CDFW News

CDFW Seeks Hunter Recommendations for Northern San Joaquin Valley Wildlife Areas

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 14:00:36 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Central Region, 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 San Joaquin Valley. The meeting will include updates on habitat conditions and the availability of water for wetlands.

The meeting will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27, using Microsoft Teams. Email Lara Sparks at Lara.Sparks@Wildlife.ca.gov for a link to attend and instructions on how to submit comments and questions.

State lands to be discussed are the Mendota, Los Banos, Volta and North Grasslands wildlife areas, including the Salt Slough, China Island, Gadwall, Widell/Ramaciotti and Mud Slough units. USFWS personnel will be available to speak about the Merced National Wildlife Refuge, including the Lone Tree Unit, as well as the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, including the Kesterson, Blue Goose, East and West Bear Creek, the Freitas units and the Kern National Wildlife Refuge.

CDFW annually provides opportunity through public meetings and outreach for licensed hunters to comment and make recommendations on hunting programs, including anticipated habitat conditions in the hunting areas on Type A wildlife areas. A wildlife area designated as Type A is a wildlife area with restricted hunter access during waterfowl season.

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Media Contacts:
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120
Lara Sparks, CDFW Los Banos Wildlife Area, (209) 826-0463

Los Banos, North Grasslands Wildlife Areas to Offer Deer Hunting Opportunities

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 14:25:46 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting applications for a limited number of deer hunting access permits at the Los Banos and North Grasslands wildlife areas for the last week of the A Zone deer season, Sept. 16-21.

In 2024, the California Fish and Game Commission made deer a huntable species on the Los Banos Wildlife Area and the China Island and Salt Slough units of the North Grasslands Wildlife Area. This is the second year CDFW will offer limited access to hunt these areas under provisions of the A Zone general season.

An access permit issued by CDFW is required. Only 11 permits (five on Los Banos, three on Salt Slough and three on China Island) will be given to successful applicants.

Hunters can find the application online (PDF) or request an application by calling the CDFW Los Banos office at (209) 826-0463 between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Applications may be submitted via e-mail to Kimberly.Reynoso@wildlife.ca.gov or mailed to CDFW’s Los Banos office at 18110 W. Henry Miller Ave., Los Banos, CA 93635. Possession of a valid 2025 A Zone deer tag at the time of application is not necessary.

Successful applicants will be allowed access to the area they were drawn for. They must have a valid hunting license, A Zone deer tag and follow all hunting regulations. Hunters must also adhere to wildlife area regulations, including parking in designated parking lots, not stopping along roadways and only walking or using non-motorized bicycles for access. Only legal bucks may be taken. Each hunter is allowed to bring one non-hunting guest. The areas will be closed to all other visitors throughout the week.

Hunters may only use a shotgun with nontoxic slugs as their authorized method of take. All deer harvested must also be validated by wildlife area staff. Biological samples will be taken. CDFW staff is collecting biological samples to test for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), among other conditions. CDFW is testing for and monitoring the disease to protect California’s elk and deer populations.

The application process for these deer hunts takes place outside of CDFW’s Automated License Data System (ALDS). Only official applications will be accepted and must be received before 4 p.m. Aug. 4, 2025. Reservations will be selected by a computerized drawing at 11 a.m. Aug. 5, 2025. Successful applicants will be notified by mail within five working days of the drawing. Results will not be given over the phone.

Each applicant may only apply for one area and must include all required information on the application. If an individual’s name and GOID# appear in the drawing on any other applications, that individual will be disqualified from all drawings. Junior hunting license holders 12 and older may apply if accompanied by an adult 18 or older.

For participants new to hunting or looking to try a different style of hunting, visit CDFW’s Hunter Education and R3 (Recruit. Retain. Reactivate.) web pages for more resources and helpful information.

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Media Contacts:
Lara Sparks, CDFW Los Banos Wildlife Area, (209) 826-0463
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120

Los Banos, North Grasslands Wildlife Areas to Offer Deer Hunting Opportunities

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Recently, CDFW requested the California Fish and Game Commission make deer a huntable species on the Los Banos Wildlife Area and the China Island and Salt Slough units of the North Grasslands Wildlife Area. This new designation allows CDFW for the first time to offer limited access to hunt these areas under provisions of the A Zone general deer season.

An access permit issued by CDFW is required and only 11 permits (five on Los Banos, three on Salt Slough and three on China Island) will be awarded.

Hunters can find the application online (PDF) or request an application by calling the CDFW Los Banos office at (209) 826-0463 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. Applications may be submitted via e-mail to Kimberly.Reynoso@wildlife.ca.gov or mailed to CDFW’s Los Banos office at 18110 W. Henry Miller Ave., Los Banos, CA 93635. Possession of a valid 2024 A Zone deer tag at the time of application is not necessary.

Successful applicants will be allowed access to the area they were drawn for and must have a valid hunting license, A Zone deer tag and follow all hunting regulations. Hunters must also adhere to wildlife area specific regulations regarding parking in designated parking lots, no stopping along roadways and no access other than walking or using non-motorized bicycles. Only legal bucks may be taken. Each hunter is allowed to bring one non-hunting guest. The areas will be closed to all other visitors throughout the week.

Hunters may only use a shotgun with nontoxic slugs as their authorized method of take. All deer harvested must be validated by wildlife area staff. Biological samples will be taken. CDFW staff is collecting biological samples to test for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), among other conditions. This year, the first case of CWD, a fatal neurological disease in deer, elk and other cervids, was detected in California. CDFW is testing for and monitoring the disease to protect California’s elk and deer populations as well as hunting opportunities.

The application process for these deer hunts takes place outside of CDFW’s Automated License Data System (ALDS). Only official applications will be accepted and must be received before 4 p.m. Aug. 5, 2024. Reservations will be selected by a computerized drawing at 11 a.m. Aug. 6, 2024. Successful applicants will be notified by mail within five working days of the drawing. Results will not be given over the phone.

Each applicant may only apply for one area and must include all required information on the application. If an individual’s name and GOID number appear in the drawing on any other applications, that individual will be disqualified from all drawings. Junior hunting license holders 12 and older may apply if accompanied by an adult 18 or older.

For participants new to hunting or looking to try a different style of hunting, visit CDFW’s Hunter Education and R3 (Recruit. Retain. Reactivate.) web pages for resources and helpful information.

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Media Contacts:
Sean Allen, CDFW Los Banos Wildlife Area, (209) 826-0463
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120