Sale Starts TODAY - Save Big on Fall Goods - Plus Deals in all Departments

FALL SALE STARTS NOW!!

Today through Wednesday, September 15!

It’s been a crazy late summer season -- ocean salmon have come back big
time and folks have been buying bait, sinkers and lures like mad! The
copious amounts of late snowmelt and spring rains have made the stream and
Sierra fishing continue with vigor, while the bass fishing has been wide
open. Basically, no matter where you go, good things are happening!

All of which has made it a little difficult to focus on the fact that
Waterfowl Season is fast approaching! So, to give you a reminder and a
little head start - The 2011 Fall Shooting Sports Super Sale starts RIGHT
NOW!

You probably already know that our everyday low price is better than most
stores’ "sale" pricing. But, for this event, we roll prices back to the
lowest levels we possibly can - which makes it the perfect time to stock up
on what you'll need for a great duck season, dove or clay shooting or
whatever season is the big circled date on your calendar.

(And you probably already know that we are a DFG License Agent*, and can get you set up for the new California Hunting Licenses, plus Federal Duck Stamps)

Plus, if you come down to the shop today - Saturday, September 10 - you can meet with
representatives from California Waterfowl Association – find out about their
efforts to maintain habitat and duck populations in our state! If you
aren’t a member, it’s a great opportunity to join!

For starters - we know you need steel ammo!

Best Pricing of the Season on Kent Fasteel Waterfowl loads!
K1235ST40-BBB - 4 12ga 3.50" 1550fps reg. $19.99
WFD Sale! - $18.49
K1235ST36-BB - 3 12ga 3.50" 1625fps reg. $19.99
WFD Sale! - $18.49
K123ST36-BBB - 4 12ga 3" 1425fps reg. $14.99
WFD Sale! - $13.99
K123ST32-BB - 6 12ga 3" 1560fps reg. $14.49
WFD Sale! - $13.49
K122ST36-3, 6 12ga 2.75" 1300fps reg. $13.99
WFD Sale! - $12.99
K122ST32-BB - 3 12ga 2.75" 1425fps reg. $12.99
WFD Sale! - $11.99
K122ST30-BB - 4 12ga 2.75" 1550fps reg. $12.99
WFD Sale! - $11.99
K203ST24-2 - 4 20ga 3" 1550fps reg. $13.49
WFD Sale! - $12.49

Tired of that budget lead loads that don’t cycle or pattern consistently?
Try the Kent Ultimate Fast Lead
K122UFL36-4, 6, 7.5 12ga 2.75" 1350fps reg. $11.99
WFD Sale! - $10.99
K202UFL28-6, 7.5 20ga 2.75" 1255fps reg. $11.99
WFD Sale! - $10.99
K162UFL28-6, 7.5 16ga 2.75" 1220fps reg. $12.99
WFD Sale! - $11.99 (Limited Availability!)

Many sporting clays or other target areas are now requiring steel shot –
We strongly recommend the Kent Target Steel
K122TST28-7 12ga 2.75" 1290fps reg. $9.99
WFD Sale! - $8.99
K202TST24-7 20ga 2.75" 1215fps reg. $9.99
WFD Sale! - $8.99


Even though we've found the KENT Fasteel to be the some of the best and most
reliable loads, we know that ammo choice is important - so we've got a wide
variety of Hevi-Steel, Hevi-Shot, Tungsten loads, Federal Black Cloud and
more - still not quite right? Then make your order this weekend - lock in
the Fall Super Sale pricing, and we'll get it for you in time for the
opener. Just talk with any Western Sport Shop team member at the store.

How about decoys? We’ll be honest – it looks like availability on decoys
will be spotty this year – There have been some problems getting the very
popular green wing and widgeon decoys from Greenhead, and we’re actively
working with other manufacturers to find these. Check with us for updates
in the coming weeks.
But, here’s what we do have! DEALS ON DECOYS!
70002 - Hot Buy Magnum Mallards - half dozen reg. $49.99
WFD Sale! - $42.99
70003 - Hot Buy Mallards - dozen reg. $45.99
WFD Sale! - $39.99
73032 - Over-Size Pintails - half-dozen reg. $62.99
WFD Sale! - $52.99
73039 - Over-Size Blue Bills - half-dozen reg. $59.99
WFD Sale! - $44.990
73049 - Over-Size Canvasback - half-dozen reg. $59.99
WFD Sale! - $49.99
7108# - Speck, Snow, Canada Goose Floaters reg. $99.99
WFD Sale! - $84.99
28030 - Guides Choice Win-Duk air-driven attractor! reg. $52.99
WFD Sale! - $39.99

And all decoy bags in stock are 20% OFF this weekend!


