Several outdoor activities, from tours to hunter education, are on the January calendar offered through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, CDFW. All calendar items are subject to change.
Wildlife areas, ecological reserves and other properties may be closed due to wildfires or storm damage. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are strongly encouraged to check for closures before leaving on any recreational trip.
Following is a list of some of the scheduled January events.
Various Days
Guided Wetland Tours by Reservation at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley. A wildlife naturalist will lead any group, school or organization on a two-thirds 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. For more information, call (530) 846-7505 or email lori.dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.
Weekends
Guided Wildlife Tours at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 12:30 p.m., 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley. This 90-minute tour will stroll a third of a 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. 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, visit the Eventbrite registration page. To purchase a Lands Pass, visit wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/lands-pass. There is a limit of 25 people per tour. Tours are canceled in heavy rain. For more information, call (530) 846-7505 or email lori.dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.
Saturdays, Jan. 11 and Jan. 25
Guided Tour of the Nimbus Fish Hatchery, 11 a.m., 2001 Nimbus Road, Gold River. Join Nimbus Hatchery for a free, family-friendly guided tour to explore the hatchery and neighboring American River on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Learn about the amazing life cycle of salmon and steelhead, walk along the American River and discuss hatchery operations. Participants may see fish and other wildlife, such as migratory birds, signs of mammal activity and cool insects. Tours are cancelled in heavy rain. The maximum group size is 25 people, first-come, first-served. The tour is ADA accessible and suitable for all ages. For more information, call (916) 358-2884 or email molly.shea@wildlife.ca.gov.
Tuesday, Jan. 14
Advanced Hunter Education Webinar: Hunting with Dogs, 6 p.m. Who has been your best hunting buddy? For many hunters, dogs are some of the best hunting companions. In this webinar, hear discussions on practical training, hunting and safety strategies while hunting with dogs. There will be a dedicated Q&A segment at the end. Submit questions prior to erick.elliott@wildlife.ca.gov, and they’ll attempt to address as many of the questions as possible during the webinar. Registration is required. For more details about the event and to register, visit www.register-ed.com/events/view/219158.
Wednesday, Jan. 15
California Fish and Game Commission Wildlife Resources Committee Meeting, time to be determined, California Natural Resources Headquarters Building, Second Floor, 715 P St., Sacramento. The meeting will also be held via webinar/teleconference. For more information, visit fgc.ca.gov.
Thursday, Jan. 16
Waterfowl, Coot and Moorhen Hunting: Public Scoping Session (CEQA), 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. CDFW is seeking public comment and identification of issues for preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Report regarding changes in hunting regulations for the 2025-26 season. Members of the public may provide comments by attending the online meeting or sending them directly. To attend the online meeting, contact Melanie Weaver at melanie.weaver@wildlife.ca.gov for participation information.
Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 16-19
International Sportsmen’s Expo, Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento. CDFW will be returning to the International Sportsmen's Exposition in Sacramento. For more information, visit www.sportsexpos.com/attend/sacramento.
Sunday, Jan. 19
Tot Time at Nimbus Fish Hatchery, 11 a.m., 2001 Nimbus Road, Gold River. Join CDFW for Tot Time at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery Visitor’s Center for nature-themed stories and to create a fun craft. Recommended for children ages 2-7 years, with parent/guardian supervision. There is no cost for these events and registration is not required. For more information, email julia.sisneros@wildlife.ca.gov.
Monday, Jan. 27
Falconry Only season opens for rabbits and varying hares (extending through March 16). For more information on resident small game mammal seasons and limits, visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/small-game.
Friday, Jan. 31
Deer Tag reporting deadline. Deer tag holders must submit a harvest report for any 2024 deer tag by the Jan. 31, 2025, deadline. All tag holders must report even if they did not hunt or they hunted unsuccessfully. Tag holders who do not report by this deadline will be charged a $21.60 non-reporting penalty fee when purchasing a 2025 deer tag drawing application or deer tag. To report harvest online, visit www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales/customersearch/begin. For more information, visit wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/hunting#9941260-tag-reporting.
