A Wild Turkey in Mariposa County
Sierra Sun Times/Linda Gast file photo

October 30, 2022 - All calendar items are subject to change as we navigate the changing conditions and guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please continue to adhere to 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(opens in new tab).

Wildlife areas, ecological reserves and other properties may be closed due to wildfires or wildfire damage. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are strongly encouraged to check for closures before leaving on any recreational trip.

Various Days — Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Access Permit Application Deadline for Hunting Opportunities. The SHARE program is offering wild pig, deer, waterfowl and upland game hunting this fall through SHARE. An $11.75 non-refundable application fee (plus handling fees) is charged for each hunt choice. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/share.

Various Days — Swan Tours. Celebrate the bird migration on the Pacific Flyway this fall and winter! CDFW’s popular, free swan tours are set for select Saturdays, November through January. Held in partnership with Mathews Rice Operation, the tours transverse flooded rice fields north of Marysville. This area boasts one of the largest overwintering populations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. To register, please email Genelle.Treaster@wildlife.ca.gov.

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 diverse wetlands of the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. General information includes wildlife identification, behavior patterns and conservation efforts. The experience can be catered to include requested information. Each tour is limited to 30 people. This land is part of the CDFW Lands Pass Program and associated fee-for-use requirement. There is no additional cost for the tour. Current COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. Come prepared and be respectful of other visitors. For more information, please call (530) 846-7505 or email Lori.Dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.

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 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 healthy outdoor activities and development of a land stewardship ethic. This school year, Yolo Basin Foundation is offering teachers three options: the chance to bring students to a field trip held at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, the opportunity to have educators and docents bring the program to their classroom, or the option to participate in a live, virtually led activity from school or home. Teachers can learn more and register at www.yolobasin.org/schoolprograms(opens in new tab). 

Weekends — Guided Wildlife Tours at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 12:30 p.m., 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley (95948). This 90-minute tour will stroll one third mile to an elevated viewing deck where participants will have a bird’s-eye view of wildlife. Visitors often encounter hawks, herons, turtles, cormorants, swallows and much more. This is one of the premier birding spots in northern California, as migratory ducks and geese usually take the spotlight. Tours are canceled in heavy rain. This land is part of the CDFW Lands Pass Program and associated fee-for-use requirement. There is no additional cost for the tour. To sign up, please visit the Eventbrite registration page(opens in new tab). To purchase a Lands Pass, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/lands-pass. There is a limit of 25 people per tour. COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. Come prepared and be respectful of other visitors. For more information, please call (530) 846-7505 or email Lori.Dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.

1 — Recreational Abalone Advisory Committee (RAAC) Meeting, 1 to 4 p.m., virtual meeting on Microsoft Teams. CDFW will be seeking further input on the draft Management Strategy (MS) for the red abalone Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The draft MS was presented to the Fish and Game Commission’s Marine Resources Committee in March 2022. The meeting will include discussion of current draft MS and indicators, discussion of future fishing opportunities and an update on 2022 red abalone surveys. The meeting is open to the public. Those that are interested in management of the northern California recreational red abalone fishery are encouraged to attend. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/invertebrates/raac. 

3 — Flyway Nights Speaker Series, 7 p.m., via Zoom. Flyway Nights 2022/23 begins with a presentation by Cliff Feldheim of CalTrout called “Fins and Feathers: Conserving Salmon and Birds through Habitat Restoration, Enhancement, and Management.” CalTrout launched the Fish Food on Floodplain Farm Fields project in 2017, working with farmers and water suppliers to pioneer new practices to help recover fish populations in the greater Sacramento Valley by reconnecting floodplain-derived wetland food webs to the Sacramento River. Cliff will present on results and discuss the planned expansion to regions of the Delta, Suisun Marsh and San Joaquin Valley as well as planning efforts to incorporate bird conservation into salmon habitat projects from the rivers and estuaries of the North Coast to Southern California. Registration is required. For more information, please visit www.yolobasin.org/flywaynights(opens in new tab). 

4 — Community Habitat Restoration at Ballona Reserve, 3 to 5 p.m., 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Roll up your sleeves to help the Friends of Ballona 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 room to thrive. Parking and entrance gate are located behind Gordon’s Market. Registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit www.ballonafriends.org/calendar/2022/11/04/friday-habitat-restoration(opens in new tab). 

5 — White Goose Season Opens in the Imperial County Special Management Area (extends through Jan. 31). For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl.

5 — General Deer Season Opens in Zone D12. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/deer.

