Officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, CDFW, have released the schedule of events for February, 2026.
As a reminder, all calendar items are subject to change. Also, wildlife areas, ecological reserves and other properties may be closed due to wildfires, flooding or storm damage. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are strongly encouraged to check for closures before leaving on any recreational trip.
Various Days
Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) access permit application deadlines for pig and turkey hunts. Wild pig, and turkey hunts are available through the SHARE program this spring. Hunters may apply for wild pig hunts at Garden Bar Preserve, Rush Ranch, East Park and Lake Berryessa and turkey hunts at Hart Ranch and Boden Canyon Ranch. A $14.86 non-refundable application fee (plus handling fees) is charged for each hunt choice. For more information, visit the SHARE Hunting page.
Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) access permit application for fishing opportunities. Lake Barrett bass survey opportunities in April are open for applications through the SHARE program. A $15.12 non-refundable application fee is charged for each choice. For more information, visit the SHARE Fishing page.
Registration for the Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) annual workshop. The IEP annual workshop is an informal event held each spring focused on sharing the relevant and timely ecological research pertaining to the monitoring and management of the San Francisco Estuary. The workshop is a free hybrid event being held at the CNRA headquarters auditorium. The 2026 workshop will be held March 16-18. Registration is required to attend in person or remotely and is now open. In-person registration ends March 6. Remote registration remains open through the workshop. More information on the 2026 workshop, including the links for registration, can be found on the IEP 2026 Annual Workshop page. Questions regarding the event can be directed to iep@wildlife.ca.gov.
Saturday, Feb. 7
Early Bird Tour at Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville. Join the reserve’s naturalists every first Saturday to learn about the birds of the Elkhorn Slough. This tour is appropriate for birders from beginner to advanced and is recommended for individuals ages 16 and older. The tour meets at the reserve’s visitor center, but depending on recent sightings, the group may walk the trails or caravan out to adjacent parks and natural spaces. No registration is required. The tour fills on a first-come, first-served basis with a limit of 18 people. For more details, visit the Elkhorn Slough calendar.
Saturday, Feb. 7
Sunday, Feb. 8
Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, Southern California, Colorado River and Balance of State Zones. For more information, visit the Waterfowl Hunting page.
Sunday, Feb. 8
Bird Walk at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Nimbus Fish Hatchery Visitor Center, 2001 Nimbus Road, Gold River. Finches, hawks and goldeneyes … come join CDFW and Sacramento Audubon Society for a family-friendly bird walk along the American River scenic trail. Expect easy walking with frequent stops to scan the river, riparian habitat and surrounding bluffs for local resident birds. Participants should be prepared with comfortable shoes, sun protection and water. Extra binoculars will be available. For more information, visit the event page or email molly.shea@wildlife.ca.gov.
Wednesday, Feb 11
Thursday, Feb. 12
California Fish and Game Commission Meeting, 1 p.m. Feb.11 and 8:30 a.m. Feb. 12, California Natural Resources Building, 715 P Street, Second Floor, Sacramento. The meeting will also be held via webinar/teleconference. For more information, visit the FGC website.
Thursday, Feb. 12
Canada Goose late season in the North Coast Special Management Area (closing March 10). For more information, visit the Waterfowl Hunting page.
Saturday, Feb. 14
White and White-fronted Goose late season opens in the Balance of State Zone (closing Feb. 18). For more information, visit the Waterfowl Hunting page.
Guided Tour of the Nimbus Fish Hatchery, 11 a.m., Nimbus Fish Hatchery Visitor Center, 2001 Nimbus Road, Gold River. 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. Tours are cancelled in heavy rain. The maximum group size is 25, first-come, first-served. The tour is ADA accessible and suitable for all ages. For more information, call 916-358-2884 or email molly.shea@wildlife.ca.gov.
Saturday, Feb. 14
Sunday, Feb. 15
Canada Goose late season in the Balance of State Zone. For more information, visit the Waterfowl Hunting page.
Sunday, Feb. 15
Tot Time at Nimbus Fish Hatchery, 11 a.m., 2001 Nimbus Road, Gold River. 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. For more information, email julia.sisneros@wildlife.ca.gov.
Tour of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, 9 a.m. to noon, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Headquarters, 45211 County Road 32 B, Davis. The Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area tours are hosted on the third Sunday of the month from October through June. Learn about migratory bird species, flood management techniques, agricultural practices, native plants of the wetlands and more. Dress in layers as weather can be unpredictable. For more information, visit the Yolo Basin wetlands tours page.
Saturday, Feb. 21
NASP State Tournament: California State Bullseye, 8 a.m., Emerald High School, 3600 Central Parkway, Dublin. This National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) tournament is free and open to the public to watch. Any NASP student in California is encouraged to sign up. For more information, visit the NASP Tournament web page or email Grace Vierra at grace.vierra@wildlife.ca.gov.
Wednesday, Feb. 25
CDFW’s Annual Salmon Information Meeting, 1 p.m., California Natural Resources Agency Auditorium, 715 P Street, Sacramento. The annual salmon information meeting will be held in person for 2026 and will also be available online as a view-only webinar. This informational meeting will cover 2025 ocean and in-river salmon fishing seasons, 2025 spawner abundances returning to the Central Valley and Klamath Basins, 2026 abundance forecasts, and management context guiding the development and implementation of 2026 ocean salmon fisheries. The public is invited to learn about pertinent data and management context shaping the upcoming ocean salmon season.
The 2026 Salmon Information Meeting marks the beginning of a two-month public process to help develop annual sport and commercial ocean salmon fishing seasons. The input is also used to inform inland salmon season development later in the spring. The annual pre-season salmon management process involves collaborative negotiations between west coast states, federal agencies, tribal co-managers, commercial troll representatives, commercial passenger fishing vessel representatives, private recreational anglers, non-governmental organizations and others interested in salmon fishery management and conservation.
The webinar link, agenda and other materials will be posted on CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Calendar of Events web page as they become available. For more information, contact the Ocean Salmon Project at emma.keller@wildlife.ca.gov.
Thursday, Feb. 26
California Wildlife Conservation Board Meeting, 10 a.m., Natural Resources Agency Headquarters Building, First Floor Auditorium, 715 P Street, Sacramento. The public is welcome. For more information, visit the WCB web page.
