CDFW News

Waterfowl Season Opens Across Most of California Saturday, Oct. 18

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:00:00 GMT

California’s 2025-26 waterfowl hunting season begins Saturday, October 18, 2025, in most zones. Detailed information about specific opening and closing dates, daily bag and possession limits can be found in the 2025-26 California Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations booklet (PDF).

“With wetland conditions looking favorable across much of the state, waterfowl hunters can look forward to a strong start to the season,” said Melanie Weaver, Waterfowl Coordinator with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Public hunting opportunities can be found on more than two dozen public hunt areas.

CDFW has implemented several changes at public hunt area check-stations. A few key changes to note for the upcoming season are:

Hunters requiring a hunting pass must present photo identification at the time of entry.
Reservations will be accepted in numerical order, except for the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area.
Party leaders must have a valid GO ID and hunting license to enter a party in the in-person vacancy draw (lottery).
For properties requiring all members to be listed on an in-person vacancy draw (lottery) application, only one member from each party will be required to be present to enter the draw.
Hunters may only enter one in-person vacancy draw (lottery) per hunt day.

For more information regarding season updates and to view additional changes, please review the 2025 Waterfowl Hunting Newsletter (PDF).

Hunters are encouraged to review area-specific regulations and plan ahead as licenses, validations and passes must be purchased in advance. Updates about wildlife area and refuge closures will be posted on CDFW’s Closures page. Licenses, validations and passes can be purchased at select CDFW License Sales Offices, online through CDFW’s Online License Sales and Services, in-person at a license agent, or through telephone license sales at (800) 565-1458.

Hunters should also take precautions when handling harvested birds and cleaning equipment as avian influenza H5N1 continues to circulate among wild waterbirds and typically re-emerges during the fall migration. While the risk to humans remains low, hunters are still encouraged to follow safety tips and review information related to avian influenza. Importantly, dress wild game in a well-ventilated area and away from chickens and other pet birds. Do not feed dogs or other animals raw meat or organs from harvested waterfowl.

###

Media Contacts: 
Taylor Williams – Recruit, Retain, Reactivate (R3) Manager
Melanie Weaver – Statewide Waterfowl Coordinator

September 1 Dove Opener Marks Celebratory Start to California’s Hunting Seasons

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:50:06 GMT

They may have venison in the freezer already or enjoyed some cottontail rabbit on the grill, but many California hunters consider the September 1 dove season opener the celebratory – if unofficial – start to California’s hunting seasons.

Technically speaking, rabbit season opened July 1 and some archery and rifle deer seasons are underway, but those can be solitary pursuits in wilderness settings or other remote areas well out of the public eye.

The September 1 dove opener, by contrast, is a carnival of road trips, reunions, barbecues and small-town motel swimming pools during the midday heat. It’s the first bird hunting season to open and the single busiest day on the hunting calendar typically offering the best hunting of the season.

Dove hunting is no backcountry experience. It’s a celebration of California’s agricultural heartland and the farming communities that help feed the nation and the world. These agricultural lands support huge concentrations of mourning and white-winged dove that feed on the waste grain and spilled seed, drink from the farm ponds and seasonal creeks and roost among the orchards.

Adding to the popularity are the many high quality public hunting opportunities available. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) lands closest to the agricultural fields in the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Imperial and Colorado River valleys are perennial hotspots for dove hunting. These include the Gray Lodge, Upper Butte Basin, Los Banos, North Grasslands, Mendota, San Jacincto and Imperial Valley wildlife areas and the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve. Many of these public areas prepare crop fields to attract and hold dove. Entry procedures can vary, particularly on opening day. Not all CDFW properties are open to dove hunting, so hunters need to check ahead in planning their hunt.

The season opener on Monday, September 1 coincides with the Labor Day holiday ensuring a strong turnout of hunters, especially families who will enjoy one last outdoor adventure together before summer fades to fall.

