This is the last weekend of our bird hunting seasons, and it has become somewhat of a ritual for me -- and perhaps you, too -- to go out these final two days and chase quail, chukar, or waterfowl (or all three) as a swan song to celebrate the hunting season before taking a respite until next fall. It’s more a time to visit with hunting friends and work the dogs one last time than it is a serious hunting effort for me, but it has become an annual event on my outdoor calendar: The last full weekend in January, I’m bird hunting.
     With a new 2010 calendar on the wall next to my desk, I had marked these two days simply “gone hunting,” so Becky would know that I wouldn’t be available for family things when it was first put up. I have taken down the calendar a half-dozen other times this month to mark the special days and events for the year so I don’t forget or stupidly schedule things that might conflict with important outdoor events like this final weekend of the hunting season.
     The last time I was adding dates, I noticed that Becky had marked our anniversary, her birthday, our boys’ birthdays, and our planned Colorado vacation/family reunion to help me remember. She knows I can sometimes forget these little family things when I get excited and start scheduling a couple of days to fish a new spot or try to hit the peak action at a local lake. I’ve missed birthdays before and she now tries to head that one off way before the pass (with varying degrees of success).
     Thumbing through the calendar, it made me think about the must-do events for California sportsmen. The two biggest are events we don’t even need to write down in our household. Our immediate family knows the dates: the trout season opener in the Eastern Sierra the last Saturday in April, and the dove hunting season opener on Sept. 1. We may have missed one or two of these openers over the years, but not without some serious regret or whining. And it is pretty clear the tradition is being passed down. The two boys have already put in for the trout opener days off at work and alerted teachers, girlfriends, and friends, they would not be available.
     Both of these outdoor events have more participants than any other single fishing or hunting activity during the year, and far more people are involved than any other participatory event you can name (and watching a football game on televison or peering at a computer doesn’t count). There have been years where Crowley Lake would have over 20,000 anglers, all trying to catch rainbow trout, and figuring that 100,000 anglers statewide fish on opening day of trout season is probably a very conservative estimate. We know that over 100,000 guys take to the field with shotguns opening day of dove season each year. Those are big events.
     Outside of the big two, there are a number of other events on our Southern California calendar that are big draws:
     -- The annual Fred Hall Show at the Long Beach convention center is the unofficial kick off to Southern California’s fishing season and a must-attend event for thousands of anglers over the five days of the show. Fred Hall has virtually everything fishing, boating, and increasingly it is also a hunting show, too. This year it is March 3-7. You’ve been, you know.
     -- The largemouth bass spawn happens from mid-March through April in warmwater lakes throughout the region. I have bass fishing buddies who blot out every weekend during this whole period. Any freshwater fisherman worth his graphite keeps an eye on fishing reports and pairs that with his knowledge about his favorite bass water and keeps at least a few days open on his calendar.
     -- While the year’s first albacore has already been caught out of San Diego on a long-range boat, there is still a mystic when the big, long-finned tuna start showing in good numbers within range of the San Diego oevernight fleet. For a lot of anglers, this is really the beginning of the ocean fishing season. This usually happens in mid-June, although El Nino years can wreak havoc with the timing and peak location of the run. When it happens, family events and birthdays can be missed. That’s the rule.
     -- Big Bear Lake’s Jim Hall Memorial May Trout Classic has become a landmark event trout for anglers in Southern California. While it’s not in the same league as the Sierra trout opener, the fun fishing competition sells out faster and faster each year and the trout planted keep getting bigger and bigger. It also signals the beginning of the trout fishing year in the local mountains. The dates for this year aren’t set yet, but it’s likely to be May 1-2.
     -- The Raahauge Shooting and Hunting Sports Fair, one of the only hands-on gun shows in the country, was cancelled last year because the shortage of sporting ammunition made it impossible to stage, but the long-running event is back in 2010 and will be held June 4-6 this year. Gun enthusiasts and hunters never miss this one.
     -- While not quite on the same level as the dove hunting season opener, the quail and chukar season opener in mid-October each year is greeted with near reverence by bird hunting buffs. Frequently, local deer hunting seasons open the same day and waterfowl season usually kicks off within a week of the upland opener. Mid-October means hunting season here. Don’t bother me for three months.
     Most fishermen and hunters also have their own set of special dates: a first halibut trip of the year that coincides with an April grunion run, rabbit hunting season opener on July 1, a June bluegill fishing weekend with fly-rod popping bugs, striped bass fishing the Saturday of every trout plant week at Diamond Valley Lake (or Skinner, Pyramid, Castaic, or Silverwood), the first twilight sand bass trip of the year at Marina del Rey Sportfishing, Sierra trout closer where you might just catch a huge brown trout, a weekend at Wister when the first big flood of white geese arrives, flathead catfish fishing on the Colorado River during July’s new moon, and a whole lot more.
     I hit an incredible hatch on Deep Creek in the San Bernardino Mountain one March. Millions of lady bug beetles were emerging and they carpeted the water. Every brown trout in the creek was feeding on the surface, and I was frustrated all day casting to them. I’ve had perfect patterns ready every since, but I’ve never hit the “hatch” again. Still, I try to go every March.
     We all have our outdoor calendars. What’s on yours and is it filled up yet?

