In December, F&G Commissioners Jack Bayliss and Jim Kellogg announced that they will be vacating their positions, leaving only three voting members on the state regulatory body which sets annual hunting seasons and bag limits, including waterfowl and other gamebird regulations.
The loss of Commissioner Kellogg is particularly concerning to California sportsmen, as he has a well-established track record of supporting expanded hunting opportunity. As the longest serving Commissioner ever, Kellogg helped to liberalize waterfowl seasons and bag limits, ensure public hunting opportunity for unattached hunters (e.g. those who do not belong to a private club), expand youth hunting opportunities and maintain hunting as a valid wildlife management tool.
In addition, the Commission's Executive Director, Sonke Mastrup, has left to work for the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Marine Division. An avid sportsman with detailed knowledge of hunting and fishing regulations, Mastrup particularly helped to educate new Commissioners and the general public about the value of hunting and fishing, including their significant role in wildlife conservation.
CWA is currently working with other hunting and conservation groups to help identify qualified individuals to fill the Commission's two open seats. While we are urging that appointments be made as soon as possible, because the Commission still has a quorum of members the seats do not necessarily have to be filled by the Governor before the next scheduled Commission meeting in February and could stay open indefinitely.
CWA would like to sincerely thank Commissioner Kellogg for his 14 years of dedication. Commissioner Kellogg is a Life Member and was also awarded the prestigious Dan Chapin award in 2007. This award recognizes exemplary decision making and/or political service benefiting California's waterfowl and/or waterfowl hunters.
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