SACRAMENTO - California hunters have eight new junior elk hunts and two additional bighorn sheep tags to apply for in this year's big game hunting drawing. To be eligible for the drawing, applications must be received at the California Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) License and Revenue Branch (3211 S Street, Sacramento) by 5 p.m. on June 2, 2006.

Eight of the 10 junior elk hunts proposed for the upcoming season were adopted by the Fish and Game Commission at its May 4th meeting in Kings Beach. The Commission also adopted tag quotas for all big game hunts. The approved tag quotas are posted on the DFG Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov.

All deer tag quotas were approved as proposed. There are some changes in elk and pronghorn antelope tag allotments this year, some of which will have a major impact on the drawing odds. Most notable is the Owens Valley Independence Bull hunt, which was eliminated for this season. Hunters who have already applied for that hunt will still receive a preference point. In addition, the tag allotments for the Big Lagoon antlerless and bull elk hunts were cut by half; each hunt has been allocated six tags. Although the bighorn sheep tags were approved as proposed, the allotments were incorrectly listed in the 2006 Big Game Hunting book. Changes/corrections in tag allotments are listed below.

The DFG conducts a drawing for all elk, antelope and bighorn sheep hunts, and for high-demand deer hunts. Deer tags for zones A, B, C and D are available through most DFG offices until they are sold out.

For information on how to apply for premium deer hunts, and for antelope, elk, and bighorn sheep hunt applications, pick up a free copy of the DFG's 2006 Big Game Hunting Booklet from most DFG license sales offices or license agents. Hunters can also log onto the DFG Web site and download elk, bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope applications. The address is http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/hunting/hunting.html.

Elk

Hunt Name Approved Tags Proposed Big Lagoon Antlerless 6 13 Big Lagoon Bull 6 12 Marble Mountains Either-Sex - Junior 2 0-3 Northeastern California Junior Either-Sex 2 0-3 Northeastern California Archery Either-Sex 5 4-7 La Panza Period 1 Antlerless - Junior 0 0-3 La Panza Period 1 Bull - Junior 1 0-3 Owens Valley Independence Bull 0 1 Grizzly Island Period 1 Antlerless 5 3-6 Grizzly Island Period 1 Spike 2 0-3 Grizzly Island Period 2 Antlerless 6 3-6 Grizzly Island Period 2 Spike 2 0-3 Grizzly Island Period 1 Antlerless - Junior 1 0-3 Grizzly Island Period 1 Spike - Junior 1 0-3 Grizzly Island Period 2 Antlerless - Junior 0 0-3 Grizzly Island Period 2 Spike - Junior 1 0-3 Fort Hunter Liggett Period 1 Antlerless 7 5-8 Fort Hunter Liggett Period 3 Bull 5 4-7 Fort Hunter Liggett Antlerless - Junior 1 0-3 Fort Hunter Liggett Bull - Junior 2 0-3 Pronghorn Antelope

Hunt Name Approved Tags Proposed Zone 1 - General Buck 8 3-60 Zone 1 - Archery Buck 1 1-10 Zone 2 - General Buck 15 20-80 Zone 2 - Archery Buck 1 1-10 Zone 3 - Archery Buck 11 2-20 Zone 3, Period 1 - General Buck 50 25-150 Zone 3, Period 2 - General Buck 50 25-130 Zone 4 - Archery Buck 10 2-20 Zone 4, Period 1 - General Buck 45 25-130 Zone 4, Period 2 - General Buck 45 25-150 Zone 4, Either-Sex - Junior 5 1-15 Zone 5 - General Buck 3 3-150 Zone 5 - Archery Buck 1 1-15 Zone 5 -Either-Sex - Junior 1 1-15 Zone 6 - General Buck 10 3-20 Zone 6 - Archery Buck 1 1-5 Zone 6 - Either-Sex - Junior 4 1-4 Bighorn Sheep

Zone 1 - Marble Mountains 4 (up from 3 in 2005) Zone 3 - Clark & Kingston Mtn. Ranges 2 (up from 1 in 2005) prevent injury, and avoid common mistakes while hiking.