6 — General Deer Season Closes in Zones D11, D13-D15 and X9c. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/deer.

7 — Scaup Season Opens in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, Southern California, Colorado River and Balance of State Zones (extends through Jan. 31). For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl.

8 — Brant Season Opens in the Northern Brant Special Management Area (extends through Dec. 14). For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl.

9 — Canada Goose Season Opens in the North Coast Special Management Area (extends through Jan. 31). For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl.

9 — Brant Season Opens in the Balance of State Brant Special Management Area (extends through Dec. 15). For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl.

9 — Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Tour, 9 a.m. to noon, 45211 County Road 32 B, Davis (95618). Yolo Basin Foundation offers monthly tours of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area October to June. These tours are appropriate for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts and birders! View seasonal and permanent wetlands, native grasslands and young riparian forests. Depending on the season, look for migrating and resident waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, raptors and wading birds. Registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit www.yolobasin.org/wetlands-tours(opens in new tab). There is a suggested donation of $10 per adult for tours. Donations support our wetlands education programs! 

12 — Fall Wild Turkey Season Opens Statewide (extends through Dec. 11). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.

12 — General Pheasant Season Opens Statewide (extends through Dec. 25). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.

12 — Late Season Dove Hunting Opens Statewide (extends through Dec. 26). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.

15 — California Wildlife Conservation Board Meeting, 10 a.m., Natural Resources Agency Headquarters, First Floor Auditorium, 715 P Street, Sacramento (95814). The public is welcome. For more information, please visit wcb.ca.gov(opens in new tab). 

17 — California Fish and Game Commission Marine Resources Committee Meeting, time to be determined, 950 Hotel Circle North, San Diego (92108). The meeting will also be held via webinar/teleconference. For more information, please visit fgc.ca.gov(opens in new tab).

18 — Community Habitat Restoration at Ballona Reserve, 3 to 5 p.m., 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Roll up your sleeves to help the Friends of Ballona 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 room to thrive. Parking and entrance gate are located behind Gordon’s Market. Registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit www.ballonafriends.org/calendar/2022/11/18/friday-habitat-restoration(opens in new tab). 

18 — Community Restoration Event at Ballona Wetlands, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., 303 Culver Blvd., Playa Del Rey (90293). The Bay Foundation’s Ballona Wetlands Community Restoration Project focuses on removing invasive iceplant and other non-native vegetation that can impact native California plants such as pickleweed, salt grass and alkali weed. Participants will help to remove non-native plants by hand. Parking is behind Gordon’s/Alka Water Market and the restoration site is a short walk up Culver Boulevard. Registration is required and the event is limited to 50 participants. Physical distancing will be required and vaccination is strongly encouraged. Please plan to wear a mask if unvaccinated. For event information and to sign up, please visit www.santamonicabay.org/events(opens in new tab). 

19 — United Ballona Creek Cleanup at Ballona Reserve, 9:30 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Help the Friends of Ballona Wetlands and Ballona Creek Renaissance clean up the last coastal wetland in Los Angeles for our 4th Annual United Ballona Creek Clean Up. Did you know that 130 square miles of storm drain flow into Ballona Creek? Gutter trash from as far away as North Hollywood can end up right in the wetlands! The time and effort put into clearing out debris means less trash in the wetlands, on our beaches and in the open ocean. Parking and the entrance gates are located behind Gordon's Market. Registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit www.ballonafriends.org/calendar/2022/11/19/united-creek-cleanup(opens in new tab). 

19 — Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Pop-up Information Booth, 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Parking Lot A, 45211 County Road 32 B, Davis (95618). Yolo Basin Foundation volunteers will be in Parking Lot A of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area to answer general questions and provide maps of the area. For more information about the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, please visit www.yolobasin.org/yolobypasswildlifearea(opens in new tab).

20 — General Deer Season Closes in Zone D16. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/deer.

25 — Community Habitat Restoration at Ballona Reserve, 9:30 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Spend Black Friday with the Friends of Ballona Wetlands helping to restore the last coastal wetland in Los Angeles. Roll up your sleeves and get hands-on experience while learning about urban ecology. The time and effort put into clearing out invasive vegetation gives our slow-growing native plants room to thrive. Parking and entrance gate are located behind Gordon's Market. Registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit www.ballonafriends.org/calendar/2022/11/25/community-habitat-restoration(opens in new tab). 

27 — General Deer Season Closes in Zone D12. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/deer.
Source: CDFW