2023 PROJECTS
TREE REMOVAL PROJECT - NOV 2023
A shout out and huge THANK YOU to Efren Garcia and his crew from Western Tree Service in Santa Maria! They donated their services to remove two massive trees that were rotten inside and in danger of falling on one of the buildings at the Chimineas headquarters. Last year's storm caused a third huge tree to fall just missing the building. Their work will keep the buildings and the people who work and use the property safe,
JUNIOR ELK HUNT - OCT 2023
Junior hunter Remyngton and her family came from Bakersfield for CDFW’s Apprentice elk hunt hosted by CRF and RMEF. They hiked for miles but saw no cow elk that weekend. Remyngton and her dad returned and eventually saw some cows but were unable to connect with one. Remyngton, you get an A+ because you never gave up! Keep up the good chase and we wish you luck on your next hunt. CRF thanks RMEF and everyone who came out to provide this young hunter and her family a great opportunity on the Chimineas Ranch!
JUNIOR DEER HUNT - SEPT 2023
This year was another huge success for the CDFW Apprentice Deer Hunt! Logan (age 13), Hunter (age 14), and Ethan (age 12) each took their first ever deer on their first day on the ranch! And look at those smiles!
The kids and dads got to see nearly every sort of critter we have on the ranch! Deer, elk, pigs, a million toads, quail, doves, and coyotes (including a nearly all black one that was absolutely beautiful!) We can’t wait to do it again next year!
Thanks to the A-Z Foundation and all the folks who came out to help make this a great weekend for the young hunters!
FENCE REMOVAL - PART 3 - SEPT 2023
Work continues to remove the fencing from the new property addition to the American Ranch Unit. Volunteers worked with Directors Steve Adam and Terry Palmisano in 95 degree heat to remove the T-posts from 1 mile of fence line. That's about 350 T-posts pulled up! Now there's a clear view across the property. Just one more mile of T-posts to go!
GENERAL MAINTENANCE - JULY/AUGUST 2023
It's not glamorous, but just like any property, general maintenance always needs to be done. CRF Directors, Advisory Committee members, and volunteers mowed grass, pulled weeds, trimmed trees, stained the walkway, cleaned the house, and removed debris to keep the beautiful facility ready to welcome visitors.
BRUSH PILES & WILDLIFE STAIRS- JUNE 2023
A large downed tree at the HQs provided an opportunity for a habitat project. Some of the logs and brush were cut and used at several troughs on the property. These old cattle troughs are too tall for wildlife to access. Logs piled up next to the trough create “stairs” for animals to climb to get to the water. In addition, tree limbs were used to create a brushpile near the trough so birds and smaller animals have a place to get shade from the heat and escape predators when they come to quench their thirst.
FENCE WIRE REMOVAL - PART 2 - MAY 2023
The volunteers and Director Terry were back out in May to remove the wire from the north side of the new addition to the American Ranch Unit. In total, they took down and rolled up 8 miles of barbed wire! Now the elk (pictured) and other wildlife can run freely without having to jump over or get caught up in the fencing. Still to come - removing the fence posts.
AMERICAN RANCH UNIT FENCE REMOVAL - PART 1 - APRIL 2023
The 2023 record storms downed trees, washed out roads, and caused landslides, blocking access to much of the Chimineas Ranch. Work shifted to the American Ranch Unit for the first habitat improvement project of the year. Members of CDFW's Natural Resource Volunteer Program, led by CRF Director Terry started removing barbed wire from a newly acquired 640-acre property. The removal of wire from the one mile east boundary gives wildlife and public land hunters free access across the new property.
2022 PROJECTS
AMERICAN RANCH UNIT PROJECT - NOV 2022
The final project of the year was the replacement of another trough, this time on the American Ranch Unit. This area is heavily used by elk and pigs and the old trough was unserviceable. CRF purchased a large trough to meet the water needs of the many large thirsty animals. Delivery was made with the help of CRF’s heavy duty trailer acquired several years ago. CRF Director Don and CDFW Habitat Assistant Sean worked together to grade the site and install the trough.
SCOUT CONSERVATION PROJECT - OCT 2022
Six young women with Troop 1602 Scouts BSA out of Paso Robles showed their girl power by completing a conservation service project on the Chimineas Ranch. Together they replaced an old, galvanized cattle trough riddled with holes with a trough wildlife can easily access. They removed the old trough, dug a trench, set the 2,000 pound concrete trough in the ground, and connected the plumbing.
SCOUT CONSERVATION PROJECT (Continued)
The scouts worked hard, learned new skills, and did a great job! Retired CDFW Habitat Assistant Joe Lambirth and the Scoutmasters provided the training. CRF Director Terry Palmisano was on hand to support the project.
FENCE REMOVAL - OCT 2022
Unnecessary fencing can be a hazard for wildlife when they get tangled in it. CRF coordinated a volunteer day with CDFW's Natural Resource Volunteer Program to start removing the wire from a 4-strand barbed wire fence on the North Chimineas Unit. Wildlife are heavily using the area as evidenced by the well-worn trails going across the fence. Now the elk, pigs, and antelope will have clear access. Work will continue as there are miles more fence to remove.
