Outdoor Notes / Earl Gustkey : Bighorn Sheep Now Game Animal

Legislation making the desert bighorn sheep a game animal in California has been signed into law by Gov. George Deukmejian. The law, which permits the state Department of Fish and Game to run managed, limited bighorn hunts at two Mojave Desert sites, will take effect Jan. 1.

The hunts, if approved by the Fish and Game Commission, can occur only in two San Bernardino County mountain ranges, the Old Dad and Marble mountains. No more than 15% of the mature rams may be taken.

It is expected that about a dozen permits will be made available through an application-drawing system in the first year, with one permit being sold at auction. DFG and California Wildlife Federation personnel believe the auction tag will bring in more than $100,000 for the bighorn sheep management fund that the legislation created. The CWF sponsored the legislation.

Hunters who draw bighorn hunt tags probably will be prohibited from applying again for a California bighorn tag, CWF spokesman Bob McKay said.

Good hunting is expected by DFG biologists when four major Southland deer hunting zones open Oct. 4 and more than 15,000 tag holders for Zones D11, D13, D14 and D16 take to the field.

Ample forage, sufficient water, good buck carry-over and habitat improvement projects should combine to provide a good opener, weather permitting, biologists say.

“The habitat looks good,” said Sherry Teresa, DFG biologist for Los Angeles County. “I expect the deer to be in good shape and the carry-over of bucks from last season should help improve hunter prospects.”

Teresa said the best hunter prospects in Angeles National Forest should be at Bouquet Canyon, Mystic Canyon, Bear Canyon and Robinson Canyon, all in the Saugus District of Angeles Forest.

Best spots in the San Gabriel Mountains, she said, should be Mount Pacifico, Pigeon Ridge, Table Mountain, Pine Mountain Ridge, Silver Mountain in the San Gabriel Reservoir area, Monrovia Peak, Barley Flats, Strawberry Peak and Josephine Peak.

Hunters are reminded to check first with Forest Service offices about possible fire hazard closures.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reminds waterfowl hunters that new steel-shot zones are in effect for the coming hunting season in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Each of those states has regulations prohibiting use and possession of lead shot while hunting migratory waterfowl in steel zones.

Briefly The DFG reports that field personnel have seen fewer band-tailed pigeons than is normal in northern California. Saturday is opening day of the hunting season for the birds. . . . More than 30 vehicles and other equipment such as two-way radios, elk and deer antlers, rifles and fishing tackle will be sold when the Arizona Game and Fish Department holds its annual auction of confiscated material at its Phoenix headquarters, Oct. 4.