All calendar items are subject to change as we address the changing conditions and guidance surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Please continue to follow all safety protocols including physical distancing, wearing masks and frequent hand washing. For information on how to get vaccinated in California, please visit myturn.ca.gov.
Wildlife areas, ecological reserves and other properties may be closed due to wildfires or wildfire damage. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are strongly advised to check for closures before leaving on any recreational trip.
Various Days – Shared Habitat for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Multiple Hunting Opportunity Access Permit Application Deadlines. Pig, deer, bear, turkey, dove and quail wild game is available through the SHARE program. A non-refundable application fee of $11.75 (plus handling fees) is charged for each hunting option. For more information, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/share.
Various Days – General Bear Season Opens in Select Deer Zones. The general black bear season will open concurrently with the general deer hunting season in deer zones A, B, C, D, X8, X9A, X9B, X10 and X12 and will run through December 25. . For those portions of deer hunting zones X1, X2, X3a, X4, X6a, X6b, X7a and X7b that are open to bear hunting, the general bear season opens on October 8th and extends through December 25th. CDFW will close the season earlier if 1,700 bears were reported taken. For daily updates on the reported bear harvest, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/bear or call toll free (888) 277-6398. Please visit fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs for a description of current mammal hunting regulations. All hunters must validate their tag and present the bear’s head for tooth extraction by CDFW personnel.
Various Days – Discover the Flyway School Program, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, 45211 County Road 32 B, Davis (95618). Discover the Flyway is an outdoor education program for kindergarten through 12th grade students that meets the Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core Standards. Its goal is to offer children a meaningful outdoor experience that will give them an appreciation for the wetlands, agriculture and wildlife of the Central Valley and contribute to a lifetime of outdoor wellness activities and the development of a land stewardship ethic. This school year, the Yolo Watershed Foundation is offering teachers three options: They can take students to a field trip held at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, they can have Foundation educators and doctors bring the program to their room class, or students can participate in a live program, an activity from school or home that must be directed. Teachers can learn more and register at www.yolobasin.org/schoolprograms.
Various Days — Community Restoration Events at Ballina Wetlands, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Oct. 4, 7 and 14, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa Del Rey (90293). The Bay Foundation’s Ballina Wetlands Community Restoration Project focuses on removing invasive ice plants and other non-native vegetation that may affect native California plants such as sedge, salt grass and alkali weeds. Participants will help remove non-native plants by hand. Parking is behind the Gordon/Alka Water Market and the restoration site is a short walk up Culver Boulevard. Registration is required and each event is limited to 50 participants. A physical will be required and vaccination is strongly recommended. Please plan to wear a mask if you have not been vaccinated. For event information and to register, please visit www.santamonicabay.org/events.
Various Days — Open Wetlands at Ballona, 9 a.m. to noon, Oct. 1 and 8, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90393). There will be a guided bird walk at 9 am and docent-led tours throughout the morning. Entrance to the reserve is through the gate located in the northeast corner of the parking lot behind 303 Culver Blvd. For more information, contact Cindy Hardin at chardin@naturenexusinstitute.org.
Various Days – Guided Wetland Tours by Reservation at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley (95948). A wildlife naturalist will lead any group, school or organization on a half mile route through the various wetlands of the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. General knowledge includes wildlife identification, behavior patterns and conservation efforts. The experience can be accommodated to include requested information. Each tour is limited to 30 people. This land is part of the CDFW Land Passport Program with a fee requirement for associated use. There is no extra cost for the trip. Current guidelines regarding COVID-19 will be followed. Be prepared and be respectful of other visitors. For more information, call (530) 846-7505 or email lori.dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.
Various Days – Swan Tour Registration Opens. Celebrate the migration of birds on the Pacific Flyway this fall and winter! CDFW’s free swan tours are scheduled for select Saturdays, November through January. Held in partnership with Mathews Rice Operation, the tours traversed flooded rice fields north of Marysville. This area has one of the largest wintering populations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as many geese, ducks, shorebirds and waders. To register, email genelle.treaster@wildlife.ca.gov.
