Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/92906
2B Daily News – Saturday, November 10, 2012 Outdoorlife living More than half of Cali- fornia is mountain lion habitat. Mountain lions generally exist wherever deer are found. They are solitary and elusive, and their nature is to avoid humans. deer but, if allowed, they also eat pets and livestock. In extremely rare cases, even people have fallen prey to mountain lions. Mountain lions that threaten people are imme- diately killed. Those that prey on pets or livestock can be killed by a property owner after the required depredation permit is secured. Moving problem mountain lions is not an option. It causes deadly conflicts with other moun- tain lions already there. Or the relocated mountain lion returns. Mountain lions prefer Help prevent deadly conflicts with these beauti- ful wild animals. Living in Mountain Lion Country • Don't feed deer; it is Photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mountain lions can be found wherever there is a deer population. tain Lion Country illegal in California and it will attract mountain lions. • Deer-proof your land- scaping by avoiding plants that deer like to eat. For tips, request A Gardener's Guide to Preventing Deer Damage from DFG offices. •Trim brush to reduce hiding places for mountain lions. • Don't leave small chil- dren or pets outside unat- tended. tive lighting around the house. • Provide sturdy, cov- ered shelters for sheep, goats, and other vulnerable animals. • Don't allow pets out- side when mountain lions are most active—dawn, dusk, and at night. • Bring pet food inside • Install motion-sensi- to avoid attracting raccoons, opossums and other poten- tial mountain lion prey. Staying Safe in Moun- Mountain lions are quiet, solitary and elusive, and typically avoid people. Mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare. However, conflicts are increasing as California's human population expands into mountain lion habitat. • Do not hike, bike, or jog alone. •Avoid hiking or jog- ging when mountain lions are most active—dawn, dusk, and at night. •Keep a close watch on small children. • Do not approach a mountain lion. • If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms; throw rocks or other objects. Pick up small chil- dren. •If attacked, fight back. • If a mountain lion attacks a person, immedi- ately call 911. Few things in life are as satisfying as a good, sharp knife BY MICHAEL PEARCE The Wichita Eagle (MCT) WICHITA, Kan. — My fourth- grade teacher, Mrs. Meisner, sometimes borrowed my pocket knife because it was the sharpest in her class. Now, as then, I've considered a good knife as essential to my out- doors lifestyle as a nice gun or good fly rod. and versatile tool, used for things like stripping the insulation from wire, cutting baling twine or peel- ing a pond-side apple. Dad handing me my first knife was a rite of passage, one that came with the conditions I not use the knife unwisely, keep it clean and razor-sharp. a family saying. That dedication to quality cut- lery got a bit expensive lately, but more on that later. I come from a family of knife- guys. Dad was seldom without his Barlow. Grandpa carried the same Old Timer for at least 35 years. To them, knives were a basic table to be stored away. No chance. To me collectable knives make as much sense as a collectable hammers. Both are tools made to be used — especially that particu- lar knife. It was love at first slice the first time I took the Bullet knife afield. With a four-inch blade it was big enough to do serious work but small enough to be easily carried in a front pocket. When opened, the knife locked as tight as Fort Knox. The blade ends in a perfect taper and narrow enough for intricate cutting. It's a breeze to get to hair-shaving sharp. was with me about any time I was afield. work well on everything from doves to bull elk and cut through everything from fine tippet to thumb-thick saplings. The knife's versatility let it lived up to those expectations, carrying any of the dozen or so knives I'd accumlated. But none were appreciated more than another. "A dull knife is just a stick," is So for about three decades I That changed in 2000 when a friend at Remington sent me one of their famed Bullet knives. She said it was a highly-valued collec- The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is hosting two orientation meetings focused on the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds. The meetings will introduce a process for developing study plans that will be used to help determine instream flow needs for fish in those watersheds. Scott River Meeting Nov. 13, 2012 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fort Jones Communi- ty Center 11960 East Street about every time I used it, too. But in 2011 someone decided it should change owners. I honestly appreciated the knife So through the last hunting sea- sons and well into this summer, I made-do with those old knives I'd collected. All had their flaws when compared to the stolen knife. striper fishing with a Zebco 202 or trying to duck hunt with coon dog. Using them was like going Fort Jones, CA Shasta River Meet- Yreka Nov. 14, 2012 6 p.m, to 8 p.m. Holiday Inn Express 707 Montague Road Yreka, CA The orientation meet- ings are watershed spe- cific but will have the same format, which includes an introduction of the project team, an overview of the process, dates and schedule for So for about 11 years the knife Using a knife wasn't fun. Off and on since the theft, I'd gone online to see if the same model of Bullet knife was for sale. They were, but at collectables prices. But after trying to clean a batch of teal with an inferior blade in September, I pulled up a special knife site and paid just under $100 for a simple folding pocket knife. I felt guilty when I hit "send," and second-guessed the decision several times a day — until the knife arrived. It is like the first in all ways, including how it makes me feel when I make a quick, clean cut through thick rope or trim unwanted fat from a piece of wild