October 8, 2009

Commentary
New map series shows
areas open to hunting
and shooting for region

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

     Would you like a map that shows legal hunting and shooting areas in San Bernardino, Riverside or Los Angeles counties? Do you suspect it will be another decade before San Bernardino County gets around to finally printing its own shooting map? Are you tired of being harassed off public lands by enforcement officers who don’t know the regulations?
     Ken Amsden of FirearmsMaps.com has spent the last year and a half working evenings and weekends on a map series that delineates most of the city and county ordinances that affect shooting and hunting and shows land ownership so sportsmen can tell where it is legal to shoot and hunt in these three counties.
     “I just started hunting three years ago,” said Amsden of San Bernardino. “Being a new hunter, the only areas I was able to find were places hunting friends took me.”
     He tells the story of hunting south of Joshua Tree National Park with hunting buddy and neighbor Norm Lopez on legal Bureau of Land Management property. They had bumped some Gambel’s quail and got a few birds. When the birds crossed a dirt road, they weren’t sure where the boundary for the National Park was located. When they saw a ranger truck driving past, Lopez ran over to stop the truck and get information on where the boundary was located so they wouldn’t be hunting illegally.
     “Basically, he wouldn’t tell us the boundaries. Then in the same breath, he said that if he caught us inside Joshua Tree, he’d take my truck,” said Amsden. “He knew where the boundaries where but he wouldn’t tell us. He said ‘That brand new truck you have will end up being mine.’ I was blown away by that, and it really annoyed Norm.”
     Lopez, a long-time volunteer who works with the park service and California Department of Fish and Game on wildlife projects, came home and politely complained to the National Park Service about the treatment.
     Amsden went a different direction. He started doing research.
     “I did it more for myself so I could see where I could actually hunt without being harassed,” said Amsen.
     He remembered that the National Park ranger said it was the responsibility of the hunter to know where he was hunting and if it was legal or not. That is true. (The ranger neglected to point out that part of his job was to provide information to the public about rules, regulations, and -- of course -- park boundaries.) Amsden decided that the ranger probably didn’t know where the actual boundary line was located either.
     In his day job, Amsden is a computer trouble-shooter working with public and private firms all over the region, and he was familiar with mapping design software before he started this project. Plus he had good contacts. After over a year of working with officials in all three counties, Amsden had created a series of maps with overlays that show both ordinance restrictions on firearms and the ownership of the land. They are the most comprehensive maps ever done for hunters and shooters in this region.
     “I’m sure my maps are only 90 percent accurate, but much of the material is exact,” said Amsden, especially in the more popular hunting and shooting areas in and around the region’s National Forests, the Mojave Preserve, and Bureau of Land Management lands -- all places legal to hunt.
     He currently has maps for all of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Because of the detail in the maps, the counties are divided up into three to six individual maps. The maps are all laminated and sold with a storage tube. Custom U.S. Geological Survey 7 1/2-minute quad maps are available in all three counties with the overlay information printed right on the topographic map. Amsden is also working on a similar map series for San Diego County that should be available next year.
     While tinkering with the data for his own use, he put the overlay information on his Garmin hand-held GPS unit, and he’s working on marketing the information as an SD card that can be inserted into Garmin units that will show the land ownership and ordinance information on the U.S. Geological Survey maps loaded into the Garmin software. These handhelds are used by many sportsmen, and Amsden’s data will allow a hunter to show his exact position on the unit’s map in relationship to open or closed hunting areas.
     Amsden’s research has also shown that some counties may be violating state and federal laws by illegally closing areas to legal hunting. Riverside County has created vast areas of Steven’s Kangaroo Rat “reserves” that are closed to all public access, including hiking, bird watching, and hunting. Bureau of Land Management lands have been lumped into some of these reserves and closed, too, which is likely to be a violation of law.
     The San Jacinto Wildlife Area has a healthy population of k-rats, but it is open to hunting and other non-motorized uses, so there is no reason Riverside County’s k-rat reserves are closed to public access.
     “I went out to look at some of these places in Riverside County and they were surrounded with big, tall fences with barbed wire on the top and ‘No Trespassing’ signs. It’s like we were living in Russia or something,” said Amsden.
     While Amsden isn’t going to take up that battle, hunting and other public use groups are now looking at a whole range of ordinances, preserves, and parks that have been created in areas that were historically open to public access.
     And all of this has come about because a beginning hunter was harassed by National Park Service ranger who threatened to take his new truck.
     Hunters and other users of public lands interested in Amsden’s map series can go to the web site at www.FirearmsMaps.com. The maps that cover portions of the counties cost $24.99 each, while the custom quad maps are $49.99.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

