November 29th Youth in the Outdoors Meeting &

November 30th Al Taucher F&G Meeting Reports.

By: Joe Becker

 

At the YO meeting we had the following attend:  2 from DFG, 2 from CWA, 1 for Boy Scouts and myself for you CBH/SAA. Once again the meeting was hosted by California Waterfowl Assoc. and held near their office on Northgate Blvd. in Sacramento, with Carol Lerner keeping us in order.

 

Last meetings minutes of 9/13/06 were approved.

Then we moved into discussions once again on future surveys we would like to do on Junior hunts to gather info on what youth are actually participating in these hunts. Are we increasing our ranks of new hunters, or are these youth only coming from hunting families, as the goal of special hunts are to introduce non hunting families to wildlife management by hunting.  Carol will put together a survey form and distribute to committee members for discussion and a final version.

 

Next was once again a request for handout materials of organizations to include in information packages that are given to participants of special youth projects. (CBH/SAA needs to develop a youth information leaflet for this promotion program.)

 

The next issue of the YO newsletter will be going to press in Mid December, so that they are available for distribution by January 12th at the San Mateo ISE youth fair, followed the following weekend at Sacramento’s show. Please if you have any youth activities planned from January through August 2007 email the information to Carol Lerner

carol_lerner@calwaterfowl.org . Your family activities or tournaments could be included in the YO Calendar.

 

A program, which I was not aware of until our meeting is you, might call a recycle of hunting equipment. On many of the waterfowl hunting areas used, outgrown equipment may be donated as loaner equipment for new hunters many times youth or ladies, to use for the day or hunt period. How many times have you seen a person show up for a hunt without proper clothing or equipment? This is what the recycle program is, and those involved stated it works very well. So spread the word about possible donations of equipment still good which you do not need any longer. You can drop off at DFG locations or contact CWA for pickup.  

 

Over the past year I have mentioned the USSA Trailblazer program conducted in conjunction with the Boy Scouts. Our California archery organizations have helped with 4 of these in the past year. The delegate who attended from the Boy Scouts stated that they are planning a Boy Scout Jamboree in September of 2007 at Beale AFB in Yuba County. Their plans are for a weekend of events for 2 thousand minimum number of scouts and leaders. This would be at least 4 times the size of the trailblazer events. The goal is for all the outdoor sporting organizations connected to the YO and Al Taucher Committees would be to set up booths and event programs for our special recreation. Yes an archery instruction range for CBH/SAA’s part. At one time Beale had its own archery range, and just outside Beale boundaries is where the Yuba/Sutter Bowhunters Range is located. As time and plans progress you will be hearing more about this future project where your help will be needed.

 

Next was discussion on the Mentor Hunter legislation which was pulled last year after it became apparent all hunting org. and Hunter Education were not in agreement on it. Discussions will once again begin soon, only plans are to get all disagreement settled prior to reintroduction. Several of the eastern states passed legislation and are introducing new hunters during this years seasons. Hopefully we will be able go get result reports from the states that are offering this program. For better evaluation prior to us passing a law in California which don’t work. We have enough of those already.

 

To increase participation and more input into the YO committee, a web discussion sight will be set up soon. And our first topic is to be the Mentor program. As soon as I am emailed information on this web address will send out to our Leg Team for your impute.

 

Now I will move into the Al Taucher meeting agenda discussions, which was held November 30th in a meeting room at the Governors Inn on Richards Blvd in Sacramento. We had a very good turnout of committee members & guests with many organizations represented. Vice Chairman Commissioner Jim Kellogg called the meeting to order at 9:30AM. Following round the room introductions we moved into agenda items.

 

First was a new agenda item members had requested at last meeting “Open Forum” following a lengthy discussion on having a person named to be responsible mediator and records keeper for our committee. Several issues became apparent that we need a legal opinion prior to changes, but most agreed that we do need a person to keep minutes for the meetings. Commission office will work on how this could be done prior to next meeting.

Condor Lead issue was briefly mentioned, as was more involvement in land use decisions by other government agencies to improve wildlife habitat. Last was that after 2 hours of round and round discussions the Open Forum needs to be placed towards the end of agenda instead of beginning.

 

Jon Fischer presented a short power point presentation of the Al Taucher Committee, for the newer members of the Al Taucher F&G Commission Advisory Committee to give them a history of why the committee exists. One of the problems for the committee such as record keeping and having an official representative is the fact no budget listing was ever established to provide funding. And the committee acts only as an advisory group.

