DFG News Release

DFG Offers 12 Hunting and Wilderness Survival Clinics in 2008
Dec. 26, 2007 Contact:
Susan Herrgesell, Hunter Education Program Coordinator (530) 347-3980

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has scheduled 12 statewide clinics in 2008 to educate hunters on advanced hunting and wilderness survival skills. The clinics are designed to take the hunter or outdoors person a step beyond basic hunting and wilderness skills.

“These clinics were developed by the DFG Advanced Hunter Education Program to provide the tools for a successful hunt and safe trek in the wilderness,” said Susan Herrgesell, DFG Advanced Hunter Education Coordinator. “The goal of these courses is to develop ethical, conservation-minded, successful hunters through education.”

Clinics include sessions on hunting turkey, upland game, waterfowl, and big game. Topics covered in each of the clinics include the type of firearm, ammunition, importance of sighting in the firearm, gauging distance, scouting, tracking, field dressing, shoot-don’t shoot scenarios, hunter ethics, landowner-hunter relationships, conservation, and safety.

The date, description, location and cost of each clinic are listed as follows:

• Jan. 19-20, Land Navigation offered at Tejon Ranch in southern Kern County. The cost is $60.
• Feb. 9-10, Wilderness Survival offered at Tejon Ranch in southern Kern County. $60.
• March 1, Bear Hunting Clinic offered in the Redding area. $40.
• April 26, Wild Pig Hunting Clinic offered at Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County. $40.
• May 17-18, Big Game Hunting Clinic offered at Wilderness Unlimited Property in Williams. $60.
• June 7, Wild Pig Hunting Clinic offered at Valley of the Moon Gun Club in Sonoma. $40.
• June 21-22, Land Navigation and Wilderness Survival offered at Shasta-Trinity National Forest Bushytail Campgrounds. The cost is $60 and accommodations are camping.
• Aug. 2, Wild Pig Hunting Clinic offered at Tejon Ranch in southern Kern County. $40.
• Sept. 13, Upland Game Hunting Clinic offered at Wilderness Unlimited Property in Williams. $40.
• Sept. 20, Waterfowl Hunting Clinic offered at Wilderness Unlimited Property in William. $40.
• Sept. 20, Upland Game Hunting Clinic offered at High Desert Hunt Club near Gorman. $40.
• Sept. 27, Waterfowl Hunting Clinic offered at San Jacinto Wildlife Area in Riverside County. $40.

Registrations are now being accepted for all clinics. To find out more information about the clinics, please refer to the Advanced Hunter Education website at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/advanced.

2/21/2008
Division of Wildlife

Well heads turned today as I let out a whoop from in front of my computer!  I was one of the few but proud, successful applicants for elk tags in Wyoming. 

I checked my results on the Wyoming G&F Draw Results  page.  Don’t despair if you didn’t draw an elk tag, though.  You still have until March 15th to apply for deer and antelope. 

Wyoming’s online application system is up and running.   There is links to frequently asked questions and a glossery of terms for the unfamiliar. So gather up your personal information, hunt information , and the info for the rest of your party, and make sure you have a credit card to charge in case you draw.  Best of luck.

Wyoming, Here I come!

Monday Feb 18 (Day off from Work)

Recovery run at 9 in the morning.  Back Still MUCH better.  My new Stretches are helping a lot.  Got some extra ranch chores done today, and even managed to mow the lawn.  Talk about cross-training!

Tuesday Feb 19

Had our first buddy run Tuesday at 5:30 in Schollenberger park.  Met up with Mentee Joel, there in between rain showers.  I think we pushed each other to kick up the pace.  I forgot to set my timer, but after 2 two mile laps we were back at the parking lot around 6:15.  We both agreed that we had had a good run to that point.  Just as we got back to the cars, the rain dumped on us reinforcing the thought that it was good to cut our run short. 

