High Sierra Topix

DECEMBER 15, 2015
If you are looking for the perfect holiday gift for the outdoor enthusiasts in your life, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has some suggestions.

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The 2016 Warden Stamp, depicting the image of two bighorn sheep, is a great way to brighten someone’s holiday while also supporting California’s wildlife officers. For a donation of just $5, the decal can be displayed on vehicles, equipment and other items. The Warden Stamp Program was initiated in 2010 to address the need for better equipment and training for the state’s wildlife officers and to provide funding for special law enforcement programs. There are just over 400 wildlife officers to patrol and protect 159,000 square miles of California’s natural habitat. All funds raised from the sales of the stamp go to purchase essential law enforcement equipment for wildlife officers and to support CDFW’s K-9 program, which trains dogs to work side by side with wardens to solve and prevent wildlife crimes.

For the angler on your list, now is the perfect time to purchase a fishing license gift voucher for just $47.01. Fishing licenses are valid for the calendar year, so buying one early ensures you get to enjoy a full year of fishing. From catching trout in the beautiful Sierra Nevada, to harvesting spiny lobster off the southern coast, California abounds with fishing opportunities. In the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, there are striped bass and giant white sturgeon, and in the coastal and valley streams of northern California, steelhead trout provide an exhilarating challenge for anglers. With more than 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, 4,172 lakes and reservoirs, 80 major rivers and more than 1,100 miles of coastline, there are fishing opportunities for everyone.

A one-year subscription to Outdoor California magazine is a great way to learn about the diverse work that CDFW does to protect and enrich the environment. For just $12 for six issues, a 20-percent discount for the holidays, you can celebrate the state’s natural habitat and wildlife through in-depth features and outstanding photography. In addition to behind-the-scene features on the groundbreaking work of CDFW environmental scientists, subscribers will enjoy the real-life patrols by wardens as they conduct wildlife investigations to fight poachers in the California wilderness. Throughout the year, enjoy stunning wildlife photographs from the best amateur and professional photographers as Outdoor California features its annual Wildlife Photo of the Year Contest.

Warden Stamps will go on sale next week. All items can be purchased online at http://www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/online-sales.

To view an image of the 2016 Warden Stamp, please visit http://www.wildlife.ca.gov/wardenstamp.

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Media Contact: Carol Singleton, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-8962