For many youngsters and some adults who have recently completed their Hunter Education requirements, the dove opener will be their first hunting experience and their commencement into California’s hunting and conservation communities that can provide a lifetime of learning, friendship, travel, adventure, environmental stewardship, memories and good food obtainable only in the outdoors.

Hunters can target mourning dove and white-winged dove starting one-half hour before sunrise on September 1 until sunset. The season continues through Monday, September 15. Spotted dove and ringed turtle dove also become legal game. Mourning dove and white-winged dove have a daily bag limit of 15, up to 10 of which may be white-winged dove. The possession limit is triple the daily bag limit. There are no limits on spotted dove and ringed-turtle dove. The invasive Eurasian collared-dove is open year-round with no bag limits. A dove identification guide is available on the CDFW website.

Hunters are strongly encouraged to review the dove hunting regulations and those governing CDFW lands available online: 2025-2026 California Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations (PDF).

Some of the most common citations CDFW wildlife officers issue during dove season are for semi-automatic shotguns without the proper plug to reduce the capacity of the gun’s chamber and magazine to a three-shell maximum; for hunters without the required Upland Game Bird Validation accompanying their hunting license (not required for youngsters with a Junior Hunting License); and for those transporting their dove without a head or fully-feathered wing attached for identification. As a reminder, non-lead ammunition is required for hunting in California.

The second half of California’s dove season begins November 8 and runs through December 22. Many CDFW wildlife areas are open to dove hunting in the second half of the season on designated waterfowl shoot days when a Type A wildlife area pass will be required to enter. Additional late-season dove hunts are offered through CDFW’s SHARE program, which provides public hunting opportunities on private farms and ranches throughout the state.

For more information and resources on dove hunting, CDFW’s Advanced Hunter Education (Video) program has videos to help. CDFW’s R3 program has additional resources and videos for newcomers to dove hunting.

###

Media Contacts:
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858
Taylor Williams, CDFW R3 Program, (916) 203-1362

Indiana Artist Wins California Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 16:08:57 GMT

2022/2023 Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest winning entry of chukar by artist Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Indiana.

A painting of chukar has been chosen by a panel of judges as the winning entry in the 2022-2023 California Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest. The painting was created by Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Ind.

Klinefelter previously placed first in the 2021-22, 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18 California Upland Game Bird Stamp Art contests, as well as the 2020-21 California Duck Stamp Art Contest.

Sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the annual contest determined the official design for this year’s California Upland Game Bird Stamp.

Contest entries were judged by a panel of experts selected for their knowledge in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing. Designs were judged on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and suitability for reproduction as a stamp and print.

The judges were initially drawn to the attention to detail in Klinefelter’s painting, especially in the feathers on the rump and wing cover. They also highlighted the accurate coloring of the feathers. They appreciated that the chukar looked healthy and well-fed with realistic anatomy and noted their believable proportions in relation to the background. This background habitat impressed the judges as well, reminding them of a snowy grassland in the northeastern corner of California.

Coloration and habitat were two of the biggest challenges for Klinefelter when he was planning his painting. “There are no chukars in Indiana,” he said, “and pen-raised ones aren’t as colorful, so I had to do some research. Also, photos can throw you as far as coloration since photographers tend to increase color intensity.” The research paid off, however, as the judges specifically noted the accuracy of the color and background in Klinefelter’s painting.

Diane Ford of Bethesda, Md., placed second in this year’s competition. Xochitl Acosta Brent of Redwood City, Calif., received third. Debra A. Ostlund of Pine River, Minn., received honorable mention.

An upland game bird validation is required for hunting migratory and resident upland game birds in California. The validation replaces the stamp through CDFW’s Automated License Data System, but the stamp is still produced and available to hunters upon request. Monies generated from upland game bird validation sales are dedicated solely to upland game bird-related conservation projects, hunting opportunities, public outreach and education. CDFW annually sells about 165,000 upland game bird validations and distributes approximately 24,000 stamps.

