California Outdoors Q&A

Scholastic Archery Program

Q: How do I get my kid’s school involved with CDFW’s in-school target archery program?

A: Since 2006, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has offered equipment grants to California schools for incorporating target archery into physical education curriculums. Currently, CDFW is partnered with the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) and utilizes its curriculum to safely teach archery to fourth through 12th-grade students. In addition to the fundamentals of archery, students learn focus, self-control, discipline, patience and other skills aimed at helping them succeed inside and outside of the classroom. Target archery is an inclusive sport that every child can participate in regardless of skill or athletic ability.

The first step to starting a scholastic target archery program in your school would be to speak with school administration about offering the program. The program is typically offered during the school day as part of a gym class. All types of schools are eligible including private, charter, home and special needs schools. Grant approved schools must send a credentialed teacher to a Basic Archery Instructor training class prior to starting in-school lessons. Training classes are paid for by CDFW and offered throughout the year at many locations throughout the state.

For more information visit CDFW’s Scholastic Archery Program web page or contact California Coordinator Leticia Palamidessi at Leticia.Palamidessi@wildlife.ca.gov.

Klamath River

Q: What will happen to fish in reservoirs along the Klamath River before the dams come down? Will they be relocated?

A: The Klamath Dam removal, the largest dam removal project in U.S. history, is an opportunity to restore the health of the Klamath River. The project will benefit salmon, steelhead and other native species along with local Tribes and communities within the Klamath Basin. As for the fish, the plan is to translocate Lost River sucker and shortnose sucker prior to the drawdown of Iron Gate and Copco reservoirs. Both of those fish species are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act and California Endangered Species Act.

Aside from the listed species, there are no plans to relocate fish from the reservoirs. Many fish species in the reservoirs are non-native, including largemouth bass, yellow perch, and bluegill. These non-native fish species are typically associated with reservoir ecosystems. Once the reservoirs are drawn down, these species are likely to experience substantial population losses or be eliminated. However, the decline in non-native fish is expected to benefit native fish such as native trout. The makeup of fish species in the future is expected to be like what is currently found downstream of Iron Gate Dam, which includes steelhead, Chinook and coho salmon. CDFW plans to closely monitor fish populations following removal of the dams to understand the impacts and inform future management actions.

Fish and Game Commission

Q: What’s the difference between CDFW and the California Fish and Game Commission?

A: Essentially, CDFW implements and enforces the California Fish and Game Code along with regulations adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission. CDFW also provides biological data and expertise to inform the Commission’s decision-making process.

The Commission was one of the first wildlife conservation agencies in the U.S. Established by California’s State Constitution, it is composed of five Commissioners appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate.

The Commission and CDFW are separate legal entities with a wide variety of authorities, some general in nature and some very specific. Primary functions of the Commission are adopting policies and regulations which guide its work and the work of CDFW, listing and delisting threatened or endangered species, letting leases for shellfish cultivation and kelp harvest, and establishing seasons, bag limits, and methods of take for hunting and fishing. CDFW’s law enforcement division enforces regulations adopted by the Commission, but CDFW also administers other programs, such as the lake and streambed alteration program, which are unrelated to the Commission.

Commission meetings are held bimonthly, with both video and audio coverage live-streamed and archived. Visit the Commission home page on the day of each meeting to watch or listen live.

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Youth waterfowl hunt

Q: Can my 17-year-old nephew participate in the upcoming Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days, Feb. 5-6?

A: Yes! Federal regulations allow licensed hunters 17 years old or younger to participate in these post-season youth waterfowl hunts offered in most, but not all, parts of the state. All hunters need a current Harvest Information Program (HIP) Validation as well. Hunters 16 years old and older will need a signed federal duck stamp (an electronic stamp option is available) with their hunting license, per federal regulations and California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, section 509(c).

Young hunters who are no longer eligible for a California Junior Hunting License will need a California Duck Validation. If your nephew is planning to hunt at one of the public Type A or B state-operated wildlife areas or federal wildlife refuges, he will need the appropriate Type A or B area pass. Junior Hunting License holders do not need the California Duck Validation and are exempt from having to purchase a wildlife area pass to hunt these public wetlands.

Lastly, even as a 17 year old hunting under a valid adult California hunting license, your nephew will need to be accompanied by a non-hunting adult 18 or older during these post-season youth waterfowl hunts. These hunts are intended to be mentoring opportunities for young hunters – which also gives you and your nephew a great opportunity to have a memorable time together in the outdoors. We’re sure he will appreciate the help and the company. Visit CDFW’s waterfowl huntingwebpage for more information.

Archery and crossbow

Q: There used to be a regulation that defined the minimum strength of a hunting bow as a bow that could cast an arrow at a certain distance. That regulation changed, right? Is there a minimum draw weight for taking big game with a bow and/or a crossbow?

A: Yes, the regulation you referred to was updated by the California Fish and Game Commission. The current regulation states: It is unlawful to use any bow or crossbow without a draw weight of at least 30 pounds for a bow or 125 pounds for a crossbow.(CCR, Title 14, section 354(f)).

Gold panning

Q: Is recreational gold panning allowed in creeks of the Spenceville Wildlife Area east of Marysville?

A: No. Recreational gold mining or panning is not allowed on any CDFW owned lands. CCR, Title 14, section 550(g)(3) states: Except for the take of fish and/or wildlife in compliance with general and site-specific hunting and fishing regulations, or under written authorization from the department to conduct environmental research or environmental education, no visitor shall cut, saw, trim, remove or disturb any plant, mammal, fish, mollusk, crustacean, amphibian, reptile, soil, sand, gravel, rock, mineral or any other form of plant or animal life on department land, except that non-woody vegetation may be cut and used for temporary hunting blinds.

Interstate agreement

Q: What is the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact?

A: The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC) is an agreement between 47 states which allows for the reciprocal recognition of hunting and fishing license suspensions. If your license privileges have been suspended by another state, the suspension may be recognized here in California. For example, if your sport fishing or hunting privileges have been suspended in Colorado for five years, your privileges may also be suspended for five years in California or any of the states participating in the IWVC. The purchase of licenses or tags during the term of the suspension is a violation of the law and may result in prosecution. Licenses or tags purchased prior to or during a suspension are not refundable. Information on member states can be found on the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs website.

Over the years, CDFW has received occasional calls from hunters or fishers wondering why they were not allowed to purchase a hunting or fishing license at a California vendor. A common reason is that they have an unpaid citation in another state for something as simple as fishing without a license. That failure to take care of the fishing without a license citation would put them in the IWVC, which would prohibit them from purchasing a fishing license in California or any of the other participating 46 states until it is handled per the direction of the out-of-state court.

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