The final upland game bird hunting regulations are scheduled for adoption by the Fish and Game Commission at its August 2 meeting in Long Beach. As in previous years, hunts are scheduled for portions of Lassen, Mono and Inyo counties. In Lassen County, the proposed bag limit is two sage grouse per season. The proposed bag limit is one grouse per season in the Mono and Inyo county areas.
There is also plenty of public land open to hunters as a large portion of sage grouse habitat occurs on property administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Hunters are advised to bring plenty of water and to be prepared for rugged terrain and hot, dry conditions.
In order to hunt sage grouse, hunters must be drawn for a sage grouse hunting permit. The permits are issued through a random drawing at the DFG's License and Revenue Branch. Hunters may apply for only one of the four designated sage grouse hunting zones (East Lassen, Central Lassen, North Mono and South Mono-Inyo). In addition, all sage grouse hunters are required to have an Upland Game Bird Stamp.
Sage grouse permit applications must be received at the License and Revenue Branch by 5 p.m., August 11. Hunters may apply for a sage grouse permit by sending a postcard with the required information to: The California Department of Fish and Game, Sage Grouse Permit Drawing, 3211 "S" Street, Sacramento, CA, 95816. Hunters may also apply online at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing. Select the "Sage Grouse Permit Drawing Application" link.
All applications must include the hunter's name, 2003/2004 California hunting license number, residential address and the desired hunt zone. Incomplete applications and those with invalid hunting license numbers will be disqualified.
Hunters may also apply in parties of up to four people, but each hunter needs to list his or her name, mailing address, and their 2003/2004 hunting license number on the application. In addition, 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. For season dates, check the 2003/2004 resident and migratory upland game bird hunting regulations after August 2 on the Fish and Game Commission's website at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fg_comm/proposedregs03.htm.
For additional information about sage grouse permit drawings, contact Glenn Underwood at (916) 227-2268 or by e-mail at gunderwo@dfg.ca.gov.
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