November Calendar Of Events From CDFW
The following is courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife:
November 2026 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Calendar
All calendar items are subject to change.
Wildlife areas, ecological reserves and other properties may be closed due to wildfires or storm damage. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are strongly encouraged to check for closures before leaving on any recreational trip.
Various Days — Kokanee Salmon at Stampede Reservoir, CA-89, Truckee. In May 2025, 50,000 kokanee fingerlings with clipped adipose fins were released into Stampede Reservoir. Anglers who catch kokanee from now through 2028 are encouraged to report their catch, whether the fish has a clipped fin or not. Your reports help CDFW understand how stocking contributes to the kokanee fishery. For more information, visit CDFW’s Fishing for Kokanee page or contact rachel.fichman@wildlife.ca.gov.
Various Days — Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Access Permit Application Deadlines for Multiple Hunting Opportunities. Wild pig and waterfowl hunts are available through the SHARE program this winter. A $15.12 non-refundable application fee is charged for each hunt choice. For more information, visit the SHARE page.
Various Days — Tundra Swan Tours. Pacific Flyway enthusiasts rejoice! Come celebrate the billion-bird migration on the Pacific Flyway this fall and winter during one of CDFW’s wildly popular Swan Tours, held most Saturdays from November through early January. In partnership with Mathews Rice Operation, these free tours transverse privately-owned flooded rice fields north of Marysville. This area boasts one of the largest overwintering populations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Visit the registration page to sign up. For questions, contact genelle.treaster@wildlife.ca.
Saturdays and Sundays — Guided Hike at Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 10-11:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (95076). Join a naturalist-led hike and learn about the wildlife, plants, history and conservation of this beautiful landscape. Hikes are 1.5-2 miles and take approximately 90 minutes, adapted to the participants’ interests. No registration is required. For more information, contact (831) 728-2822 or elkhornsloughed@cdfw.
1 — Salt Marsh and Dunes Tour at Ballona Reserve, 10 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Explore the wonder of nature in the middle of urban Los Angeles! Friends of Ballona Wetlands docents will lead participants through the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve while explaining its history and ecology. Enjoy the unique native plants on the journey through different habitats. Participants might even meet some of the local wildlife. Parking and entrance gate are located behind Local Market. Registration is required. For more details about the event and to register, visit the event page.
2 — Western Monarch Butterflies: Protecting Our Pollinators, 3-6 p.m., California Natural Resources Agency Auditorium, 715 P Street, Sacramento (95814). Join the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) for a film screening of Western Monarch Butterflies: Protecting Our Pollinators, a documentary by filmmaker Ian Nelson exploring the beauty, fragility and resilience of the western monarch population. Following the screening, stay for a multi?agency panel discussion featuring Melissa Burns, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Hillary Sardiñas, CDFW; Dena Spatz, California State Parks; and Ian Nelson, Filmmaker. The conversation will be moderated by Madeline Drake, CNRA Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat, and will highlight current challenges, collaborative efforts and opportunities to protect California’s vital pollinator species. Tabling with panelists outside the auditorium will begin at 3 p.m., followed by the film screening and panel conversation from 4-6. Admission is free, but advance registration is required. To register, visit the Eventbrite page. Come learn, connect and be inspired by the science and stewardship behind one of California’s most iconic species.
4 — White Goose Season Opens in the Imperial County Special Management Area (extends through Jan. 31). For more information, visit the Waterfowl Hunting page.
