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THE SOCAL WATERFOWL ROUNDUP -- Jim Matthews 23jul03
The forecast for this year's waterfowl season is better than the past couple of years thanks to improved nesting success in the Pacific Flyway. Things aren't so good, however, that hunters can expect to see the restrictive bag limits and seasons changed much for this fall.
For Southern California hunters, the difference in what they'll see in the skies this fall is not likely to be too significant. Hunters here don't get a lot of those birds anyway, with most of the early season shooting on early teal migrants and locally produced birds -- and production was up in the state this year.
The following is a list of organized public hunting opportunities in the southern part of the state. Less formal hunting for waterfowl is also available for the hunter who is willing to scout out areas throughout the eastern Sierra Nevada, along the Colorado River, and at the Salton Sea outside the boundaries of the refuges and state recreation area.
The WISTER UNIT of the IMPERIAL WILDLIFE AREA on the southeast end of the Salton Sea is the crown jewell of Southern California waterfowl hunting. Area manager Jim Chakarun said he did not expect a lot of changes for this year, but a lot of things are up in the air with the budget crisis. Still, Chakarun didn't expect many changes. He said they would begin putting water on all of the traditional areas starting next month, and that the budget wouldn't affect that part of the program.
Wister and the Hazard Unit of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge are open to waterfowl hunting through the state reservation system and a daily drawing for sites after all reservation holders are admitted to the area. Refills are permitted. Shoot days are Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The state manages the waterfowl hunting program for the federal refuge. For more information, contact the unit at (760) 359-0577.
The FINNEY-RAMER UNIT of the IMPERIAL WILDLIFE AREA on the Alamo River south of the Salton Sea is open to hunters seven days per week under a self-registration system. For more information, contact the Wister Unit at (760) 359-0577.
The SAN JACINTO WILDLIFE AREA, located in western Riverside County near Lake Perris, is perhaps the second most popular hunting area next to Wister for hunters in this region. The addition of the Walker Duck Club to the refuge two years ago added about 10 sites to the area.
Hunting was pretty dismal again last year, at less than a bird-per-hunter average, but hunting on the main pond areas during the peak of the season was actually much better than the averages show.
Hunters need to remember that the only access to the area is from the south this year. Davis Road has been closed from the north, eliminating access off the 60 freeway. The best access is now off the 215 freeway at Ramona Expressway. Take that east to Davis Road, and then take Davis north into the refuge.
San Jacinto is open to waterfowl hunting through the state reservation system or a daily drawing for remaining sites after all reservation holders are admitted to the area. Refills are also permitted throughout the shoot day. Shoot days are Wednesday and Saturday. For more information, contact the wildlife area at (909) 928-0580.
The LAKE PERRIS STATE RECREATION AREA, adjacent to San Jacinto, is a neglected spot for waterfowl hunters, is a sleeper spot for hunters in western Riverside County. Hunters are allowed to hunt until noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Only hunters with boats and motors can hunt the area, and the check-in station is at parking lots 11 and 12 at the jet ski launch ramp inside the state recreation area.
Managed by the DFG, the area will again have just 10 sites this season. Two years ago, the number was 15, but it was reduced last year because of light use. This also helped spread out the hunters more and improve the quality of the hunt at Perris. It worked. Last year was better than the previous year.
Perris is open on a first-come, first-serve basis each shoot day and its blind site quota never filled last year, even on opening day. For more information, contact the San Jacinto Wildlife Area at (909) 928-0580.
The KERN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE is a popular destination for hunters who travel to the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley. The had a major reworking two years, especially in Unit 1, where there was a massive cattail removal project. The space blind areas have also seen a lot of work, and it improved hunting conditions and the habitat for birds. Kern always has some of the best bird-per-hunter averages in the state.
Waterfowl hunting at Kern is allowed on Wednesday and Saturdays through the state reservation system or a drawing for leftover sites after all reservation holders are admitted to the area. Refills are permitted. At least half of the sites available for opening day will be reserved for walk-ons. For more information, call (661) 725-2767 or the hunter's hotline at (661) 725-6504, which is normally updated after each hunt day.
