26-30 FRED HALL DEL MAR SHOW: The Fred Hall Fishing Tackle, Boat, and Travel Show will be held March 26-30 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The companion show to the Long Beach event, this is the largest sportsman’s show in San Diego County. Admission to the Hall Show is $15 for adults and kids are free. For more information, go to www.fredhall.com or call 805-389-3339.


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.
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 714-841-2100 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 Bob Peters via e-mail at bpi1@ca.rr.com or Don Jamroz at donjamroz@aol.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@earthlink.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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