5 — Nature Bowl 2027: Information Session for New Coaches, 4-5:30 p.m., virtual. Nature Bowl is an annual science-based educational program for 3rd through 6th graders in CDFW’s North Central Region (Greater Sacramento area) that builds ecological knowledge and conservation literacy through games, problem-solving and friendly competition. Students work together in teams as they rotate through activity stations that encourage curiosity, teamwork and exploration of the natural world. This virtual information session is for potential coaches (teachers, parents or youth leaders) in the North Central Region who are interested in participating in Nature Bowl 2027. The training will introduce new coaches to Nature Bowl, including event details, who can participate, how to create a team, when to sign up, preparation timelines and other important details to help you get started before registering. Nature Bowl events for 2027 will take place at local site partner locations, including Nimbus Fish Hatchery Visitor’s Center, Placer Nature Center, Stone Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Wakamatsu Farm, Cache Creek Nature Preserve and New Melones Lake Visitor’s Center. For more information and to register for this event, visit the Nature Bowl web page or contact julia.sisneros@wildlife.ca.gov.
6 — Community Habitat Restoration, 3-5 p.m., 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Let’s roll up sleeves and help the Friends of Ballona Wetlands restore the last coastal wetlands in Los Angeles. Get hands-on experience while learning about urban ecology. Clearing out invasive vegetation gives slow-growing native plants room to thrive. Parking and entrance gate are located behind Local Market. Registration is required. For more information and to register, visit the event page.
6-8 — Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival, Hutchins Street Square, 125 S Hutchins Street, Lodi (95240). Each year, thousands of visitors come to the Lodi area to witness the remarkable return of sandhill cranes to local wildlife refuges and farmlands. The region’s water, soil, climate, agricultural lands and protected habitat provide an ideal home for the cranes while enriching the community and supporting the local economy. The 28th Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival will feature a full weekend of festivities, with guided crane tours offered throughout the event. Admission to the festival is free. Tour prices vary. For more information, visit the Sandhill Crane Festival website.
7 — Scaup Season Opens in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, Southern California, Colorado River and Balance of State Zones (extends through Jan. 31). For more information, visit the Waterfowl Hunting page.
7 — Open Wetlands at Ballona Salt Marsh, 9 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Los Angeles Audubon Society will host an Open Wetlands event at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve with the collaboration of Nature Nexus Institute staff. Volunteers will guide visitors in viewing aquatic invertebrates through microscopes, learning about the unique ecosystems found at Ballona and viewing birds through powerful spotting scopes along Ballona Creek. Binoculars will be available to borrow. Entry is through the gate in the northeast corner of the parking lot behind the 300 block of Culver Blvd. For more information, visit the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve page or email ecobar@naturenexusinstitute.
7 — Early Bird Hike at Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 8:30-11:30 a.m., 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (95076). Amateur and expert birders alike will find a place on the Early Bird Hike! Join an early morning guided hike with an expert local birder and learn about the species that live in or migrate through the diverse habitats of this watershed. Hikes are two to three miles and take approximately three hours, adapted to the participants’ interests. Check in at the visitor center for this free activity! No registration is required. For more information, contact (831) 728-2822 or elkhornsloughed@cdfw.
7 — Fishing in the City: Foothill Regional Park, 8 a.m. to noon, Foothill Regional Park Pond B, 1351 Arata Lane, Windsor (95492). This free Fishing in the City event, in partnership with Sonoma County Foothill Regional Park, introduces youth ages 5-15 to rainbow trout fishing. Learn how to fish, fishing ethics, equipment needed, rigging, knot tying, baiting and casting a fishing rod, and hopefully, landing a catch! Meet at the canopy-covered check-in tables by the bathrooms in front of the main parking lot. Street parking is available. All equipment will be provided – you may not bring your own fishing pole. Only youth ages 5-15 may fish during this event. Post-event, stocked fish will be open to fishing to adults with a valid fishing license. Registration is required. Visit the Sonoma County Regional Parks Activities Calendar and select a slot for your fishing time. For questions, email sabreena.britt@wildlife.ca.gov.