Any individual who purchases an upland game bird validation may request their free collectable stamp by visiting wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/collector-stamps. An order form is also available on the website for collectors who do not purchase a hunting license or upland game bird validation, or for hunters who wish to purchase additional collectible stamps.

###

Media Contacts:
Matt Meshriy, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 322-6709
Amanda McDermott, CDFW Communications, (916) 738-9641

CDFW Seeks Artists to Enter California Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 13:49:24 GMT

2021/2022 Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest winning entry of mountain quail by artist Jeffrey Klinefelter.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is conducting its annual art contest to select the design for the state’s 2022-2023 upland game bird stamp. The California Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest is open to all U.S. residents ages 18 and older, excluding current and former CDFW employees. Entries will be accepted from October 31 through December 2.

This year’s stamp will feature the chukar. First introduced to California in 1932, the chukar is native to India and Pakistan. This agile gamebird with a cream-striped underbelly and distinctive banding on its head, neck and flanks blends in well among rocky outcrops and sandy washes of the central Intermountain West. Chukar are social birds and vocalize loudly with clucks and squeaks that accompany a variety of behaviors. Anyone who has attempted to approach a chukar knows that they are powerful runners, moving fast afoot to higher elevations when alarmed. If flushed, chukar will glide downslope to safety, easily outpacing most predators.

Entries must include at least one chukar, preferably in a habitat or setting representative of California. Entries will be judged on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and suitability for reproduction as a stamp and print.

The contest will be judged by a panel of experts in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing. The winning artist will be selected during a judging event in December.

An upland game bird validation is required for hunting migratory and resident upland game birds in California. The money generated from stamp sales is dedicated to upland game bird-related conservation projects, education, hunting opportunities and outreach. CDFW sells over 150,000 upland game bird validations annually. Any individual who purchases an upland game bird validation may request their free collectible stamp by visiting wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/collector-stamps. For collectors who do not purchase a hunting license or upland game bird validation, or for hunters who wish to purchase additional collectible stamps, an order form is also available on the website.

For contest information and entry forms, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/upland-game-bird-stamp.

###

Media Contacts:
Matt Meshriy, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 322-6709
Amanda McDermott, CDFW Communications, (916) 738-9641

General Tree Squirrel Season to Open Sept. 10

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 16:29:23 GMT

California’s 2022-2023 general tree squirrel season will be open from Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 through Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023. Tree squirrels may be taken only in open zones during the open season and in observance of the shooting hours for resident small game, which is one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. A map of the state’s tree squirrel hunt zones (PDF) can be found on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) website, along with the full tree squirrel regulations.

Four types of tree squirrels are game species in California. The Western gray squirrel and the Douglas squirrel are both native to California while the Eastern fox squirrel and the Eastern gray squirrel have been introduced and not native to the state. These tree squirrels can be hunted under authority of a hunting license in California and no other validations are required. To learn more about how to hunt for these squirrels and their distributions, habitat and patterns, watch the ”Hunting California Tree Squirrels” recorded webinar on CDFW’s YouTube channel.

A fifth species of tree squirrel, the Northern flying squirrel, is not a game species and may not be taken. Northern flying squirrels are small tree squirrels that are native to the boreal forests of North America and can be found as far south as the Sierra Nevada. They are seldom encountered due to their nocturnal nature and preference for mature forest habitats with complex canopy structure.

Tree squirrel population levels fluctuate from year to year based on prevailing weather conditions and the annual production of nuts, acorns and seeds for forage.

National forests provide some of the best opportunity to hunt tree squirrels in California. Bureau of Land Management lands and CDFW wildlife areas may also provide opportunity for squirrel hunting. As a friendly reminder, nonlead shot is required when taking any wildlife with a firearm anywhere in California. Please plan accordingly. For more information, please see the CDFW nonlead ammunition web page.

Photo Credit: GDMatthews / stock.adobe.com

###

Media Contacts:
Matt Meshriy, CDFW Upland Game Program, (916) 801-8708
Kirsten Macintyre, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714