Thursday Feb 21

First track practice, in the DARK!  We had lighted cones guiding us around the wet rubber track at Petaluma High School.  It’s hard to believe that in a month it will be daylight at 6:30 pm. Warmed up with a mile run.  Did 1/2 mile of drills including butt-kicks, high knees, grapevines and lunges.  Then did 5 intervals of a minute fast sustained run, but under a sprint, and a minute to recover at a slower pace. Cooled down with another couple of laps for a total mileage of 3 miles.  Felt really good to exercise in the night with the drizzle. 

Saturday Feb 23

The Eastern Horizon was red as the sun rose Saturday morning.  “Red in morning, Sailors warning”.   Met at San Marin High school as storm clouds threatened.  Ran down along Novato Boulevard to Stafford lake, turned around and returned along the roadside trail.  Finished 6 miles in 59 minutes.  I surprised myself, because I really didn’t feel like running.  I had been up until midnight putting on our Chamber of Commerce fundraiser, and got very little sleep the night before.  I thought I was gonna pack it in during the first mile.  but I felt better and better the further into the run I got.  I am sure I ran about a 12 minute mile to the half way point, and about a 8:30 mile on the return trip.  It is a great feeling when you finish a run.  I think that is why I do it.

Moments after getting back to the cars the raindrops commenced, just in time.

Weekly mileage 18 miles

Mileage to date: 38 miles

Well the Boy’s are back from Las Vegas.  I’m sure I’ll hear all the stories and inside jokes from the trip in time.   I certainly got more sleep staying home than I would have on the Strip in Vegas.

Final Tally, looks like Dave Bengston was the big money winner of the group.   Bill came close but was edged out in the final day.  But making the First flight is an accomplishment to be proud of. 

Click on the Thumbnail Below for the full table….

On Sunday Morning, I looked up the standings after two days of competition.  Cub Results are not up at this time, but our local guys are doing great, against a field of archers from around the world.

Click on the table above to see it full size.

After two years of attending the World Archery Festival in Las Vegas, I took a year off from the bright lights and casinos.  So I am living vicariously through the folks I know who are there.  Each day the Archers shoot for a perfect score of 300 with 30 x’s.  After 3 days the highest score in each division win cash and prizes.  A perfect 3 day score is 900 with 90x’s

Remember young 10 year old  Michael DeCosta?  He outshot me at our state indoor shoot in January.  See “Can you outshoot a Fifth Grader” for details… He is leading the Cub division with a 293 and 13 x’s after one day.  I may have shot that well one day, but it was probably a fluke.

The local archers I shoot with over the past few weeks are in attendance as well. 

Pete Tomasetti, a local small engine guru is in the Compound unlimited Flights with a 288 and 9 x’s

Rich McClintock, a legend of archery who abuses me on our Thursday night shoots with regularity is 291 with 12 x’s after one day.

Dave Bengston, Hoyt Pro Shooter and my “archery mentor ” in the Senior Unlimited Compound Division has posted a 296 with 19x’s

And the one who is ahead of the pack, and shooting Bowhunter Freestyle Flights, is Bill Morehead.  Bill and I shoot in the same division and I have watched him become an X busting machine these last 10 weeks.  He has a Whopping 298 with 17 X’s and sits 7th in the division out of 157 shooters. 

Keep up the good work guys!  

I will post updates as they come in.  If you have a friend or  favorite archer you want to keep tabs on, check out the results from the NFAA results  page.

Monday 

Ran my recovery run on Monday on Walker Rd again.  My Back is pretty stiff.  Had a hard time finding a rhythm.  still I was surprised I was still around 45 minutes on a 5 mile round trip. 

Tuesday

Had to send out invites for a chamber of commerce event.  Put off my regular Tuesday run to get them done. 

Wednesday

 Did 5 miles today.  Back has been stiff most of today.  Running is OK though.  It does feel better when I stretch after a run.

Thursday

Shot my last indoor round tonight. See “wrapping up indoor archery“.  Shot a Personal Best, so maybe a stiff back is the secret to shooting well!

