Various Days — Guided Wetland Tours at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley (95948). A wildlife naturalist will lead a group, school or organization on a half-mile route through diverse wetlands. General information includes wildlife identification, behavior patterns and conservation efforts. Tours can be customized to include requested information. The minimum group size is 18 people and reservations are required. For more information, please call (530) 846-7505 or email [email protected].

Various Days — Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Access Permit Application Deadline for Multiple Hunting Opportunities. Wild pig, deer, bear, turkey, dove and quail hunts are available through the SHARE program. A $10.50 non-refundable application fee (plus handling fees) is charged for each hunt choice. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/share.

Weekends — Ecological Reserve Tours at Elkhorn Slough.Volunteers lead walks every Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Binoculars and bird books are available for the public to borrow at no cost. The visitor center and main overlook are fully accessible. The day use permit fee is $4.12 per person, ages 16 and older (permits may be purchased on-site). Groups of five should please notify staff that they are coming and groups of 10 or more can request a separate tour. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/lands/places-to-visit/elkhorn-slough-er.

7 — General Duck and Goose Season Opens in the Northeastern Waterfowl Zone. For complete regulations, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl or contact Melanie Weaver at [email protected].

7 — General Deer Season Opens in Zones D19, X1, X2, X3a, X3b, X4, X5a, X5b, X6a, X6b, X7a, X7b. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/deer.

7-8 — Early Quail Season for Junior Hunting License Holders in the Mojave National Preserve. One weekend only. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.

7-8 — Fall Fish Festival, Taylor Creek Visitor Center, 35 Visitor Center Road, South Lake Tahoe (96150), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., both days. The festival is a family event encouraging participation by children and their parents in a variety of educational and entertaining activities. For more information, please visit ahoesouth.com/events/fall-fish-fest-kokanee-salmon-festival-at-taylor-creek-visitor-center/.

10 — California Fish and Game Commission Tribal Committee Meeting, time to be determined, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, 900 El Camino Real, Atascadero (93422). For more information, please visit fgc.ca.gov/meetings/2017/index.aspx.

11 — California Fish and Game Commission Coastal Fishing Communities Public Meeting, time to be determined, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, 900 El Camino Real, Atascadero (93422). For more information, please visit fgc.ca.gov/meetings/2017/index.aspx.

11-12 — California Fish and Game Commission Meeting, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on both days, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, 900 El Camino Real, Atascadero (93422). For more information, please visit fgc.ca.gov/meetings/2017/index.aspx.

14 — General Season Opens for Black Bears in deer hunting zones X1 through X7b on Oct. 14, 2017, and extends through Dec. 31, 2017. The first general season for black bears opened in deer hunting Zone A on Aug.12, 2017. General black bear season will open with the general deer-hunting season in deer zones A, B, C, D, X8, X9a, X9b, X10 and X12 and extends through Dec. 31, 2017. Please note that deer zones A, B, C, D, X8, X9a, X9b, X10 and X12 have different deer season opening dates depending upon the deer zone. CDFW shall close the season earlier if 1,700 bears have been reported taken. For daily updates on reported bear harvest, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Bear or call toll-free (888) 277-6398. Please visit fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs.aspx for a description of the current mammal hunting regulations and American black bear hunt zone boundary descriptions. The bag and possession limit for general season is one adult bear per hunting license year. Cubs and females accompanied by cubs may not be taken.

14 — General Deer Season Opens in Zones D11, D13, D14, D15 and D17. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/deer.

14 — Archery-only Pheasant Season Opens. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.

16-18 — Dungeness Crab Task Force Meeting. Ukiah Valley Conference Center, Cabernet II Room, 200 S School Street, Ukiah (95482). The public meeting is designed to discuss the Dungeness crab fishery and an agenda will be released within ten days of the scheduled meeting. For more information, please visit opc.ca.gov/2009/04/dungeness-crab-task-force/ or email [email protected].

20 — Youth Essay Contest Opens. CDFW and the California Wildlife Officers Foundation are co-sponsoring the annual “Passing on the Tradition” essay contest for young hunters. The California Wildlife Officers Foundation will recognize one grand-prize winner with a lifetime California hunting license, valued at more than $600. Second and third place winners will also be selected and prize packages will be awarded. The contest is open to all junior hunting license holders, as well as youths under 18 who have earned a hunter education certificate. The topic of the essay is scheduled to be announced soon. Entries should be submitted via email to Lt. John Nores at [email protected] and must be received on or before Dec. 15, 2017. Applicants must provide their date of birth and a contact telephone number. Essays will be reviewed and scored by CDFW wildlife officers and other CDFW representatives, and the winners will be notified by telephone. For additional information, please contact Lt. Nores at (408) 591-5174.

20 — General Duck and Goose Season Opens in the Colorado River Waterfowl Zone. For complete regulations, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl or contact Melanie Weaver at [email protected].

21 — General Duck and Goose Season Opens in the Balance of State, Southern San Joaquin Valley and Southern California Waterfowl Zones. For complete regulations, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl or contact Melanie Weaver at [email protected].

21 — Quail Season Opens in Zones Q1 and Q3. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.

21 — General Chukar Season Opens Statewide. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.

21 — General Snipe Season Opens Statewide. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.

21 — General Deer Season Opens in Zone X9c. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/deer.

28 — General Deer Season Opens in Zone D16. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/deer.