At RAAHAUGE'S DUCK CLUB in PRADO BASIN, there are a minimum of 15 blinds open daily to public hunters on this club. The 2002 fee was $135 for a two-person blind, but the prices for this year haven't been set yet. To encourage hunters to bring juniors, hunters with a junior hunting license can hunt free on these sites when accompanied by a paying adult, who has to shell out only $50, on Sundays.
Shoot days are Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. All reservations are already filled for opening weekend, but there are openings for all other dates. For more information, call the club at (909) 735-7981 or check the club's web site at http://www.raahauges.com.
]At the SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES, hunting is allowed at BARRETT LAKE and SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR. Barrett is open Wednesday and Saturdays, while Sutherland is open Thursday and Sunday. There is a mail application deadline to apply for reservations in September and an in-person lottery in early October at San Vicente Reservoir. Hunters can reserve up to eight reservation dates for waterfowl hunting during this in-person lottery. The city has an information packet it mails to hunters that explains all of the details of the program and includes application forms. Hunters can call the city lakes at (619) 668-2050 to request a packet.
LAKE HENSHAW, when the water level is up, is one of the best places in the region to hunt, and it is a scull boater's dream. This San Diego County water holds a good number of geese each year and a wide variety of big ducks, especially wigeon. The lake traditionally opens to duck and goose hunting later in the fall, usually around Dec. 1. Hunt days are Wednesdays and Saturdays. The fee has been upper to $40 per hunter per day this year. For more information, contact the lake at (760) 782-3501.
Also in San Diego County, LAKE CUYAMACA has a late, short waterfowl hunt. Usually opening around Dec. 1, there are 20 to 22 blind sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reservations for the 2003 season will be taken in October. Shoot days are Wednesdays and Sundays until noon. For more information on reservations, write Lake Cuyamaca Waterfowl Hunt, 15027 Highway 79, Julian, CA 92036, or contact Hugh Marx at (760) 765-0515. The website address is http://www.lakecuyamaca.org.
The COLORADO RIVER has three major national wildlife refuges, all open to hunting, and miles of Indian Reservation lands, also open to hunting with appropriate license. Two of the three refuges are also completing significant improvements for waterfowl, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) reservation between Blythe and Parker is beginning improvements in off-river wetlands. Here's a quick summary of the river refuges, from north to south.
The LAKE HAVASU NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE has daily hunting on portions of Topoc Marsh. There are three access points on the open marsh areas. The Topoc Gorge area from Castle Rock to Lake Havasu is also open to hunting daily. This is all a boat-hunting operation, but the area holds a good number of birds and can provide excellent shooting.
There is also a limited-entry, drawing hunt at Pintail Slough.
For more information on hunting the refuge, call (760) 326-3853 or you can log on to the refuge's web site at: http://southwest.fws.gov/refuges/arizona/havasu.html.
At the CIBOLA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE on the Colorado River near Blythe, hunting is permitted from the farm field goose pits by reservation. There is also duck hunting on the open portions of the refuge, including the island unit which has been dramatically improved over past years with more ponds, cleaned backwaters and flooded fields.
At one point in time, the refuge hosted as many as 30,000 honkers during the winter, but numbers have dwindled steadily in recent years to around 5,000 to 7,000 birds. The farm field hunt was held seven days a week, but due to declining goose numbers, the hunt was cut down to just four days a week two years ago.
For information, call (520) 857-3253 or log on to the refuge's web site at: http://southwest.fws.gov/refuges/arizona/cibola.html.
The IMPERIAL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE sits on the lower Colorado River just north of Yuma. It offers miles of untapped duck hunting in hundreds of backwater potholes and lakes and along the main river. Outside of a handful of hunters in Yuma who would prefer this secret not be let out, there is almost no hunting pressure on this stretch of the river. For more information, call (520) 783-3371 or log on to the refuge's web site at: http://southwest.fws.gov/refuges/arizona/imperial.html
The forecast for this year's waterfowl season is better than the past couple of years thanks to improved nesting success in the Pacific Flyway. Things aren't so good, however, that hunters can expect to see the restrictive bag limits and seasons changed much for this fall.
