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2B Daily News – Saturday, June 23, 2012 Outdoorlife living & When big game tags go unclaimed Question: Last year I drew an Area 6 antelope tag. While in camp I was talking with a fellow hunter who told me he drew a tag six years ago. He also told me he had a tag for this year and showed me an antelope he had shot that day. I told him I was surprised at his good luck in draw- ing so soon. He responded by say- ing he was just as surprised when he received a telephone call from the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) offering him an unclaimed tag. I am wondering what becomes of unclaimed tags. I heard that years ago there Photo courtesy U.S. Department of Agriculture Jonnathan Lemus, left,and Chris Cruz clear a log blocking a trail in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness. AmeriCorps crews help clean Mendocino National Forest COVELO – On a warm after- noon at the Eel River Campground outside of Covelo, members of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) were busy sprucing up the campground – fixing the signs, picking up trash, cutting weeds and cleaning the bathrooms. The crew's work is part of a partnership between the Mendoci- no National Forest and Ameri- Corps. Crewmembers gain experi- ence working in the Forest, and the Forest receives valuable support in maintaining recreational facilities and restoring ecosystems. The 10-person crew is part of AmeriCorps, a national organiza- tion that mobilizes volunteers for community service projects, including environmental steward- ship. On Monday, June 11, the crew started a four-week assignment on the Mendocino National Forest, supporting the Covelo and Upper Lake Ranger Districts. trict Implementation Officer Michelle Zuro-Kreimer. great to work with, very flexible, professional, well trained and a pure joy to work with each year." AmeriCorps participants are "They're given the opportunity to make a difference to individuals, commu- nities and the environment. "It allows you to have an expe- rience that changes your perspec- tive and that is a good opportunity for everyone," said Kameke Brown, a member of the NCCC crew. This is the second year on the NCCC crew for Avery Bailie. He shared that the program has given him a wide variety of work, people and life experiences that he would- n't have been exposed to without NCCC. the crews, they sign up for a 10- month service year, October through July. When participants sign up for In addition to the NCCC crew, the Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB) six-person crew, also a part of AmeriCorps, worked on the Forest for the past eight days, fin- ishing their assignment Wednes- day, June 20. This is the third consecutive year the Forest has utilized Ameri- Corps crews to complete trail, campground maintenance and eco- logical restoration work. "They're awesome," said Cov- elo and Upper Lake Ranger Dis- receive a living stipend as well as an education award for their ser- vice work. Travis Smith, crew leader for the NCCC, said he would recom- mend the experience to his family and friends. "It's a great way to travel and Crew members nia Lake and Mendocino Unit will assist the crew by packing in sup- plies. Even though the CCNB only had eight days on the Forest, they provided additional help with trail and restoration activities working with the NCCC. In addition to service to com- munities and environmental stew- ardship, CCNB includes a required education component. The crew has to complete 11 hours of educa- tion per week, three of which are based on environmental issues and field exercises. Jonnathan Lemus likes how the classroom education relates so closely with the work they get to do in the field. "You can really see how impor- tant these issues are when you can get out and do the work," Lemus said. drawn for an elk, antelope or sheep hunt must claim and pay for their tags shortly after the drawing. According to DFG Information Systems Analyst Tony Straw, in the big game drawing all non-winning applicants are ranked according to their preference points and the random number they received in the drawing. was a standby list for unclaimed tags, but thought that was done away with long ago. (Jim S.) Answer: Hunters who are Carrie Wilson DFG notifies by mail a small set of the top ranked alternates for each hunt. If a tag is not claimed by the person who is drawn, then the tag will be offered to the first ranked alternate. If the first alternate does not want the tag, then it is offered to the next ranked alternate and so on, until the tag is claimed. It sounds like the hunter you ran into last year was an alternate for the Zone 6 - Surprise Valley Hunt because one or more winners declined their tags. It is also likely he is mistaken on how long it has been since he was previously drawn. Alternates are selected based on preference points, so an alternate for this hunt would not have received a tag that recently. Rarely does a tag go unclaimed by any of the noti- fied alternates. When this occurs, the tag will be offered to the next ranked alternate (DFG generally calls the customer in this case rather than sending a letter to expedite the process). If that person does not want the tag, this process is repeated until the tag is claimed. Tags for the