OUTDOOR NOTES / RICH ROBERTS : Dove Hunting Lures Officers of the Peace

Wardens from the California Department of Fish and Game had the best luck when the first half of the split dove season opened Sunday.

Shooting was spotty from the central valley south to the Mexican border and the Colorado River (see report below), but the DFG apprehended 35 hunters shooting at baited sites on three ranches in Ventura County. Spreading grain or other bait to attract the birds is illegal.

DFG Capt. Roger Reese was alerted through the CalTIP hotline--1 (800) 952-5400--that Rancho Tres Lomas, Williams Lease and Williams Property had bait out for Sunday morning’s opening. Eleven wardens and three U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents met at 2:30 a.m., secluded themselves on the sites and waited for the shooting to start.

At daylight the birds arrived, the firing started, and pellets rained down on the wardens.

When the first barrage ended, according to Reese, one hunter yelled, “Hey, let’s get off the hill before the law gets here.”

But it was too late. Violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are subject to maximum penalties of six months in jail and a $5,000 fine.

About 400 trappers were licensed in California for the 1990-91 season, but not one was present to testify when new trapping regulations were adopted by the Fish and Game Commission at Long Beach on Friday. However, there were a couple of dozen animal-rights supporters pleading for the use of only box traps, cage traps--or, preferably, no trapping at all.

Nevertheless, the commission approved a Department of Fish and Game recommendation to eliminate steel-jawed traps and make commercially manufactured and DFG-approved steel-jawed padded leg-hold traps the rule statewide. Less lethal types of traps, such as snares and deadfalls, may also be used, except in two zones for San Joaquin kit fox and Sierra red fox.

That wasn’t much consolation for the animal rights supporters, who departed the chamber muttering about the four commissioners.

Four? Yes, Gov. Pete Wilson still hasn’t gotten around to restoring the commission to its full complement of five, after the death of Jack Murdy and the expired term of Bob Bryant. Wilson did appoint Frank Boren, a former president of the Nature Conservancy, who admitted at one point, “I don’t know much about trapping.”

Apparently, 10 months after his election, Wilson also hasn’t made a decision on DFG Director Pete Bontadelli, who must be either re-appointed or replaced.

The commission didn’t win any points for compassion last week. Citing a lack of sufficient environmental information, it refused to follow a staff recommendation to list the California gnatcatcher as endangered, thus clearing the way for Orange County developers to build on what some claim is the bird’s nesting ground.

Briefly

HUNTING--The best dove shooting was reported in the Imperial Valley, where the DFG’s Joe Brana said it was “overall, a lot better than the last few years.” Hunters averaged from seven to a limit of 10 birds, including two or three white-wings. The downside is that the hunters were so successful that Brana projects the rest of the season as poor. Brana also arrested 10 hunters for baiting near Holtville east of El Centro and said 130 other citations were issued, most for over-limits--up 20% from a year ago. Around Palo Verde, DFG biologist Jerry Mulcahy said, there were numerous hunters and the shooting was “very slow, with some very good hot spots.” One of those was at Mecca north of the Salton Sea, where most hunters got their limits.

Tom Paulek of the DFG said the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, boosted by a reclaimed water project, produced its first decent shooting, with a conservative estimate of two or three birds per hunter and some limits over two days. Many birds survived a light turnout. The nearby Lake Perris area opens Saturday for doves and rabbits.

Hunter Lowell Kolb reported that the Delano area along U.S. 99 north of Bakersfield wasn’t as good as last year. His party of five veteran hunters had only eight birds by mid-morning and at breakfast encountered a party of six hunters with only 12 birds. Moving south of McFarland, Kolb’s group came upon better numbers and all got their limits, “but you had to work for ‘em,” he said. “It was pretty fair shooting but no big flights.”

BAJA FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: El Tapir reports heavy dorado catches. Tuna are running 40-50 pounds, some to 100. Increase in wahoo during early mornings. Blue marlin consistently good, with 19 taken during Whitey’s Black & Blue Tournament, topped by Gary Yount’s 331-pound blue. Ron Pfiffer, Brea, was second at 327. The largest non-tournament catch was 714. East Cape: Gary Heilgeist, West Covina, took 320- and 240-pound blues at Punta Colorada, and his daughter caught a 200-pounder. Also taken were two striped marlin, two sailfish and 20 dorado to 52 pounds. Tuna from 25-50 pounds have been running at Las Arenas, dorado 10-40 and sailfish 85-100. San Diego fleet: Vagabond out of Point Loma reported 25 passengers on three-day trip 140 miles south took two albacore--the larger 20 1/2 pounds caught by Jimmy Ramirez, Bellflower--along with three yellowtail, 18 bluefin, 120 skipjack and one bigeye.

FLY-FISHING--Dave Whitlock, author, fly tyer and angler, will be visiting clubs around Southern California this month. He will speak at the Wilderness Fly Fishers’ dinner meeting Sept. 17, 6:15 p.m. at the Ramada Inn, 1150 S. Beverly Dr. (details: (213) 280-3459), then at the Pasadena Casting Club Thursday, Sept. 19, 6-10 p.m. (details: (213) 626-5469). . . . The East Fork Fly Fishing store in Irvine offers a series of September classes for beginners starting Sept. 11 with “Buying Your First Rod and Reel.” Details: (714) 724-8840.