1. Sections 300 and 313: Upland Game Birds/Stamp Fish and Game Commission Meeting August 7, 2013 Dan Yparraguirre Wildlife and Fisheries Division 1

2. 1.Adjust annual number of sage-grouse permits 2.Increase possession limits to triple the daily bag for resident and migratory upland game birds 3.Provide an early archery season for pheasants 4.Establish year-round season for Eurasian collared-dove in Imperial County Section 300 Proposals: 2

3. Replace upland game bird stamp requirement with validation per FGC 3682.1 Section 313 3

4. 1. Sage-grouse permits - criteria Lek counts estimate population size. 5% of low projected fall population = maximum allowable harvest. No increases since 2010 ESA candidacy. Population declines in Lassen Zones following Rush Fire and loss of habitat. Smaller declines in Mono, but still at near record highs and no habitat loss.

5. Sage-Grouse Permit 2013 Hunt Zone 2013 Males Change From 2012 Projected Total Fall Population Allowable harvest (5% of low fall pop.) Proposed Permits 2013 North Mono 433-15%714 - 11433630 South Mono 307-27%507 - 81025 East Lassen 221-44%365 - 583180 Central Lassen 103-48%170 - 27280

6. Sage-grouse Conservation Plans 3 Local Conservation Plans –Bi-State Action Plan (2012) –Buffalo-Skedaddle (Lassen County; 2008) –Clear Lake/Devil’s Garden (2010) Collaborations –Local Working Groups – Stakeholders –State of Nevada and Oregon –Feds – USFWS, BLM, USFS, NRCS, USGS 6

7. Major Conservation Actions Juniper/Pinyon Removal/Shrub Rehab Fire Suppression/Post-Fire Rehab Conservation Easements Grazing Management/NRCS Initiative Translocation (genetic isolation) Secondary Road Closure/Rehab Scientific Monitoring and Research 7

8. State Sage-Grouse Funding Intensive surveys of all known leks Research projects >$700,000 –Movements/Home Ranges –Survival/Reproduction –Habitat Selection –Genetics –Translocation to Clear Lake NWR > $330,000 Big Game Funds – Rush Fire 8

9. Cooperating Agency New BLM Resource Management Plans –Provide Regulatory Mechanisms –Incorporate Specific Sage-grouse Actions –State Determines Priority Habitat –Development of EIS Alternatives USFWS –Conservation Objectives Team/Report –Sage-Grouse Task Force 9

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11. Increase possession limits to triple the daily bag limits Migratory upland game birds Doves, band-tailed pigeon, common snipe Resident upland game birds: Pheasants, quail, chukar, sooty/ruffed grouse 2. Possession limits 11

12. First Saturday in October extending 23 days (4 weekends) 2 pheasants per day (may include 1 hen) General season opens second Saturday in November and extends 44 days Eliminate late season archery-only hunting (16 days) 3. Option A - Early pheasant archery season - Preferred 12

13. First Saturday in October extending 9 days (2 weekends) 2 male pheasants per day (no hens) General season opens second Saturday in November Maintain late archery-only hunting (16 days) 3. Option B - Early pheasant archery season 13

14. Open season year round in Imperial County Invading southwestern U.S. most Effects to mourning dove and other doves unclear, but concerning Nine of 13 states allow year-round hunting with no bag limit 4. Eurasian collared-dove 14

15. Sage-grouse permit recommendations Increase possession limits to triple the daily bag for resident and migratory upland game birds Establish early pheasant archery season Open Eurasian collared-dove season year- round in Imperial County Section 300 Summary 15

16. Questions  Thank You Scott Gardner Senior Environmental Scientist 916-801-6257Scott.Gardner@Wildlife.ca.gov 16