most sought-after hunts, such as a bull elk tag or a buck antelope tag are not usually declined. The most desirable hunts generally don't make it past the first alternate. Cow elk tags are much more likely to go beyond Darrylome Shuemake Jr. from the CCNB said the program has taught him to work hard, be punc- tual and has given him a better understanding and appreciation for the environment. "We really appreciate all the it's a fulfilling service experience," Smith said. The NCCC crew will spend five days of their time on the Forest working on trails in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness. The Backcountry Horsemen of Califor- work these crews put in while they are here," Zuro-Kreimer said. "The AmeriCorps crews are an amazing resource to help us with recreation work we normally wouldn't have the staff to do, ulti- mately benefitting Forest visitors." the first alternate. Some hunters may have second thoughts about burning points that took years to earn on a cow elk tag. Question: We have a flush of feral peacocks in our neighborhood. They are very annoying and dig in our garden. My son says he's heard they taste like pheas- ant. Is it lawful to hunt them? What rules would apply? (SE Jones) Answer: Peacocks are considered domestic ani- mals and not a game species in California. If you believe they are feral in your area, you need to check with local law enforcement and/or animal control to see if they belong to a nearby property owner and whether they have any other concerns. Peacocks or peahens are considered personal property and are not regulated by DFG. However, safety laws, such as dis- charging a firearm within 150 yards of any occupied dwelling without the consent of the owner, would still apply for authorized take (Fish and Game Code, sec- tion 3004(a)). Squinting? Use wraparound bifocal fishing lenses AUSTIN, Texas (MCT) — I can remember clearly I can't see clearly, but I remember clearly the day I realized my vision was impaired. I was happily playing college baseball and realized I couldn't see the laces any- more. fast balls were all looking about the same. Bad eyes are fatal to a hitter. I was 20 years old. Not long after that, a friend let me try on his glass- es; I was amazed at how clear the world could be. I got some glasses, then some more. My vision continued to jump around every six months or so, finally settling at something like 20/200. That first pair of glasses Curve balls, sliders and was more than 40 years ago, and although in my mind I can still hit a fastball, I still can't see it. But I dream. I loved being able to see with glasses, but for the next 20-plus years I struggled with foggy, dirty, sweat- streaked lenses. I had to wear those clip-on sunglass- es, and I always had trouble with binoculars. allowed me to wear those cool Ray-Ban aviator sun- glasses and use binoculars at will. I tried contacts, which But I couldn't keep con- tacts clean for long. I'm recalling this now, because I was thinking about the tools serious anglers use. Fishing sun- glasses are part of the offi- cial outdoor tool kit. Gotta have them. and fishing, especially fish- ing, where sun and glare work against you. With sun- glasses I can see fish in shal- low water that once I would have passed right by. With good sunglasses, I don't get headaches from wavy effects caused by lens imperfections. Now come bifocal lenses in wraparound fishing glass- Sunglasses help driving es. I am reborn. Now I can see fish farther away and tie tiny knots. You can buy them in var- ious magnifying strengths and the coated polycarbon- ate lenses are durable, well- made and don't have any of those little imperfections of cheaper lenses. At $90 and up, they ought to be good, and they are. unique now. Other manufac- turers are making them. Costa Del Mar recently came out with one of their own. I bought some last week for backups for a trip for bonefish and permit in the Caribbean. They cost even more, These sunglasses are not there. You have better vision on the water, and your eyes get protection from the sun. Too much direct exposure to bright sunlight can lead to cataracts, so that's another reason to wear lenses when you're outside, fishing or otherwise. leakage around the edges. Two things happen but, when it comes to fish- ing eyewear, I don't think that's too much. First, you want glasses that aren't going to make you queasy with lens distortion and you want some kind of wraparound function that's going to block any light I prefer amber lenses because they work well in low light and bright sun- light, and I think they are better in shallow water at making fish visible below the surface. Gray and green lenses are okay in bright sunlight, but they can get too dark late in the day when you still need some protection. manufacturers making quality sunglasses and if you aren't fishing, lens color and style don't matter much. You can go with avi- ators, mirrored, blues or greens, whatever looks There are dozens of cool to you. You can choose from quality glass lenses or polycarbonates. You can buy them online or retail. I prefer the local store. MCT file photo Stop the glare. Use fishing lenses to catch more. One word of advice: Resist the temptation to go cheap. Buy the best quality you can afford. You'll have a better experience and not so many headaches.