For Southern California hunters, the difference in what they'll see in the skies this fall is not likely to be too significant. Hunters here don't get a lot of those birds anyway, with most of the early season shooting on early teal migrants and locally produced birds -- and production was up in the state this year.
The following is a list of organized public hunting opportunities in the southern part of the state. Less formal hunting for waterfowl is also available for the hunter who is willing to scout out areas throughout the eastern Sierra Nevada, along the Colorado River, and at the Salton Sea outside the boundaries of the refuges and state recreation area.
The WISTER UNIT of the IMPERIAL WILDLIFE AREA on the southeast end of the Salton Sea is the crown jewell of Southern California waterfowl hunting. Area manager Jim Chakarun said he did not expect a lot of changes for this year, but a lot of things are up in the air with the budget crisis. Still, Chakarun didn't expect many changes. He said they would begin putting water on all of the traditional areas starting next month, and that the budget wouldn't affect that part of the program.
Wister and the Hazard Unit of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge are open to waterfowl hunting through the state reservation system and a daily drawing for sites after all reservation holders are admitted to the area. Refills are permitted. Shoot days are Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The state manages the waterfowl hunting program for the federal refuge. For more information, contact the unit at (760) 359-0577.
The FINNEY-RAMER UNIT of the IMPERIAL WILDLIFE AREA on the Alamo River south of the Salton Sea is open to hunters seven days per week under a self-registration system. For more information, contact the Wister Unit at (760) 359-0577.
The SAN JACINTO WILDLIFE AREA, located in western Riverside County near Lake Perris, is perhaps the second most popular hunting area next to Wister for hunters in this region. The addition of the Walker Duck Club to the refuge two years ago added about 10 sites to the area.
Hunting was pretty dismal again last year, at less than a bird-per-hunter average, but hunting on the main pond areas during the peak of the season was actually much better than the averages show.
Hunters need to remember that the only access to the area is from the south this year. Davis Road has been closed from the north, eliminating access off the 60 freeway. The best access is now off the 215 freeway at Ramona Expressway. Take that east to Davis Road, and then take Davis north into the refuge.
San Jacinto is open to waterfowl hunting through the state reservation system or a daily drawing for remaining sites after all reservation holders are admitted to the area. Refills are also permitted throughout the shoot day. Shoot days are Wednesday and Saturday. For more information, contact the wildlife area at (909) 928-0580.
The LAKE PERRIS STATE RECREATION AREA, adjacent to San Jacinto, is a neglected spot for waterfowl hunters, is a sleeper spot for hunters in western Riverside County. Hunters are allowed to hunt until noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Only hunters with boats and motors can hunt the area, and the check-in station is at parking lots 11 and 12 at the jet ski launch ramp inside the state recreation area.
Managed by the DFG, the area will again have just 10 sites this season. Two years ago, the number was 15, but it was reduced last year because of light use. This also helped spread out the hunters more and improve the quality of the hunt at Perris. It worked. Last year was better than the previous year.
Perris is open on a first-come, first-serve basis each shoot day and its blind site quota never filled last year, even on opening day. For more information, contact the San Jacinto Wildlife Area at (909) 928-0580.
The KERN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE is a popular destination for hunters who travel to the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley. The had a major reworking two years, especially in Unit 1, where there was a massive cattail removal project. The space blind areas have also seen a lot of work, and it improved hunting conditions and the habitat for birds. Kern always has some of the best bird-per-hunter averages in the state.
Waterfowl hunting at Kern is allowed on Wednesday and Saturdays through the state reservation system or a drawing for leftover sites after all reservation holders are admitted to the area. Refills are permitted. At least half of the sites available for opening day will be reserved for walk-ons. For more information, call (661) 725-2767 or the hunter's hotline at (661) 725-6504, which is normally updated after each hunt day.
