Bill up for consideration.

[RELH]

lifornia: Pro-Hunting Legislation Passed Appropriations Committee

Today, Wednesday, May 3, the Assembly Appropriations Committee passed Assembly Bill 521 with amendments. AB 521 sponsored by Assembly Member Jim Frazier (D-11), with the new amendments, would significantly reduce California?s high-priced resident elk tags from nearly $450 to $100 and would additionally create an allocation of youth elk tags for $20 per tag. Currently, youth hunters pay the same price for elk tags as adults. We will keep you updated as to when AB 521 will be eligible for its final vote before the full Assembly. Please contact your Assembly Member and urge them to SUPPORT AB 521.

RELH

 

[Wiszard]

$450 for a once in a lifetime type elk tag is not expensive compared to out of state elk tags. I agree with there being more youth tags given out though. Just my two cents....

I'm just short of max points for elk as a resident and I would gladly pay up to $1000 if I ever drew one of the Fort Hunter Liggett tule elk tags up for draw. It may take me a lifetime to draw but maybe I'll get lucky.

Steve

Cancer doesn't discriminate...don't take your good health for granted because it can be gone in a heartbeat. Please go back and read the last line. This time really understand what it says.

 

[BradA]

Yeah but on the other hand the resident price is what you would pay as a non resident in many other states for a elk tag

 

[Bwht4x4]

Wiszard,

I've been on a FHL tule elk hunt and I was not all that impressed. All the giant bulls are in the impact areas and I was shocked how crammed people were into specific areas where the elk were. Every time we'd look at a map and locate a spot away from everyone else...there'd be someone there. With that said we did find a sweet spot with some good bulls. Only issue is my buddy shot the first bull that presented itself and didn't wait for this guy...that was on his way...

 

[Wiszard]

bwht- I've only hunted deer on FHL. That bull is a good one. Too bad your buddy had an itchy finger. If I ever get drawn, I'll hit you up. Would you put in for the bull hunts in Northern Cali if you had lots of points?

Cancer doesn't discriminate...don't take your good health for granted because it can be gone in a heartbeat. Please go back and read the last line. This time really understand what it says.

 

[Bwht4x4]

LAST EDITED ON May-04-17 AT 03:16PM (MST)[p]Here's my CA elk story.

I drew the Northeastern rifle elk hunt in 2013 and it had dates of Sept 18 - 29. I knew there were low numbers of elk, but with those dates and the ability to be there for three weeks (a full 7 days before the hunt) I figured I'd be able to put something together, especially if they were bugling. I even drove the 10 hours each way on two different occasions, once in July and once in August, to scout and set trail cams. Those scouting trips and trail cams revealed a lot. I found elk in a few different areas, but decided on one specific area to hunt.

To make this story quick, I passed on a few different small bulls (largest was a 250" raghorn) and hunted to the last second of the last day. I NEVER heard a bugle during season. The weather was perfect too for an epic rut hunt. From what I heard the bulls went off during the archery hunt. In the end I hunted harder than I had ever hunted in my life and got my buns handed to me. The main bull I was after was killed by a guy driving down the road. It's also the one and only hunt that I had major problems with one group that was insistent on hunting the same spot as me and every night they'd drive in to the spot right at sunset. I got to the point that I used a bunch of bailing wire and wired the gate shut to prevent them from driving in.

With all that said I think on the right year and in the right area you could have an awesome hunt and kill a great bull. I just don't know if I'd take that tag again. I wouldn't consider the tag if you couldn't hunt the entire season and be able to scout a couple times.

 

[CAelknuts]

Jim Frazier, the sponsor of this bill, is a good guy and a true friend of hunters. I know him pretty well, having shared some mornings in my duck blind with him, and can assure everyone that he is a true friend of sportsmen. He's sponsored some other 'hunter friendly' legislation over the last few years, not just this bill. He's a DEM that we should all support, and need more like him.

 

[CAelknuts]

The sponsor of this bill, Jim Frazier, is a true friend of sportsmen, and an avid hunter himself. I know Jim fairly well, having shared a few mornings in a duck blind with him. He is one of the staunchest 'pro sportsman' legislators in Sacramento. Over the last few years, he has sponsored several other pieces of legislation that sporting groups were seeking. Jim is a DEM that every hunter should support.