Friday 

Went to the Massage therapist today.  She is going to come with me to train at the Saturday training with me too.  That made a big difference. Tight leg muscles were pulling on my back.  Bought a massage for my wife for next Monday.

 Saturday

Did 6 miles in Napa today in under an hour.  My massage therapist, walked 4.  Believe it or not, my back feels 100% better after running.  I picked up some new Stretch diagrams from the book Stretching!  They should help.   

Weekly total: 16miles

Total to date: 30 miles

With the Saturday February 2nd  Kick off of the Team in Training Spring Season, So starts my Weekly training Log.  I’m training for the June 1st Rock n’ Roll marathon with Team in Traing a division of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  You can read more about it in my post “Running To Fight Leukemia and Lymphoma” .

Monday Feb 3rd. 

Ran tonight in the Dark.  Put on my Badlands LED Headlamp, a reflective Running vest, an Under Armour Cold Gear Shirt, leggings, and my latest pair of Brooks running shoes, and ran for just over 40 minutes, covering 5 miles, to the top of a hill on Walker Rd. and back.  I was 23 minutes to the top, and 18 minutes back to the house, not counting my stretch time after a mile. 

Tuesday Feb 4th

Another Night run.  Changed into running clothes, voted in the Primary election down at the Two Rock church, and then headed out for a 6 mile run (3 miles out and back) along Bodega Rd.  Finished 6 miles in 58 minutes gate to gate. 

Saturday Feb 9th

First coach lead training  of the Spring season at Healdsburg High school.  Warmed up with a mile run, ran 2 miles for time (17:30) and cooled down with another mile.  Seems easier to run on a road.

Weekly mileage:  14 miles

This Year Leukemia has hit close to home. Two people I have come to know are currently battling cancer.

Kellie Mackin, a horsewoman from Lafayette. As well as being a great female Team Roper, she is the fiance of one of my fellow Sonoma County Trailblazers. She has undergone her Bone Marrow transplant and is in the recovery phase. Stay Strong Kellie!

Patty Bogle, a grape grower and winemaker from Clarksburg.

Sacramento Bee Article on the Bone Marrow Drive for Patty.
Woodland Journal Article

I have a Donation web site set up to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society (LLS).

Last year I participated for the first time in training for the Mayors Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska. I crossed the finish line in just over five hours after running 26.2 miles, through the foothills of the Chugach Mountains of Southeast Alaska. In the course of my training I was able to raise over $4770 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society.

Now I have signed up for another marathon with Team in Training. This year I have my sights set on the Rock & Roll marathon, June 1st in San Diego, California.

Team in Training is a division of the Leukemia and Lymphoma society (LLS) and the world largest endurance sports training program. In exchange for coached workouts and support in the months leading up to the marathon, TNT participants raise money for the LLS. .

My training will be a challenge, but with your help raising my goal shouldn’t be. The cause is an easy and important one to support. Leukemia is the number one disease killer of children, yet it affects ten times as many adults. Leukemia and lymphoma are the leading fatal cancers in men under age 35. Research sponsored by LLS has led to effective treatments of Hodgkin’s disease, lymphoma, and other common cancers, including breast and lung cancer. Thanks to such research, the five-year survival rate for acute lymphocytic leukemia (the most common form of childhood leukemia) has improved from just 4% in 1960 to over 80% today.

LLS is the worlds largest voluntary health organization dedicated to eradicating blood cancers. I ask you now to help me raise $4000 + for LLS. Your generous tax-deductible gift will be used to support research, patient services, and educational programs. It will inspire me as I train. More importantly it will help cancer patients and their families.

The San Diego Rock n’ Roll Marathon is only a few months away. As my workouts get more difficult each successive week, I am thankful for my health. I look forward to the race and – with your help- the opportunity to make a small impact in the fight against cancer.

I hope you’ll visit my web site often. In fact, I’m going to make this post the spot for all of you to leave messages for my honorees.  So leave them a comment to brighten their day!

Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!