Now, if you just like to fish or fly fish for 12 months out of the year,
that's OK too, because there are deals in those departments, too!

We've got specials in both the tackle and fly fishing department!

First for the Fly Fishing Focused:
Sage “Bass” series and Sage Z-Axis fly rods are now at 30% OFF!
All discontinued Fishpond tackle bags and luggage is now 40% OFF!
Plus, all remaining Ross fly reels and extra spools are 30% OFF!
Simms Blackfoot Wading boots are 40% OFF!
We also have a closeout clothing rack loaded with base layers, shirts,
jackets, insulation and discontinued or changed models that are 30 – 50% -
Great Deals Abound!

Now, for the salt and freshwater anglers:
All Apex Salmon trolling lures in stock – HALF OFF! This is a great chance
to grab some different colors and stock up!
All Pixie Salmon river lures – buy 2 and get a third FREE (Equal or lesser
value)
All Castaic Swim Baits (great for winter bass fishing!) – HALF OFF!
Penn Spinfisher SS Series Spinning reels – 20% OFF!
Selected closeout rods – 30- - 50% OFF!

In other words, it's time to get down to the sale - going on right now!

*DFG Licenses: To obtain a current hunting license in the state of California, you must provide photo ID and a evidence of Hunter's Safety Compliance - this can be either a validated Hunter Safety Course card or a previous year's hunting license. Please Note - DFG regulations state that we can no longer accept "Declaration Forms" in lieu of Hunter's Safety evidence. Cash or credit cards only on license sales.

Here Comes June!

Flyfishing 101 course.
New dates in June and July - click here for a flyer. This popular introduction to fly fishing course fills up quickly - taught by fly department manager Carlo Bongio, this will get you casting effectively and teach the basics of fly tackle, knots and etymology. Perfect for the new or intermediate fly angler.

Bass/Panfish Warmwater flyfishing clinic
Sessions in July and August - click here for a flyer. Join Carlo Bongio at a private pond in Sonoma for an intermediate to advanced session focusing on the specific techniques for fishing for these dynamic species.

Other Clinics
As of the weekend, only a couple places left for the Kid's Flyfishing Weekend.

Bluewater/San Diego Fishing Seminar/Alan Tani Reel Repair Seminar
Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 16 - it will be a great day for learning about the electrifying fishing down in San Diego (and more about our 5 day trip this September), as well as an opportunity for you to get down and dirty - digging into your conventional fishing reels and learning how to clean and maintain them under the tutelage of reel repair icon Alan Tani - look for updates soon, but make sure you don't miss this day!

California Hunting Licenses, draw tags and bird validations have been available since last month - the new computerized system can be a little confusing, but we've been helping folks untangle their questions. The important date is coming up - the tag applications are due Thursday June 2nd.

These are now transmitted electronically through the DFG Automated License System. If you have not done so, you must bring in proof of Hunter's Safety (either a validated Hunter Safety card or previous Hunting License) in order to apply. If you are joining an existing hunting party, you will also need the ID number for that party. You will need to know exactly which zone you are applying for (or if you plan on applying for preference points). We have DFG Big Game information booklets and a larger scale map of zones at the shop.

Again - the deadline for drawing applications is Thursday, June 2nd.

(Please note - this is for lottery draw deer or other big game tags. If you are hunting in a non-lottery area, you may purchase tags up to the point the zone closes - pending availability of the tags).

2011/2012 Hunting Licenses Available

Just a quick update - if you are going to be putting in for draws in this year's hunting season, we are now able to issue Deer Tag draw applications and tags for the upcoming season.

The new automated license system is a little different than in years past, so please take a moment to make sure you have what you need, so we can help you more efficiently.

If you have already purchased a fishing license this year, bring that with you - the bar code on that document can be quickly scanned to bring up your information in the California Department of Fish & Game database. We can also scan your driver's license.

You will need evidence of Hunter's Safety - that means a prior year's hunting license or a copy of your Hunter's Safety card (from California or another state). Please note - Declarations are no longer accepted for evidence of Hunter's Safety. If you cannot produce either of these documents, then you must retake the Hunter's Safety course. Information on scheduled Hunter's Safety courses can be found here.

If you are purchasing an application for a deer zone hunt* or a deer tag, you will need to provide the zone choices. That means we cannot issue tags or applications without zone information. Maps are viewable here or at the store.

The good news is that we are now able to issue tags for the "guaranteed" zones - like A-zone - over the counter. It is no longer necessary to purchase the application, then send it to the DFG for processing.

The other change this year is that state duck stamps and upload bird stamps are now available at the same time - we have not yet received the Federal Duck Stamps, which are a different program - and of course, if you are hunting waterfowl, you will need to answer the survey questions at the time we sell you the license.

