Wilson on Outdoors: Can a peace officer carry an off-duty weapon while archery hunting?

Q: My question is about peace officers carrying a handgun while archery hunting. The way I read the Fish and Game Code, it only states that a firearm may be carried that’s capable of being concealed on his or her person, not that it shall or will be concealed. I carry a backpack while hunting, and I usually carry my off-duty weapon on the waist belt under a pouch. This is not totally concealed, so is it acceptable or is it going to be left to officer discretion in the field? Ken

A: Yes, this is acceptable, but make sure to carry your peace officer identification to avoid any confusion.

“A peace officer …, whether active or honorably retired, may carry a firearm capable of being concealed on his or her person while engaged in the taking of deer with bow and arrow …, but shall not take or attempt to take deer with the firearm” (Fish and Game Code, section 4370(b)).

Q: I purchased a lifetime fishing license about 10 years ago. What used to be a small piece of paper that I could put in my wallet or keep in my tackle box has grown to where it’s now more than 6 feet in length. How about giving me a credit card type of license I can recharge every year instead of a new one? This would save a lot of money and be a lot easier to carry. Michael T.

A: When lifetime items are renewed online, multiple items (tags, report cards, etc.) ordered together may arrive in one envelope and be printed out together as one long document. This accounts for the document length you describe, but just so you know, you should separate your documents on the dotted line printed between documents to make them more manageable.

According to California Department of Fish and Wildlife associate governmental program analyst Brent George, our License and Revenue Branch at one time considered a credit card system for lifetime license customers. Although the idea has merit, it was found that given California’s large population and the overall complexity of sport fishing and hunting privileges available throughout the state, this solution is not practical.

Q: I have a question regarding regulations as they apply to spearfishing in the Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area. The regulation provides that “take of all living marine resources is prohibited except the recreational take of finfish (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 632(a)(2)) from shore and abalone.” Can I swim from shore and spearfish? I would assume the answer is yes because one has to swim from shore to dive for abalone. What about using a kayak to get out to the dive spot? Or, what about inner tubes or boogie boards? Gary R.

A: Although you may swim from shore to take abalone, you may not spearfish in the Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area. Finfish may only be taken from shore in this area (CCR Title 14, section 632(b)(50(B)).

Q: I grew up in California but now live in New York. I am coming for a visit and would love to bring my kids to see a grunion run. I have your schedule but want to know if it is a definite schedule. I know they follow the full moon cycle but just want to know if there has ever been a time when you predicted the grunion would spawn on a certain day but they did not? Andrea C., New York

A: Grunion runs will occur on most Southern California beaches, but unfortunately for people trying to see grunion runs, they may not occur every night on the same beaches and may be limited to small areas of any one beach. Sometimes, grunion choose not to run onto beaches that are known for grunion runs; only they know why. Long story short, there are no guarantees, but as with most fishing efforts, if you don’t try, you certainly will not see or catch any fish.

Grunion will spawn somewhere in their range on the days predicted; if they do not show up on one beach, they are usually at another beach. The schedule predicts the best possible times to view the runs, based on years of documentation of their behavior. Beaches that frequently host grunion runs are listed online under What Every Grunion Hunter Should Know > best locations, on dfg.ca.gov/marine/grunion.asp#hunter.

This story was originally published August 18, 2015 at 5:35 PM with the headline "Wilson on Outdoors: Can a peace officer carry an off-duty weapon while archery hunting?."