Steve Merlo: Fish and Game Commission's lead ruling good for sportsmen
| Thursday, Aug 20 2009 08:57 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Aug 20 2009 08:59 PM
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Finally! The sportsmen of California have gotten a break from the continued non-scientific onslaught against their hunting heritage.
A recent ruling by the governor-appointed California Fish and Game Commission shot down anti-gun and anti-hunting activists by ruling against a proposed total lead ban on all hunting ammunition. While the ruling does not affect the continuing lead ban for waterfowl or deer hunters in the "condor zone," upland bird hunters will be able to continue using lead in their shotshells.
Lead, in chemical form only, can be toxic to a host of bird and animal species, including waterfowl. This toxicity (chemical lead poisoning) also seriously affects humans and other animals, and must be stringently kept from entering the environment in its chemical forms. Lead-based chemical applications (such as paints) have been removed from normal use over the last 15 years.
However, pure lead, such as in bullets, fishing sinkers or shot form, is non-toxic, despite what anti-hunting, anti-gun environmentalists incorrectly opine. Yes, lead shot is definitely toxic to waterfowl because the birds ingest submerged spent pellets.
Eventually, the shot enters their digestive tracts in the gizzards and are then chemically reacted upon by digestive acids, which often results in lead poisoning.
Scientists and hunters solved that dilema years ago. Waterfowlers self-mandated the use of non-toxic shot made of steel, bismuth, nickel or mixtures of the same, and the results have been spectacular, especially for the birds.
Hunters have also invented new shells that are far superior to lead shells' performance, so it was a win-win situation, albeit expensive, for both hunters and the hunted.
So why don't other gamebirds such as pheasants, quail and doves ingest lead shot at the same rate as waterfowl? Why haven't they been impacted like our ducks and geese?
Simple. Most waterfowl, whether they feed during the day or at night, do not have the visual option of selecting individual seeds while gleaning, by feel, muddy and often invisible food from the bottoms of ponds and waterways.
Upland gamebirds, on the other hand, feed by sight during the day, and are far more selective about pecking up certain seeds versus those little round lead balls that simply do not look or feel right in their beaks.
New bird seasons official
Tuesday, Sept. 1, officially marks the opening day for doves. The limit remains the same, with 10 mourning doves per day and 20 in possession after the opener. Once again this year, there is no bag or possession limit on Eurasian collared doves, the "new kid" on the gamebird block, so to speak.
Dove season will run through Sept. 15 then reopen Nov. 14 for the late season, running until Dec. 28.
Waterfowlers will be happy to note that the limit on American pintails (Sprig) has been raised to two per day when the split-season opens on Oct. 10. The seven-bird limit may not include more than two hen mallards, two sprig, one canvasback, two redheads nor more than three bluebills (lesser scaup).
Goose season begins on Oct. 24 and runs straight through Jan. 31. The limit is eight per day, with no more than six white or six dark geese in the aggregate. No more than four whitefronted geese (specks) can be taken against the six-dark goose limit.
The first part of the season ends Nov. 1 and reopens on Nov. 14, then running straight through until Jan. 31.
Isabella Cats on the Prowl
Some extra large channel catfish are being caught out of Lake Isabella at this writing.
Some of the fish are sagging scales to more than 25 pounds, with the best bait being fresh or frozen shad.
Anglers fishing through the night seem to be having the best luck enticing the lunker whiskerfish into biting.
Heavy tackle seems to be called for, especially when the lunkers are hooked around dead trees or rocks. There is no limit on catfish in the Valley District.
Steve Merlo will appear on outdoorsman Keith Warren's TV show "The High Road" at 8 a.m. Sunday on the Outdoor Channel.
