The Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) Advanced Hunter Education Program is offering California's hunters and outdoor enthusiasts 13 clinics and workshops throughout 2006. Hunting clinics will be available on subjects such as big game, wild pig, turkey, upland game birds, and waterfowl. Skills workshops will be held for individuals interested in navigation and wilderness survival, gun-dog training, and a dog handling clinic for pointers.

"The Advanced Hunter Education clinics focus instruction on the ???how-to' aspect of hunting," said program coordinator Susan Herrgesell. "The goal of this series is to educate hunters to be ethical, conservation-minded, and successful. Our clinics and instructors will take the participants a step beyond the basic DFG Hunter Education course that is required for all hunters."

The list, location and cost of courses include:

?Ģ Feb. 25-26, Land Navigation and Wilderness Survival Clinic offered at Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County. The cost is $50. ?Ģ March 11, Turkey Hunting Clinic offered at the Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church in Sacramento County. The clinic is free and no registration is necessary. ?Ģ April 29, Pig Hunting Clinic offered at Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County. The cost is $40. ?Ģ May 20-21, Big Game Hunting Clinic offered in Williams, Colusa County. The cost is $60. ?Ģ June 3, Gun Dog Handling Clinic offered at Tehachapi in southern Kern County. The cost is $40. ?Ģ June 3, Pig Hunting Clinic offered in Sonoma. The cost is $40. ?Ģ June 10-11, Land Navigation and Wilderness Survival Clinic offered at Stonyford in northern Colusa County. The cost is $50. ?Ģ Aug. 5, Pig Hunting Clinic offered at Tejon Ranch in southern Kern County. The cost is $40. ?Ģ Aug. 26, Waterfowl Hunting Clinic offered at Rancho Jamul in southeast San Diego County. The cost is $40. ?Ģ Sept. 23, Upland Game Hunting Clinic offered in Williams, Colusa County. The cost is $40. ?Ģ Sept. 23, Upland Game Hunting Clinic offered in Gorman, Kern County. The cost is $40. ?Ģ Sept. 30, Waterfowl Hunting Clinic offered in Williams, Colusa County. The cost is $40. ?Ģ Nov. 4, Dog Handling Clinic for Pointers in Rosamond, Kern County. The cost is $40. Instructors at the hunting clinics will explain the ideal firearms and ammunition for a particular hunt, the importance of proper sighting for firearms, and how to gauge distance. They will also instruct on how to scout an area and track an animal, and describe the best techniques for field dressing. Participants will stage shoot/don't shoot scenarios, as well as discuss issues on hunter ethics, landowner/hunter relationships, conservation, and safety.

Individuals interested in attending clinics can print registration forms from DFG's Hunter Education Program Web page at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntclinics. The deadline for registration and fees is two weeks prior to the clinic's date. Completed forms must be sent with a check for the course's cost to the Department of Fish and Game, Advanced Hunter Education Program, 601 Locust St., Redding, CA 96001.