UPDATE!
Hard to believe this is commuting distance to Berkeley & San Francisco!
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GEORGE CARL | Outdoors
Mountain lion kill
Thursday, April 15, 2004
It has been verified by the Department of Fish and Game that the killing of the mountain lion by the two young hunters last week in Pope/Chiles Valley was legal and justified. What was of more interest to me was the reaction from a few who thought that the boys should have jumped up and scared the lion away or yelled and screamed at it. I have been stalked by lions; it is not a fun thing.
Let's take a good look at where we are with mountain lions. First, the mountain lion is probably the most cautious and fearless predator we have in California. They are the top of the food chain; only man is above the mountain lion. Thirty-five years ago Senator John Dunlap of Napa authored the bill to outlaw mountain lion hunting in California. Since then the mountain lion population has increased ten-fold. Today, the new generations of mountain lions have never had to fear man.
A fully-grown mountain lion's number one prey is deer. A mountain lion can take down a deer and does so at least once a week or every couple of weeks. That means if we have 20 lions in Napa County, they may kill 600 deer a year. That may not seem like a lot, since hunters take about 300 bucks a year in Napa County. The big difference is that lions kill does and small fawns as well as bucks.
It is a fact that in California we have less deer than anywhere else in the West. Our herds are hit hard, and with an estimated 3,000- to 5,000 lions in the state each killing 30 deer a year, it is hard to come back from a 30,000 deficit every year of deer killed by lions. The word to keep everything in check is "management." Properly regulated, turkey and elk are prospering in California.
I wouldn't go to an engineer to ask about a weight loss program. It's the same thing in the world of wildlife management. If DFG biologists were allowed to become involved with nature in California, they could come up with a management plan for mountain lions. Instead, they are directed by political decisions to ignore the mountain lion problem. With occasional hunting of mountain lions, the animals would become less of a threat to humans and would begin to fear us more. Today, joggers, hikers, and hunters have to fear mountain lions because generations of lions have grown up accepting man as part of their world; man doesn't pose a threat to lions.
So it bothers me when I read letters to the editor from writers who feel that mountain lions should be protected. They say that the kids were wrong in shooting the lion that posed a threat to them while they were hunting turkey. This lion apparently took a swipe at one of them. We have gone so far from the true balance of things when it comes to wildlife in California. Man has invaded the territory of much of California's wildlife. Those who can cope with man, such as quail, turkey, and deer, will all prosper.
Properly managed, no species will be decimated, and a balance will allow all wildlife to prosper. Man does need to be a part of that balance, since it is man who upset the balance in the first place. Let DFG do its job. If we want to do something for wildlife, help create more habitat for all animals. We are just beginning to hear the mountain lion stories. There are now more depredation permits issued to landowners than at any previous time in the history of Napa County. It won't be long before a local lion carries off some youngster.
Remember, many of us have a hunter and gatherer instinct. It is okay to hunt and understand the meaning of providing. It should not be depressed in youngsters. Statistics show that young men who hunt and fish and understand more about wildlife are less likely to be involved in crimes and get in trouble with a gun.
Turkey hunts
I had a chance to go hunting with Joe Peatman and his son, Kehl. Joe and I have been lucky the last few years, and this was his son Kehl's first turkey hunt. We were successful; both father and son got two nice birds. Kehl's bird sported a 10-inch beard; it was taken in Lake County near Cache Creek.
On another hunt near Berryessa, I had a chance to go with Evert de Laat of Napa; he scored on his first tom. I spent some time in Mendocino County near Laytonville last week for two days, and the birds were getting pretty smart. We chased a few around for two days and the birds won.
We are now approaching the halfway mark in the season. The toms are still with the hens, and the hens are beginning to spend more time around the nests. I expect the toms to break away from the hens and start scouting around more in the next two weeks. This year's population of turkeys is very good and is growing each year. I have been out more times than ever, and we have seen or heard birds every time but once. On the ten hunts I have been on, we have scored four times. I have one bird for the season but hope to get another before the season ends in four weeks.
Salmon season
This Saturday, weather permitting, it is out to the open seas under the Golden Gate. Look out salmon! We will be with Ray Sercu and a salty crew to chase down some of the local salmon as the season officially opens. I will have a full report for you next week.
Next Saturday it's the trout opener on the streams for most of California, and the kids FREE fishing derby on Sunday at Lake Hennessey.
The annual Urban Park Concessionaires Charity Trout Derby kicks off this weekend. Call 925-426-3071
