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2B Daily News – Saturday, December 8, 2012 Outdoor & living life California Outdoors Q&A HUNTING Taking Youth Hunters to Public Wildlife Areas Question: My son is 11 years old and a licensed hunter. We would like to duck hunt this year at state and federal Wildlife Areas. Does he need a one or two day pass? Does he need any paper work aside from his license? I would hate for him to be turned away Carrie from the check station the morning of our hunt because we were not properly prepared. (Steve H.) Answer: Persons hunting under the authority of a Junior Hunting License on state Wildlife Areas (or federal areas managed by Department of Fish and Game (DFG)) where entry permits are required are exempt from the permit and pass requirements, except they must have a no-fee entry permit issued to them. Holders of Junior Hunting Licenses are only eligible for entry permits when accompanied by an adult (18 years or older). One adult may accompany up to two holders of Junior Hunting Licenses. In addition, adults must accompany holders of Junior Hunting Licenses on Type A and Type B areas. For additional information regarding hunters using Junior Hunting Licenses on state Wildlife Areas, please see sections 551 (f), (g), & (h) in the 2012-2013 Upland Game and Waterfowl Regulations / Regulations for Hunting on Public Lands booklet, available online at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations. Additional and specific information regarding entering and hunting on State Wildlife Areas is available for each Area online atwww.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/index.html. Wilson MCT photo Daniel Cerretani, left, and Cord Burnett take aim as a flight of ducks arrives on a small lake near Sulphur Springs, Texas. Decoys attract the ducks, but not always to the right place By MIKE LEGGETT McClatchy Tribune SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas — Even in the dark, there's no mistaking that buzz bomb sound. It's the sound of air as it rushes over a duck's wings. From tiny teal to monster mallards, when ducks set their wings and drop their landing gear, they create a noise unique to their species. Even in the dark, especially in the dark, it's a sound that seems to come from everywhere at once, and it shocks the system the first time you hear it. "They should come from behind us and turn out over the lake and back to the decoys," says Daniel Cerretani, our young guide on this hunt. I'm lying in the comfort of a layout blind, watching shooting stars and waiting. In 30 minutes it will be sunrise and legal shooting time arrives any minute. We've come north from Yantis with Cerretani, who guides duck and goose hunters for Hidden Lakes Hunting. The youngster knows his ducks, knows his calls and knows this East Texas country. "We have 32 different lakes that we hunt," Cerretani says. "The ducks spend the night on Cooper Lake or Lake Sulphur Springs and then they spread out to smaller lakes to feed during the day. We've had some aquatic vegetation that's come up since the drought, and they're feeding on that." Cerretani says the shooting only gets better as the season moves along. We're hunting just before the Nov. 25 close of the first part of duck season. The second part, or split, of the season will run from Dec. 8 to Jan. 27. "When the second split opens, that's when we get most of the mallards," Cerretani says. "It's usually a mix of mallards, gadwalls, widgeon and some pintails. You'll see teal and diving ducks, and you can usually shoot shovelers any time you want." Our blinds are laid out on the dam of a small lake a mile or so from Lake Sulphur Springs. As we lie quietly in the dark, a small meteor streaks across the sky, a positive omen maybe for the hunt to come. Just before dawn, the first flight cuts across the purple sky with that distinct roar. A feathered buzz bomb is the only way to describe it. The small bunch zips over us to the west, executes a tight turn over the far shore that brings them directly back in our faces. They land quietly about 20 yards short of the decoys and began swimming an odd parade of circles and half moons, quacking as they go. Suddenly, either scared because no one is quacking back or just because they're ducks, the whole bunch is airborne as quickly as they were down on the water. "The next bunch is legal," someone says and we all tighten up slightly, grip- ping our shotguns with one hand and the topside flap of the blind with the other. When the next flight comes through, we're ready. But when they come across, there's a stirring of uneasiness as the ducks — mallards and widgeon — all do the same thing. Over our heads from behind, across the lake to the far side and then back to the center of the five-acres to land