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

     JANUARY 30-31 COSTA MESA GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Costa Mesa Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Orange County Fair and Event Center (Orange County Fairgrounds), Costa Mesa. Admission is $10. The next Costa Mesa shows are scheduled for Mar. 27-28, June 5-6, and Aug. 28-29. Information, directions, tickets, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
     FEBRUARY 6-7 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES: Bass Pro Shops is offering hunter safety classes four days per month on the first and third full weekends, with classes on Saturday and Sunday of each weekend. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $10 per person. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
     FEBRUARY 12 SAN DIEGO CWA FUND-RAISER: The San Diego Chapter of the California Waterfowl Association will have its annual banquet and fund-raiser beginning 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 13 at the Elks Club, 1400 East Washington, El Cajon. Tickets are $65 per person or $95 per couple. Contact John Howard at 619-440-8319 or go to www.calwaterfowl.org for an event flyer.
     FEBRUARY 13 BALD EAGLE CENSUS VOLUNTEERS: Volunteers are needed for the annual Bald Eagle counts done at four Southern California mountain waters where the birds winter -- Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Silverwood Lake, and Lake Hemet. The counts are done for a one-hour period, 9 to 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 13 at each lake. The final winter count will be held March 13. For information, contact Marc Stammer with the U.S. Forest for Big Bear and Arrowhead counts at 909-382-2828, Joshua Ertl or Kevin Forester with State Parks for Lake Silverwood at 760-389-2303, or Matt McDonald with the Forest Service for Lake Hemet at 909-382-2933.
     FEBRUARY 13 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2010 class dates are Mar. 6, April 13, May 8, June 12, July 10, Aug. 14, 21, 28, Sept. 11, and Oct. 2, 9. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     FEBRUARY 13-14: WATER-FOR-WILDLIFE WORK PROJECT: The Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep will be having a two-day work project to replace the tank at the Bicket-Landell bighorn sheep drinker in the Clark Mountains in the East Mojave. The group will camp near the work site and dinner will be provided. For more details, contact Gary Thomas at g.cranky@verizon.net.
     FEBRUARY 19 IMPERIAL VALLEY FRIENDS OF NRA FUND-RAISER: The Imperial Valley Friends of the National Rifle Association will have its annul banquet and fund-raiser on Friday, Feb. 19 at the Swiss Club, 1585 E. Worthington Rd., Holtville. Contact Avery Moler at 760-337-3030 or info@ivfnar.org.
     FEBRUARY 20-21 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES: Bass Pro Shops is offering hunter safety classes four days per month on the first and third full weekends, with classes on Saturday and Sunday of each weekend. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $10 per person. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
     MARCH 6 WEST VALLEY FRIENDS OF THE NRA FUND-RAISER: The West Valley Friends of the National Rifle Association will have its annual fund-raiser and dinner beginning 6 p.m., Saturday, March 6, at the Central Park Community Center, 11200 Baseline Rd., Rancho Cucamonga. Contact Steve Gomez at 909-560-6000 or via e-mail at westvalleyfnra@aol.com.
     MARCH 6 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The 2010 class dates are April 13, May 8, June 12, July 10, Aug. 14, 21, 28, Sept. 11, and Oct. 2, 9. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     MARCH 6-7 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES: Bass Pro Shops is offering hunter safety classes four days per month on the first and third full weekends, with classes on Saturday and Sunday of each weekend. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $10 per person. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
     MARCH 13-14 VENTURA GUN SHOW: The McMann’s Roadrunner Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at Seaside Park, Ventura. Admission is $9. The next Ventura gun shows will be June 5-6, Sept. 11-12, and Nov. 13-14. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.mcmannsroadrunner.com.
     MARCH 20 NWTF HIGH DESERT CHAPTER FUND-RAISER: The High Desert Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will have its 4th Annual Hunting Heritage Banquet and fund-raiser beginning 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 20, at the Percy Bakker Cammunity Center, 9333 E Ave., Hesperia. Contact Karen Shackleford at 760-887-1092.
     MARCH 27-28 COSTA MESA GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Costa Mesa Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Orange County Fair and Event Center (Orange County Fairgrounds), Costa Mesa. Admission is $10. The next Costa Mesa shows are scheduled for June 5-6 and Aug. 28-29. Information, directions, tickets, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
     MAY 15-16 ONTARIO GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Ontario Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Ontario Convention Center, Ontario. Admission is $10. The next Ontario Gun Show will be held july 31-Aug. 1. Information, directions, tickets, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.

CALENDAR RESOURCES

     For a complete list of HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES held throughout the state, including times, dates, and locations, go to the Department of Fish and Game’s web site at this address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/classes.aspx.
     For the rules and regulations on GRUNION RUNS, along with a complete schedule and the expected times of the runs, go to this web site address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/gruschd.asp

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

     The following is a list of hunting, shooting, and fishing clubs and organizations in Southern California with contact information and regular meeting dates:
     976-TUNA ROD AND REEL CLUB: The 976-Tuna Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. Contact Phil Friedman at 310-328-8426.
     CALIFORNIA DEER ASSOCIATION (SOUTHERN CALIF0RNIA CHAPTER): The Southern California Chapter of the California Deer Association meets 10 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. Contact Glenn Tessers at 310-429-5222.
     CALIFORNIA STATE VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The California State Varmint Callers Association meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Denny's just north of the 210 freeway at Irwindale Ave., Irwindale. Contact Steven Childs at 626-407-8826 or steve@sdchilds.com. Web site: www.csvca.com.
     CANYON OAKS SPORTSMAN’S CLUB: The Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at it’s clubhouse in Lakeview Terrace-Sylmar. The club has regular trap, skeet, smallbore, big bore, handgun, and Cowboy Action shooting events. Contact Gary White at 818-998-7240, Mike Totta at 818-362-2181 or Mike Nickoloff via e-mail at idpamike@yahoo.com.
     CERRITOS ROD & GUN CLUB: The Cerritos Rod & Gun Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at Heritage Park in Cerritos. Contact Charles Sharp at 714-317-8290 or fish_90605@yahoo.com.
     CLUB FISH: Club Fish, a 20-year-old fishing club, meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse, Santa Ana. The clubhouse is located at the entrance to Riverview Gold Course. Contact Mike Cross at 949-854-5258 or m_r_cross@yahoo.com.
     DEEP CREEK FLY-FISHERS: Deep Creek Fly-Fishers meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League clubhouse in Fairmont Park, in Riverside. Go to www.deepcreekflyfishers.org to download a map to the club house. Contact Brett Browning at 909-793-8912.
     GOLDEN STATE FLYCASTERS: The Golden State Flycasters and Trout Unlimited Chapter 920 meets 6 to 9 p.m. Monday before the third Thursday of each month at Tio Leo’s Restaurant, Del Mar. Information at www.goldenstateflycasters.org.
     HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at The Apple Valley Fire Conference Center, 19235 Yucca Loma, Apple Valley. Contact John Rose at 760-247-5966.
     HIGHLAND PARK SPORTSMEN'S CLUB: The Highland Park Sportsmen's Club meets at 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2035 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles. Contact Mauro Garcia at 323-254-0763 or incareal@juno.com.
     NATIONAL VARMINT HUNTERS: The National Varmint Hunters meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars club located on Grand Avenue, just west of 17th Street, Santa Ana. Contact Mark Harris at 714-655-6954 or mhitis1@yahoo.com or Terry Mathers at 714-299-9938 or coyote@jps.net.
     NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (High Desert Chapter): The High Desert Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club, 16699 Stoddard Wells Road, Victorville. Contact Karen Shackleford at 760-887-1092.
     NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (INLAND EMPIRE CHAPTER): The Inland Empire Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, 7777 Victoria Gardens Lane, Rancho Cucamonga. Contact David Halbrook at 760-694-1191 or nrajrc@msn.com.
     NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at The Firing Line, 17921 Jamestown Lane, Huntington Beach. Contact Pat Ryan at 714-373-3688 or Casey Rasmussen at 714-377-5859.
     ORANCO BOWMEN: The ORANCO Bowmen meet the second Tuesday of each month at the club range, 17504 Pomona Rincon Rd., Chino (Euclid Avenue one block north of the 71 freeway). The range is open to the public on Sundays 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 909-597-7582. Web site: www.oranco.org.
     ORANGE COUNTY BASS CLUB: The Orange County Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the Garden Grove Elk's Lodge. Contact Steve Pendergast at 949-651-8172 or prendergasts@netzero.com.
     PLUNGE CREEK COWBOYS: The Plunge Creek Cowboys, a new Cowboy Action Shooting club in the Inland Empire, has shoots the third Saturday of each month at the Inland Fish and Game range on Orange Street in East Highlands. Authentic or replica firearms and garb required. Information: www.plungecreekcowboys.com.
     PREDATOR CALLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY: The Predator Callers of Orange County meet 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Denny's restaurant, 7490 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Contact Rickey Macy via e-mail at rickmacey@juno.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club. Contact Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or fathercruz@verizon.net.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse (located at the entrance to Riverview Golf Course) in Santa Ana. Contact Craig Riedel at 714-282-1194 or criedel@mflex.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (RIVERSIDE CHAPTER): The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Hunny’s Restaurant, Main Street and 4th Street, Corona. Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or gibbent@gte.net. Web site: www.quriverside.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN DIEGO CHAPTER): The San Diego Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at DFG Headquarters at 4949 Viewridge Rd., San Diego. Contact David Preddy at davidpreddy@cox.net or visit www.sdqu.org.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHAPTER): The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Triple B Clays in El Monte. Contact Tim Bovard at 866-206-9070, ext. 6715 or sgvqu@onebox.com.
     REDONDO ROD & GUN CLUB: The Redondo Rod & Gun Club meets 8 p.m. every Thursday of every month at its own clubhouse. The club has promoted hunting, fishing, sport shooting and the outdoors since 1948. The clubhouse is located at 2023 Vanderbilt Lane, Redondo Beach. Contact 310-379-7772.
     RIVERSIDE VARMINT CALLERS: The Riverside Varmint Callers meet 7 p.m. the last Saturday of each month at Flo's Country Kitchen, Riverside. Contact Lance Cochrane at 909-919-4309 or Ray Gauthier at 951-785-4986. Web site:www.californiavarmintcallers.com/chapters.html/.
     SAN DIEGO SPORTING DOG CLUB: The San Diego Sporting Dog Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Animal Medical Center, 600 Broadway, El Cajon. Contact Steve Sarmiento at 619-659-9393 or sssarmi@sbcglobal.net.
     SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The Southern California Varmint Callers Association meets 8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Denny's Restaurant at Pioneer Blvd and Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Contact Granville Crow at 310-548-6221 or crowshot1@cox.net or Skip Gildner at 562-900-9020 or mtnhigh5@excite.com.
     TEMPLE CITY SPORTSMEN: The Temple City Sportsmen meet the first Thursday of each month at the Temple City Civic Center in Temple City. Contact Jim White at 626-201-7782 or TCSPresident2006@yahoo.com. The club’s web site is www.tcsportsmen.org.
     TURNER'S OUTDOORSMAN ROD AND REEL CLUB: The Turner's Outdoorsman Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Marie Calendar’s Restaurant, 2300 Foothill, Pasadena. Contact Richard Crowe at 626-960-9610.

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