8 — Open Wetlands at Ballona Salt Marsh, 9 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Los Angeles Audubon Society will host an Open Wetlands event at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve with the collaboration of Nature Nexus Institute staff. Volunteers will guide visitors in viewing aquatic invertebrates through microscopes, learning about the unique ecosystems found at Ballona and viewing birds through powerful spotting scopes along Ballona Creek. Binoculars will be available to borrow. Entry is through the gate in the northeast corner of the parking lot behind the 300 block of Culver Blvd. For more information, visit the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve page or email ecobar@
12 — California Fish and Game Commission Marine Resources Committee Meeting, 8:30 a.m., California Natural Resources Headquarters Building, 715 P Street, Second Floor, Sacramento (95814). The meeting will also be held via webinar/teleconference. For more information, visit the FGC website.
14 — Fall Wild Turkey Season Opens Statewide (extends through Dec. 13). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, visit the Upland Game Bird Hunting page.
14 — General Pheasant Season Opens Statewide (extends through Dec. 27). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, visit the Upland Game Bird Hunting page.
14 — Late Season Dove Hunting Opens Statewide (extends through Dec. 28). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, visit the Upland Game Bird Hunting page.
14 — Dive Into Salmon & Steelhead: Nimbus Fish Hatchery Public Tour, 11 a.m. to noon, 2001 Nimbus Road, Gold River (95670). Join CDFW for a free, family-friendly, guided tour to explore the Nimbus Fish Hatchery and neighboring American River on the second Saturday of each month. Learn about the amazing life cycle of salmon and steelhead, walk along the American River and discuss hatchery operations. Participants may see fish and other wildlife, such as migratory birds, signs of mammal activity and cool insects. Registration is not required. For more information, contact molly.shea@wildlife.ca.gov.
14 — Ballona Creek Cleanup at Ballona Reserve, 9:30 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Help the Friends of Ballona Wetlands clean up the last coastal wetland in Los Angeles. Did you know that 130 square miles of storm drain flow into Ballona Creek? Gutter trash from as far away as North Hollywood can end up right in the wetlands. The time and effort put into clearing out debris means less trash in the wetlands, on beaches and in the open ocean. Parking and entrance gates are located behind Local Market. Registration is required. For more details about the event and to register, visit the event page.
14 — Fiji Trail Invasive Plant Removal at Ballona Reserve, 9-11 a.m., 13730 Fiji Way, Marina Del Rey (90292). Help CDFW remove invasive weeds in the public access trail known as the Fiji Trail in Area A. Get hands-on experience while learning about urban ecology with a chance to witness the beauty of the area’s flora and fauna. The time and effort put into clearing out invasive vegetation gives slow-growing native plants room to thrive. Parking is free on a first-come, first-served basis with an area to lock up bicycles. Registration on site will consist of a volunteer signup form/waiver. All ages are welcome, but minors will need a parent or guardian present at all times. For more information, email michael.schneider@wildlife.ca.
15 — Tot Time at Nimbus Fish Hatchery, 11-11:45 a.m., 2001 Nimbus Road, Gold River (95670). Join CDFW for Tot Time every third Sunday of the month at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery Visitor’s Center for nature-themed stories and to create fun crafts! Recommended for children ages 2-7 years, with parent/guardian supervision. There is no cost for these events and registration is not required. The hatchery parking lot is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, Labor Day through Memorial Day. For more information, email molly.shea@wildlife.ca.gov.
15 — Trout in the Classroom Teacher Training Workshop, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., via Teams. This CDFW Teacher Workshop is required for new Trout in the Classroom (TIC) participants and returning teachers who have not participated in three years. We will be going over everything needed to successfully run the TIC program in your classroom, from sending in your application to releasing your trout and everything else in between. This virtual workshop requires an internet connection along with access to a microphone and camera. Be sure to complete the registration form in full. To register, visit the Teams event page. For more information, email Abram Tucker at abram.tucker@wildlife.ca.gov.
19 — California Wildlife Conservation Board Meeting, 10 a.m., California Natural Resource Agency 1st Floor Auditorium, 715 P Street, Sacramento (95814). The public is welcome. For more information, visit the WCB website.
