Applications are available for the maiden North Coast Women's Pheasant Hunt to be held on September 10 at the Eel River Wildlife Area, the Department of Fish and Game announced today.

Application deadline for the 50-permit hunt is August 24. A drawing for permits will take place August 25.

Interested hunters may obtain applications at the DFG's Eureka office or at a number of sporting goods stores and license agent outlets in Humboldt County, including The New Outdoor Store in Arcata.

Completed applications must be returned in person or through the mail by August 24 to either the Women's Pheasant Hunt, Department of Fish and Game, 619 Second Street, Eureka, 95501, or to Women's Pheasant Hunt, The New Outdoor Store, 876 G Street, Arcata, 95521.

Co-sponsored by the Humboldt area chapter of the California Waterfowl Association, the wildlife area's first-ever women's pheasant hunt will take place on the Ocean Ranch unit of the Eel River Wildlife Area. The 1,100-acre unit lies north of the mouth of the Eel.

Hunters must possess a valid California hunting license and an upland game bird stamp to participate in the hunt. Money from the upland stamp program is used for various upland game bird programs, including the purchase of pheasants for special hunts.

Additional information is available from the DFG at (707) 441-5788.

Hunters have only until August 14 to reach the Department of Fish and Game's license office in Sacramento with postcard applications for a drawing that is expected to distribute a total of 350 permits for two Lassen County sage grouse hunts to be held September 9-10, the DFG's Region 1 office announced today.

The August 14 deadline also applies for sage grouse hunts in northern Mono County and in southern Mono-Inyo counties.

Fish and Game said the free permits will include 250 for the east Lassen area, 100 for central Lassen, 25 for north Mono and 25 for Mono/Inyo. Hunters are permitted to apply for only one of the four hunts.

The state Fish and Game Commission is set to consider adoption of this year's grouse hunts when it meets August 4 in San Luis Obispo. The postcard applications are accepted early to provide time for permit mailings if the hunts are approved.

To apply, up to four hunters may submit a single postcard for a single hunt with their names, addresses, current hunting license numbers and hunt choice. The cards must be sent to Department of Fish and Game, Sage Grouse Permit Drawing, 3211 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95816.

Hunters also may apply via the World Wide Web at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/. At the site, hunters must click on "sage grouse permit drawing application."

The proposed bag limit for the Lassen County hunts is two sage grouse per season. The Mono and Inyo hunts call for a one-bird limit.