Weekend — Guided Wildlife Tours at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 12:30 p.m., 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley (95948). Beginning Oct. 22 and continuing through the weekend, this 90-minute tour will walk one-third of a mile to an elevated viewing deck. Visitors often encounter hawks, rabbits, robins, turtles, cormorants, swallows and more. This is one of the prime birding spots in northern California, as migrating ducks and geese tend to be prominent. Tours are canceled in heavy rain. This land is part of the CDFW Land Passport Program with a fee requirement for associated use. There is no extra cost for the trip. To register, visit the Eventbrite registration page. To purchase a Lands Pass, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/lands-pass. There is a limit of 25 people per trip. COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. Be prepared and be respectful of other visitors. For more information, call (530) 846-7505 or email lori.dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.
1 – California Spiny Lobster Fishing Season Opens Statewide, 6 a.m. For more information on lobster and lobster management, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/invertebrates/lobster.
1 — General Duck and Goose Season Opens in Northeast Waterfowl Zone. For more information about regulations, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl.
1 – Early Canada Goose Season Opens in State Waterfowl Balance Zone (extending to Oct. 3). For more information about regulations, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl.
1 – General Deer Season opens in Zones D19, X1, X2, X3a, X3b, X4, X5a, X5b, X6a, X6b, X7a and X7b. For more information, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/deer.
1 — Only Archery Deer Season Opens in Zone D12. For more information, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/deer.
1-2 – Early Season Junior Pole Hunt in the Mojave National Preserve. For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.
2 — Last Day of Recreational Ocean Salmon Fishing from Drummond to the US/Mexico Border. For more information, please visit the ocean salmon webpage at www.wildlife.ca.gov/oceansalmon or call the CDFW Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429 or the Salmon Regulations Hotline Oceans of the National Marine Fisheries Service at (800) 662 -9825.
2 — Salt Marsh and Dune Tour at Ballina Reserve, 10 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Explore the wonders of nature in the heart of urban Los Angeles! Docents of Friends of Ballona Wetlands will guide participants through Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve and explain its history and ecology. Participants can enjoy the unique native plants as they travel through different habitats and may even meet some of the local wildlife. Parking and an entrance gate are located behind Gordon Market. Registration is required. For more details about the event and to register, please visit www.ballonafriends.org/calendar/2022/10/02/saltmarsh-tour-khstr.
5 – California Spiny Lobster Commercial Fishing Season Opens Nationwide. For more information on commercial lobster management, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/invertebrates/commercial-regulations.
7 — Community Habitat Restoration, 3 to 5 p.m., 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Help Friends of the Ballina Wetlands restore the last coastal wetland in Los Angeles. Get hands-on experience while learning about urban ecology. Clearing out invasive vegetation gives slow-growing native plants a chance to thrive. Parking and an entrance gate are located behind Gordon Market. Registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit www.ballonafriends.org/calendar/2022/10/07/friday-habitat-restoration.
8 – Ballona Creek Cleanup at Ballina Reserve, 9:30 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Help Friends of the Ballina Wetlands clean up the last coastal wetland in Los Angeles. Did you know that 130 square miles of storm drains flow into Ballona Valley? Wetlands can contain sewer debris as far away as North Hollywood. The time and effort spent cleaning up debris means less litter in wetlands, beaches and the open ocean. Parking and an entrance gate are located behind Gordon Market. Registration is required. For more event details and to register, please visit www.ballonafriends.org/calendar/2022/10/08/creek-cleanup.
8 – General Deer Season opens in Zones D11, D13-15 and D17. For more information, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/deer.
8 — General Bear Season opens in remaining X Zones. General bear season opens in deer hunting zones X1, X2, X3a, X4, X6a, X6b, X7a and X7b in areas open to bear hunting. The general bear season will remain open until December 25, or until CDFW determines that 1,700 bears have been taken. All hunters must validate their tag and present the bear’s head for tooth extraction by CDFW personnel. Current bear hunting regulations, season updates and general black bear information can be found at wild.ca.gov/hunting/bear.