     OCTOBER 10 PUBLIC LAND QUAIL AND CHUKAR SEMINAR: Jim Matthews, publisher of the Western Birds wingshooting newsletter, will give a pair of two-hour quail and chukar hunting seminars from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 10, at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. The morning session was added this past week. The seminars will focus on public land hunting. Cost is $40 per person and includes a trial two-issue subscription to Western Birds, including an issue with all the guzzler locations in the Mojave National Preserve. For information, call Matthews’ office at 909-887-3444 or go to www.OutdoorNewsService.com.
     OCTOBER 10 QUAIL AND CHUKAR TUNE-UP SHOOT: There will be a quail and chukar season tune-up shoot and barbecue beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Prado Olympic Shooting Park in Chino (Euclid Avenue and Highway 73). Sponsored by Jesse’s Hunting and Outdoors web site, cost is just $20 per person for four hours of unlimited targets. Potluck lunch. More information at 951-314-5837, Prado Range at 909-597-4794.
     OCTOBER 10 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2009 class dates are Nov. 7 and Dec. 12. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     OCTOBER 17 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: Bass Pro Shops is now having hunter safety classes four days per month, the first Saturday, the first Sunday, the third Saturday and the third Sunday. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $10 per person. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
     OCTOBER 17 CAPING AND SKINNING SEMINAR: A free big game caping and skinning seminar will be held beginning 9 a.m. Saturday at Al’s Taxidermy and Wildlife Art Studio, Apple Valley. Hunters going out-of-state can no-longer bring unskinned big game heads back to California because of Chronic Wasting Disease. This seminar will teach hunters how to properly remove capes in the field. Classes will also be held Oct. 24 and 31. Space is limited, call 760-961-2434 for reservations.
     OCTOBER 18 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: Bass Pro Shops is now having hunter safety classes four days per month, the first Saturday, the first Sunday, the third Saturday and the third Sunday. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $10 per person. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
     OCTOBER 24 CAPING AND SKINNING SEMINAR: A free big game caping and skinning seminar will be held beginning 9 a.m. Saturday at Al’s Taxidermy and Wildlife Art Studio, Apple Valley. Hunters going out-of-state can no-longer bring unskinned big game heads back to California because of Chronic Wasting Disease. This seminar will teach hunters how to properly remove capes in the field. A class will also be held Oct. 31. Space is limited, call 760-961-2434 for reservations.
     OCTOBER 24-25 ONTARIO GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Ontario Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Ontario Convention Center, Ontario. Admission is $10. The 2019 slate of shows in Ontario has not be set yet. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
     OCTOBER 25 UNITED ANGLERS ANNUAL FUND-RAISING DINNER: United Anglers of Southern California will have its annual fund-raising dinner beginning 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Balboa Bay Club and Resort, Newport Beach. The dinner will honor Beverly Ray. Dinner tickets are $100 per person. For information or reservations, call UASC at 562-494-9900.
     OCTOBER 28 SINGLES FRIENDS OF THE NRA FUND-RAISER: Southern California’s first Friends of the National Rifle Association “singles” banquet will be held beginning 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28 at The Castaway Restaurant, 1250 E. Harvard Rd., Burbank. Tickets are $100 per person, but women are being admitted two-for-one. E-Harmony and Match.Com can cost over $300 a year and there’s no chance you could at least win a gun. There are no ticket sales at the door. For information, e-mail Lissa Davis at ldavis@nrahg.org.
     OCTOBER 31 CAPING AND SKINNING SEMINAR: A free big game caping and skinning seminar will be held beginning 9 a.m. Saturday at Al’s Taxidermy and Wildlife Art Studio, Apple Valley. Hunters going out-of-state can no-longer bring unskinned big game heads back to California because of Chronic Wasting Disease. This seminar will teach hunters how to properly remove capes in the field. Space is limited, call 760-961-2434 for reservations.
     NOVEMBER 7 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2009 class date is Dec. 12. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     NOVEMBER 7 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: Bass Pro Shops is now having hunter safety classes four days per month, the first Saturday, the first Sunday, the third Saturday and the third Sunday. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $10 per person. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.

CALENDAR RESOURCES

     For a complete list of HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES held throughout the state, including times, dates, and locations, go to the Department of Fish and Game’s web site at this address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/classes.aspx.
     For the rules and regulations on GRUNION RUNS, along with a complete schedule and the expected times of the runs, go to this web site address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/gruschd.asp