So, to recap:
1 - ID card/Driver's License
2 - Evidence of Hunter's Safety
3 - Determine your zone choice

See you down at the shop!

*You can put in for draw zones in groups as large as six hunters. You no longer have to put in all applications together - the first person in a "Party" is assigned a group number, and each additional hunter just needs to know the group number to be included. There is no need to come into the store at the same time, and you can actually join the same group from different license sales locations.

2011 Fishing License Update - New System!

The new 2011 California Fishing Licenses are now available for sale in both of our stores. With the new license year comes a big change - fishing and hunting licenses are now issued using a computerized system. This is a project which has been developed over the past few years, and it is now in effect for California.

The beauty of the system is that once your information has been entered, we won't have to re-enter your info when you come back to get a steelhead report card, or come in to purchase your hunting license (though hunter safety evidence is still required).

We've had the terminals in place since last week, and have been shaking the bugs out of the system while getting our staff trained on the new method. While it actually simplifies a lot of the paperwork and makes things more efficient, there are a few things you should know about before you head down to purchase a license.

If you are buying a license for yourself, it's simple: just bring in your California Driver's License or Identification Card. We can swipe the magnetic strip and transfer your information into the DFG database, then issue the license. If you don't have a California Driver's License or ID card, you can bring down a passport, green card, birth certificate or other form of photo identification.

If you are buying a license for someone else: You will need to know the name, birthday and driver's license/ID number for that person, in addition to address and personal information (height, weight, eye and hair color). We can not issue a license without full identifying information.

If you don't have that information, there is another option - you can purchase a "Voucher" for a 2011 Resident Sport Fishing License. This is a "prepaid" Voucher which lets them go into any California License Agent and redeem it for a 2011 Resident Sport Fishing License. (Vouchers are transferable, so if you receive two Vouchers, a friend or relative could redeem it for their license.)

Please Note - the Voucher is not a valid fishing license. If you are caught fishing with a Voucher rather than a license, you will be cited. Vouchers may not be redeemed for anything other than a 2011 California Resident Sport Fishing License.

License sales actually take a little less time than previously, but because we now must complete the information through the DFG-issued terminals, there will be times when people are waiting their turn. We appreciate your patience on this, and encourage you to head down to the stores at less busy times to obtain your California Licenses.

Please note:
California Hunting and Fishing licenses and Vouchers are non-refundable. Any claim for refund due to duplication or incorrect purchase of licenses must be made through the Department of Fish and Game License Branch in Sacramento.

2010 Hunting Licenses Are IN STOCK!

We have received our initial shipment of 2010/2011 California Hunting Licenses. This includes resident and non-resident Hunting licenses, First and Second Deer applications and basic tags. (Hang in there Waterfowl enthusiasts - that stuff will arrive closer to fall).

Remember - Big Game Drawing Applications are due June 2nd!

More information and instructions can be found in the new California Hunting Digest magazine, which can be downloaded here -

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/publications/digest/

New Dept of Fish & Game Regs Begin March 1st

From the California Department of Fish and Game News Release

Contacts: Scott Barrow, Fisheries Branch, 916-445-7600
DFG Office of Communications, 916-322-8911

New sport fishing regulations take effect March 1

The California Fish and Game Commission has adopted the following changes to sport fishing regulations. All take effect and will be enforced starting March 1, 2010.

Display of Sport Fishing License is Not Required
Anglers will no longer have to display their sport fishing license on their outer clothing above the waist, but their sport fishing license must still be in their possession while fishing.

Sturgeon Fishing Closure on Upper Sacramento River
There will a year-round closure to sturgeon fishing on the Sacramento River from the Keswick Dam (Shasta County, west of Redding) to the Hwy 162 Bridge (near Butte City). The use of wire leaders or any type of shrimp or lamprey bait is also prohibited in this area.

Spiny Lobster
Spiny lobster must be kept in a whole, measurable condition until it is being prepared for consumption. See Section 29.90(e).

Increased Bag and Possession Limits for Hatchery Trout and Steelhead
The statewide bag and possession limits were raised to two fish per day and four fish in possession. These increased limits will be in place for all rivers and streams where the take of hatchery trout or steelhead is presently allowed except for the Feather, Klamath and Mokelumne rivers. Refer to the Section 7.50 of the regulations for each individual reach.

New Rules for the Smith River
Only barbless hooks will be allowed in all reaches of the Smith River. The Klamath-Trinity Salmon Report Card has been renamed North Coast Salmon Report Card and will now be required on the Smith River also. The annual bag limit for wild trout or steelhead was reduced to zero and no more than five wild Chinook may be kept per year.

