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 closures before embarking on any recreational travel. Also a reminder, all calendar items are subject to change as a result of changing conditions and guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several days
Bat Talk and Walk Events, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, 45211 County Road 32B, Davis. The Yolo Basin Foundation is offering a variety of educational programs about the colony of bats that live in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. Programs run through September. Join a Bat House Building Workshop, bring your little ones for a morning of crafts, storytelling and bats at Bats and Crafts on August 13, or enjoy a family-friendly evening Bat Walk to see a of local bat colonies as they fly into the sunset for their nocturnal foraging. For more information, visit www.yolobasin.org/bats2022.
Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) access permit application deadlines for multiple hunting opportunities. Wild boar, deer, bear, turkey, pigeon and quail hunts are available through the SHARE program. A non-refundable application fee of $11.75 (plus handling fees) is charged for each search choice. For more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/share.
Nature Bowl 2022: Family Challenge. Nature is calling all California families this summer to enjoy some fun outdoors, in your backyard, neighborhood, and/or local natural area. Hosted by the CDFW North Central Region, the 2022 Nature Bowl: Family Challenge is a fun and educational way to explore the natural world around you by completing two scavenger hunts, one provided and one created by your family. The contest also has an additional credit element of cataloging your findings as a scientist. The contest is open all summer and the final deadline to enter is August 31, 2022. To enter and receive your challenge packet, email [email protected].
Saturday, August 6 — Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Stargazing, 7 pm to 11:30 pm, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, 45211 County Road 32B, Davis. Enjoy a stargazing tour of the night sky in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area with amateur astronomers from the Davis Astronomy Club. This will be a captivating tour of the night sky and will include views of constellations, star clusters, galaxies and some unusual colored stars. Also available for viewing will be the crescent moon with its marked craters, the planet Venus setting, and the planet Saturn rising with its beautiful rings. The evening event will include a short talk on the major constellations and other star groups, and an orientation of the night sky. As the sun sets, the group will enjoy drinks and snacks. The cost is $125. For more information and to register, visit www.yolobasin.org/explorer.
Archery and tree squirrel season opens for falconry only (extendable until September 9). For archery and falconry tree squirrel seasons, boundaries, and zone maps, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/small-game.
Saturday, August 13 — General deer hunting season opens. The 2022 California General Deer Season will open in Zone A on Saturday, August 13, and in Zone B-4 on Saturday, August 27. More information about general deer season opening dates, end dates, and additional hunts is available at www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/deer. Remember to report your deer tags. All deer tags you buy, whether you hunt or not, must be reported. Successful hunters must report their tags within 30 days of their successful hunt or by January 31, 2023, whichever comes first. Hunters who are unsuccessful or do not hunt must report by January 31, 2023. Hunters are reminded that as of July 1, 2019, lead-free ammunition is required when taking wild animals for any purpose in California.
The first general black bear season opens in deer zone A. The general black bear season will open at the same time as the general deer season in deer zones A, B, C, D, X8, X9A, X9B, X10 and X12 and will run through December 25. Please note that these deer zones have different opening season dates. The general season for black bears begins in the remaining X deer hunting areas on October 8 and runs through December 25. CDFW will close the season early if 1,700 bears are reported to have been taken. For daily updates on reported bear take, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/bear or call toll-free (888) 277-6398. Visit fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs for a description of current mammal hunting regulations.
Monday, August 15 — Spiny lobster report cards go on sale. Lobster sport divers and ring hunters can purchase a spiny lobster report card for the 2022-2023 lobster season at CDFW’s online license sales site at Wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/online-sales , at sporting goods stores and tackle shops or by phone at (800) 565-1458.
Wednesday/Thursday, August 17 or 18 — California Fish and Game Commission meeting, scheduled for August 17 or 18 TBD. The meeting will be held via webinar/teleconference. For more information, visit fgc.ca.gov.
Saturday, August 20 – Archery season opens for Black Bears. Bear may be hunted with a bow and arrow beginning August 20 in those areas defined in California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 365(a) as the areas of Northern California, Central California, Southern California, Sierra, Southern California and Southeastern Sierra and closes 9/11. For daily updates on reported bear take, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/bear or call toll free (888) 277-6398. Visit fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs for a description of current mammal hunting regulations and descriptions of American black bear hunting area boundaries. The bag and possession limit for archery or the general season is one adult bear per hunting license year. Puppies and females accompanied by puppies cannot be brought.
Falconry season opens for pheasant, quail, chukar, ptarmigan and sooty (blue)/grouse (running until 28 February 2023). For zone maps and other upland hunting season information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.
Open Quail, Chukar and Sooty (Blue)/Ruffed Grouse seasons for archery only (extended through September 9). For zone maps and other upland hunting season information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.
Thursday, August 25 — Advanced Hunter Education Webinar: Deer Hunting Hunting Areas D3, D4, and D5, 6 pm to 7:30 pm This webinar will help those lucky enough to earn this tag each year. Discussion will focus on pack dynamics, hotspots, range moves, and other helpful tips for being successful in this popular unit. To register, visit www.register-ed.com/events/view/184934. For more information, email [email protected] or call (209) 827-0895.
California Wildlife Conservation Board Meeting, 10 am, Natural Resources Agency Headquarters, First Floor Auditorium, 715 P Street, Sacramento. The public is welcome. For more information, visit wcb.ca.gov.
Saturday, August 27 — Advanced Hunter Education Clinic: Upland Game Bird Clinic, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, St. Louis National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 7376 S. Wolfson Road, Los Banos. This clinic will discuss upland game bird hunting. Instructors will cover all upland game birds except turkeys. Participants will learn the biology, regulations, hunting tactics, and grooming of the upland game birds available in California. To register, visit www.register-ed.com/events/view/182286. For more information, email [email protected] or call (209) 827-0895.
Wednesday, August 31 — Public Outreach Meeting on Type A Wildlife Areas of the Bay Delta Region, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, via Teams. CDFW will take comments and recommendations and provide updates on habitat conditions, water availability for wetlands, and potential impacts on hunter access to public lands. The state wildlife areas to be discussed are the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area and the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area Complex. To register and receive a link to the meeting, email [email protected] or call (530) 757-2431.