with a wet swoosh on the water. Cerretani calls a shot on the next flight and a single duck drops at the boom of Thomas Knight's 12 gauge. A gadwall hen. Then a mallard drake and a spectacular widgeon drake. That's going to be about it, though. There is no wind, none, and that makes ducks smarter by far. They aren't fooled by decoys that don't wiggle and dance. And there's no movement on the water unless we throw a rock out among the decoys. Finally, someone notices a single decoy, floating loose farther out on the water. That's what's attracting the ducks, and it's too deep for anyone to reach, even with waders. Tomorrow it will be better but today it seems there's nothing to attract the ducks to us. They keep landing well out on the lake and then leaving after swimming around for a while. There's nothing we can do but lie and watch the duck show. But it's a nice show. DFG updates protected area marine guide The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has released an updated Guide to the Central California Marine Protected Areas. This full-color guide now includes enhanced maps with identifiable landmarks, shoreline boundary images and existing regulations for marine protected areas (MPAs) along the central California coast (Pigeon Point in San Mateo County to Point Conception in Santa Barbara County). Additional information about central California MPAs, answers to frequently asked questions, general rules that apply to all MPAs and links to DFG web pages are also included in the updated guide. The guide is available for viewing and printing a t www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/gui debooks.asp. -Department of Fish and Game Catching salmon while fishing for halibut? Question: I have an ongoing debate with a friend and am hoping you can resolve it. Let's say salmon season is open but I'm drifting for halibut and hook up on a legal-sized salmon on a halibut rig, what is the protocol? I was unable to find anything about this in the regulations booklet, but I did find where it says it is illegal to catch and waste fish. Also, what is the protocol if trolling for salmon with regulation gear and hook up with an untargeted ling cod? If you can cite which code is correct for these situations, I can finally put this to bed. Your help will be greatly appreciated. (Tom C.) Answer: First of all, salmon may only be taken on a barbless hook. Possession of salmon taken on any gear other than the gear described in regulations is illegal. Thus, unless your halibut rig is a barbless circle hook (doubtful!), you would have to immediately release any salmon you catch on it, regardless of the condition of the salmon (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 27.80). Hooking and keeping lingcod on your salmon rig is permitted as long as you are within the depth limit of the groundfish management area, and the groundfish season is open (CCR Title 14, sections 28.27 and 28.65). How to avoid bear "baiting" situations? Question: The regulation booklet says no baiting for bear or no bear shall be taken within 400 yards from baited areas. I'm confused, since the law says NO BAITING, but then it says no bears to be taken within 400 yards of a baited area. Is the law implying that baiting is allowed as long as the hunter shoots the bear from more than 400 yards away? How can Fish and Game tell if a bear was taken from areas with or without baits? How can hunters tell if the area was baited or not? Also, what if I had just dressed a deer and the next day a bear came after the remains, and I shot the bear. Is that not legal as long as I have a bear tag? Please clarify. (Pao H.) Answer: Regulations prohibit placing feed, bait or other materials capable of attracting a bear in any location for the purpose of taking a bear (CCR Title 14, section 365(e)). This portion of the regulation prohibits these acts and is not dependent on distance. It is illegal to place "bait" out for the purpose of taking a bear. In addition, the regulation also prohibits taking a bear within 400 yards of a garbage dump or any place where bait has been placed even though you may not have put it there. It is your responsibility to carefully inspect the area you intend to hunt and determine it complies with the law. Under this regulation the remains of a deer constitute feed or bait and it is illegal for you to dispose of them with the intention of attracting a bear to the site, and to take any bear within 400 yards of the remains. Limit on number of sand crabs? Question: I've been advised that there is a limit on the number of sand crabs a surf fishermen can possess. Is this true? (Drew B.) Answer: Yes, there is a limit on the number of sand crabs (Emerita analoga) a fisherman may possess. The limit is 50 sand crabs (CCR Title 14, section 29.85(d)).