2008 archery pig hunts at Lake Sonoma. Public input needed!!&#

[Live2hunt]

Here's an idea. Charge a fee, let's say $15/day just like Camp Roberts. The money goes to pay the expense and to hire someone to administer the check-in and check-out process. Make hunters wear a big number on their back like the number on a football uniform. That number correspond to that hunter's license and info. Makes it easier for surrounding landowners and other hunters to police and turn in the rotting apples. Just my 2 cents.



L2H

 

[jkvshooter]

Ranger Joel,
I want to say thank you for everything you have done for bowhunters at LS in the past and for the work you are still doing. The situation concerning public hunting at the lake has become a hotbed for speculation, gossip and confusion. I hope "we" have shown how important this opportunity to hunt is to us. I have and will continue to offer my time and help in any way that I can and I know there are many others that feel the same. I realize there have been some problems, but to throw away a program with so many positives would be the same as "throwing the baby out with the bath-water".
The caliber of people that I have met at Lake Sonoma has always been above average, just good folks. Obviously there will be a few bad apples, but they are in the minority.
I applaud you and the ACO for even considering a public forum. I will be there (when this event is scheduled). Until then, if you need help posting, stretching fence, or anything else, please let me know. I will be there.

Stay well,
JKVSHOOTER

 

[Rangerjoel]

Hey all,
The Park manager and I will be meeting with the Department of fish and game on October 2 to see if we can come up with something on our own. If not, we; move on to a public hearing. I should have more info on October 3rd.
Also, the park has just got a new phone system and all of the phone numbers have changed.
I can now be reached at
(707) 431-4514
Or e-mail at:
joel.d.miller@spd02.usace.army.mil

 

[ducslayer]

Seems to me what we need is trust between Park Management & Archery hunters!Why dont we set a date meet at the park and talk this out?

 

[tradbowhunter]

Ranger Joel,

Thank you for solicating our comments regarding the archery hunts at Lake Sonoma. My friends and I have hunted at Lake Sonoma for several years and have harvested 16 hogs from the property. These have been some of my most memorial hunts, I've thoroughly enjoyed having the opportuinty to hunt at the lake, and feel a strong connection to the land. Through this program the US Army Corps has provided a rare opportunity to hunt scenic public lands with high game densities. This is an important public service provided by the US Army Corps that draws several hundred visitis each month to the park during a time of year that traditionally sees lower park attendence. I hope that the archery hunting program will continue to operate and promise to do my part as an ethical hunter to follow the park rules, monitor violaters, and ensure that this program continues.

If a public form on the hunting program is schduled I would appericate the opputinity to make my opinion known to ensure the future of hog hunting at the lake.

Alex DeGeorgey
Santa Rosa

 

[goodtrail]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tradbowhunter @ Sep 26 2007, 01:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Ranger Joel,

Thank you for solicating our comments regarding the archery hunts at Lake Sonoma. My friends and I have hunted at Lake Sonoma for several years and have harvested 16 hogs from the property. These have been some of my most memorial hunts, I've thoroughly enjoyed having the opportuinty to hunt at the lake, and feel a strong connection to the land. Through this program the US Army Corps has provided a rare opportunity to hunt scenic public lands with high game densities. This is an important public service provided by the US Army Corps that draws several hundred visitis each month to the park during a time of year that traditionally sees lower park attendence. I hope that the archery hunting program will continue to operate and promise to do my part as an ethical hunter to follow the park rules, monitor violaters, and ensure that this program continues.

If a public form on the hunting program is schduled I would appericate the opputinity to make my opinion known to ensure the future of hog hunting at the lake.

Alex DeGeorgey
Santa Rosa[/b]

Hello Ranger Joel, My name is Rafael Graham ( you might rcognize it ).First of all I would like to thank you and those at Lake Sonoma for continuing the pig hunts after DFG could not monitor them any longer.I consider it a true privilege and a blessing to have been able to hunt there for the last twelve years. I probably owe my mental sanity to being able to walk those beautiful hills on dark winter days. It will be a sad day indeed if it is decided to terminate these hunts . Through the years I have shared many experiences at Lake Sonoma with family and friends. Both my daughters were able to see pigs ( with piglets) on different occasions. I also managed to honor a friends son with a birthday request of hunting the lake ( he witnessed a miss). He was one excited 12 year old. I shared some great hunts with great hunters and some with non hunters.Everyone I have introduced to the area loves it. I do know what a chalenge it must be to provide public service. Whether it be boating, camping,hunting, or picnicking there always those that will push the limits.I cant Imagine what might happen on a busy summer weekend when the area becomes crowded.In my opinion public services are a privilege and shoul be treated as such. I do hope that you and your co workers find a strong reason for continuing these hunts and solid plan for managing them. I thank you again. The best----Rafael

 

[RMD]

Ranger Joel

Having hunted at the lake for many years, and having enjoyed some of my most memorable and exciting hunts there, I would be very disappointed if the pig hunts were discontinued. I have never had anything but good impressions of the other hunters I've met while hunting. They have all been friendly and cordial. The ethical and honest majority of hunters should not be held accountable for a few instances of illegal or unsavory behavior.