 

Next we had a very informative presentation by Ms. Kim Delfino explaining an overview of “Defenders of Wildlife” organization. First of all Mike Flores had invited Ms. Delfino to address our meeting, also Bill Gaines stated that our Legislative Committee has worked with her and Defender of Wildlife on numerous issues, and in past several years they have stood side by side with us on proposed laws involving hunting.  Ms. Delfino stated that they are very supportive of scientific management of our natural resources and support management by hunting and logging.  She did state that Nationally an organizational project was the reintroduction of wolves. But also stated that where they are causing problems to livestock they support management. She passed out lots of literature on their goals, answered questions honestly I believe and gave us a good introduction to the organization. During question time I ask where they stood on forest management for wildlife habitat and predator control. She stated they have not branched our to land management issues. And did her best to sidestep predator control, then the Houndsman directly as for their stand on Mountain Lions, and once again sidestepping stated they leave that to the Mountain Lion Foundation.  Over all I believe while she represents Defenders of Wildlife in California our hunting organizations will be able to continue working for the betterment of hunting jointly with her.

 

Depredation of Wildlife on State Parks was our next agenda item, Dave Schaub park department employee gave the report, using a power point presentation, of which is to be emailed to those in attendance, so at present I am going to forgo most figures in this report. When I receive it, will forward so you are able to evaluate numbers yourself. A few of the figures that were shown are as follows. 15 state parks have had wildlife problems, 14 of which have killed wildlife. Earliest year shown for state park depredation was in 1985 and those were Jack London and Annadel both near Sonoma. Pigs and turkeys both as not native species have met with the most depredations over the years. The meat is generally sent to rendering plants or buried, the SCI committee member ask why it could not be given to them for Food for the hungry programs and reason given was USDA meat inspection laws. Annual cost of wildlife depredation was shown as 100 to 120 thousand dollars annually, the total number of pigs destroyed since 1985 was listed as 2629 killed pigs. Other species were also listed and when I get the presentation you will be able to evaluate yourself. He did not have any information yet on the Sutter Buttes Park pig removal program. Following the presentation, discussion on law changes to allow public hunting for management in State parks or other government agencies began. And Mr. Schaub was ask if state parks would support new legislation to allow this. Sidestepping once again began, naturally he is not the State Parks Director, so could not make a direct support statement, but in what he did say was much more non supportive of allowing hunting than support.  Stating that he estimated 98% of State Park visitors would be opposed to management by public hunters, which met with percentage disagreement, by Mike Flores.  Am not sure where wildlife management on government agency lands will end up, but I believe most of our hunting organizations agree laws need to be changed to use licensed hunters as the management tool rather that paid killers and waste of game.

 

Next came discussion on our Deer population trends. Because all seasons are not completed yet and 2006 records and reports not completed a report was not given. Only general discussions and beliefs of causes of deer loss. Ken Mayer lead off the discussion with the Departments main reasoning for our lower herd numbers, listing loss of habitat because of mismanagement of our forest lands. Stating that until forest lands are once again managed for wildlife habitat as well as timber or in many cases non-management, our deer will continue to decrease. Stressed that all need to be more vocal calling for wildlife habitat improvements on Forest Service and BLM lands.  Most agreed with Ken that habitat is a problem, but the lack of predator management is also a determining factor.  

 

Subcommittee Reports:

 

Hunting: They had a teleconference meeting, which J.Rod participated in, Doe hunts, fundraiser tags, CBH proposals were all discussed.

Youth in Outdoors: I reported on what is covered in beginning of this article for the YO meeting.

Legislative: As we just had elections, and new legislation is not introduced yet, not much activity. The Share Program we helped support for CWA is beginning now, and hunters need to apply for these hunt properties (an email was sent middle of November to Leg Team on this new program, so info is already with your leg team member. Hunter Mentor Legislation is in YO report at beginning. Investigation of legislation controlling Depredation on Government lands is being studied for possible regulation legislation, and also government jurisdiction by local agencies with wildlife management is a possibility to stop what CBH fought and lost in Burbank. The last issue mentioned was that Michael Flores only has 1 meeting left on the F& G Commission, but would like to be re-appointed for another term by Governor Schwarzenegger. So letters to our Governor for reappointment of Mike were requested, again the Leg Team has been alerted to this, and my personal letter has been mailed. By time you read this if you have not heard of a reappointment or a new appointee let the Governor know your wishes. Mike has improved many issues we have had with the Department & Commission and he is a bowhunter.

Department Functions: Finance problems have not changed, so still need corrections.

Fishing: Problems with our fishing across the state have not changed, Salmon, Stripped Bass, Trout, Ocean are all in trouble. A lawsuit has been filed we were told against the fish hatcheries, because DFG does not file an environmental document on their operations. We had 2 new fishing organizations in attendance at this meeting all are unhappy.

 

Last discussion we had was on the Big Horn Sheep, which was basically just general information from their representative.

 

The next meeting date was picked to be March 8th, 2007 and all liked the location of this meeting at the Governors Inn on Richards Blvd. so that completes this report, with one added note. Joan & I plan to move to Paradise soon, so am backing out of my CBH/SAA remaining responsibilities as a representative of yours. Once again I thank the officers and members for all we have enjoyed in being an archer/bowhunter serving each of you.