JUNIOR ELK HUNT - OCT 2022
Another fantastic weekend for a junior hunter! Cole, age 13, had never hunted big game before but calmly filled his cow elk tag in the first hour Saturday morning on the Chimineas Ranch. Looking on proudly are his father (in the black vest), and two uncles who got him interested in hunting. The hunt was sponsored by the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation which provided meals, guides, and help cleaning the animal. CRF hosted the group at the ranch headquarters.
JUNIOR DEER HUNT - SEPT 2022
Three SoCal junior hunters scored big in September at CDFW’s apprentice deer hunt on the Chimineas! The hunt was sponsored by the A-Z Foundation and hosted by CRF. Grace, Jonathon, and Victoria each took their first ever deer, and they were beauties! Victoria also took a huge hog and celebrated her 13th birthday while she was there. The hunters and their families stayed at the ranch HQs and everyone had a great time. Butcher Shop Taxidermy will mount the 3 bucks for the young hunters. Meals and guide service were provided by A-Z, who also presented camo backpacks with knives and Vortex binoculars to each hunter.
BARRETT PIPE REPAIR - SEPT 2022
Water had to be turned off to one of the troughs in September when it was discovered a pipe between the tank and the trough was broken. CRF Directors Don and Terry repaired the pipe and got water flowing back into the trough. With the temperature hovering around 105 degrees that day, if the trough had been a little bigger the wildlife might have come for a drink and found both directors cooling their heels in the water!
NEW JOHN DEERE GATOR - SEPT 2022
The Chimineas Ranch Foundation got a great deal on a much needed John Deere Gator utility vehicle from Cal Coast Machinery in Santa Maria. In just the first few weeks it was put to good use for checking water troughs, doing pipeline repairs, removing fences, and taking junior hunters out on their hunts.
YELLOW JACKET PUMP REPLACEMENT - AUG 2022
YOUR FUNDRAISING DOLLARS HELPING WILDLIFE! Funds raised from the Foundation’s February banquet have already proven to be a huge benefit to the wildlife on the Chimineas Ranch. The well pump for one of the troughs on the south end of the property froze up and needed to be replaced. This was especially critical as the south end of the ranch is much drier than the north side, and this trough has been heavily used for years by a wide variety of animals.
YELLOW JACKET (CONTINUED)
Leaving it dry in the middle of the drought would have been a disaster for the wildlife that have come to depend on that water. Your donations and auction bids allowed CRF to purchase a new pump. Directors Don Copeland and John McGray, with CDFW Habitat Assistant Joe Lambirth, installed the pump, filled the tank, and got water flowing into the trough again.
EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT - JAN 2022
Sam Schley, with Santa Barbara Boy Scout Troop 26, completed his Eagle Scout project by designing, constructing, and fund raising for a wildlife guzzler on the Chimineas Ranch. A guzzler is a water catchment system that collects rainfall, directs it into a storage tank, and then meters the water out into a trough so water is available to wildlife throughout the year. He requested and received funding from the Chimineas Ranch Foundation, Santa Barbara County Fish and Wildlife Committee, and San Luis Obispo County Fish and Game Fines Committee. CDFW provided the tank and trough.
Sam let a group of Boy Scouts and family members in the construction work. CDFW staff Joe Lambirth and Warden Kevin Hare provided expertise and encouragement. After working onsite two weekends in January the project is complete, the wildlife have another source of water on the ranch, and Sam completed the fieldwork required to become an Eagle Scout. Congratulations Sam!
2021 PROJECTS
NEW PUBLIC KIOSK AND TABLE
The Hwy 166 entrance to the Chimineas Ranch got a new kiosk in September to welcome visitors and provide information about the property. Two boxes attached to the kiosk hold the access permits visitors need to fill out before they enter the property. There is also a new picnic table so there is a place to sit to fill out those access forms.
KIOSK (CONTINUED)
This project was completed through a public-private partnership between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Chimineas Ranch Foundation and was funded by a grant from the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation with additional funding from Mike and Kathleen Post. Thanks to everyone who helped to make this great addition for public access possible!
MAINTAINING SECURITY
It takes a variety of skills to maintain a large working ranch and March has been busy! Here CRF Director Don Copeland welds a gate to repair it. The locked gate off Hwy 166 provides security for the property.
JOHNSON FLAT ROAD WORK
Johnson Flat Phase 1: The Foundation worked with Potter Enterprises in March to grade the road from the corrals to Johnson Flat on the South Chimineas Unit. The reopened road will provide better access to this popular hunting area during drive-on hunts. It also will allow for Phase 2 of the project to upgrade the tanks and put a timer on the well to ensure wildlife have a stable water supply.
2020 PROJECTS
AWESOME JUNIOR ELK HUNT
The Apprentice Tule Elk Hunt was a huge success! Apprentice hunter Wyatt got a nice cow elk after an early stalk on Saturday and followed up with a bonus monster hog on Sunday! The Chimineas Ranch Foundation and members of the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation sponsored this hunt. Wyatt is shown with his proud father and grandfather.
NEW DUMP TRAILER
Director Mike Post with the new Foundation dump trailer purchased in August. The 7' x 15' trailer is perfect for hauling the CRF tractor and materials such as tanks, troughs, and fencing to project sites. The hydraulic system will lift the bed to dump gravel right where it is needed. Funding was provided by CRF (50%), the SLO County Fines Committee (45%), and a donation from the Posts (5%).
prior year projects