California Outdoors Q&A

Turtles from pet stores
California Outdoors Q&A
Carrie Wilson, MAY 26, 2016

Question: I know it’s against the law for pet stores to sell baby turtles, as they can carry salmonella and other dangerous bacteria, plus children can swallow and choke on them. The other day I saw something in my local pet store that confused me. The store was offering a free baby turtle with the purchase of their turtle habitat...
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Replacing abalone back to same rock?
California Outdoors Q&A
Carrie Wilson, MAY 26, 2016

Question: If an abalone diver takes a legal-sized abalone, is it legal for him to return it to the same rock if he does not remove more than three abalone during the day? I know some divers that will dive for several hours and may “pop” one to three abalones without damaging them, and keep none of them, returning all...
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Transporting legal black bass to my home?
California Outdoors Q&A
Carrie Wilson, MAY 26, 2016

Question: Is it permissible to catch a legal black bass, keep it alive while fishing, and then transport it alive to one’s home? (Jim E.) Answer: While on the water, you can keep the black bass alive either in your live well on the boat or on a stringer in the water from where it was taken. However, you cannot then...
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Hunting with Drones
California Outdoors Q&A
Carrie Wilson, MAY 26, 2016

Question: What laws apply to big game hunting with camera equipped, radio controlled, drone aircraft? (Terry B.) Answer: The use of drones to hunt or pursue wildlife is prohibited in California. “No person shall pursue, drive, herd, or take any bird or mammal from any type of motor-driven air or land vehicles, motorboat, airboat, sailboat, or snowmobile. Additionally, no person shall use...
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Hunter update email from CDFW?
California Outdoors Q&A
Carrie Wilson, MARCH 31, 2016

Question: My friend recently received an interesting “hunter update” email directly from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) encouraging her to buy a license and go turkey hunting. Although I already have my hunting and fishing licenses, I am interested in receiving updates from CDFW. How do I get on this mailing list? (Monica B.) Answer: The email...
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How many turkeys per year?
California Outdoors Q&A
Carrie Wilson, MARCH 31, 2016

Question: Can you legally harvest five birds a year by taking three bearded birds during the spring season and two birds during the fall season, or does the three bird limit apply to a full calendar year? (Pete R.) Answer: You can legally harvest five turkeys in a year but can never possess more than three at one time. So long...
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