Elimination of game refuges.

[outlaw13]

Has anyone heard about the elimination of game refuges in california. From what i have read on the California Dept of Fish and Game web site they want to eliminate the refuges because they are not effective as a refuge anywayse and open the areas to hunting. Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions or any more information on the subject.

[livetohunt]

Hey Outlaw where did you find that on there? I was just on there looking for it and couldn't find it it.

[BEAR HUNTER]

I've heard they are closing alot of bird hunting on refuges because of money. No hunting will be allowed. They clame they no longer have the resources to patrol the refuges so are closing them to hunting.

[outlaw13]

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/gamerefuges/

[livetohunt]

Thanks Outlaw. Will be keeping an eye on this might open a few new good spots for bear hunting. Im sure the antis will try the same BS they always try and say they will sue DFG and the State if this happens.

[BEAR HUNTER]

Thats outstanding news. Theres a lot of refuge land around me that I cant coonhunt but waterfowl hunters can duck hunt.

[livetohunt]

Hey bear hunter you must be talking about the federal ones. There is no hunting at all inside state game refuges even for the waterfowl hunters.

[outlaw13]

http://www.mountainlion.org/states/CA_R ... mments.asp

This is a link to one of the ANTI'S websites where they are writing why they are oposed to the opening of the state game refuges.

[Liz ODell]

Personally I'm opposed to opening some of them...there are some places that get so much pressure anymore (like around here) that the only place the bears have to go and not get killed anymore is the refuges.
They really do serve as a 'seed factory' around here.
Yes, there are some that could be opened but around here, no bueno, and they want to open every one of ours.

[outlaw13]

Where is (Around Here) to you. I live in the susanville, Janesville, Westwood, area and personally can't see one thing wrong with opening up more area for hunting. I know of places that have serious bear problems but have no hunters willing to go after them cuz its to close to a refuge. Besides that the people that i hunt with might and i say might kill 20% of the Bear that they tree. Only people with piss poor packs of dogs kill everything they put up cuz they are afraid it might be the only bear that they can catch. Another thing is that refuges were made to help the deer population plain and simple, they were initially suposed to have predator controll and land management projects to provide better feed for the deer and this was never done to my knowledge. This year only 1,278 bears were harvested this is one of the lowest numbers that i have heard of and the California Dept of Fish and game estimates conservatively that there are between 25,000 and 30,000 bears in california. So really, I don't know where your talking about but (AROUND HERE) I think 110% they need to be opened.

[Liz ODell]

...guess you'll have to stand in line to buy a ticket to hunt this side, once the deer season ends. The problem is not the locals...
Anyway, yes the refuges were intended to help only deer but they function on a much wider scale than that. Like I said I think some can be opened and some should stay closed

[RIFLEMAN]

...California Dept of Fish and game estimates conservatively that there are between 25,000 and 30,000 bears in california.

This is outdated. DFG now estimates the population to be 41,000-46,000 bears, and per their biology staff, as long as bear continue to be managed according to the four criteria (median age of harvested females, percent of harvest that is female, bear harvest threshold, and days spent afield) that are currently employed, the population will likely continue to increase.

[outlaw13]

Your absolutely right, Thank you for your updated information.

[DC DOGGIN]

OUTLAW, she will not tell you because you might kill a bear. Really Liz do you hunt or just worry about what is getting killed? Our bear population is plentiful.

[Liz ODell]

ummm...I don't think he was talking to me (in his most recent post, and if so I think its actually not a bright idea to post geographical locations on the internet for lots of reasons), I actually don't have a problem with killing bears, in fact I might have been known to do it myself a time or two ...what I do have a problem with is retards that kill everything they catch in the same area over and over again until there is nothing left to catch or kill. If thats not you or anyone you know then you don't really have a reason to talk to me about it do you?
No I never hunt...ever...just sit at home and watch Dexter.


On a more productive note has anyone heard any recent news on this topic?