8 — Early Archery—Pheasant Only Season Opens (extending to October 30). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.
8 – Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Tour, 9 a.m. to noon, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, 45211 County Road 32 B, Davis (95618). The Yolo Watershed Foundation offers monthly tours of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, October through June. These tours are suitable for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts and birders. See seasonal and permanent wetlands, native grasslands and young riparian forests. Depending on the season, look for migratory and resident waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, waders and waders. Registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit www.yolobasin.org/wetlands-tours. A donation of $10 per adult is suggested for tours. Donations support the wetlands education programs.
9 — NatureFest, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Effie Yeaw Nature Center, 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael (95608). Come to the CDFW booth at this annual family-friendly event. Enjoy live animal presentations, hands-on activities, demonstrations, guided hikes and educational exhibits! For more information, visit www.sacnaturecenter.net/events/naturefest.
12-13 – California Fish and Game Commission Meeting, starting at 9 am on October 12 and 8:30 am on October 13, North Tahoe Event Center, Timberline Room, 8318 North Lake Blvd., Kings Beach (96143). The meeting will also be held via webinar/teleconference. For more information, visit fgc.ca.gov.
14 – Northern California License Drawing for 2023 Black Bass Fishing Tournaments, 10 a.m., Manteca Bass Pro Shops, Conference Room, 1356 Bass Pro Drive, Manteca (95337). This drawing is for fishing contest permits north of the Tehachapi Mountains that have more than 50 participants or offer prizes totaling more than $1,000. Check-in starts at 10 am.
15 – Return of the Salmon Festival, 9 am to 4 pm, Coleman National Fish Hatchery, 24411 Coleman Fish Hatchery Road, Anderson (96007). The annual Salmon Return Festival is back! Join us for this one-day event to see salmon and hatchery operations and visit booths from natural resource agencies and community groups, including the CDFW booth. This event is free. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.
15 – General Deer Season opens in Zone X9c. For more information, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/deer.
15 – General Season for All Opens in Zone Q1 and Zone Q3 (extending through January, 2023). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.
15 – General Season for Chukar Opens Statewide (extending to January 29, 2023). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.
15 – General Snipe Season Opens Statewide (extending to January 29, 2023). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.
15 – Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Pop-up Information Booth, 9:15 am. to 12:30 p.m., Parking Lot A, 45211 County Road 32 B, Davis (95618). Yolo Watershed Foundation volunteers will be in Parking Lot A of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area to answer general questions and provide area maps. For more information about the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, please visit www.yolobasin.org/yolobypasswildlifearea.
16 – WILD Project Educator Workshop, 9 am to 3 pm, Hinkle Creek Nature Center, 7000 Baldwin Dam Road, Folsom (95630). Learn how to teach wildlife and conservation to students in formal and informal settings using the hands-on, interdisciplinary lessons of the Project WILD curriculum. Lesson plans are aligned with national and state learning standards. During the workshop, educators will have the opportunity to model lessons and learn about local educational resources. Upon completion of the workshop, each educator will receive the Project WILD guide. The $25 registration includes the guidebook and resources. To register, please complete the WILD Project Educator Workshop Registration Form no later than October. 7. For more information, contact laura.drath@wildlife.ca.gov.
16 — Family Fest, noon to 4 p.m., at Stirling Park Drive and Rod Beaudry Drive near Bend River Park entrance, Sacramento (95827). Learn about the wildlife, the Nisenan indigenous peoples, the California Pony Express and the historic Alexander Leidesdorff ranch. The event is free and will feature live music, nature walks and arts & crafts, plus a CDFW booth! For more information, please visit www.sarariverwatch.org/family_fall_festival.
