National Hunting and Fishing Day Sept. 25

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Release
Sep. 22, 2010

Contact:
Andrew Hughan, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8944

The 38th annual National Hunting and Fishing Day will be recognized this year on Saturday, Sept. 25. In recognition of this annual tradition, the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reminds Californians of the many abundant opportunities to enjoy hunting and fishing in the Golden State -- and of the important role that hunters and anglers play in the conservation of our natural resources.

This year DFG is pleased to announce a streamlined process for obtaining licenses, an optimistic salmon spawning forecast and an additional two weeks to hunt Canada geese.

* Californians will soon be able to purchase hunting and fishing licenses using a real-time automated system that will be convenient, eliminate excess trips and keep an accurate inventory for better customer service and management. Specific details can be found at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/automat ... tions.html.
* Healthy returns of both spring and fall run Chinook salmon were found at the Feather River hatchery in Oroville and DFG estimates that 10,000 to 15,000 fish are likely to return to the hatchery over the next few weeks. They will be spawned in the hatchery over the next two months.
* The California Fish and Game Commission approved a split season for large Canada geese from Oct. 2 through Oct. 6, 2010, and again with the general waterfowl season from Oct. 23 through Jan. 30, 2011. The “honkers” have spread throughout much of the state in response to new habitats created by humans. In many of these areas, the birds are overabundant and have become a nuisance. For the full regulations visit DFG website.

California is the third-largest state in the nation and about half of its land is publicly owned. That translates into millions of acres of huntable public property. Fishing opportunities also abound in the more than 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, 4,172 lakes and reservoirs and 80 major rivers in California. The state also features more than 1,100 miles of coastline that is home to hundreds of native fish and shellfish species.

According to statistics collected by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses, California’s 1.7 million hunters and anglers currently spend a cumulative $9.8 million each day on hunting and fishing activities. Annual in-state spending by sportsmen tops $3.6 billion.

For more information on hunting and fishing opportunities, visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov.