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March Features Multiple Fish, Wildlife Program Opportunities
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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has released its calendar of events for the month of March, 2019.

Following are some of the activities, meetings and programs planned through the department.

Various Days — Guided Wetland Tours, By Reservation, at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley. A wildlife naturalist will lead any group, school or organization on a half-mile route through the diverse wetlands of the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. General information includes wildlife identification, behavior patterns and conservation efforts. The experience can be customized to include requested information. The minimum group size is 18 people. For more information, call (530) 846-7505 or email lori.dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.

Various Days — Ecological Reserve Tours at Elkhorn Slough, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville. 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 onsite). Groups of five or more should notify staff that they are coming and groups of 10 or more can request a separate tour. For more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/lands/places-to-visit/elkhorn-slough-er.

Various Days — Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Access Permit Application Deadline for Multiple Turkey Hunting Opportunities. Spring turkey hunts are available through the SHARE program. A $10.75 non-refundable application fee (plus handling fees) is charged for each hunt choice. For more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/share.

March 7 — California Wildlife Conservation Board Meeting, 10 a.m., Natural Resources Building, First Floor Auditorium, 1416 Ninth St., Sacramento. For more information, visit www.wcb.ca.gov.

March 9, 16, 23 — Elkhorn Slough Reserve Teachers on the Reserve Workshop, Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville. The free one-day workshop, which is offered on three separate Saturdays, introduces teachers to the Elkhorn Slough Reserve and its education fieldtrip program. To register, visit www.elkhornslough.org/education-program/teacher-development. For more information, contact Virginia Guhin at virginia.guhin@wildlife.ca.gov.

March 16 — Nest Box Survey, Orientation at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley. This free orientation meeting is required for participation in a season-long field study. Crews of two or three collect detailed data, used to understand and enhance the local wood duck population and other wildlife. Commitment varies, averaging four hours, twice a month, April through July. Participation is open to the public, ages 18 and over. Due to limited space, please make reservation early. For more information, call (530) 846-7505 or email lori.dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.

March 20 — Last Day of California Spiny Lobster Recreational and Commercial Fishing Season, Statewide. For more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/invertebrates/lobster.

March 20 — California Fish and Game Commission Marine Resources Committee, 9 a.m., Natural Resources Building, Redwood Room, 1416 Ninth St., 14th Floor, Sacramento. For more information, visit www.fgc.ca.gov/meetings/2019/index.aspx.

March 21 — Out of Sight and All Around Us: Reptiles and Amphibians of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 5:30 p.m., Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville. Participants at this free public event can learn about the unique life histories of some of California’s most elusive animals, and discover local reptiles and amphibians and the ways you can help protect them. No registration is required. For more information, visit www.elkhornslough.org.

March 23 — Additional Spring Wild Turkey Season Opens for Hunters with Junior Hunting Licenses (extending through March 24). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.

March 23 — San Joaquin River Fishing Derby, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., with registration beginning at 6 a.m., Sycamore Island, 39664 Ave. 7-1/2, Madera. The event is co-sponsored by CDFW, the Central Sierra Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust and the San Joaquin River Conservancy. The derby celebrates the San Joaquin River’s diverse fishing and recreational opportunities. Prizes will be awarded to first and second place for youths (15 years old and under) and adults, and there will also be a grand-prize drawing for a California Lifetime Fishing License. There is no charge to enter the derby, but participants are required to pay the regular Sycamore Island day-use fee of $9 per vehicle and $5 per trailered boat. For more information and online registration, visit www.riverparkway.org/index.php.

March 30 — General Spring Wild Turkey Season Opens (extending through May 5). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.

March 30-31 — Elkhorn Slough Reserve Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Workshop, Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville. This free two-day field and classroom workshop for high school and middle school teachers focuses on developing lessons on hydrology, meteorology and soil-data collection. To register, visit www.elkhornslough.org/education-program/teacher-development. For more information, contact Virginia Guhin at virginia.guhin@wildlife.ca.gov.