January 2018 CDFW Calendar
by CDFW, DECEMBER 26, 2017


Weekends — Guided Wildlife Tours at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley (95948), 12:30 p.m. The 90-minute walking tour covers slightly more than a half-mile through this premier birding spot that highlights migratory waterfowl and other wetland wildlife. Tours are cancelled in the event of heavy rain. No reservations are necessary for groups of fewer than 20 people. This land is...
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Massive Poached Sacramento County Deer Leads to Trophy Penalty Enhancement
by CDFW, DECEMBER 26, 2017


A Sacramento County man entered a no contest plea Tuesday to charges of poaching a huge blacktail deer in Sacramento County. John Frederick Kautz, 51, of Lodi, was charged with possession of an illegally poached deer and falsification of deer tag reporting information, both misdemeanors, following a three-month investigation. Kautz illegally killed the trophy-sized buck on private property in Wilton in December 2016,...
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Trout Plants Mean California Fishing Opportunities Abound Over the Holidays
by CDFW, DECEMBER 23, 2017


The winter holidays are a great time for families and individuals to enjoy recreational trout fishing, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) trout hatcheries plan to provide plenty of opportunities for anglers of all ages over the next two weeks. Specific plants of catchable trout are scheduled at 79 waters in 25 counties between now and Jan. 5. CDFW trout...
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December Rains Usher in First Runs of Chetco Steelhead
Southern Oregon
by Larry Ellis, DECEMBER 23, 2017
Chetco River

I always tell anglers that the first rains around the Christmas holiday signals the first major runs of winter steelhead to head up the Chetco River.  But low, gin-clear water conditions have been the plague of Oregon south coast rivers this year.  I was beginning to worry that the old Christmas adage was not going to come true this year. Not...
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Northern California Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Opener Delayed Again Due to Quality Testing
by CDFW, DECEMBER 22, 2017


The Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced a final 15-day delay for the northern California commercial Dungeness crab season. Crab condition improved from the last round of pre-season quality testing conducted on Dec. 19. However, crab had not reached the minimum meat recovery criteria as established by the Tri-State Dungeness Crab Committee testing protocol. The...
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Oregon commercial crab fishery to open January 15
by ODFW, DECEMBER 22, 2017


The commercial Dungeness crab fishery will open on most of Oregon’s coast on Jan. 15, 2018. Dungeness crab will be ready to be harvested from Cape Blanco to the Columbia River, and north into Washington. While the commercial season can open as early as Dec. 1, the opening can be delayed to ensure a high quality product for consumers by allowing crabs...
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