Hunters have only until 5 p.m. on June 2 to enter the California Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) 2004 big game tag drawing. Applications must be received by this deadline at DFG’s License and Revenue Branch in Sacramento — postmarks do not count.

This year’s big game hunt drawing will feature more hunting opportunities, thanks to changes in the 2004/2005 mammal hunting regulations. The changes include new deer hunts, new and expanded elk hunts, new junior pronghorn antelope hunts, new archery-only elk hunts, and three additional bighorn sheep tags. Highlights of the regulatory changes are detailed below.

Drawings are held for “X” Zone and special deer hunts, as well as for all elk, pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep hunts. Deer tags for zones A, B, C and D are available through DFG offices until they are sold out.

For information on how to apply for special deer hunts, and for antelope, elk, and bighorn sheep hunt applications, pick up a free copy of the DFG’s 2004 Big Game Hunting/Tracks magazine from any DFG office or hunting license agent. Hunters can also log onto the DFG website and download elk, bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope applications. The address is www.dfg.ca.gov.

Changes in Deer Hunting Regulations

• New deer hunts include Hunt G-39, the Round Valley Late-Season Buck Hunt in Mono County; and J21, the East Tehama Junior Either-Sex Deer Hunt in eastern Tehama County.
• Hunt J-16, the Bucks Mountain/Nevada City Junior Either-Sex Deer Hunt, no longer includes Butte County. The county vetoed its participation in the hunt.
• The traditional Zone A, which stretches from Mendocino County south to Ventura County, is now split into two units (North Unit 160 and South Unit 110). One tag is still valid for both units, but the split will allow deer managers to more accurately monitor hunting pressure and harvest within the huge zone.
• In response to the proliferation of new “high-tech” hunting equipment, this year’s hunting regulations now provide clarity regarding optics, powders, and types of muzzleloading rifles allowed for use on additional muzzleloading hunts.
• Disabled archers will be allowed to use crossbows and/or other equipment to help them draw and hold a bow during archery-only season, and on additional archery hunts, with the appropriate permit.
• Zone C archery seasons have been adjusted so that they all open on the same day.
• Hunt G-13, the San Diego Antlerless Deer Hunt, has been extended by seven days.
• Hunt A-22, the San Diego Archery Either-sex Deer Hunt, has also been extended. The second half of the split season will open two weeks earlier than last year.

Changes in Elk Hunting Regulations

• The La Panza Tule Elk Hunt Zone has expanded into portions of Fresno, Kings and Monterey counties. The expansion more than doubles the size of the hunt zone, including both public and private property.
• New archery-only hunting opportunities have been added to the Owens Valley Tule Elk Hunt. A new zone, called West Tinemeha, has been established for archers on the west side of Highway 395. A total of 12 archery-only tags have been issued, for three hunt periods. The tags are valid for both the Tinemaha and West Tinemeha zones.
• There is a new East Park Reservoir Tule Elk Hunt in Glenn and Colusa counties, offering three separate hunt periods in September. The Bureau of Reclamation land at East Park Reservoir is for muzzleloaders only, while the remainder of the zone is open to general hunting methods. The quota for this hunt is two bull and two antlerless tags.
• Two additional hunt periods have been added to the Fort Hunter Liggett Zone in Monterey County. One of the hunt periods is archery only, and the other hunt period is for antlerless elk. The tag quota for the zone has nearly doubled, from 34 to 60 tags, evenly divided among military and civilian personnel.
• The tag allocation for the Siskiyou Roosevelt elk hunts has increased, to 15 either-sex tags and 15 antlerless tags. To accommodate the additional hunters, the zone has been expanded by reducing the size of the neighboring Northeastern California Zone. Tag quotas for the Northeastern zone have not changed.
• Tag quotas for the Klamath Roosevelt Elk Hunt have been reduced, to 10 bull and 10 antlerless tags.
• Tag quotas for the Northeastern California Archery-Only, Either-Sex Hunt and the Owens Valley Archery-Only, Either-Sex Hunt will remain at seven each, rather than the quota of five each that had been proposed to the Fish and Game Commission.

Changes in Pronghorn Antelope Hunting Regulations

• The Ash Creek Junior Pronghorn Antelope Hunt has been extended to coincide with the Zone 5 Big Valley Hunt. The hunt name has changed to Big Valley Junior Pronghorn Antelope Hunt to reflect the expanded hunt area.
• The Honey Lake Junior Pronghorn Antelope Hunt boundaries have expanded to coincide with the Zone 4 hunt area. The name of the hunt has changed to Lassen Junior Pronghorn Antelope Hunt.
• There is a new junior hunt called the Surprise Valley Junior Pronghorn Antelope Hunt. The zone boundaries and hunt dates coincide with the Zone 6 Surprise Valley general buck hunt.
• Although pronghorn antelope tag allocations have changed slightly, quotas remain essentially unchanged from last year. Quotas are based on pronghorn antelope population surveys.

Changes in Bighorn Sheep Hunting Regulations

• There is a net increase of three bighorn sheep tags issued this year. The tag quota for Zone 2 – Kelso Peak and Old Dad Mountains, is four (up from three last year). Hunt Zone 5 – San Gorgonio Wilderness has increased to two tags, where there were none allocated last year.
• The hunt seasons for all bighorn sheep zones are listed incorrectly in the DFG Big Game Hunting booklet. The correct season dates for zones 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are December 4, 2004 through February 6, 2005. The correct season dates for Zone 5 are December 18, 2004 through February 20, 2005.

Idaho

Second-Chance Moose
Hunters who want another chance to draw a moose hunt for this fall can apply June 15-25. You may apply in this second drawing or purchase a leftover moose tag even if you have previously harvested a moose in Idaho.

The drawing will be held June 30. No mountain goat or bighorn sheep permits were left over from the regular drawing.

Leftover moose tags have been available over the counter in previous years but, to make the process more fair, a second drawing was set up for this year. Application, permit and tag fees must be included. Winners will be notified by July 10, which is also the day for any tags left over from the second drawing to go on sale over the counter.

Controlled hunt applications can be filed through license vendors, Fish and Game offices, on the Internet at <http://fishandgame.idaho.gov> or by calling 1-800-824-3729.

Elk, Deer, Antelope and Bear Controlled Hunts
Controlled hunt applications for deer, elk, antelope and fall black bear can be filed through May 31, 2004. Hunters can find an application form on page 17 in the big game seasons and rules brochure recently delivered to license vendors and Fish and Game offices statewide. Hunters can also apply online for hunts with the use of a credit card. Mailed applications must be postmarked no later than May 31 and sent to IDFG, Licensing, P.O. Box 25, Boise, Idaho 83707.