On Wednesday, the California Fish and Game Commission took public comment on changes to the 2018-19 waterfowl regulations. CWA attended and spoke at the meeting, which took place in San Diego.
CWA provided testimony in support of a change requested by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife that would create a Klamath Basin Special Management Area (SMA). The new SMA would effectively exclude the Klamath Basin and its public refuges from the late season goose hunts in the NE Zone and transfer all the SMA's goose hunting days back to the regular season when public lands are open for hunting.
A related change would allow the white-fronted goose season to be split into 3 segments in the NE Zone, which would allow it to more closely track the white goose season, including in areas outside of the SMA during the late season.
The final waterfowl regulations will be voted upon by the Commission at its April meeting in Ventura.
CWA also spoke on two other items before the Commission. We supported a proposal allowing the use of GPS collars on dogs tracking or pursuing mammals such wild pigs and deer. The collars help ensure the safety of the dogs by making it easier for hunters to locate their dog(s) in a timely manner.
CWA also supported incidental take regulations that allow private landowners to take tricolored blackbirds in the course of harvesting crops or conducting wildlife habitat restoration or enhancement activities.
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