The first official bird hunting season of the fall begins next week. California’s 2009 dove season will be open from Sept. 1-15, and again from Nov. 14-Dec. 28 as the second part of the split season.

Hunters may take white-winged and mourning doves, for which the combined bag limit is 10 birds and the possession limit is 20.

Hunters can also harvest Eurasian collared-doves, which are now common in some parts of the state.  There is no daily bag limit or possession limit for this species.

There is no open hunting season on common ground-doves, ruddy ground-doves and Inca doves.

Open or limited dove hunting opportunities are available in DFG-managed wildlife areas and ecological reserves from Shasta Valley Wildlife Area in the north to the Imperial Valley Wildlife Area in the south.  Hunts are conducted both on a reservation and non-reservation basis.

Information on these opportunities can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/uplandgame/gamebird.

Hunters must be in possession of a valid hunting license, an Upland Game Bird Stamp and a free Harvest Information Program Stamp. Proper safety precautions should be taken, including wearing shooting safety glasses in the field. Hunters are required to leave a fully feathered wing attached to doves when transporting them.

Each year an estimated 90,000 dove hunters take to the field in California to harvest more than 1.5 million doves. The sale of the required upland game bird stamps supports DFG’s Game Bird Heritage Program, which provides funding annually to plant dove food crops on state lands and on certain partnership private lands.

Limited ocean salmon season to open on North Coast

California’s only 2009 recreational ocean salmon season will be open Aug. 29 through Sept. 7 in the Klamath Management Zone along the north coast.

The brief season was authorized by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and California Fish and Game Commission, based on data collected by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) showing enough adult Klamath fall run Chinook will return to the Klamath River Basin to allow for a limited ocean harvest while maintaining conservation goals. 

Since 2008, commercial and recreational fishing for salmon has been closed in all other ocean areas off California in order to protect Sacramento River fall run Chinook, which have been at historically low numbers the last two years.

“This northern California season was specifically designed to minimize the incidental take of Sacramento River fall Chinook,” said Marija Vojkovich, Marine Region Manager and DFG’s representative to the Pacific Fishery Management Council.

The boundaries of the open ocean fishing area extend from north of Horse Mt. (40’ 05’ 00” N. latitude) to the California-Oregon border. The retention of coho salmon or steelhead trout is prohibited in all California ocean fisheries.  Anglers are required to use barbless hooks and are limited to one rod per person when fishing for salmon, or when fishing from a boat with salmon on board.

The daily bag and possession limit is two salmon of any species except coho, with a minimum size limit of 24 inches total length. A salmon report card is no longer required when fishing for salmon in the ocean.

The opening of this salmon season is expected to provide some relief to businesses that cater to the salmon anglers. According to DFG economist Terry Tillman, the 10-day ocean salmon sport fishing season could boost economic output by $2 million statewide. Locally, in Humboldt and Del Norte counties, the season could contribute an additional $370,000 to total economic output for the region.

The 2009-2010 Freshwater and Ocean Sport Fishing Supplement, published by DFG, lists all current regulations and restrictions. The supplement is available at sport fishing licenses dealers, DFG offices and at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations. Anglers may also call the Ocean Salmon Hotline at (707) 576-3429 for additional information.

Guy Carl is a CPA and partner with BDCo Accountants and Advisors in St. Helena (www.bdcocpa.com). Contact Guy at GC.outdoors@sbcglobal.net.