After 39 years hunting on my duck club, we finally got a mature blue goose... Jim was the guy who shot it.

 

[Homer]

uh.....short term memory loss??

 

[eelgrass]

From $450 to $100 is good, but it's not like you'll save $350/year. It's really a once in a lifetime tag. It will probably lower your odds of drawing because more people will apply now.

It's not that I don't trust a Dem, it's just that I don't trust a Dem.

He voted to raise the gasoline tax and vehicle registration fees to fix our roads after that fund was already raided. He just took your $350 back. $350 every year from here on out. As high as our gasoline taxes are now, we should have gold plated road signs.

 

[264mag]

>From $450 to $100 is good,
>but it's not like you'll
>save $350/year. It's really a
>once in a lifetime tag.
>It will probably lower your
>odds of drawing because more
>people will apply now.
>
>It's not that I don't trust
>a Dem, it's just that
>I don't trust a Dem.
>
>
>He voted to raise the gasoline
>tax and vehicle registration fees
>to fix our roads after
>that fund was already raided.
>He just took your $350
>back. $350 every year from
>here on out. As high
>as our gasoline taxes are
>now, we should have gold
>plated road signs.
>
>

>
>
PENSIONS

 

[CAelknuts]

Sorry about the double post, that was an accident.

Yes, Frazier did vote for the gas tax, I believe every Dem did. Frazier is the chair of the Assembly Transportstion Committee and he's trying to improve things there. He got guarantees written into some of the bills language to make it harder for other to divert funds, like they've already tried to do. He also got some money restored that was previously raided.

In my book, he's a good guy. He won't vote our way every time but as far as sportsmen are concerned, he's one of the best friends we have from either party.

 

[novemberforever]

My cali bull story. Had max points 7 years ago and drew a slr tag. The elk bio dude in sac was great. Scouted the 1100 acre public land. Nice 7x6 bull. Opening day walked in, layed for 6 hours in the blazing sun on a pond/tank. Herd headed for the lake, the big boy went on the far side of the pond. 154 yard shot with my scoped Benilli spe 2. 3 shots, all in a circle. He never moved. Called the warden to get him out. He thought my gun was a rifle, checked my slugs for copper, shook his head. I have killed 300 whitetails with a slug gun. Slug drops 6 inches@150. The next year, no more slug guns on the public slr hunt.

 

[kalielkslayer]

Living near the NE elk unit, I know several guys that have taken 380-399 bulls, mostly archery.

But I know just as many that killed rag horns.

I also know 3 guys who have a competition each year to see who can get the biggest bull on a trail cam. They take pics of 400" type bulls annually.

Definitely a tag worth having.

 

[BradA]

Maybe they will pay everyone back the 350 that drew in the prior years haha

 

[novemberforever]

>Living near the NE elk unit,
>I know several guys that
>have taken 380-399 bulls, mostly
>archery.
>
>But I know just as many
>that killed rag horns.
>
>I also know 3 guys who
>have a competition each year
>to see who can get
>the biggest bull on a
>trail cam. They take
>pics of 400" type bulls
>annually.
>
>Definitely a tag worth having.

Yikes, none of them have ever entered them, but thx for the tip. I have 9 in py, need to check that unit out. Do you have any idea what the py wr is???? I doubt it.

 

[novemberforever]

>Living near the NE elk unit,
>I know several guys that
>have taken 380-399 bulls, mostly
>archery.
>
>But I know just as many
>that killed rag horns.
>
>I also know 3 guys who
>have a competition each year
>to see who can get
>the biggest bull on a
>trail cam. They take
>pics of 400" type bulls
>annually.
>
>Definitely a tag worth having.

Let me guess, none ever scored officially? Shocker....

 

[Bwht4x4]

>Living near the NE elk unit,
>I know several guys that
>have taken 380-399 bulls, mostly
>archery.
>
>But I know just as many
>that killed rag horns.
>
>I also know 3 guys who
>have a competition each year
>to see who can get
>the biggest bull on a
>trail cam. They take
>pics of 400" type bulls
>annually.
>
>Definitely a tag worth having.