18 — Deadline for Grant Applications from the Environmental Improvement Fund (EEF), 5 p.m. Administered by CDFW’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response, this program awards grants to support environmental improvement projects located within or immediately adjacent to state waters. Selected projects will be notified in the spring of 2023. For more information, please go to wild.ca.gov/ospr/science/environmental-enhancement-fund/about or email daniel.orr@wildlife.ca.gov .
21 – Southern California License Drawing for 2023 Black Bass Fishing Contests, 10 a.m., CDFW San Diego Office, 3883 Ruffin Road, San Diego (92123). This drawing is for fishing contest permits south of the Tehachapi Mountains that have more than 50 participants or offer prizes totaling more than $1,000. Check-in starts at 10 am. Masks are required and only one representative from each organization will be allowed in the room due to public health concerns and room capacity. Additional representatives from the outdoor patio are welcome to view. For more information, please visit wild.ca.gov/fishing/inland/contests or email tournaments@wildlife.ca.gov.
22 – General Deer Season Opens in Zone D16. For more information, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/deer.
22 – Duck and Geese General Season Opens in Balance of State, South San Joaquin Valley and Southern California Waterfowl Zones. For more information, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl.
23 – General Duck and Goose Season opens in Colorado Waterfowl Zones. For more information, please visit wild.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl.
31 – Last Day of Recreational Ocean Salmon Fishing from Point Arena to Point Pigeon. For more information, please visit the ocean salmon webpage at www.wildlife.ca.gov/oceansalmon or call the CDFW Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429 or the Salmon Regulations Hotline Oceans of the National Marine Fisheries Service at (800) 662 -9825.
31 – The California Highland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest opens. CDFW is accepting entries through December 2nd for the annual California Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest. The winner will be featured on the 2022-23 California Upland Game Bird Stamp. For contest rules and entry forms, please visit wild.ca.gov/upland-game-bird-stamp.
Contact Media:
What can you hunt all year round in California?
| Amanda McDermott, CDFW Communications, (916) 738-9641 | |
|---|---|
| General Season | Coincides with general deer season until December 26 |
Archery
How long is hunting season in California?
August 21 – September. 12
How late can you hunt in California?
Can you hunt rabbits year round in California? In California, the hunting season for brush rabbits and cottontails opens July 1 and runs through the last Sunday in January. The season is open statewide, except for a closed area in the Central Valley near the riparian brush rabbit range. The hunting season for jackrabbits is year-round and statewide.
How long is the hunting season us?
California’s general deer hunting season starts as early as August 14 and goes as late as November 7 but dates will vary depending on the zone.
What game can be hunted year round?
The regulations clearly state the authorized hunting and shooting hours from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset (CCR T-14 Sections 310, 310.5 and 352). It is illegal to shoot an animal outside of those authorized hours.
Can you hunt year round in Texas?
The spring hunting season is usually from April to May, although some states start in March. The seasons of the scares also vary from state to state. Some states open hunting season as early as August through October, while some begin in November and last until February.
Do hunters hunt in winter?
Like the coyote, feral hogs can be hunted year-round in most areas. If you live in the southeastern region of the U.S., feral hogs allow you to use your 30-06 or 30-30 rifles for more than target shooting, and you’re doing your part for conservation by eliminating the destructive , this invasive. species.
Can you hunt on California Fish Wildlife Land?
Public Lands Texas Parks and Wildlife has two types of programs. The Annual Public Hunting Permit provides year-round hunting on nearly a million acres of land.
Hunting during the winter months can be cold, but that’s why hand and toe warmers and other insulating gear are popular among enthusiasts. Winter hunting gives you one last chance to harvest game and you have time left in the season.
What lands Can I hunt on in California?
Hunting is permitted during hunting seasons designated by the California State Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Licenses are available online, at any CDFW License Sales Office or License Agent.
- What is a CDFW Lands Pass? The CDFW Land Passport Program began in 1988 as a way to expand the funding base beyond hunters and anglers to pay for the management and operation of some of the state’s most popular and frequently visited wildlife areas and ecological reserves. .
- The 5 best spots to hunt in California:
- Los Padres National Forest.
