| February 16, 2010 Issue 2011-2 |
Hunter Input Needed at February 17th BLM Meeting in El Dorado County
For the past several months, the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA) has attended public meetings regarding the long-term management plan on the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Kanaka Valley land acquisition, which includes nearly 700 acres of blue oak woodland and chaparral near the town of Rescue in El Dorado County. Working with local hunters, the National Rifle Association and CA Rifle and Pistol Association, COHA has requested that BLM open the area to hunting for deer, wild turkey, dove, quail and other game species.
However, several local residents have voiced safety concerns, and asked that no hunting be allowed on the property whatsoever. While many of these concerns lack legitimacy or could be addressed through reasonable "method of take" restrictions, BLM has yet to make any decision and is still considering public input.
To show strong public support for reasonable hunting opportunity on this public property, COHA is urging local hunters to join us at the next meeting - scheduled for tomorrow,Thursday, February 17th at 6:00 pm at the Green Valley Elementary School Multipurpose Room in Rescue. Address is 2380 Bass Lake Road. For more information, please visit: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/folsom/kanaka_valley.html |
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F&G Commission Members Support North Coast Waterfowl Hunting Opportunities
COHA staff and several local hunters recently testified before the California Fish and Game Commission to urge that steps be taken to protect public waterfowl hunting opportunities during the Commission's consideration of new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for the North Coast. Because almost all MPA designations would preclude any hunting whatsoever, there is the very real possibility of the closure of several traditional waterfowl hunting areas in coastal estuaries in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties - including Big River Estuary, Navarro River Estuary and Ten Mile Estuary.
Despite some opposition to hunting from the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), at its February 2nd meeting in Sacramento, the Commission directed COHA and DPR to draft language that would protect hunting at the estuaries/coastal areas we identified as at risk. In particular, Commissioners Jim Kellogg and Daniel Richards were very supportive of maintaining waterfowl hunting opportunity, agreeing that it was fully compatible with other recreational uses and did not pose any legitimate safety risk.
The Commission's final decision on North Coast MPAs will not occur for several months. The Commission's next scheduled meeting is March 3rd in Los Angeles.
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