Having had the rifle tag there in 2014 and spent 21 days on the unit and two different trips scouting and running a dozen trail cams...there are very, very few giant bulls on the NE elk unit. There are some, but not nearly the number of giant bulls that people say and think there are. I put over 1,700 miles on my quad during that hunt and my scouting trips!!

 

[novemberforever]

>>Living near the NE elk unit,
>>I know several guys that
>>have taken 380-399 bulls, mostly
>>archery.
>>
>>But I know just as many
>>that killed rag horns.
>>
>>I also know 3 guys who
>>have a competition each year
>>to see who can get
>>the biggest bull on a
>>trail cam. They take
>>pics of 400" type bulls
>>annually.
>>
>>Definitely a tag worth having.
>
>Having had the rifle tag there
>in 2014 and spent 21
>days on the unit and
>two different trips scouting and
>running a dozen trail cams...there
>are very, very few giant
>bulls on the NE elk
>unit. There are some,
>but not nearly the number
>of giant bulls that people
>say and think there are.
> I put over 1,700
>miles on my quad during
>that hunt and my scouting
>trips!!
Thx, you prove my point. 380 plus bulls are extremely rare. Pull out a tape and dicks shrivel. Az has and will always have legit 380 plus bulls. I see the same hype in the whitetail world. You want to field judge a 380 plus in 60 seconds? G-1,2,3 over 20 inches, g-4 outside body, mains over 50 inches. Field judge a py whitetail? Mature mainframe 8? Add total tine length to 80, mainframe 10, add tine length to 90. That will get you a gross. I have had 300 bulls inside 40 yards@white mt apache, az. 380 plus??? In Cal? Soneone is smokin chat.

 

[264mag]

I know of one 390 archery bull taken by a fire fighter ,it is or was at the Reno Cabelas.

 

[novemberforever]

>
>
>
>I know of one 390
>archery bull taken by a
>fire fighter ,it is or
>was at the Reno Cabelas.
>


What state and was it officially scored and entered in py? Nope.

 

[kalielkslayer]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-08-17 AT 00:00AM (MST)[p]So let me understand this. If someone kills an animal that would qualify for BC, but don't enter it, it doesn't count?

There are 100s of dead animals out there that don't show up in your precious Boone and Crocket record book.

I know at least 12 people that have drawn this tag. At least 4 killed bulls that scored over 380".

If you think this is bs, apply somewhere else.

 

[novemberforever]

>Living near the NE elk unit,
>I know several guys that
>have taken 380-399 bulls, mostly
>archery.
>
>But I know just as many
>that killed rag horns.
>
>I also know 3 guys who
>have a competition each year
>to see who can get
>the biggest bull on a
>trail cam. They take
>pics of 400" type bulls
>annually.
>
>Definitely a tag worth having.

Look at how many cal bulls in any book is over 380 ever. Yep, cal hunters just dont enter bulls in the book? Same reason 2 counties in Wisconsin have insane entries but neighboring counties/states just dont enter. Its a cultural thing? Heard this many times. Your bros compete for how many 400 plus bulls they have on trailcam? Sorry, total bs. Count up how many cal bulls are in py/bc over 380!! Too funny.

 

[264mag]

>>
>>
>>
>>I know of one 390
>>archery bull taken by a
>>fire fighter ,it is or
>>was at the Reno Cabelas.
>>
>
>
>What state and was it officially
>scored and entered in py?
>Nope.
How about a Tule Elk 380" ?

 

[Dmmallia21]

Big deal, drop the price of an elk tag. I'd pay whatever it cost for the potential once in a lifetime tag here in California. Maybe he should work on the way the funds from tag sales/application fees are appropriated and work toward getting all that money back in the elk program to sustain and build the herds?

Weird thought, I know..........

 

[sageman]

What sucks is this....I have 16 PP which is Max! Now the state has a lotto for 5 bucks a throw and give away 40 elk tags a year! What about us PP holders being first?

