New to California duck hunting

[mikes1214]

Hello,
In the next few weeks, I will be moving from Michigan to California. I will be living around Suisun City. I have been doing as much research as I can, and plan to do much more, but I am confused about a few things. How exactly does hunting refuges work? I know that the days to hunt are wed, sat, and sun, what is there to hunt other than those days? Is all of the public duck hunting on refuges? I duck hunt now 3-5 days a week, is that a possibility or do I have to wait to be drawn? Thank you for any information at all, it’s like a whole new world from Michigan.

 

[Limited Out]

You should be able to hunt 3-5 days a week in California. After buying a California Hunting License and obtaining a GO I.D. number. You can go to the California Fish & Wildlife website and purchase opportunities to be drawn to hunt on a refuge the days you select and are interested in. You can also walk on and sweatline any blinds that were not filed by hunters that were drawn using the reservation system above. You can also hang out at the refuge and refill blinds after hunters have limited or decided to go home for the day. There are also lots of opportunities other than the refuges. There are lots of refuges in driving distance of Suisun City. The first season will be a learning curve in using the reservation system. I tried to explain this the best I could!

 

[mikes1214]

You should be able to hunt 3-5 days a week in California. After buying a California Hunting License and obtaining a GO I.D. number. You can go to the California Fish & Wildlife website and purchase opportunities to be drawn to hunt on a refuge the days you select and are interested in. You can also walk on and sweatline any blinds that were not filed by hunters that were drawn using the reservation system above. You can also hang out at the refuge and refill blinds after hunters have limited or decided to go home for the day. There are also lots of opportunities other than the refuges. There are lots of refuges in driving distance of Suisun City. The first season will be a learning curve in using the reservation system. I tried to explain this the best I could!

Thank you for the information, that really helps!

 

[Oldtool]

Your moving to a great duck hunting area . Lots of wildlife areas, refuges, wide open boat hunting the delta 7 days a week. Way to many options to talk about. Our public waterfowling is the best thing we have going for us. It’s really about finding what works best for you! Some people don’t like hunting the refuge system . too many complaints to list. I love our refuge system and we play it for every possible opportunity. We love to draw a good assigned blind area. But honestly shoot more ducks by keeping in tune with the free roaming areas that we can walk on any day except opening and closing . like limited said “it will take a while to get to know some areas” ” people here hunt hard in the morning and lots of room to move around in the afternoon . Take the early season to explore because after the first week it gets pretty stale. It will be typically mid December before it gets going. My duck season is mid December through the last minute in January. But only cause I like to shoot ducks ! Beautiful state with lots of outdoor adventures of all kinds

 

[mikes1214]

Your moving to a great duck hunting area . Lots of wildlife areas, refuges, wide open boat hunting the delta 7 days a week. Way to many options to talk about. Our public waterfowling is the best thing we have going for us. It’s really about finding what works best for you! Some people don’t like hunting the refuge system . too many complaints to list. I love our refuge system and we play it for every possible opportunity. We love to draw a good assigned blind area. But honestly shoot more ducks by keeping in tune with the free roaming areas that we can walk on any day except opening and closing . like limited said “it will take a while to get to know some areas” ” people here hunt hard in the morning and lots of room to move around in the afternoon . Take the early season to explore because after the first week it gets pretty stale. It will be typically mid December before it gets going. My duck season is mid December through the last minute in January. But only cause I like to shoot ducks ! Beautiful state with lots of outdoor adventures of all kinds

Thank you for the information. Can you hunt the free roam area every day or can you just scout?

 

[Oldtool]

Mostly just Wednesday,Saturday,Sunday. Lots of specific rules for each area . With a boat you have a lot of 7 day hunting areas. There are type A,B,C areas. Type C are typically open 7 days and free other than all your license requirements. Keep reading the general fish and game rules. When your are tired of that each refuge has it’s own website. Different procedures for entry to each one as well. Soon as you think you have a handle on it you will go to a new refuge and everything will be 180 degrees different. feel free to PM me specific questions .

 

[mikes1214]

Mostly just Wednesday,Saturday,Sunday. Lots of specific rules for each area . With a boat you have a lot of 7 day hunting areas. There are type A,B,C areas. Type C are typically open 7 days and free other than all your license requirements. Keep reading the general fish and game rules. When your are tired of that each refuge has it’s own website. Different procedures for entry to each one as well. Soon as you think you have a handle on it you will go to a new refuge and everything will be 180 degrees different. feel free to PM me specific questions .

I will do more research for those places in that area. I appreciate your help and will reach out if I have any questions

 

[muskeg]

I was raised in Fairfield and we use to ride our bicycles out behind Suisun and hunt from the RailRoad tracks that ran through the private duck clubs. But I don't think you can do that any more.

 

[Oldtool]

Wow ,that triggered memories of being a kid in San Jose . We would sling our pellet guns on our backs and ride our bikes to a local quarry to hunt rabbits and quail . Try that now . The loss of freedom and space is astounding!

 

[Limited Out]

Growing up I lived a mile and a half from the North End of the Salton Sea. This was back in the days before it so messed up and polluted. Most everyday after school it was down to my permanent blind, put out a small spread and hunted until it got dark. Lots of Quail and Doves in the area, I could hunt to my heart's content.

 

[Designed2Hunt]

And some wonder why license sales are dropping. Must be rocket science.

 

[Limited Out]

I'm a believer in introducing as may young people as possible to hunting. Some really like it, some don't. My part in the whole thing is to get the those youngsters out in the field! As I get older it sure is nice to have those guys to drive, push decoy carts, pickup the spread at the end of the day. The hidden benefit, there fun to have around!!