New Tag Has Some Dove Hunters Grousing

More than 99% of several thousand hunters checked since dove season opened last week had the $5.25 upland game stamp now required for the species.

“We were surprised by the high compliance,” said California Department of Fish and Game Warden Joe Brana, whose beat is the Imperial Valley.

That isn’t to say the hunters were happy about it.

Said Jason Jackson of Yellow Mart in El Centro: “I heard everything from, ‘I’m never going to buy another hunting license,’ to ‘Are they going to charge us for frog-gigging next year, too?’ I’d say 90% of the reaction was negative.”

Until this year, only the basic California hunting license--now $24.40--was required to shoot doves.

Revenue from the stamp is earmarked for the Game Bird Heritage Program to develop and expand the hunting.

Jackson said one hunter, displaying his basic license, asked, “What’s this good for now, anyway?”

Good question. To hunt most creatures in the state, a hunter not only must buy a basic license, but a specific tag or stamp for the species. The basic license is now good only for rabbits or vermin.

By comparison, Arizonans have a bargain. They can still hunt doves with the basic license, which costs $18. But non-resident licenses cost $38 for three days, and Mexico is even more expensive, so Californians don’t have an alternative.

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The border was best when storms chased the doves south for opening day a week ago, but more storms pushed them back north during the holiday weekend, according to field reports. The first season ends Sept. 15, followed by the second season Nov. 13-Dec. 27, but prospects after the opener are historically spotty.

“The birds have been pretty well shot up,” Brana said. “There are no concentrations left.”

Brana thinks the birds should be given a break by calling a cease-fire at noon, as Arizona does, rather than at sundown. It also would curtail “double-tripping:” hunters taking one limit of five home at midday, then returning for five more in the afternoon.

Overall, participation was off from last year, partly because of the midweek opener dictated by federal migratory bird regulations--dove season always opens Sept. 1--and partly because of poor weather ranging from squalls to high humidity.

That was fine with Coachella Valley residents, some of whom were already complaining about shotgun pellets raining on their heads around Indio and La Quinta.

Said DFG Warden Darrell Stephenson: “I get lots of complaints of pellets falling on houses and cars. Hunters are way too close to houses, and they know it but don’t seem to care. If we are going to continue to dove hunt in this state, we will have to take care of these kinds of things.”

Two unidentified hunters were wounded by others shooting at low-flying birds. Neither was seriously injured.

Briefly

SALTWATER--The Balboa Angling Club’s 12th annual Master Angler Billfish Tournament--the West’s largest release format billfish event--is scheduled Sept. 17-18. Details: (714) 673-6316. . . . Expert Ken Hanley will tell the Pasadena Casting Club about “Topolobampo: Mexico’s Great Budget Adventure” at the monthly meeting Thursday, 7:30 p.m., at the clubhouse.

MEXICO--Hurricane Jova had little effect, except to stimulate a bite before the storm. Marlin counts were down, but yellowfin tuna and dorado were good, though small. Wahoo scattered. San Diego long-range: Bob Vance took the Polaris Supreme five days to Guadalupe Island, caught some yellowfin and yellowtail, then came back north to 130 miles south of San Diego to get in on a bluefin tuna bite. So did Buzz Brizendine on the Red Rooster III. The three-day boats Holiday and Morning Star followed the Vagabond 115 to 130 miles south for bluefin after skipper Mike Lackey reported limits for 24 passengers, topped by a 136-pound jackpot winner by Rob Depue of Thousand Oaks. But the bite had slipped a little by the time the other two got there.

FRESHWATER--The California Department of Fish and Game this month will stock 10,000 catfish up to two pounds in three urban lakes: Santa Fe Reservoir and Peck Road Park Lake in Los Angeles County and Evans Lake in Riverside County. . . . Current boating hours with the new concessionaire at Silverwood Lake are 6 a.m. to dusk for private launches and 6 a.m. to 7:15 for rentals. . . . The Pasadena Casting Club’s conservation team has completed its second project to plant willows along Cottonwood Creek in the White Mountains east of the Owens Valley. . . . The East Fork Fly Fishing Store in Irvine has courses scheduled into November on fishing the Eastern Sierra, the Lower Owens River and the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, along with fly tying and beginners’ classes. Details: (714) 724-8840.

WHITEWATER RAFTING--Friends of the River’s last benefit trip of the year is scheduled Sept. 18-19 on the South Fork of the American River from Coloma. Price: $190. Details: (800) 3RIVERS. Roundtrip bus transportation from Van Nuys is available for $15.