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2B Daily News – Saturday, February 9, 2013 Outdoor & living life Former pro wrestler Shawn Michaels finds success with outdoors tv show California Outdoors Q&A Shipping Venison to the Troops Overseas? Question: We are interested in shipping sealed venison packages to the troops overseas. Are there any California laws that prohibit this? The sealed venison will consist of packages of 50 to 100 pounds. If you could Carrie please advise us of any regulations or guidelines related to the shipping of sealed game to troops overseas, it would be greatly appreciated. (Anonymous) Answer: There are no laws that prohibit the shipping of venison from California as long as the animals were lawfully taken in accordance with California Fish and Game laws, including seasons, limits, and gender restrictions. In addition, any package being shipped by common carrier must bear the name and address of the shipper and/or the consignee, and an accurate description of the numbers and kinds of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles or amphibians contained in the package clearly and conspicuously marked on the outside (Fish and Game Code, section 2348.) Federal laws have similar marking requirements. For details, go to www.fws.gov. However, whether or not the military will accept sealed venison from a private citizen is another issue. Contact them directly for details. Wilson Photo courtesy Shawn Michaels via Kansas City Star/MCT Shawn Michaels, right, a former pro wrestling legend, has found a second career in the hunting world. As co-host of the "MacMillan River Adventures" television show, he and co-host Keith Mark, left, travel the world hunting and filming big game. Michaels took this trophy mule deer in Montana. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (MCT) — Shawn Michaels is no stranger to danger. As one of the world's best pro wrestlers, he was in the ring with hulking beasts that were bent on crushing him. But that was nothing compared with what he has run into in his second job — co-host of a national outdoors television show. "We were filming a show in Zimbabwe and we came across a herd of elephants," said Michaels, who is cohost of the "MacMillan River Adventures" show on the Outdoors Channel. "We were going to see if we could shoot an elephant with a crossbow. But things changed when one of the elephants broke off from the pack and came right at us. He looked like he was going to run right over us. But at the last second, our professional hunter got his rifle and shot it at 10 yards. "That was about the scariest situation I have ever run into." And then there was the time an angry bull moose also made a charge. "This big bull was bugling (during the mating season) and all of a sudden he spots us and decides he doesn't want us there," Michaels said. "He charges us and gets close before Keith (Mark, the co-host of the show) releases an arrow and drops him. It fell right in front of us. It was an incredible feat." Get the idea? Hunting, much like pro wrestling, is no sport for sissies. Michaels has always had a flair for the dramatic. He was one of pro wrestling's heroes, tossing villains around the ring as if they were rag dolls. Nicknamed the Heartbreak Kid, he ascended to the role of a marquee headliner on the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) circuit, which later became the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). An injury forced him to retire in 1998, but he returned in 2002 and competed for 10 more years. By the time he retired, he was a four-time world champion, a staple in the finals of the WrestleMania competition, and eventually a member of Wrestling's Hall of Fame. Though he was retained by the WWE as an ambassador to the sport, he struggled with what to do after he left the ring. But a telling moment in a hunting blind changed all of that. "When I had a bad injury, a doctor told me I would never wrestle again," Michaels said. "I was down and I was looking for things to do. A friend invited me to go deer hunting with him in Texas. "Well, I was 33 at the time and I had never hunted before. I had been interested in it, but I just never had time to get out with my wrestling career. "I decided to try it and I fell in love with it. It was like the Lord tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'I'm going to take your life in a different direction.' "A six-point buck walked out in front of me and I got buck fever. I was as nervous as all get-out. But I managed to get off a good shot and I've been hunting ever since." Now 47, Michaels lives on a ranch with his family several hours from San Antonio. He met Mark, who formerly was host of the "MacMillan River Adventures" show in the past, and the two hit it off. By the time they returned home, plans were under way to resurrect the show. The new version of the program made its debut in 2012 and has already become an award winner. Michaels and Mark, who lives in the Kansas City area, have hunted everything from elephants to buffaloes to trophy mule deer while the cameras are rolling. "I miss being in the ring," Michaels said. "But I enjoy my 'new' life, too. "The way I look at it, I'm making up for lost time when it comes to my hunting. I didn't get started until relatively late in my life. But I am making up for it. "Just being out in the beauty of what God has created, to enjoy the camaraderie of other hunters, to try to outwit some of these creatures we're hunting — that's what makes it special for me." OUTDOOR BRIEFS Turkey Hunting Clinic The California Department of Fish and Wildlife's (CDFW) Advanced Hunter Education Program will offer its popular Turkey Hunting Clinic on March 2 at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area near Gridley. The clinic is geared to hunters of all levels who want to learn to hunt wild turkey successfully. Experienced instructor and CDFW biologist Joe Johnson will lead this exciting clinic. Decoy placement, blind design, ballistics, calling, equipment, game care and cleaning, cooking tips and safety will be covered. The clinic runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and costs $45 for adults. Hunters 16 years and younger are free but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All necessary class equipment and materials will be provided. Space is limited so early registration is encouraged. Registration forms are available online athttp://www.dfg.ca.gov/hu ntered/advanced/index.asp x. