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Dove opener keeps wardens busy

Citations issued to 58 hunters over weekend.

By Marek Warszawski - The Fresno Bee

Wednesday, Sep. 05, 2012 | 11:58 PM

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Game wardens throughout the central San Joaquin Valley were bracing for a busy dove hunting opener.

They got one.

"There were a lot more people out there," said Lt. Danny Stevenson of the Department of Fish and Game. "We were extra busy for Saturday's opener, but Sunday was pretty busy as well."

Ten wardens patrolling Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare counties made 1,497 hunter contacts over Labor Day weekend, Stevenson said. Fifty-eight citations were issued (along with five for non-hunting violations), while 103 hunters got off with warnings.

Possession of an unplugged shotgun (all guns used in migratory bird hunting must be plugged to a three-shot capacity), hunting without a license, overlimits of birds, not having an upland game bird stamp and driving with a loaded shotgun were the most common infractions.

Wardens did not find any baited fields this year.

The most egregious violations in the 11-county Central Enforcement District came in Kern County, where one hunter was found to be in possession of 88 doves and another had 74, Stevenson said. The legal limit is 10 birds per day; the possession limit is 20.

Dove season continues until Sept. 15 before resuming from Nov. 10 to Dec. 24.

Also ...

  • Saturday is the first day of mountain quail hunting season in Fresno, Madera and Tulare counties.

  • Archery season for deer closes Sunday before the general rifle season opens Sept. 15 in Zone D7 and Sept. 22 in Zone D8.



The reporter can be reached at marekw@fresnobee.com or (559)441-6218.

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