Sports

1/5/2011 - Billy Bugenig, an assistant coach for the Feather River College rodeo team, tied for first place in steer wrestling at the 2010

Billy Bugenig, one of the top steer wrestlers in the country, helps coach rodeo at Feather River College. Also pictured is his horse, Smarty.

National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, earning almost $70,000 in prize money over the 10-day event Dec. 2-11.

For the past three years, Bugenig has been competing full-time in professional rodeo. This was his first year to reach the national finals, although he came close to qualifying the previous two years.

To qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, Bugenig had to finish among the top 15 money-earners throughout the year in his event.

At 6 feet, 1 inch and 220 pounds, Bugenig has the perfect build for his steer wrestling event, also called bulldogging.

Dog owners in the Feather River drainage area are reminded to take precautions to protect their pets from Salmon Poisoning Disease. Salmon Poisoning Disease can be contracted by dogs that come into contact with fish from infested waters throughout the Pacific Northwest, including the southern Cascades and northern Sierras to the Feather River drainage.

Why are tags and licenses needed for killing feral pigs?

Q. Please explain why the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) requires a hunting license and tags to hunt and kill feral pigs.

Feral pigs, as the name implies, are domestic pigs that have gone wild. They are an invasive species that destroy the environment and spread disease.

Lobster fishing from a six-pack boat

Q. I run a six-pack charter boat business and we often hoop net for crab and lobster. My deckhands and I make money by cleaning our passenger’s catch. This includes both rock crab and lobster.

We always wait until we make landfall before we tail the bugs. This year the new regulations say: (e) Spiny lobsters shall be kept in a whole, measurable condition until being prepared for immediate consumption.