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation e-mail with a map to the facility and a list of items to bring. Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is located approxi- mately 60 miles north of Sacramento. Help Save Endangered Species at Tax Time California's wild animals and plants need your help, and there's an easy way to do it! Just make a voluntary contribution on line 403 and/or line 410 of your state income tax return (Form 540). By contributing any amount over one dollar you can support the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Fund and/or the California Sea Otter Fund. What you donate this year is tax deductible on next year's return. Californians can receive state The Over 25 years of experience STOVE JUNCTION BBQ PELLETS The North State's premier supplier of stoves Now in Stock! Popular customer request Serving Butte, Glenn & Tehama Counties Tues-Sat 9am-5pm • Closed Sun & Mon 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 530-528-2221 • Fax 530-528-2229 www.thestovejunction.com income tax credit from the Franchise Tax Board for helping wildlife. "The voluntary contributions Californians make at tax time are incredibly helpful in our efforts to save threatened and endangered species," said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. "These funds have provided critical support for many state-listed species, including the Tiburon mariposa lily, Owens pupfish, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, mountain yellow-legged frog, great gray owl, Sierra Nevada red fox and many more. These donations help protect California's exceptional biodiversity." There are 387 listed plant and animal species in the state, from little "bugs" that most of us have never heard of, to the iconic California sea otter. Money raised through the tax check-off program helps pay for essential CDFW research and recovery efforts, and critical updates on the status of state-listed species to help assure their conservation. California is one of 41 states that allows taxpayers to make voluntary, taxdeductible contributions to worthwhile causes on their state returns. Feeding park squirrels? Question: I have been warned three times this year by a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy that the next time I am caught feeding squirrels at the local park, I will get a ticket. The deputy stated they enforce state regulations. However, I fed them foods that are safe; food from pet stores such as pigeon feed and raw unshelled peanuts. There are no signs posted in the park where I visit but I was told it's still a violation. There are really no food sources for these animals at the park and I don't want to see malnourished animals. Please let me know the specific law covering this subject since I have not been able to find it online. I will abide by whatever the law says. This may seem to be an unimportant matter, but to me as a senior, it becomes a quality of life issue. Thank you. (Tamara M.) Answer: The deputy is correct. By feeding wildlife, you are likely disrupting the animals' normal behavior patterns in violation of California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 251.1. Some local ordinances also prohibit feeding wildlife. It's important not to feed wildlife because feeding brings animals into close proximity with each other, which puts them at greater risk of exposure to diseases and the droppings of the other animals, especially from large populations of birds in a relatively small area. If the animals expect the food, they will stay in the area and may create a public health and water quality issue. Also, even the healthiest pet food and seeds they get from people could never duplicate the diet they would get eating the food found in their natural environment. If the natural food supply in an area decreases, that is a signal to the animals to move to a different area. See additional information regarding feeding wildlife online athttp://www.dfg.ca.gov/LivingWithWildlife/. What's legal as live bait? Question: I fish the ocean waters off Mendocino and Humboldt counties from a sport boat and target lingcod and other groundfish. My question is can I use live sanddabs and small black and blue rockfish to catch lingcod? (Jason S.) Answer: Yes, you can catch these species to then use for bait in ocean waters as long as they are all taken and possessed legally. All seasons, bag and size limits apply, even if rendered to be bait to use for lingcod and other large fish species. They also must be counted toward your bag limit. Why the new sturgeon regulations? Question: What's so special about sturgeon that the new regulations and measures are required? (Jeff D., Modesto) Answer: Green sturgeon is a threatened species and white sturgeon has long been a substantial management concern. To protect sturgeon populations and the vibrant white sturgeon fishery, the Department and Commission have emphasized sturgeon enforcement, research, fishing regulations, passage improvements (e.g. at bypass weirs on the Sacramento River) and outreach. The State legislature is also aware of the sturgeon issue, and in 2007 implemented a law (AB 1187; DeSaulnier). This law made it easier for CDFW wildlife officers to charge poachers with illegal commercialization of sturgeon and the law drastically increased the fines for illegal commercialization of sturgeon. Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone's questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at Cal.Outdoors@wildlife.ca.gov.