game. but it's like making a perfect cast with a good fly-rod, and that good feeling that's an important part of whatever outing is at hand. Like I said, I've always had an unusually deep appreciation for a very good knife. I'm sure you don't understand, tive when it comes to really fine shotguns and trucks. Since the original was lost, I'd repeatedly checked online, hoping to find a duplicate. Several were usually listed, but the price of the collectables was probably twice any three knives combined. I'm just glad I'm not as selec- Orientation meetings set on Shasta River flow studies ing future meetings, oppor- tunities for community involvement and a ques- tion and answer session. DFG is asking stake- holders for assistance in collecting information and developing study plans. The studies will allow DFG to recom- mend streamflows that protect fish while mini- mizing impacts on water diversions to best serve all stakeholders. Stakeholders will pate in more focused workshops and techni- cal meetings. DFG is the state agency responsible for conserving, protect- ing, and managing Cali- fornia's fish, wildlife and native also have opportunities in December to partici- resources. DFG is implementing this col- laborative process in Siskiyou County as part of a statewide effort to address instream flow issues. For more infor- mation, go to www.nor- mandeau.com/scottshas- ta plant & Mountain lion info California Outdoors Q&A ATrick to Get Rid of Pesky Gulls? Question: There is a video floating around of a local captain offering advice on how to get rid of pesky gulls. He ties sardines (no hooks) to each end of some monofilament line and goes on to explain that one gull will grab the bait, and then all the others will follow. Is that legal? Seems like birds could get tangled up and die. Carrie Wilson Introducing mono into the sea also seems to be dan- gerous to the creatures there. Is this practice accept- able? (Phil F.) Answer: No, this practice is not legal. Intention- ally putting monofilament line into the water is lit- tering. It is also harassment of animals, which is pro- hibited by Title 14 section 251.1. This provision defines harassment as an "intentional act which dis- rupts the animal's normal behavioral patterns, which includes but is not limited to breeding, feeding or sheltering." From what you describe, the whole point of this practice is to disrupt the gulls' normal behavioral patterns. waterfowl at the same time Question: If I'm in the field upland bird hunting and a flock of ducks/geese fly overhead, am I allowed to shoot those birds, too? (Robert G.) Answer: Yes, but only if the season for water- Hunting upland birds and fowl is open in the area, if you have the required state and federal waterfowl stamps affixed to your license, AND you only have steel or other non-toxic shot in your possession. and bobcats without dogs Governor Brown signed SB 1221 on Sept. 26, 2012 to repeal authorization for the use of dogs to pursue bears and bobcats. The DFG has received a large number of questions from the public regarding what effects it may cause. Below are some of those frequently asked Q&As: Does SB 1221 affect the current bear hunting sea- Effects of hunting bears son? No. The new law will not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2013. The 2012 bear hunting season closes on Dec. 30, 2012, or when the DFG determines that 1,700 bears have been taken, whichever occurs first. What will be the effect on the bear population? The DFG does not believe this law will negative- ly affect the State's black bear population. Any increase or decrease in the overall bear population will likely be reflective of bear habitat, since habitat quantity and quality have more impact on the bear population than current hunting effort. Will I be able to surrender and get a refund on my bear or bobcat tag(s)? No. Hunters are able to hunt bear and bobcat with dogs through the end of the current season, or until Jan. 1, 2013, whichever occurs first. After that date, hunters retain the ability to take those species during open seasons without the use of dogs. Will officers kill my livestock guard dog if it inad- vertently chases a bobcat or bear? This law applies specifically to the take of bear and bobcat as a method of take during regulated hunting seasons. Current laws (Fish and Game Code, sections 3960-3961) allow for the protection of game mammals during the closed season on the animal. If a livestock dog were to attempt to take a bear or bob- cat during the open season, it would be considered an unlawful method of take and appropriate enforce- ment action would be pursued. While these laws allow for the capture or killing of dogs inflicting injury to certain mammals, DFG staff are careful in exercising its discretion and has rarely used this authority. The DFG does not expect this law to result in an increase in incidents involv- ing the killing or capture of livestock guard dogs. Will the DFG still meet its bear hunting season quota of 1,700? The 1,700 bear harvest cap is not technically a quota. The DFG is not specifically targeting a spe- cific number of bears to be killed each hunting sea- son. This harvest cap exists because the Fish and Game Commission has determined that the bear pop- ulation and the environment will not be negatively affected at this level of take. In the past ten years, this cap has been met only three times. The DFG will continue to collect data and information on the bear population. From this data, we will continue to develop information for population trends and propose tag and take levels to the Fish and Game Commission consistent with the DFG's Black Bear Management Plan. Where can I find a copy of SB 1221? Go to http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/, and in the top right-hand corner under quick search, type SB 1221 next to Bill Number. Carrie Wilsonis a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. While she cannot personally answer everyone's questions, she will select a few to answer each week. Please contact her at CalOutdoors@dfg.ca.gov.