CDFW News

CDFW Soliciting Hunter Input for Sacramento Valley Wildlife Areas, Federal Refuges

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 12:28:10 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), will hold an online outreach meeting to take comments and recommendations from licensed hunters regarding hunting programs in the northern Sacramento Valley. The meeting will include updates on habitat conditions, availability of water for wetlands, avian influenza and hunting access opportunities.

The meeting will take place on Monday, Aug. 25 from 4 to 6 p.m. using Microsoft Teams. Please e-mail the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area – glwla@wildlife.ca.gov – for a link and instructions on how to submit comments and questions.

State lands to be discussed include the Gray Lodge and Upper Butte Basin wildlife areas, including the Little Dry Creek, Howard Slough, and Llano Seco units. Federal refuge personnel will be available to speak about the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, including the Delevan, Sacramento, Colusa and Sutter refuges.

CDFW annually provides an opportunity for licensed hunters to comment and make recommendations on public hunting programs and hear updates about anticipated habitat conditions on Type A wildlife areas through public meetings and outreach. Type A wildlife areas are those that restrict hunter access during the waterfowl season.

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Media Contacts:
Dave VanBaren, CDFW North Central Region, (530) 982-2169
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (530) 982-2169

CDFW Completes 2025 Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 15:35:50 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has completed its 2025 waterfowl breeding population survey. The results of the survey show both mallard and total duck species have increased this year.

The breeding population of mallards increased from 177,828 to 265,640 (a 49% increase), and total ducks (all species combined) increased from 373,864, to 474,495 (a 27% increase). Mallards remain below the long-term average by 16%.

“The survey indicated an increase in mallard abundance, and habitat conditions were good in northern California, so we expect average to above-average production for all waterfowl species,” said CDFW Waterfowl Program Biologist Melanie Weaver.

Since 1948, CDFW biologists and warden-pilots have conducted this survey annually using fixed-wing aircraft. The population estimates are for those areas where the vast majority of waterfowl nesting occurs in California, including wetland and agricultural areas in northeastern California, throughout the Central Valley, the Suisun Marsh and some coastal valleys.

The complete 2025 California Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey Report (PDF) is available at the CDFW website.

The majority of California’s wintering duck population originates from breeding areas surveyed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Alaska and Canada, and these results should be available by late August. CDFW survey information, along with similar data from other Pacific Flyway states, is used by the USFWS and the Pacific Flyway Council when setting hunting regulations for the Pacific Flyway states, including California.

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Media Contacts:
Melanie Weaver, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 502-1139
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858

CDFW Soliciting Hunter Input on Sacramento Valley Wildlife Areas, Federal Refuges

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 14:32:11 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), will hold an online outreach meeting to take comments and recommendations from licensed hunters on public land hunting programs in the northern Sacramento Valley. The meeting will also provide updates on habitat conditions, availability of water for wetlands, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and hunting access opportunities.

State lands to be discussed include the Gray Lodge and Upper Butte Basin wildlife areas, including the Little Dry Creek, Howard Slough, and Llano Seco units. Federal refuge personnel will speak about the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, including the Delevan, Sacramento, Colusa, and Sutter refuges.

The meeting will be conducted using Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, from 4 to 6 p.m. Please email the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area at glwla@wildlife.ca.gov for a link and instructions on how to submit comments and questions.

CDFW annually provides 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 through public meetings and outreach.

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Media Contacts:
Tim Hermansen, CDFW North Central Region, (530) 624-8112
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858

Hunter Input Sought for Sacramento Valley Wildlife Areas, Refuges

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 11:13:17 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), will hold an online outreach meeting next week to take comments and recommendations regarding hunting programs in the northern Sacramento Valley from licensed hunters. The meeting will include updates on habitat conditions, availability of water for wetlands, avian influenza and hunting access opportunities.

State lands to be discussed include the Gray Lodge and Upper Butte Basin wildlife areas, including the Little Dry Creek, Howard Slough and Llano Seco units. Federal refuge personnel will also be available to speak about the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex including Delevan, Sacramento, Colusa and Sutter NWRs.

The meeting will be held using Microsoft Teams from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. Please e-mail the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area at glwla@wildlife.ca.gov for a link and instructions on submitting comments and questions.

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Media Contacts:
Tim Hermansen, CDFW North Central Region, (530) 846-7500
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858

CDFW’s Ocean Ranch Unit Opens to Waterfowl Hunting, Public Access on Jan. 2, 2023

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 11:30:45 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce that its Ocean Ranch Unit in Humboldt County, part of the larger Eel River Wildlife Area, will open to waterfowl hunting and general public access beginning Monday, January 2, 2023.

Over the past two years, the unit has been subject to periodic public closures to allow for heavy construction and habitat restoration work to benefit native plant, fish and wildlife species. All restoration efforts are now complete. Improved public access and enjoyment of the property also has been a focus of the work, and the unit now offers a formal trail system, improved parking, a new launch for kayaks and canoes, and interpretive signage.

Waterfowl hunters especially should be aware of changed conditions within the Ocean Ranch Unit, including new trails, deep-water channels and varying wetland habitat features.

A Type C wildlife area, the Ocean Ranch Unit is open to both to walk-in and boat-in hunting. No reservations, hunting passes or entry permits are required beyond a valid California hunting license and a California Duck Validation and Federal Duck Stamp for adult hunters.

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Media Contacts:
Shawn Fresz, CDFW Northern Region, (707) 601-6281
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858