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

     The following is a list of hunting, shooting, and fishing clubs and organizations in Southern California with contact information and regular meeting dates:
     976-TUNA ROD AND REEL CLUB: The 976-Tuna Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. At the December meeting a free trip to Palmas de Cortez in Baja will be given away. Contact Phil Friedman at 310-328-8426.
     CALIFORNIA STATE VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The California State Varmint Callers Association meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Denny's just north of the 210 freeway at Irwindale Ave., Irwindale. Contact Steven Childs at 626-407-8826 or steve@sdchilds.com. Web site: www.csvca.com.
     CANYON OAKS SPORTSMAN’S CLUB: The Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at it’s clubhouse in Lakeview Terrace-Sylmar. The club has regular trap, skeet, smallbore, big bore, handgun, and Cowboy Action shooting events. Contact Gary White at 818-998-7240, Mike Totta at 818-362-2181 or Mike Nickoloff via e-mail at idpamike@yahoo.com.
     CERRITOS ROD & GUN CLUB: The Cerritos Rod & Gun Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at Heritage Park in Cerritos. Contact Charles Sharp at 714-317-8290 or fish_90605@yahoo.com.
     CLUB FISH: Club Fish, a 20-year-old fishing club, meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse, Santa Ana. The clubhouse is located at the entrance to Riverview Gold Course. Contact Mike Cross at 949-854-5258 or m_r_cross@yahoo.com.
     DEEP CREEK FLY-FISHERS: Deep Creek Fly-Fishers meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League clubhouse in Fairmont Park, in Riverside. Go to www.deepcreekflyfishers.org to download a map to the club house. Contact Brett Browning at 909-793-8912.
     HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at The Apple Valley Fire Conference Center, 19235 Yucca Loma, Apple Valley. Contact John Rose at 760-247-5966.
     HIGHLAND PARK SPORTSMEN'S CLUB: The Highland Park Sportsmen's Club meets at 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2035 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles. Contact Mauro Garcia at 323-254-0763 or incareal@juno.com.
     NATIONAL VARMINT HUNTERS: The National Varmint Hunters meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars club located on Grand Avenue, just west of 17th Street, Santa Ana. Contact Mark Harris at 714-655-6954 or mhitis1@yahoo.com or Terry Mathers at 714-299-9938 or coyote@jps.net.
     NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (INLAND EMPIRE CHAPTER): The Inland Empire Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, 7777 Victoria Gardens Lane, Rancho Cucamonga. Contact David Halbrook at 760-694-1191 or nrajrc@msn.com.
     NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at The Firing Line, 17921 Jamestown Lane, Huntington Beach. Contact Pat Ryan at 714-373-3688 or Casey Rasmussen at 714-377-5859.
     ORANCO BOWMEN: The ORANCO Bowmen meet the second Tuesday of each month at the club range, 17504 Pomona Rincon Rd., Chino (Euclid Avenue one block north of the 71 freeway). The range is open to the public on Sundays 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 909-597-7582. Web site: www.oranco.org.
     ORANGE COUNTY BASS CLUB: The Orange County Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the Garden Grove Elk's Lodge. Contact Steve Pendergast at 949-651-8172 or prendergasts@netzero.com.
     PLUNGE CREEK COWBOYS: The Plunge Creek Cowboys, a new Cowboy Action Shooting club in the Inland Empire, has shoots the third Saturday of each month at the Inland Fish and Game range on Orange Street in East Highlands. Authentic or replica firearms and garb required. Information: www.plungecreekcowboys.com.
     PREDATOR CALLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY: The Predator Callers of Orange County meet 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Denny's restaurant, 7490 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Contact Rickey Macy via e-mail at rickmacey@juno.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club. Contact Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or fathercruz@verizon.net.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse (located at the entrance to Riverview Golf Course) in Santa Ana. Contact Craig Riedel at 714-282-1194 or criedel@mflex.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (RIVERSIDE CHAPTER): The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Prado Olympic Shooting Park, 17501 Pomona Rincon Road, Chino (one block west of Euclid, just off the 71 freeway). Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or gibbent@gte.net. Web site: www.quriverside.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN DIEGO CHAPTER): The San Diego Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at DFG Headquarters at 4949 Viewridge Rd., San Diego. Contact David Preddy at davidpreddy@cox.net or visit www.sdqu.org.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHAPTER): The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Triple B Clays in El Monte. Contact Tim Bovard at 866-206-9070, ext. 6715 or sgvqu@onebox.com.
     REDONDO ROD & GUN CLUB: The Redondo Rod & Gun Club meets 8 p.m. every Thursday of every month at its own clubhouse. The club has promoted hunting, fishing, sport shooting and the outdoors since 1948. The clubhouse is located at 2023 Vanderbilt Lane, Redondo Beach. Contact 310-379-7772.
     RIVERSIDE VARMINT CALLERS: The Riverside Varmint Callers meet 7 p.m. the last Saturday of each month at Flo's Country Kitchen, Riverside. Contact Lance Cochrane at 909-919-4309 or Ray Gauthier at 951-785-4986. Web site:www.californiavarmintcallers.com/chapters.html/.
     SAN DIEGO SPORTING DOG CLUB: The San Diego Sporting Dog Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Animal Medical Center, 600 Broadway, El Cajon. Contact Steve Sarmiento at 619-659-9393 or sssarmi@sbcglobal.net.
     SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The Southern California Varmint Callers Association meets 8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Denny's Restaurant at Pioneer Blvd and Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Contact Granville Crow at 310-548-6221 or crowshot1@cox.net or Skip Gildner at 562-900-9020 or mtnhigh5@excite.com.
     TEMPLE CITY SPORTSMEN: The Temple City Sportsmen meet the first Thursday of each month at the Temple City Civic Center in Temple City. Contact Jim White at 626-201-7782 or TCSPresident2006@yahoo.com. The club’s web site is www.tcsportsmen.org.
     TURNER'S OUTDOORSMAN ROD AND REEL CLUB: The Turner's Outdoorsman Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Marie Calendar’s Restaurant, 2300 Foothill, Pasadena. Contact Richard Crowe at 626-960-9610.