Has the hunting at San Jacinto gotten worse in recent years? If so, why? I've hunted there three times in the last two years and most guys I run into say it was better a few years back. Is there anything DU or CWA can do to help out? Does anyone else who hunts in southern CA think that more could be done in this part of the state? I pulled up the CWA website and tried to find out what they were doing around here and found it wasn't much. I'm not necessarily complaining...just curious.
- Thread starter Fubar
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San J just doesn't hold the ducks like it used to. When the shooting starts the birds bug out to Perris or the diary ponds nearby. They do need to do something to the bare levee in the B pond where guys walk around in the NW corner.
My ugliest San J memory was about 5 years ago in the B3 blind. It's about 9 am and my jerk cord setup is getting too loose in the little narrow strip of water off the main pond. I reset the anchor and I'm standing in the water at the edge of the weeds admiring my work and BAM!!. This oxygen waster from A2 must of got bored and was walking around and saw my bobbing pintail deke. 80 yards and he wings a shot at my dekes.
Luckily I turned and he just peppered my backside and it was too far to penetrate my skin or dekes. I started hollering and he headed for the truck. He was about 60 and his partner about 40. They got out of the county before I could meet up with them. The more I thought about it the madder I got that day.
My ugliest San J memory was about 5 years ago in the B3 blind. It's about 9 am and my jerk cord setup is getting too loose in the little narrow strip of water off the main pond. I reset the anchor and I'm standing in the water at the edge of the weeds admiring my work and BAM!!. This oxygen waster from A2 must of got bored and was walking around and saw my bobbing pintail deke. 80 yards and he wings a shot at my dekes.
Luckily I turned and he just peppered my backside and it was too far to penetrate my skin or dekes. I started hollering and he headed for the truck. He was about 60 and his partner about 40. They got out of the county before I could meet up with them. The more I thought about it the madder I got that day.
huntducks
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Chessie
A few min. either way does not bother me, two years ago there was a group of guys that use to hunt there on Wed afternoon, Lead & 30min late was the rule with these 3-4 jerks I heard they finely got caught, 1 was the lookout while the others shot, and a little 2 way radio kept them in contact, I must have told Tom a 100 times if I told him once about these guys. for some reason A-2 always get a new AH in it, and for some reason there is always a jerk in one of the spots on C always.
Jesse been awhile, that little strip always holds a surprise or 2 (not to loud on that spot) DAMN I miss Four Rivers that is a refuge.
I think the biggest problem with SJ has been weather up north and a lack of it, also I don't feel they have gotten the most out of the place, a real lack of field crops, and poor pond mangement.
And yes the shooting use to be outstanding there 4-6 years ago
A few min. either way does not bother me, two years ago there was a group of guys that use to hunt there on Wed afternoon, Lead & 30min late was the rule with these 3-4 jerks I heard they finely got caught, 1 was the lookout while the others shot, and a little 2 way radio kept them in contact, I must have told Tom a 100 times if I told him once about these guys. for some reason A-2 always get a new AH in it, and for some reason there is always a jerk in one of the spots on C always.
Jesse been awhile, that little strip always holds a surprise or 2 (not to loud on that spot) DAMN I miss Four Rivers that is a refuge.
I think the biggest problem with SJ has been weather up north and a lack of it, also I don't feel they have gotten the most out of the place, a real lack of field crops, and poor pond mangement.
And yes the shooting use to be outstanding there 4-6 years ago
Chessie
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Jesse, you are right, as soon as the guns go off the birds bug out. They don't come back til after shoot time. The last day last year I finished up at E5 and as I was walking in the Mallards, yes Mallards where dumping into the E ponds like crazy. All of them coming off Perris. Nice to hear you survived the "attack". One of these days I'm afraid somebody at the B pond is going to get hurt.
Chris, I believe there was supposed to be a DU project setup in the river basin in the land south of the check station. From what I heard it got squashed because of some endangred rat or plant.
As far as SJ getting better, hopefully with the new land purchase more blinds will be available. I also feel hunting pressure has lowered the avgs.
Chris, I believe there was supposed to be a DU project setup in the river basin in the land south of the check station. From what I heard it got squashed because of some endangred rat or plant.
As far as SJ getting better, hopefully with the new land purchase more blinds will be available. I also feel hunting pressure has lowered the avgs.
I have found one place in SD county, not far from San Jacinto that holds a ton of ducks, year in and year out...now don't laugh...it's true...the San Diego Wild Animal Park. You can walk across the backs of ducks in those ponds in mid December. If we could get a fraction of those birds to stop at SJ, or move on to Otay, Barrett, hunting would improve 100% around here.
It tells me that there are birds around, even in years with no weather up north, we just need water and feed and they'll show up. That's why I was wondering if there was anything CWA, DU, or even a group of us local guys with a tractor could do to help.
It tells me that there are birds around, even in years with no weather up north, we just need water and feed and they'll show up. That's why I was wondering if there was anything CWA, DU, or even a group of us local guys with a tractor could do to help.
Eric Mayer
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I was at Wister today. It was very hot, a bunch of dove flying and the shore birds and shovelers were ruling the few ponds that were flooded and a lone hen pheasant was searching for some shade. I hadn't been to the Salton Sea since about 1989, the entire area still smells the same so some things don't change! 
I was helping my buddy drop off his decoys, etc. at his club. btw, only saw 4 large quail, but saw a bunch of babies (must be on the third hatch by now because they were tiny).
Just a report.
Eric
I was helping my buddy drop off his decoys, etc. at his club. btw, only saw 4 large quail, but saw a bunch of babies (must be on the third hatch by now because they were tiny).
Just a report.
Eric