At RAAHAUGE'S DUCK CLUB in PRADO BASIN, there are a minimum of 15 blinds open daily to public hunters on this club. The 2002 fee was $135 for a two-person blind, but the prices for this year haven't been set yet. To encourage hunters to bring juniors, hunters with a junior hunting license can hunt free on these sites when accompanied by a paying adult, who has to shell out only $50, on Sundays.
Shoot days are Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. All reservations are already filled for opening weekend, but there are openings for all other dates. For more information, call the club at (909) 735-7981 or check the club's web site at http://www.raahauges.com.
]At the SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES, hunting is allowed at BARRETT LAKE and SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR. Barrett is open Wednesday and Saturdays, while Sutherland is open Thursday and Sunday. There is a mail application deadline to apply for reservations in September and an in-person lottery in early October at San Vicente Reservoir. Hunters can reserve up to eight reservation dates for waterfowl hunting during this in-person lottery. The city has an information packet it mails to hunters that explains all of the details of the program and includes application forms. Hunters can call the city lakes at (619) 668-2050 to request a packet.
LAKE HENSHAW, when the water level is up, is one of the best places in the region to hunt, and it is a scull boater's dream. This San Diego County water holds a good number of geese each year and a wide variety of big ducks, especially wigeon. The lake traditionally opens to duck and goose hunting later in the fall, usually around Dec. 1. Hunt days are Wednesdays and Saturdays. The fee has been upper to $40 per hunter per day this year. For more information, contact the lake at (760) 782-3501.
Also in San Diego County, LAKE CUYAMACA has a late, short waterfowl hunt. Usually opening around Dec. 1, there are 20 to 22 blind sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reservations for the 2003 season will be taken in October. Shoot days are Wednesdays and Sundays until noon. For more information on reservations, write Lake Cuyamaca Waterfowl Hunt, 15027 Highway 79, Julian, CA 92036, or contact Hugh Marx at (760) 765-0515. The website address is http://www.lakecuyamaca.org.
The COLORADO RIVER has three major national wildlife refuges, all open to hunting, and miles of Indian Reservation lands, also open to hunting with appropriate license. Two of the three refuges are also completing significant improvements for waterfowl, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) reservation between Blythe and Parker is beginning improvements in off-river wetlands. Here's a quick summary of the river refuges, from north to south.
The LAKE HAVASU NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE has daily hunting on portions of Topoc Marsh. There are three access points on the open marsh areas. The Topoc Gorge area from Castle Rock to Lake Havasu is also open to hunting daily. This is all a boat-hunting operation, but the area holds a good number of birds and can provide excellent shooting.
There is also a limited-entry, drawing hunt at Pintail Slough.
For more information on hunting the refuge, call (760) 326-3853 or you can log on to the refuge's web site at: http://southwest.fws.gov/refuges/arizona/havasu.html.
At the CIBOLA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE on the Colorado River near Blythe, hunting is permitted from the farm field goose pits by reservation. There is also duck hunting on the open portions of the refuge, including the island unit which has been dramatically improved over past years with more ponds, cleaned backwaters and flooded fields.
At one point in time, the refuge hosted as many as 30,000 honkers during the winter, but numbers have dwindled steadily in recent years to around 5,000 to 7,000 birds. The farm field hunt was held seven days a week, but due to declining goose numbers, the hunt was cut down to just four days a week two years ago.
For information, call (520) 857-3253 or log on to the refuge's web site at: http://southwest.fws.gov/refuges/arizona/cibola.html.
The IMPERIAL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE sits on the lower Colorado River just north of Yuma. It offers miles of untapped duck hunting in hundreds of backwater potholes and lakes and along the main river. Outside of a handful of hunters in Yuma who would prefer this secret not be let out, there is almost no hunting pressure on this stretch of the river. For more information, call (520) 783-3371 or log on to the refuge's web site at: http://southwest.fws.gov/refuges/arizona/imperial.html
