The January meeting of the Butte County Fish and Game Commission took place in Oroville. Local warden Mark Imsdahl reported that the Department of Fish and Game had recently stopped several chronic offenders.

The most serious case was a lifelong poacher who by his own admission had taken the majority of the Feather Falls deer herd. This individual was found to have also illegally taken at least 20 mountain lions, and had even shot a fleeing bear during last years' wildfires.

Also busted were several deer baiting cases, and a case of illegally concealing a spike deer in order to ???upgrade' to a larger specimen. Even with an extremely limited salmon season, a couple of anglers received two-year license suspensions for poaching on the Feather River.

Imsdahl also reported that local warden Bob Parra had been transferred to Placer County, and has been replaced with recent Academy graduate Barry Ceccon. Since the stepped-up patrols in the Oroville Wildlife Area have been going on, Imsdahl has noticed a marked increase in the number of deer and turkeys.

Local DFG wildlife biologist Henry Lomeli reported that in addition to Butte County, Yuba County will now be a regular part of his duties. Lomeli also noted that a regional die-off of fawns and older deer seems to be happening in Tehama, Butte, Placer and Nevada Counties due to Adnovirus infections.

Lomeli also reported that the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve will be developing a hunting program. Since wildflower walks are the primary use of this area during the spring months, no spring wild turkey hunts will be allowed. Information on available hunts is viewable at the DFG's website.

The Commission's February meeting will take place at 7:00 PM on Monday [Feb.2] in Conference Room 2 of the Chico Municipal Center. Agenda items will include a warden report, biologist report, and approval of the 2009-10 financial grant awards. The public is invited.