California Hunting News

Delaware Artist Wins 2013 California Duck Stamp Contest

Written by California Department of Fish and Wildlife

June 18, 2013 by korr2013

Media Contacts:
Kyle Orr, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-8958
Melanie Weaver, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 445-3717

First place winner at the 2013 California Duck Stamp Art Contest

A painting by Richard Clifton of Milford, Del., was chosen the winner of the 2013 California Duck Stamp Contest. The painting, which depicts a pair of American wigeons in a marsh, becomes the official design for the 2013-2014 stamp.

Following the contest June 18 in Davis, the three judges complimented Clifton’s winning painting, praising its painstaking anatomical accuracy and a “soft, appealing feel.”

“I was trying to create something pleasing that would gain and hold the interest of the judges,” said Clifton, a full-time wildlife artist. “There is kind of a misty look about it. Something a little tranquil where the ducks look at ease and the setting is comfortable. Somewhere you would like to be viewing wigeons.”

Clifton has twice before won the California Duck Stamp Contest and also has won a Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest.
Clifton and 18 other artists from around the country submitted entries for this year’s contest, sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). John Brennan of Lutz, Fla., placed second, Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Ind., placed third and Charles Black of Stillwater, Minn., received honorable mention.

The four paintings are expected to be displayed at the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association’s 43rd Annual Classic Wildlife Art Festival in Sacramento on July 13-14.

Since 1971, the California Duck Stamp Program’s annual contest has attracted top wildlife artists from around the country. All proceeds generated from stamp sales go directly to waterfowl conservation projects throughout California.

In the past, hunters were required to purchase and affix the stamp to their hunting licenses. Today, hunters are no longer required to carry the stamps because California’s modern licensing system prints proof of additional fees paid directly onto the license. However, CDFW still produces the stamps, which can be requested on CDFW’s website at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/collectorstamps.

The subject of the 2014 California Duck Stamp Art Contest will be the scaup, with details on the 2014 contest to be released at a later date.

CDFW Opens Lottery for Apprentice Deer Hunts in San Luis Obispo County

Written by California Department of Fish and Wildlife

June 17, 2013 by janicemackey

Media Contacts:
Robert Stafford, CDFW Environmental Scientist, (805) 528-8670
Rocky Thompson, CDFW Senior Environmental Scientist, (805) 594-6175
Janice Mackey, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-8908

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is opening a lottery for apprentice (under 16-years-old) deer hunters on the Chimineas Unit of the Carrizo Plain Ecological Reserve.

The two-day hunt, offered in cooperation with the California Deer Association (CDA), is being held Sept. 14-15 on the 30,000-acre reserve in San Luis Obispo County.

Three apprentice hunters will be chosen by lottery. Selected applicants must be accompanied by an adult and possess a valid hunting license and zone A tag. Participants must also attend a mandatory hunter training class on gun safety, deer hunting and game care on the evening of Friday, Sept. 13.

Overnight lodging will be available on both Friday and Saturday nights at the main ranch house on the ecological reserve. Hunts will be led by CDA volunteers who will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday, Sept. 14, as well as breakfast and lunch on Sunday, Sept. 15.

To apply, applicants must submit a postcard with the hunter’s name, address, telephone number and 2013-2014 junior hunting license number to: Chimineas Apprentice Deer Hunt, Department of Fish and Wildlife, 3196 South Higuera St., Suite A, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.

Applications must be received in the office by 5 p.m. on July 26. Late or incomplete applications will not be entered in the draw. Successful applicants will be notified by phone and will receive additional information, including maps and special regulations, prior to the hunt.

About the Carrizo Plain Ecological Reserve
The Chimineas Unit of the Carrizo Plain Ecological Reserve is located in southeastern San Luis Obispo County. It is a 30,000-acre property owned by CDFW that was acquired for habitat protection of deer, tule elk, pronghorn antelope and a host of other species.

2013 California Duck Stamp Art Contest Winner to be Chosen at Judging Event

Written by California Department of Fish and Wildlife

June 14, 2013 by korr2013

Contacts:
Kyle Orr, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-8958
Melanie Weaver, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 445-3717

The winning design for California’s 2013 Duck Stamp will be selected at a judging event scheduled June 18 in Davis. Nineteen artists from around the country submitted original art for consideration for the stamp.

The contest, sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), required entrants to paint, draw or sketch the species chosen by the California Fish and Game Commission, which this year is the American wigeon.

The contest will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the CDFW Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Headquarters, 45211 County Rd 32B (Chiles Road) in Davis. The judges’ panel, which will consist of experts in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing, will choose first, second, and third place winners and an honorable mention.

In past years, hunters were required to purchase and affix the stamp to their hunting license. California has moved to an automated licensing system and hunters are no longer required to carry the stamps in the field because proof of purchase prints directly onto the license. However, CDFW will still produce the stamps, which can be requested by interested individuals on CDFW’s website at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/collectorstamps/.

Wildlife Conservation Board Funds Environmental Improvement and Acquisition Projects

Written by California Department of Fish & Wildlife

June 6, 2013 by DanaMichaels2013

Media Contacts:
John Donnelly, WCB Executive Director, (916) 445-0137
Dana Michaels, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-2420

At its June 4 quarterly meeting, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved approximately $21.8 million in grants to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California. Some of the 19 funded projects will provide benefits to fish and wildlife – including some endangered species – while others will provide the public with access to important natural resources. Several projects will also demonstrate the importance of protecting working landscapes that integrate economic, social and environmental stewardship practices beneficial to the environment, land owners and the local community. The funds for all these projects come from bond initiatives approved by voters to help preserve and protect California’s natural resources.

Some of the funded projects include:

A $1.4 million grant to the Bear Yuba Land Trust to acquire approximately 652 acres of land along the Bear River in Nevada County, for the purpose of wildlife habitat protection including riparian, riverine and oak woodland habitat communities.

A $3 million grant to Truckee Donner Land Trust for a cooperative project with Placer County, Northern Sierra Partnership, the Trust For Public Land and private donors to acquire two parcels totaling approximately 2,520 acres of land in Nevada and Placer counties, in order to protect alpine forests and meadows, wildlife corridors and habitat links, and provide future wildlife-oriented public use opportunities.

A $5 million grant to Sonoma Land Trust (Trust) for a cooperative project with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Highway Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Department of Water Resources and State Coastal Conservancy to restore 955 acres of tidal marsh on the Trust’s Sears Point Property in Sonoma County, five miles east of the city of Novato.

A $660,000 grant to Big Sur Land Trust to assist with the acquisition of a conservation easement over approximately 964 acres of land to preserve and protect native oak woodland, grassland, riparian and wildlife habitat, and sustain working landscapes in Monterey County, 6 miles northeast of the city of Salinas.

A $570,000 grant to the California Rangeland Trust to assist with the acquisition of a conservation easement over approximately 575 acres of land approximately 12 miles south of Lake Isabella in Kern County to preserve, protect and sustain the rangeland, grazing land, grassland, working landscapes, wildlife habitat, and watersheds.

Acceptance of settlement funds from the U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Fund (a.k.a. ARCO funds), and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Land Acquisition grant and the approval to sub-grant the ARCO funds and $260,000 grant funds to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to acquire approximately 286 acres of land just south of community of Acton in Los Angeles County to protect habitat for threatened and endangered species, and maintain habitat connectivity within the upper Santa Clara River floodplain and watershed in Arrastre Canyon, a tributary to the Santa Clara River.

For more information about the WCB please visit www.wcb.ca.gov.

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