Since 1983, the California Department of Fish and Game has been running an excellent private lands wildlife program that offers landowners assistance in creating wildlife habitat on their properties. Participants pay anywhere from $1,250 to $2,000, depending on the size of their property, to participate in the program for a five-year period. In return, these landowners get such goodies as extended hunt seasons and quotas, and reduced-price tags to sell or keep for friends and family. A total of 52 properties ranging in size from 340 to 270,000 acres are currently enrolled in the "Private Lands Management" (PLM) program, comprising almost 700,000 acres altogether. You can get a list of all the participants by calling the Wildlife Management Division at the number listed below. Going down the list, it is obvious that most properties are managed for deer, but some have tule elk (a real glamour animal), pronghorn antelope and even black bear. If a wildlife biologist determines that a huntable population exists on the property, Fish and Game issues tags directly to the landowner. No tags are available over-the-counter or by drawing to the public - they are only available through landowners, although some landowners distribute their tags through outfitters such as Multiple Use Managers. Landowners may charge hunters any amount they desire for their tags. "It's a win-win situation," says a spokesman for the Department. "The farmer or rancher realizes some additional income from his property and some fortunate hunters get the opportunity to hunt some highly productive land." Just how good is the hunting on those private lands? According to the Department, the deer hunting success ratio on PLM lands is over 50 percent, as compared to the statewide ratio of 18 percent. Keep that in mind as you look over the hunts available on the six ranches mentioned below. It will help explain why some prices are on the high side:
Eckland Ranch (c/o John Eckland): Manages 2,080 acres in Modoc County for mule deer, with hunting available for bucks and does. Hunting country is generally flat and open at 5,300 feet at the base of the Warner Mountains. Usually........(continued)