 

[tuleelk]

Wanted to ask you more about your statement "and give away 40 elk tags a year!" Not sure what you are exactly referring to. California has 3 elk tags that are designated fund raising tags (I believe it is set in Fish and Game Code". Typically these tags are awarded to NGO's and the money they sell for comes back to the Department. Several years ago the Department took one of those three tags and made it a raffle tag to raise funds. No extra tags were taken out of the general elk tags. That tag is rotated between zones so everyone has a shot at the special opportunities. If I am misunderstanding you then I apologize. If you are referring to the SHARE hunts, then that is slightly different. These are for the most part extra opportunities at specific pieces of property were elk depredation is a concern. The goal is to alleviate depredation and allow the general public an opportunity at an elk hunt on property they would normally not be able to hunt on. Because of these hunts the Department does not have to issue a depredation tag and the elk does not go to waste. Most of these hunts are on private property. I know some people do not agree with this concept but it does allow the Department to target specific areas and pieces of property. This is an effort to try an avoid issuing depredation tags to the landowner. The SHARE elk tags were also a tool to try and reduce the number of properties entering the PLM program. The landowners are financially compensated from the money from applications to allow the access and the general public gets another opportunity at elk hunting. Is this a perfect system, no but I believe it addresses several issues.

Thanks

Joe

 

[CAelknuts]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-14-17 AT 08:59AM (MST)[p]>Wanted to ask you more about
>your statement "and give away
>40 elk tags a year!"
>Not sure what you are
>exactly referring to. California
>has 3 elk tags that
>are designated fund raising tags
>(I believe it is set
>in Fish and Game Code".
> Typically these tags are
>awarded to NGO's and the
>money they sell for comes
>back to the Department.
>Several years ago the Department
>took one of those three
>tags and made it a
>raffle tag to raise funds.
> No extra tags were
>taken out of the general
>elk tags. That tag
>is rotated between zones so
>everyone has a shot at
>the special opportunities. If
>I am misunderstanding you then
>I apologize. If you
>are referring to the SHARE
>hunts, then that is slightly
>different. These are for the
>most part extra opportunities at
>specific pieces of property were
>elk depredation is a concern.
> The goal is to
>alleviate depredation and allow the
>general public an opportunity at
>an elk hunt on property
>they would normally not be
>able to hunt on.
>Because of these hunts the
>Department does not have to
>issue a depredation tag and
>the elk does not go
>to waste. Most of
>these hunts are on private
>property. I know some
>people do not agree with
>this concept but it does
>allow the Department to target
>specific areas and pieces of
>property. This is an
>effort to try an avoid
>issuing depredation tags to the
>landowner. The SHARE elk
>tags were also a tool
>to try and reduce the
>number of properties entering the
>PLM program. The landowners
>are financially compensated from the
>money from applications to allow
>the access and the general
>public gets another opportunity at
>elk hunting. Is this a
>perfect system, no but I
>believe it addresses several issues.
>
>
>Thanks
>
>Joe


Well stated Joe. What I think sageman doesn't understand is that there are many thousands of elk tag applicants in California and a small total number of tags. Your drawing odds, depending on the tag, range from around 5% down to less than 1 in 1,000. So, there are thousands of people with max points who did not draw. The state issues a small number of fundraising tags, just like every other western state. Putting those tags back into the general drawing would be statistically insignificant to anyone. That's just the way it is in most western states.

 

[tuleelk]

I understand the very low odds for elk and there are around 36,000 applicants for 350 elk tags. Horrible odds no matter how you slice it. That is one reason I changed one of the Fund Raising tags to be raffled off. First it did give the general public a chance at a tag that they never had before while at the same time raising more money that it did under the auction system by NGO's. The 3 fund raising tags are in Fish and Game Code which takes legislation to change (add to or remove). That is out of the Departments control. I will be the first to admit the system is not perfect and there are a lot of competing interests. Lots of people want no elk hunting, some people want all the elk gone due to depredation concerns.

Joe

 

[sageman]

You are right Joe I did not understand. Now my question is why are the share hunts not offered to the preference point holders first? we have been waiting 16 years plus?