2014 California Game Warden Stamp Now Available

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announces the 2014 edition of the Warden Stamp is now available.

The new Warden Stamp, for 2014 is now available for purchase in person from any CDFW regional or licensing offices or by filling out and sending in the CDFW Warden Stamp form with a check or credit card info to your closest CDFW office. You may also purchase Warden Stamps via the CDFW online license services (ALDS).

If you’re going to mail in the form the addresses for the DFW offices are found on page two of the Warden Stamp form.  To find the form, a list of CDFW Offices selling the stamp over the counter or the link to the ALDS to buy the stamp online click the link below:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wardenstamp/

Below the picture of the Warden Stamp is a list of links to either buy the stamp online, find a list of CDFW offices selling it over the counter (if you want to walk in and buy one) or a link to the mail-in form to purchase through the mail.

The Game Warden Stamp isn’t really a “stamp” for your license, such as your federal duck stamp is, as the name might lead you to believe, but rather it’s a roughly 3” x 3” decal.

The new 2014 version has a red background and a silhouette of a lobster on it. (see picture below)

The 2010 version (which is still available, if you like that design better) is a green shield with an elk silhouette on it.  The 2011 version (which is also still available, if you like that design better) is a light blue background with a silhouette of a trout or salmon on it. The 2012 version (which is also still available, if you like that design better) has a dark brown background and a silhouette of a California quail on it. The 2013 version (which is also still available, if you like that design better) has a gold background with a silhouette of a duck landing on it.  (see pictures below). If you like them all you could buy one, or more, of each if you want to.

The stamps are $5 each and the funds go into a special account.  The money is used to provide our Game Wardens with additional equipment, training and new programs, such as new communications and surveillance devices, protective equipment, training in specialized areas, new law enforcement programs to assist them in their duties.

Due to State budget cuts, non-hunting / fishing politicians feel that the DFW is a “painless” way to cut back on the budget by giving the DFW less to do more with.

Quoting the DFW web site on the Warden stamp:

“Game Wardens are responsible for protecting more than 1,000 native fish and wildlife species, 6,300 native plant species and 360 threatened or endangered species California’s 159,000 square miles of land (414 square miles per warden) 1,100 miles of coastline, 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, 4,800 lakes and reservoirs and 80 major rivers.  Game Wardens patrol on foot, by plane, boat, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, and even on horseback.  There is one game warden for every 200,000 constituents.

Game Wardens work hard to educate those they encounter in the outdoors, as well as school children in the classroom, about the importance of resource conservation, pollution prevention, and the importance of a healthy natural environment. These men and women dedicate their lives to ensuring our resources are here for future generations. You do not have to be an outdoor enthusiast to help, just someone who cares about protecting California’s wildlife populations and conserving the habitats in which they live.”

Now – back to me…

As I’ve said every year that I’ve written about the Warden Stamp, the important point here, in my opinion, is getting the money to the “boots on the ground”.  If your $5 (or more, if you can afford it) results in some equipment, training or what have you that helps catch a poacher in your area the payoff may be more game or more fish for you and yours to legally harvest.  And, the bottom line is, that’s what’s important. As for the “stamp”, stick it on your truck, ammo box or tackle box, stick it in a drawer, throw it away if you want, do whatever you want with it.  The important thing is to help give our Wardens the tools they need to protect our hunting and fishing heritage.

Now, as I do every year, excuse me while I pull up the ALDS on my computer and order this year’s warden stamps.

2013 / 2014 Season Sunrise (not) / Sunset Recap

As is our tradition every year at SoCalHunt I’ve posted an article, with photographs, of the sunrises and sunset we’ve experienced in the season just past.  Again this year is no exception, except for the caveat that this season, due to work responsibilities, we weren’t able make any morning hunts and sunsets are all we have this time as we were only able to do afternoon hunts.  That being said, I’ve always asserted that the most beautiful times of day while hunting at San Jacinto Wildlife Area are sunrise and/or sunset. If you hunt San Jacinto, and have been there at the beginning or end of a hunt day, you probably already know that good old SJ has some of the most spectacular beginnings and endings of the hunting day.  Below, in order of appearance, are the sunsets on the days we hunted San Jacinto this year.

