Recreation
- Details
- Written by: California Fish and Wildlife News
Hosting some 80,000 visitors each year, Gray Lodge is one of the most heavily visited and used wildlife areas in the state, and construction work will restrict some public access over the next several months.
Work is scheduled to begin the week of June 15, 2020, on the auto tour loop on the west side of the wildlife area near Parking Lot 14.
The auto tour loop and some nearby hiking trails will be closed during this construction period, which is expected to conclude around the first week in October, reopening in time for bird watching during peak fall and winter migrations.
Crews will regrade the steep slopes on the auto tour roadway to improve safety and add additional turnouts for wildlife viewing and passing. The pond bottoms along the auto tour loop will be reshaped to improve water movement and habitat management. The work is being funded through a $1.4 million grant from the state Wildlife Conservation Board.
Over this same period, crews will also construct a mobility-impaired fishing pier on the pond adjacent to Parking Lot 14 thanks to another $310,000 Wildlife Conservation Board grant.
The pier will provide fishing access to the public throughout the spring and summer months when the wildlife area is open to fishing.
For questions or additional information, please contact Gray Lodge directly at 530-846-7500.
CDFW reminds Californians to abide by all state and local health guidelines regarding non-essential travel and physical distancing.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
This is not a special hunt, but rather a drawing to control the number of hunters on popular public land during opening weekend.
Locations for this hunt include Upper and Lower Cottonwood Creek and the San Luis Reservoir wildlife areas.
Reservations are required to access the wildlife areas during opening weekend and only 30 permits will be issued for each day, Saturday, Aug. 8, and Sunday, Aug. 9.
Hunters can download the application online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/lands/places-to-visit/cottonwood-creek-wa .
Hunters can also request an access permit application by calling CDFW’s Los Banos office at 209-826-0463 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Applications may be submitted via email to
Only official applications will be accepted and must be received before 4 p.m. on July 3.
Reservations will be selected by a computerized drawing at 11 a.m. on July 6. The drawing will be open to the public. Successful applicants will be notified by mail within five working days of the drawing. Results will not be given over the phone.
Up to three people may apply for the hunt as one party by including all required information on the 2020 Zone A application form. Junior license holders who are 12 years of age or older may also apply if accompanied by an adult hunter.
Applicants may apply for a one-day hunt on one area only. An individual’s name may appear in the drawing only once and additional or duplicate applications will be disqualified from the drawing.
All hunters are required to use non-lead ammunition when hunting with a firearm anywhere in California.
- Details
- Written by: Cal Fire
Motorists are advised that it is always unlawful to operate unlicensed vehicles – including off-road vehicles with or without green stickers – on state forest roads.
Off-road travel with motorized vehicles is not permitted on the state forest. Please do not drive on roads that are wet and have soft surfaces, even if they are formally open.
Other closed roads may still be used for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding if outside of an active timber operation area.
Each year, seasonal openings/closures occur, please refer to the website or contact the office for current information.
The Cal Fire Jackson Demonstration State Forest office is located at 802 N. Main St. in Fort Bragg, telephone 707-964-5674. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed from noon to 1 p.m. weekdays.
Multiple uses that benefit the public, the economy and natural resources are what our demonstration forests are all about.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Beginning May 28, trout season will be open in the county.
The trout season was originally scheduled to open in Inyo County on April 25.
In April, CDFW had discussions with county leadership regarding trout fishing, which typically draws a high tourism influx to the area.
Local officials were concerned about the transmission of COVID-19 and its potential to put a strain on their healthcare systems.
Further, all nonessential businesses including lodging, dining and camping options were closed in compliance with state and local public health officers' orders.
Thus, CDFW, in consultation with Fish and Game Commission President Eric Sklar, delayed the opener through May 31.
However, in a letter on Tuesday, Inyo County officials requested that CDFW end the delay before May 31, indicating that the county received approval from the California Department of Public Health to move into the Governor's Phase Two, Stage Two Resilience Roadmap and would begin discussions of reopening.
Though county officials requested the opening on May 27, CDFW required one additional day for consultation and processing this request, thus the delay in Inyo County will expire at midnight on May 27 and fishing can resume on May 28.
This decision does not affect the trout season in any other county.
CDFW reminds anglers to abide by all state and local health guidelines regarding non-essential travel and physical distancing. Staying home in order to stay healthy is still the best way to keep yourself and others safe.
Anglers are also advised to check with local authorities on the status of access points as many site closures and access restrictions exist and may change daily.
Pursuant to the emergency regulation approved by the Commission, CDFW will provide accurate information for the angling public at this website or by phone at 916-445-7600.
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