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Recreation
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies will also provide updates on habitat conditions, availability of water for wetlands and possible impacts to hunter access on public lands resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meeting will be held online via Microsoft Teams on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 9 to 11 a.m.
To attend the online presentation, please RSVP to
CDFW will discuss the following state lands:
– Mendota Wildlife Area;
– Los Banos Wildlife Area including Volta and Mud Slough Units;
– North Grasslands Wildlife Area including Salt Slough, China Island, Gadwall and Widell/Ramaciotti Units.
USFWS will discuss the following federal lands:
– Merced National Wildlife Refuge including the Lone Tree Unit;
– San Luis National Wildlife Refuge including Kesterson, Blue Goose, East and West Bear Creek, and Freitas Units.
The presentation will cover CDFW’s statewide plan to keep hunters and department staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and continued efforts to provide recreational opportunities.
California Fish and Game Code section 1758 states CDFW shall annually provide an opportunity for licensed hunters to comment and make recommendations on public hunting programs including anticipated habitat conditions in the hunting areas on Type A Wildlife Areas, as defined under the commission’s regulations, through public meetings or other outreach.
In complying with this section, CDFW may hold regional meetings on its hunting programs for several different wildlife areas.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Answer: It depends on the type of goose. Almost all birds native (naturally occurring) to the United States are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, or MBTA. The MBTA prohibits the take of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization by the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This includes Canada geese, which often take advantage of man-made lakes and lawns near communities. Occasionally, domesticated/feral geese such as graylag (differentiated by their plumage and morphology) can be found in the same areas.
Resident Canada goose populations (those breeding in the lower 48 states) have increased considerably since the 1990s and have expanded outside their historical breeding range in California. Conflicts between landowners and resident Canada geese have increased proportionately as a result. You're right that man-made lakes are a big factor in attracting geese.
You can legally haze or harass waterfowl, including resident Canada geese, that are depredating on private lands. Non-lethal methods must be used to discourage depredating geese, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) advocates that landowners take proactive measures to deter Canada geese from using impacted private property. These measures can include reducing grass areas or allowing grass to grow long, use of dogs, employing visual deterrents (such as scarecrows, predator decoys, mylar flagging and balloons) and fencing or barriers. It's also important to avoid feeding geese as that only makes the problem worse. Waterfowl hunting can be an effective deterrent in problem areas when state and local regulations allow this activity.
If the geese in your yard are domestic (see photos), the response options are different. They're not protected as a migratory bird species and may be dealt with by local animal control offices or perhaps animal rescue groups that may be willing to assist.
Hunting ground squirrels in California
Question: I live in Modoc County where a species of ground squirrels (rodents) live and eat in the alfalfa fields. Are hunting licenses required to shoot them? And is nonlead ammo required? My feeling is that these are not game animals but would fall into the rodent family. I know that I don't need a license to trap and or shoot rats and mice, so where do these pests stand? (Dean)
Answer: A valid California hunting license is required for the recreational taking of certain authorized nongame birds and mammals, which include species such as feral pigeons, coyotes and rodents like ground squirrels, as per California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 472.
California Fish and Game Code, section 4152 does allow an exemption for depredation purposes on private property. No hunting license is needed by property owners, tenants of the premises, employees and agents in immediate possession of written permission from the property owner to take certain nongame mammals such as ground squirrels and other rodents injuring crops and causing other property damage.
Nonlead ammunition is required when taking wildlife with a firearm anywhere in California for any purpose, whether for recreational hunting or depredation.
Carrying a knife while diving
Question: Is it legal to carry a knife for safety purposes while diving in a Marine Protected Area (MPA)? (Chris)
Answer: Except where specifically prohibited, non-extractive activities (swimming, wading, boating, diving and surfing) are allowed in MPAs. A knife is considered standard safety gear for both free and scuba divers, so carrying one on your person is not expressly prohibited while diving.
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, email
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
To fish the rest of the year, a license is required and available for purchase online through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's website.
"In these challenging times, many Californians have discovered that fishing is a great outlet for physical and mental health," said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. "Free Fishing Day is a wonderful opportunity for Californians to give fishing a try and perhaps discover a new passion that offers a lifetime of learning, adventure and memorable experiences in the outdoors."
CDFW offers two Free Fishing Days each year – typically around the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends – when it's legal to fish without any license.
The July 4 Free Fishing Day arrives as California's fishing seasons are in full swing statewide following some COVID-19 related delays to the start of ocean salmon seasons and the general trout opener. The second Free Fishing Day will take place Saturday, Sept. 5.
All fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect on Free Fishing Days. Every angler must have an appropriate report card if they are fishing for steelhead or sturgeon anywhere in the state or salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity river systems.
Anglers can review the sport fishing regulations online or use CDFW's mobile website to view freshwater limits and regulations specific to a body of water.
CDFW reminds anglers to abide by all state and local health guidelines regarding non-essential travel and physical distancing. Staying home in order to stay healthy is still the best way to keep yourself and others safe. Anglers also are advised to check with local authorities on the status of access points as site closures and access restrictions may exist and may change daily.
A basic annual resident sport fishing license in California currently costs $51.02, while a one-day fishing license costs $16.46. California has issued more fishing licenses in 2020 than the state-issued through this same time last year.
Annual resident sport fishing license sales are up 13 percent. Overall, California sport fishing licenses – which include resident, nonresident, annual, short-term and lifetime licenses among others – are up 7 percent in 2020 compared to last year.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The outbreak of Lactococcus garvieae, which is similar to streptococcus, has sickened fish at the Mojave River Hatchery and has been detected at both the Black Rock and Fish Springs hatcheries.
A fourth CDFW hatchery, Hot Creek Hatchery, was originally quarantined out of caution but after testing that quarantine has been lifted.
The L. garvieae bacteria has never before been detected in fish in California, and CDFW must take a cautious and careful approach to ensure the protection of the state’s aquatic resources – fish, hatchery facilities and public waterways.
Infected fish can show symptoms including bulging eyes, lethargic or erratic swimming and increased mortality, or be asymptomatic and show no signs of infection depending on several factors including water temperature and stress. Fish-to-human transmission of this bacteria is rare and unlikely.
Fish stocking has temporarily been halted from the facilities under quarantine while hatchery staff treats the affected fish populations and takes measures to prevent the spread of the bacteria.
Planting will resume when fish have recovered from the infections and fisheries pathologists have determined that they no longer present a threat to the environment.
“This is a challenge for our hatcheries because the bacteria is previously unknown in California, and we don’t have tried-and-true strategies on hand to combat it,” said Jay Rowan, environmental program manager for CDFW’s Hatchery Production and Fish Health Laboratory.
“A successful approach will have three components: Treating the affected fish at the hatcheries, finding the origin of the outbreak, and planning ahead to contain and prevent the spread of the bacteria,” Rowan said. “Unfortunately, we may be in for a long battle here, which means there will not be a lot of fish plants in the near future in the eastern Sierra and Southern California. I wish we could give anglers a target date for when we think we can start planting again, but it’s all up to how fast and how well the fish respond to the treatments.”
Current treatment measures at the hatcheries include keeping water temperatures low, reducing stress due to crowding and other factors, introducing antibiotic medication and special diet in order to assist the fish in fighting off the infection. CDFW is currently investigating the source of the outbreak.
For additional information, please see CDFW’s frequently asked questions about the L. garvieae outbreak.