Presented for your enjoyment:

(Click on the image for a full sized picture)

10/23/13 Sunset

11/6/13 Sunset

11/27/13 Sunset

12/4/13 Sunset (2 different exposures of the same shot)

12/11/13 Sunset

1/1/14 Sunset

1/15/14 Sunset

1/22/14 Sunset

San Jacinto Wildlife Area Blind Clean up Day Confirmed for March 15th, 2014

San Jacinto Wildlife Area Staff would like to invite hunters to participate in a Volunteer Clean Up Day of the Wildlife Area on Saturday, March 15, 2013.  Volunteers are to assemble at 6:30 am at the Wildlife Area Headquarters office on Davis Road.

Work will be assigned at the start of the morning and afterwards we will meet at Casa Mexicana Restaurant for a well-deserved lunch.  (Everyone responsible for their own check).

Please be prepared for the following:

Trash removal from hunt sites

General clean up of hunt areas

Bring work gloves, sturdy boots, mud boots, covered shoes, Waders (if available)

Be sure to bring plenty of bottled water as it may be hot.

Direction to the San Jacinto Wildlife Area

From the 215 South freeway,

-Exit Ramona Expressway going east towards Lake Perris, go 7 miles to Davis road, turn left and go up Davis road 2 miles to the Wildlife Headquarters office.

From the 79

-Exit Ramona Expressway going west towards Lake Perris, go to Davis road, turn right and go up Davis road 2 miles to the Wildlife Headquarters office.

Questions?  Contact Tom Trakes (951) 236-3040.

San Jacinto’s 20th Annual Junior Waterfowl Hunt Event a Big Success, February 1st, 2014

(Don’t forget to check the photos at the bottom of this page – click on them for full sized pictures)

San Jacinto Wildlife Area’s 20^th annual Junior Waterfowl Hunt event was a big success!  As usual.  The junior hunters and their adult partners gathered at the San Jacinto check station at 0300 and, after hunting spots were assigned, a nice pancake and sausage breakfast was enjoyed by all before heading out to the blinds.

After a successful day of duck hunting (check the results at the link below at the bottom of this page) the 98 junior hunters (a new record!) gathered back at SJ headquarters for a delicious roast pig lunch and the prize raffle.

Lunch consisted of a beautiful roast pig, hot dogs, hamburgers, beans and chips, along with cake for dessert.  All the juniors came away with a custom made SJ Junior Hunt shirt, a SJ Junior Hunt hat and a gift bag with an assortment of goodies like sunscreen, a calendar, camo pencils, lanyards, calls, pocketknives and DVDs.  Many prizes were donated and they ran the gamut from gun cases, decoys, fishing rods, blind bags and other assorted hunting and outdoor gear.  Needless to say all the junior hunters went away happy with everyone getting at least one raffle prize and probably about 50% of the Juniors walking away with two.

I’m proud to say that the San Jacinto hunters did a great job this season with their donations to the Junior Hunt box on the check station counter.  More then $955 was collected in the box.  The money went to buy some of the food, the shirts and hats, the drinks and some of the raffle prizes.  Also, Bass Pro Shops gave the San Jacinto staff a 25% discount on the raffle prizes that they bought making the money go much further.

A great time was had by all to top off a good day of duck hunting.

(Hunt results for the Junior Hunt can be found here:  https://socalhunt.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/hunt-results-for-san-jacinto-wildlife-area-junior-hunt-saturday-2114/  )

The roast pig…yummmmm!

Everybody enjoying lunch!

Prizes galore!

The Junior Hunters!

The sponsors list.

Well-deserved plaque of appreciation to the SJ Crew!

Hunt Results for San Jacinto Wildlife Area Junior Hunt, Saturday – 2/1/14

Saturday’s special San Jacinto Wildlife Area Annual Junior Waterfowl Hunt resulted in a good per hunter average for the junior hunters in attendance.   Green Wing Teal were the number one bird taken with Shoverlers taking the second spot for number of birds taken.  Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that the waterfowl take for the Junior Hunt on Saturday, 2/1/14, was as follows:

98 junior hunters checked in with 25 Northern Shovelers, 4 Mallards, 10 Gadwall, 1 Widgeon, 12 Pintail, 63 Green Wing Teal, 5 Cinnamon Teal, 5 Red Heads, 1 Canvasback, 1 Ring Neck, 2 Bufflehead, and 7 Ruddy Ducks. There were no geese harvested at the Junior Hunt on Saturday.  15 coots were also brought in by the juniors on Saturday.  This worked out to an average of 1.54 waterfowl per junior hunter. Tom advised that out of 52 reservations issued 27 arrived on time.

Since SoCalHunt couldn’t attend the Junior Hunt this year I’ll be posting a report on the breakfast, lunch and raffle as soon as Tom gets me the info on that.  As soon as I have the info I’ll post it here.