In Lassen County, the proposed bag limit is two sage grouse per season. In Mono and Inyo counties, the proposed bag limit is one sage grouse per season. With much of the counties' sage grouse territory found on property owned by the federal Bureau of Land Management, plenty of public land is available for hunting. Hunters are advised to bring plenty of water and be prepared for rugged terrain and hot, dry conditions.

In order to hunt sage grouse, hunters must receive a permit through a random drawing at DFG's License and Revenue Branch. Hunters may apply for one of four sage grouse hunting zones: East Lassen, Central Lassen, North Mono and South Mono-Inyo. In addition, all sage grouse hunters are required to carry an upland game bird stamp.

Sage grouse permit applications must be received at the License and Revenue Branch by 5 p.m., August 13. Hunters may apply for a sage grouse permit by sending a postcard with specific information to the Department of Fish and Game, Sage Grouse Permit Drawing, 3211 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95816. To apply for a sage grouse permit online, visit the License and Revenue Branch home page at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/index.html and click on the "Sage Grouse Permit Drawing Application" link.

All applications must include the hunter's name, 2001/2002 California hunting license number, residence address, and the hunt zone choice. Incomplete applications and those with invalid hunting license numbers will be disqualified.

Hunters may apply in parties of up to four, but each hunter must be listed by name, mailing address, and 2001/2002 hunting license number on the application. Each hunter may submit only one application for one hunt area.

Falconers may also apply for sage grouse permits but must write "Falconry Only" on their applications. The proposed falconry-only season for all four hunting areas is November 3, 2001 through January 1, 2002.

The conservative sage grouse permit quotas are based on spring lek (male display areas) counts and will be finalized by the Commission at its August 4 meeting. Since 1987 — when California established a hunter permit system — trends in peak lek counts generally have been stable.

Hunters wanting more information about the sage grouse permit drawings can contact Glenn Underwood, DFG's sport fishing/waterfowl/upland game program analyst, at (916) 227-2268.