20 — Community Habitat Restoration, 3-5 p.m., 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Let’s roll up sleeves and help the Friends of Ballona Wetlands restore the last coastal wetlands in Los Angeles. Get hands-on experience while learning about urban ecology. Clearing out invasive vegetation gives slow-growing native plants room to thrive. Parking and entrance gate are located behind Local Market. Registration is required. For more information and to register, visit the event page.
21 — Community Habitat Restoration, 9:30 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Let’s roll up sleeves and help the Friends of Ballona Wetlands restore the last coastal wetlands in Los Angeles. Get hands-on experience while learning about urban ecology. Clearing out invasive vegetation gives slow-growing native plants room to thrive. Parking and entrance gate are located behind Local Market. Registration is required. For more information and to register, visit the event page.
21 — Explore the Bay: Marine Life Inventory at the Back Bay Science Center, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 600 Shellmaker Road, Newport Beach (92660). The Explore the Bay: Marine Life Inventory is a scientific monitoring program that takes place one Saturday a month. This is a hands-on opportunity for people 13 years and older to participate in data collection where organisms are collected, identified, measured and re-released. The program starts with an introductory lesson about Upper Newport Bay. Participants then go into the field to deploy scientific sampling equipment and capture data. The program concludes with an analysis of the data and the importance of community science in a biologically diverse area. As this is a hands-on program, participants should be prepared to get wet and muddy, handle live organisms and transcribe data. To register, please send an email to jene.dietz@wildlife.ca.gov with the date you are interested in attending, the number of people in your party and any questions you may have. Participants under 18 must have a parent/guardian present. For more information on the Back Bay Science Center, visit their website.
21 — Fishing in the City: Brannan Island State Recreation Area, 9-11 a.m., Highway 160 south of Rio Vista. This Fishing in the City event in partnership with State Parks introduces youth ages 5-15 and adults 16 and up to fishing in the channels and sloughs of the Delta. Learn what to fish here and how to fish along a bank or pier through local fish identification, fishing ethics, equipment needed, rigging, knot tying, baiting and casting a fishing rod, and hopefully landing a catch! Meet at the wooden pier towards the back of the park. Continue straight upon entering, drive straight passed the boat launch until the parking lot ends with the wooden pier on your right before a roundabout. Participants ages 16 and up require a fishing license, which can be purchased at CDFW’s Online License Sales page. Some fishing poles will be available for loan during the event or participants can bring their own. The event is first come, first served. There is a $10 parking fee to stay in the park after the program. For questions, email sabreena.britt@wildlife.ca.gov.
28 — Fiji Trail Invasive Plant Removal at Ballona Reserve, 9-11 a.m., 13730 Fiji Way, Marina Del Rey (90292). Help CDFW remove invasive weeds in the public access trail known as the Fiji Trail in Area A. Get hands-on experience while learning about urban ecology with a chance to witness the beauty of the area’s flora and fauna. The time and effort put into clearing out invasive vegetation gives slow-growing native plants room to thrive. Parking is free on a first-come, first-served basis with an area to lock up bicycles. Registration on site will consist of a volunteer signup form/waiver. All ages are welcome, but minors will need a parent or guardian present at all times. For more information, email michael.schneider@wildlife.ca.
28 — Mindfulness Hike at Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 2-4 p.m., 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (95076). Treat yourself to an outer and inner exploration on a two-hour walk to open the senses. Experience the different habitats and their varying cycles in this amazing place which many species call home. The tour covers about two miles of easy-moderate grade trail. Check in at the visitor center for this free activity. No registration is required. For more information, visit the Elkhorn Slough Calendar page or email elkhornsloughed@CDFW.
29 — Brant Season Opens in the Northern Brant Special Management Area (extends through Dec. 14). For more information, visit the Waterfowl Hunting page.
30 — Brant Season Opens in the Balance of State Brant Special Management Area (extends through Dec. 15). For more information, visit the Waterfowl Hunting page.