I hope we can continue to hunt this beautiful area, and chase the pigs around for a long time.

Mark

 

[LB55]

Joel,
Like many have stated before me, I too would be saddened by the closing of this opportunity to roam with a bow in hand the lands of Lake Sonoma, a true public land jewel. There is "no" other place like this in Ca. for the general public to hunt and get a taste of the best that California has to offer without having to pay a hefty tresspass fee to private land owners. Let us know, what will it take to keep this unique opportunity, please do not let the actions of a "few" degrade the future of many.

Thanks for all your support
Ted Clinton

 

[Jean]

Places to hunt are precious things. I am not a bow hunter but I think this should stay open to bow hunters.

Are the problems here any different than San Luis or other DFG holdings?

I hope the people who are prejudiced against hunting don't get their way.

Just my two cents.

Jean

 

[bodega]

Ranger Joel, Corps of Engineers Managers, and Department of Fish and Game:

The opportunity to hunt wild hogs on public land is a very rare opportunity in California and I hope that the existing program at Lake Sonoma continues. I can only speak for myself, but I treat the resource with great respect, and have been rewarded with long hikes and wonderful days in the woods silently observing wildlife. Bowhunters must be one of your larger user-groups in the winter months, and I feel that with our visits over the previous years we have earned a place at Lake Sonoma. When I hear reports of tresspassing or dumping, it troubles me because the other bowhunters I've met and hunted with would not abuse the priviledge. I hope that a solution short of ending the program can be developed, and would support a fee to help defray the cost of administering the hunting program and possibly provide for additional enforcement.

As in many conflicts, it is the actions of just a few that destroy the opportunity for the responsible majority. I sincerely hope that the Corps continues the wild hog hunting program at Lake Sonoma for those of us who respect the resource and follow the rules.

Sincerely,
Sol Germanas
Petaluma

 

[1shotkill]

Ranger Joel,
I sure was sorry to hear about the decision to suspend the "pig hunts" for now, but I think the writing was on the wall. As others have mentioned there are always a few "bad apples" and it's a shame that the rest of us may have to suffer because of it.
I would hate to see the Lake Sonoma Wild Pig Hunts come to an end for many reasons. Some of my reasons are admittedly selfish.........since I personally love to be at the lake with my bow in my hand and I spend as many days there as I can during your pig hunting season but I believe there are other reasons that suggest the cancelation of the hunts would do more harm than good.

When I first started hunting at the lake during the early 90's (DFG draws) I couldn't believe the damage that the pigs were causing at Liberty Glen. If it wasn't asphalt or concrete it was rooted up! You didn't see so many other animal species as you do now and it wasn't even a very pleasant place to go for a hike. I believe the hunting program really helped that situation. The hunting success rate was much higher then but so were the numbers of pigs. It wasn't unusual to see multiple numbers of large herds of pigs every day! Now that the hunting success rate is down to 3% it proves that just the presence of hunters has helped keep the numbers of pigs and damage of property to a minimum. Considering the acorn crop this year........the largest I have ever seen......it won't be long before the area is over run with hogs again without the help of the bowhunting program!

I think we all know that there has been a poaching problem at the lake over the years ( this has been confirmed to me in some of the conversations that I have had with Allan Buckman over the years) and I believe that ethical bowhunters are one of the best ways to police the area. I have only met quality people at the hunts and they all seem to agree that following the rules of the hunt will ensure that the hunts will continue. [Speaking of rules, the rule that I would like to see modified is the use of crossbows. Crossbows are generally only allowed to be used during firearm seasons in California and not considered to be archery equipment by the Dept. of Fish and Game. I think of crossbows as being a weapon of choice for poachers and I don't know an ethical bowhunter who even owns one.......but that's just my thing......sorry guys!]. I don't believe that hunters that are registered and signed in for the hunt are the problem and I would guess that if these hunts were canceled you would likely recieve a much greater number of phone calls from angry neighbors around the property complaining of trespassing and poaching.

I don't know which land owners are doing the complaining and I don't know, of course, if any of the complaints are accurate but I would be surprised if they are coming from any of the neighbors who hunt their own property. If they are, it's probably from the ones that are coming on to the lake property ( which I have also witnessed ) to poach and would rather not encounter any witnesses to their activities. I expect that most of the complaints about the pig hunting are more a result of the growing anti-hunting sentiment that runs rampant only in California and maybe even more exclusively in Sonoma and Marin counties.

So far, I think the pig hunting program has had many more positive results than negative and I think it would be a shame to see the deterioration that would result from the suspension of the program.

I hope this input helps the cause!

Sincerely,

Michael Hattam