California's deer hunters have a new resource to help them plan for the upcoming deer season. The California Department of Fish and Game's new "Guide To Hunting Deer in California" is now available free of charge.

With chapters called, "Where the Deer Are," "Hunting Strategies," and "Safety and Ethics," the new publication will be a valuable piece of hunting equipment for all skill levels. The colorful 88-page guide describes the six subspecies of mule deer found in California as well as techniques for pursuing them.

The guide is available at DFG offices statewide; by e-mailing pmontalv@dfg.ca.gov; or by writing: Deer Hunting Guide, DFG, 1416 Ninth Street #1240, Sacramento, CA 95814.


California — Deer Hunters To Determine Future

Hunters who want to help shape the future of deer hunting in California are invited to attend "stakeholder" meetings being hosted at locations
throughout the state over the next several months by the California Department of Fish and Game.

The meetings will gather input from hunters about the deer tag drawing method and deer hunting in California. Are hunters satisfied with the tag drawing system? What type of hunting options do hunters want in the various deer zones? The DFG's deer staff hopes to get input from hunters that will help answer those questions.

According to Sonke Mastrup, the DFG's deer program coordinator, "Through these meetings, we hope to get input from hunters on which draw system to choose and what kind of hunting opportunities the majority wants."

Currently, California has 44 deer hunt zones, 27 area-specific archery hunts, 33 additional hunts, 68 Private Lands Management areas, and 10 fund-raising deer tags. "These hunting opportunities were shaped over many years, and it is time to evaluate what we have created, and what changes, if any, are needed," Mastrup said.

Ten stakeholder meeting locations are planned so far. For schedule updates, visit the DFG website at http://www.dfg.ca.gov or call (916) 653-7203. Additional meetings will be scheduled as dates and times are confirmed. Following is the meeting schedule:

Chico, July 24, 7 p.m.
Chico City Council chambers

Modesto, July 25, 7-10 p.m.
Oakdale Sportsman's Club, 840 N. Stearns Road

Fresno, July 26, 7-10 p.m.
Fresno County Sportsman's Club, 10645 N. Lanes Road

Bakersfield, July 27
East Bakersfield Veteran's Hall, 2101 Ridge Road

Folsom, August 9, 7-10 p.m.
Folsom Community Center, 50 Natoma Street

Truckee, August 10, 6-9 p.m.
Truckee Donner Public Utilities District Board Room

Bishop, August 22, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Bishop Council Chambers

Long Beach, August 23, time not yet set
Long Beach Fish and Game office

El Cajon, August 24, 7 p.m.
Unity Town Hall, 311 Highland Avenue

Susanville, October 19
LASCO Fish and Game Commission meeting


Arizona — Leftover Permits

There are some deer and archery-only antlerless elk hunt permit tags leftover following the recent computerized drawing and those permits will become available on a first-come, first-served basis (by mail only) starting August 14, advised Arizona Game and Fish Department officials.

Following is a list of permits remaining:

General Deer

Hunt No	No. of Permits	Unit
1081	85	30A
1082	36	30A
1084	148	30B
1085	148	30B
1099	13	34B

Archery-Only Antlerless Elk

3128

4

278

Also, for those who qualify there are military hunts available at both Fort Huachuca and Camp Navajo. For more information, contact Ft. Huachuca at 1-520-533-7083 or Camp Navajo at 1-520-773-3274.


Arizona — Hunt Contest Rule Hearing Rescheduled

The Governor's Regulatory Review Council's hearing on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission rule package involving hunting contests has been postponed from Aug. 1 and the rule package is now scheduled to be heard Sept. 12.

The Sept. 12 meeting is at 9 a.m. in the auditorium on the first floor at the Industrial Commission, 800 W. Washington, in Phoenix.

The Governor's Regulator Review Council requested the rescheduling of the hearing to give the attorneys time to review legal issues regarding the rule package.


Wyoming — Leftover License Drawing

The application deadline for the leftover license drawing was July 20th. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department hopes to conduct the leftover drawing around July 31.

All leftover elk, deer and antelope licenses will be issued in the leftover drawing, except doe/fawn deer and antelope licenses and extra cow/calf elk licenses. The leftover doe/fawn and cow/calf licenses will be sold at license agents in or near the respective hunt areas beginning August 15.

For the leftover drawing, elk licenses are available in 68 hunt areas, deer licenses in 12 areas and three nonresident regions (B, F and J) and "any antelope" licenses in 29 areas of eastern Wyoming.

Licenses remaining after the leftover drawing will be sold "as processed" through the G&F’s Cheyenne office.

Hunters are urged to obtain access before applying in private land areas.

For more information about leftover licenses, contact the G&F at (800) 842-1934 in Wyoming or (307) 777-4600.


Utah — More Courgars Need To Be Taken To Help Deer Herds

Efforts to help mule deer and bighorn sheep in Utah are the main reasons the Division of Wildlife Resources is proposing a slight increase in the number of cougars to be taken in the state this season.

Division proposals would likely result in about 450 cougars being taken. During the 1999 - 2000 season, 435 cougars were taken.

The Division is proposing that a total of 300 hunting permits be offered for hunts on 17 limited-entry units. The success rate among hunters who draw a limited-entry cougar permit is about 50 percent. If 300 permits were issued, it's likely that a total of about 150 cougars would be taken on these units.

The Division also is proposing that a total of 380 cougars be taken on 29 harvest objective units. There is no limit to the number of permits that are sold to hunt on harvest objective units, but the hunt on each unit closes as soon as the number of cougars to be taken on that unit is reached.

The success rate on harvest objective units is about 80 percent. A total harvest objective of 380 would mean about 304 cougars would be taken on these units.

The projected 150 cougars taken on limited-entry units, and the 304 taken on harvest objective units, would result in a combined take of 454 cougars this season.

The increased harvest would happen on 12 units in northern, central and southeastern Utah. On eight of the 12 units, harvest is being increased to try and help depressed mule deer herds, said Mike Wolfe, mammals coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

Harvest also is being increased on the North Slope and Timpanogos units, to protect bighorn sheep populations, Wolfe said. Bighorn sheep have been reintroduced into these units. Predators in these units will be managed to allow bighorn sheep populations to reach viable levels.

Utah's 2000 - 2001 cougar season would run from Dec. 16, 2000 to June 3, 2001 on most units.

Wolfe recently assumed mammals coordinator duties for the Division of Wildlife Resources. He will serve in that position for about two years. A Utah State University professor of fisheries and wildlife, Wolfe has more than 30 years experience in mammals and big game biology.