What are you allowed to hunt in California?
North Cow Mountains Recreation Area.
Can you hunt in California state parks?
Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.
Can you hunt California ecological reserves?
The Golden State offers bounty hunting, including deer, bear, elk, pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep. If you’re looking for a hunting adventure with beautiful views, California’s forests have beauty to contend with.
Can you hunt on Cosumnes River ecological Reserve?
SHOULDER AND HUNTING FIREARMS are not permitted in State Park System units. Possession of loaded firearms or air rifles is prohibited. There are exceptions for hunting in recreation areas designated by the State Parks and Recreation Commission. DEAD AND DOWN WOOD is part of the natural condition.
Can you hunt CA government lands?
below, hunting on ecological reserves is prohibited.
What wildlife can be legally hunted in California?
No hunting, fishing or camping is permitted at Cosumnes River Preserve. In general, hunting is not permitted in the core of the Preserve area because it is inconsistent with our public use and wildlife protection objectives.
Can you shoot wild animals in California?
Unless specifically prohibited, BLM-managed public lands are open to hunting under California Department of Fish and Wildlife Hunting Regulations. A California hunting license is required to hunt within the State of California.
Do you need a license to hunt rabbits in California?
The Golden State offers bounty hunting, including deer, bear, elk, pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep. If you’re looking for a hunting adventure with beautiful views, California’s forests have beauty to contend with.
Can you hunt on CDFW land?
§ 465.5 (g)(1). All clipped and non-game mammals that are legal to be caught must be killed or released immediately. If not released, trapped animals will be killed by shooting where local ordinances, landowners and safety permit.
A: A California hunting license is required for anyone taking birds or mammals. Hunters must carry licenses and be prepared to show them on request.
Can I hunt on CA Fish and wildlife land?
The CDFW Lands Viewer provides geospatial data about CDFW lands and facilities. The department manages over 1,100,000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat and these properties provide many opportunities for the public to hunt, fish, view wildlife and learn about nature.
Where in California can you go hunting?
Can you hunt California’s ecological reserves? below, hunting on ecological reserves is prohibited.
- Unless specifically prohibited, BLM-managed public lands are open to hunting under California Department of Fish and Wildlife Hunting Regulations. A California hunting license is required to hunt within the State of California.
- The 5 best spots to hunt in California:
- Los Padres National Forest.
What lands can you hunt in California?
North Cow Mountains Recreation Area.
- Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.
- The 5 best spots to hunt in California:
- Los Padres National Forest.
What are you allowed to hunt in California?
North Cow Mountains Recreation Area.
Can you hunt wilderness areas in California?
Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.
When did CDFG become CDFW?
The Golden State offers bounty hunting, including deer, bear, elk, pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep. If you’re looking for a hunting adventure with beautiful views, California’s forests have beauty to contend with.
Fishing and hunting: Hunting, taking or killing wildlife is illegal except during the hunting season with a valid California Hunting License.
When did Fish and Game Change to fish and wildlife?
The State Legislature changed the name of the department to Fish and Wildlife on January 1, 2013.
What does the California Department of Fish and Wildlife do?
When did California require a fishing license? The California Legislature began requiring hunting licenses in 1907 as a way to provide additional funding to enforce the state’s game laws. Sport fishing licenses became a requirement in 1914.
How long has fish and game been around?
Finally, in 2012, the Governor approved a bill that changed the name of the Department of Fish and Game to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The name change did not affect the Commission and therefore there is no change in its name.
Why did Fish and Game change their name?
Their mission is to “manage California’s diverse fish, wildlife and plant resources, and the habitats on which they depend, for their ecological values and for public use and enjoyment,” which aligns to close to one of the RCDs. ‘ goals to protect the natural resources of their communities.
How is California Fish and Game funded?
From one challenge – to find out why fisheries off our nation’s coasts and inland waters were declining and how to fix it – our history begins. The establishment of the US Fish and Wildlife Service began in 1871 with the creation of the United States Fish and Fisheries Commission.