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Outdoors Q&A: How Does Managed Hunting Benefit Deer Herds?
Q: I’m quite concerned about the health of our deer herds and would like to know how proper management of deer hunting will contribute to long-term protection of the herds. I know many people still believe that hunting will decimate the herds, but I’ve been told that regulated hunting could also help control the population. What is your take on this? (Bill B., Susanville)
A: Managed hunting of deer is designed to smooth out the highly dynamic population cycles of deer. They are a classic “boom or bust” species in that when habitat conditions are good, deer populations can rise very quickly, but when they are bad (or overutilized by too many deer), they can crash just as quickly. These crashes usually occur through starvation and/or disease issues. Managing the population through regulated sport hunting can minimize these types of events.
Another way that managed hunting contributes to herd protection is through the payment of fees for tags and licenses. According to deer program manager Craig Stowers, the funds are used for collection of population, habitat use and movement data, information to monitor and research disease issues, and enforcement of the laws and regulations that are the basis of managed sport hunting. Tag monies are used for habitat projects to benefit deer herds in the state as well.
Although deer are a resource “owned” by all citizens of California, deer management in this state is not supported by general taxes — the license and tag fees are basically “user fees” paid for by deer hunters and in turn used to manage the deer resource. Hunters’ dollars fund deer research and habitat work, and hunter harvest helps benefit California’s deer herds by regulating their population cycles.
Hoop Netting for Lobsters with Pantyhose
Q: While hoop netting lobsters in the past, I have used a piece of old pantyhose to keep the bait together. It’s worked well, but recently I was told it’s illegal to do because a lobster may get entangled on the hose. This has never happened in the times that I have hoop netted. I’m trying to be legal at all times. Am I breaking the law by using this method? (Doug F.)
A: Hoop nets are legal to use to take lobster, but traps are not. If hoop nets are modified in any manner that causes the lobster to become entangled or trapped, then the device ceases to be a hoop net and becomes a trap. The fabric used to make pantyhose is known to be an effective trap for lobsters and is not recommended for use on any part of a hoop net when it’s used to take lobster.
Hoop nets may contain a bait container, but may in no way act to entangle or impede the movement of lobster while it tries to leave the net. If it does, then the device would be illegal, no matter what material is used to construct the bait container.
Are Target Shooters Limited to Three-Round Max Shell Capacity?
Q: My friends and I were arguing over whether recreational shotgun shooters (skeet/trap) are bound in the same way as game hunters by the three-round maximum shell capacity restriction. I also can’t find any Fish & Game regulations as to whether this holds true for nongame species (such as coyotes). Only game mammals and birds are listed specifically. (Ken)
A: Regulations regarding magazine capacity apply only when “taking” game birds and/or mammals (California Code of Regulations Title 14, sections 311, 353 and 507). The three-round shell restriction doesn’t apply when using a shotgun to take furbearing or nongame species, or when shooting targets, skeet/trap, sporting clays, etc. (CCR Title 14, sections 465 and 475).
Fish & Game Code section 2010 limits shotguns to no more than six shells when taking “any bird or mammal,” and there are Penal Code sections restricting large-capacity firearms. Click here for more information from the Bureau of Firearms regarding large-capacity firearms.
Are Duck Decoys with Flashing LED Lights Legal?
Q: I have a question about a new duck decoy I’ve found that is not mechanical or a spinning wing type, but is one that operates with a string of flashing LED lights on the wings. Nothing on the decoy moves, but the flashing lights seem to be an attractant in the early morning. Are these legal to use before Dec. 1? (Mark L.)
A: Unfortunately, these decoys may not be used at any time during the waterfowl season because it’s unlawful to use any artificial light to assist in the taking of game birds, game mammals or game fish, except in ocean waters or other waters where night fishing is permitted (FGC, section 2005).
— Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish & Game. She can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Comments
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» on 02.04.10 @ 07:58 AM
Thank you so much Noozhawk for posting this article and thanks to Carrie Wilson and the DFG as well. Although I am not a deer hunter, I am a bird hunter and devote a significant amount of my time, effort and money to the preservation of habitat for game birds in our local area. Hunters are constantly critisized and its refreshing to see the facts about who really foots the bill to insure the future of game animals.
So all you hunter-haters out there, before you critisize hunters for harvesting game animals, take out your check book and put your money where you mouth is!
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» on 02.04.10 @ 07:59 AM
About how they feel about being ‘managed’. Seems to me that if we extended this principle to people, it wouldn’t go down well. But deer don’t vote…
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» on 02.04.10 @ 10:34 AM
Next time you see a deer why don’t you “ask” it how it feels? I am guessing you won’t get much of a response. Or better yet, since you can talk to deer, why don’t you ask one how it feels about entire herds dyeing off due to starvation and disease?
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