California’s wild ring-necked pheasant season opened Saturday, Nov. 9, and for the second consecutive year, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will collect genetic tissue – a tongue clip – from hunter-harvested wild birds at select state-operated wildlife areas and federal refuges.

“We’re hoping to sample as many birds as we can because we’d like to know the genetic composition of our wild pheasant populations,” said Ian Dwight, Environmental Scientist with CDFW’s Wildlife Branch. “We’re looking for evidence of inbreeding in some of these isolated populations and whether there is mixing of farm-raised and released pheasants with our wild population.”

Both scenarios can suppress wild pheasant populations, making pheasants more susceptible to disease and predation and lowering their reproductive capability. The research project may inform future CDFW efforts to translocate wild pheasants from one part of the state to another to increase genetic diversity and grow populations where abundant upland habitat exists.

Last year, CDFW collected tongue samples from 39 hunter-harvested pheasants at the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area and from 52 pheasants at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, two of California’s top wild pheasant producers. This year, collection efforts will take place at the Shasta Valley Wildlife Area, the Honey Lake Wildlife Area, the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area, the North Grasslands Wildlife Area and at the Delevan, Sacramento and Tule Lake national wildlife refuges.

A tongue clip provides rich genetic material while not damaging the meat or the appearance of the colorful rooster for hunters who want to mount their birds for display. Only male ring-necked pheasants may be harvested during the wild bird season, which runs through Dec. 22.

Saturday, Nov. 9 also marked the opener of the fall turkey season and the reopening of dove season. These additional fall hunting opportunities join seasons already underway for ducks, geese, quail, chukar, snipe, tree squirrel and some lingering deer seasons to offer a variety of options for California hunters looking to spend time outdoors and put wild game on the table.

Fall turkey hunters are limited to one bird per day of either sex with a two-bird limit for the season, which runs through Dec. 8.

The second half of California’s dove season offers cooler temperatures than the first half of the season in September and far less competition with many hunters prioritizing other species. Mourning, white-winged, spotted and ringed turtle dove are all in season again as of Nov. 9. Hunters are limited to 15 doves per day in aggregate of which no more than 10 may be white-winged doves. The season continues through Dec. 23. Eurasian collared doves are open to hunting year-round with no bag limits.

As a reminder, only nontoxic, lead-free ammunition is allowed when taking wildlife with a firearm anywhere in California. Hunters are strongly encouraged to review the 2024-2025 California Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations booklet when planning hunts this fall and winter to ensure the necessary licenses, validations, stamps, permits and passes are obtained prior to heading afield.