Sunfish and Crappie Combined Bag Limit and Separate Tilapia Limit
The daily bag limit for sunfish is reduced to 25 fish and incorporated into a combined bag limit of 25 sunfish and crappie of all species, except as noted in Section 5.82. Tilapia are moved out of the sunfish bag limit and continue to have no limit on take.

Splittail and Lamprey Changes
Sacramento splittail may be taken only by angling, with a bag limit of two fish. The bag limit for lamprey is reduced to five and the use of traps is no longer allowed.

There are other changes to the sturgeon and steelhead report cards and general district regulations, so please review all of the 2010 regulations pertaining to the species you intend to pursue. Regulations are available on the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/about/fishing.

2010 Fishing Licenses Arrived!

After many long and painful days of having to tell everyone that we didn't have licenses, the California Department of Fish and Game finally sent us our initial batch of 2010 Fishing Licenses! If you want to be fishing on New Year's Day, you'll need this! (It's also historically one of the more popular gifts to unwrap.)

Note that the DFG has "retired" the Bay-Delta Sportfishing Enhancement Stamp, so that all you'll need is the basic license for fishing within the San Francisco Bay.

If you wish to purchase licenses as gifts, you will need to know the name, address and date of birth for the recipient.

Bizzy, Bizzy, Bizzy!

Wow! A little nice weather combined with a big holiday weekend, and everyone is running every which way getting folks set up for spring fishing and enjoying the outdoors! I'm taking a quick lunch to just make sure that you get the word on a couple of topics -

- Fishing is heating up!
Given the winds we've been seeing recently, it's just as well that ocean salmon fishing has been put on hold this year. I think we've all avoided "those trips" where you motor out the Gate, feel those swells start lifting the boat and then get hit with the wind chop that means either a messy day on the water or time to turn the boat around.

The smart die-hard ocean anglers have had a chance to relearn what a diverse and vibrant fishery they have right inside the SF Bay and Delta. Between striper, sturgeon and halibut, there are all kinds of fish to be found. And, you can usually locate a good spot that isn't overrun by other boats. Joe and Richard in our San Rafael store get the up-to-the-minute reports, so drop by to get set up right for this weekend.

The Marin Watershed lakes have been doing well. The warmer weather has brought the panfish to life a bit, and as you can tell from Joe's recent report, if you aren't hooking bass, you aren't trying. The trout experts have been quietly getting good results as well, working the edges of weed growth and dropoffs with Panther Martin lures and Powerbait.

Up in Santa Rosa, last weekend was the Rohnert Park Kids' Fishing Derby, which brought out almost 350 young anglers. Huge thanks to Debbie, Rickey and Tom who volunteered to spend the day setting up the enthusiastic anglers and untangling the odd bird's nest or two. One of the hot tickets turned out to be the new Berkeley Power Trout Worms - it kept producing fish after the bite turned off.

Lake Sonoma should be just about perfect this weekend, and we're still hoping to see a nice slug of shad moving up into the Russian River.

- Hunting Licenses
The 2009/2010 California Hunting Licenses and Deer Tag Applications are available in both stores. If you are going to be applying for premium deer, elk, antelope or bighorn sheep tags, those applications must be received by 5 p.m. June 2 at the California Department of Fish and Game License and Revenue Branch in Sacramento. Drawing results will be available June 24.

To purchase licenses, you must bring in a prior year's license or proof of Hunter Safety Course completion.

Copies of the DFG's California Hunting Digest Big Game Book are available, though they tend to go fast.

More information is available via the DFG website - www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/hunting/hunting.html

- Browning Safes Have Arrived
We had a truckload of safes dropped off at our San Rafael store a week ago. These fireproof safes are one of the best ways to secure firearms and other valuables during those times when you might be gone on vacation. Since they always sell faster than Browning can make them for us, we've had a few requests to mention it here when they arrive.

- Ammunition Still Problematic
Quality centerfire ammo has been arriving steadily, but we are still receiving it one load at a time - as I mentioned earlier, the best thing is to make sure that you get your name and phone number on file at the Western Sport Shop location near you. The first few shipments that arrived were completely sold by the time we finished going through the people on file.

You can call the store directly or just speak with anyone in the hunting department the next time you are in the stores.

- Fishing and Fly Rod Sale
Although the response has been significant, we still have a few of "last year's" models of conventional and fly rods priced at up to 50% off the original price. These deals are only available in our stores, and are limited to stock on hand. Also, while you are poking around the rod racks, make sure to graze through the sale tables - there's a bunch of stuff we found during audits, cleanups and organization - all priced ridiculously low.

So - head into the shops, get set up, then go enjoy this great long weekend!