News Archive

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting applications for a limited number of deer and wild pig hunting access permits for opening weekend, Aug. 9 and 10, 2025, in Merced County (Zone A) for the general season. This is not a special hunt; the drawing is to control the number of hunters in these areas on opening weekend only.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to present The Conservation and Management Plan for Bighorn Sheep in California.

Last week, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) increased the northern pintail bag limit to three for the first time in almost 30 years. While population estimates are sufficient to support more pintail hunting opportunities, depleted population estimates for the recreational barred sand bass fishery called for the Commission to reduce a five-fish bag limit to four. The Commission took these and other actions affecting California’s natural resources at its April 16-17 meeting in Sacramento.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is proud to present the Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan for California. The plan, an update to the 1998 Black Bear Management Plan, draws upon the latest scientific tools and methods to conserve, manage, and monitor black bear populations in California.

Avian Influenza H5N1 is again circulating in susceptible wild birds in California during fall migration. California sits at the epicenter of the Pacific Flyway, one of North America’s major migratory routes that brings millions of visiting birds through the state each fall and winter.