RANCHO VISALIA HUNT CLUB veteran WATERFOWL HUNT
Application type: Special veteran hunt
Cost: Free
Hunt dates: Nov 22 and 29th, Dec 13, 20, and 27th, Jan 10 and 17th
Application type: Special application
Cost: Free
Region: Tulare Basin
For: Veteran or active-duty military*
Capacity: 1 hunters
Restrictions: none
Description: Rancho Visalia is located in northern Kern County, west of Delano. The 640-acre club has three ponds that make up 115 acres of wetlands. The club was founded in 1945.
The lucky hunter will arrive the night before for dinner. Food and lodging are included.
*Open to any active-duty service member, or veteran of the military, naval or air service who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. Learn more about the Veteran Hunt Program.
river dog duck club youth Waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: 2/1/25, 2/2/25
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Suisun Marsh
For: All hunters
Capacity: 1 hunter and one non shooting adult
Restrictions: none
Located on Van Sickle Island in the heart of California's Suisun Marsh, this beautiful 400-acre private duck club offers premier waterfowl and upland hunting. This club is strategically located right along Honker Bay to the west and borders Grizzly Island Wildlife Area to the north. Due to its location, River Dog Duck Club is known to offer great pintail and widgeon hunting under the right conditions. Offering both 2 & 3 man pit blinds and several Xfowler floating blinds. Hunters will be taken by ATV (provided) and walk about 200 yards to the blind. Decoys are provided. Mentors can be provided by club if needed.
river dog duck club Veteran Waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: 2/8/25, 2/9/25
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Suisun Marsh
For: All hunters
Capacity: 2 hunters
Restrictions: none
Located on Van Sickle Island in the heart of California's Suisun Marsh, this beautiful 400-acre private duck club offers premier waterfowl and upland hunting. This club is strategically located right along Honker Bay to the west and borders Grizzly Island Wildlife Area to the north. Due to its location, River Dog Duck Club is known to offer great pintail and widgeon hunting under the right conditions. Offering both 2 & 3 man pit blinds and several Xfowler floating blinds. Hunters will be taken by ATV (provided) and walk about 200 yards to the blind. Decoys are provided. Mentors can be provided by club if needed.
Bird Haven Ranch - Youth Hunt WEEKEND
Hunt dates: 2/1
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: All hunters
Capacity: 2 hunters (one adult non shooter and one youth shooters)
Description: This is one of the premier duck clubs in the country. At 2,200+ acres and located just west of and adjacent to the closed zones of Howard Slough and Little Dry Creek units of the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area, this club is one of the most beautiful and productive marshes in the Pacific Flyway. In addition to lush watergrass and smartweed fields intermixed with willow trees and tules, Bird Haven Ranch also farms about 1,000 acres of rice and a considerable amount of corn and milo food plots. If you’re not chasing mallards and wood ducks in the oak trees along Butte Creek or in a flooded corn field, you’re sure to see plenty of ducks and geese using the manicured wetlands. Hunters will be driven out to large and comfortable stand up blinds for a morning shoot. Don’t miss this opportunity to spend some time at the one-of-kind Bird Haven Ranch. 3 groups will be drawn.
Click here to visit our application website.
UPPER VALLEY RANCH North
Hunt dates: 1/8/2025
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: All hunters
Capacity: 2 hunters
Restrictions: Hunt ends at 11AM
Description: Located north of Marysville and east of Gridley, this property can produce great duck hunting opportunities as birds move down the eastern half of the Valley into the historic District 10. The ranch was restored by California Waterfowl in 1999 and contains over 450 acres of seasonal wetlands and 350 acres of uplands dedicated to waterfowl and pheasant. The property is well-known for its mallard harvest and its ability to work birds with little disturbance due to the lack of neighbors. CWA Director of Wetland Programs Chadd Santerre designed and built this spectacular ranch, and he will be your host. Hunt ends at 11AM.
hit and miss Ranch veteran PIG HUNT
Hunt dates: Starting back again in January, so please check back in December.
Application type: Lottery
Cost: Free for Veterans or Active Military
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: Veterans or Active Military
Capacity: Two hunters
Restrictions: Must be in good physical condition
Join the California Waterfowl's Veteran Hunt Program for an unforgettable pig hunt at the Hit and Miss Ranch near Williams, CA. This hunt in the hills on the west side of the Sacramento Valley offers a great hunting experience. Hunters must be capable of walking short distances over rough terrain and riding in a UTV for extended periods in rugged terrain. Hunters will meet the host near Interstate 5, close to Maxwell, and proceed to the location.
Participants are responsible for bringing their own rifle with lead-free ammunition, binoculars, food, water, knives, gloves, ice, and a valid CA hunting license with a pig validation.
Capacity: Two hunters
Special conditions: Must be in good physical condition
MULBERRY youth waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: 2/1/25
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Suisun Marsh
For: Youth
Capacity: One youth hunter and one non shooting chaperone
This 600-acre Suisun Marsh duck club is located adjacent to Highway 680 near the "Mothball Fleet." The club traditionally holds large numbers of pintail, as well as other ducks, in the 200-acre private sanctuary on the west side of the property. As with most clubs on the marsh, access to the blind is by boat (provided). With recent habitat improvements, this club will offer great teal and pintail hunting. Do not miss this opportunity to hunt a premier Suisun Marsh duck club.
Capacity: One junior and one non-shooting adult chaperone. One group will be drawn for this hunt.
CICC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Hunt date: TBD on a mutually agreed-upon date in January
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: All hunters
Capacity: 4 hunters
Restrictions: none
Description: Enjoy a morning hunt with the professional team of CICC Outdoor Adventures, hunting premier waterfowl properties bordering the Delevan or Colusa national wildlife refuges in the beautiful Sacramento Valley. All calling and game retrieval is included.
One suggestion: Don't forget to tip! These are professional guide teams who rely in part on tips to make a living.
FOWL PURSUER OUTDOOR ADVENTURES & NORTH WIND OUTFITTERS WATERFOWL hunt
Hunt dates: Nov-Jan
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Sacramento Valley or San Francisco Bay
For: All hunters
Capacity: 2 hunters
Restrictions: None
Description: Fowl Pursuer Outdoor Adventures and North Wind Outfitters have partnered to offer specialized hunting opportunities. Together they have the expertise and properties to offer a great waterfowl hunt. All hunts are fully guided and include transportation to and from the blind, decoys, calling and bird retrieving.
The hunt location will be determined based on scouting reports, with options including: Sacramento Valley dry-field goose hunting, Sacramento Valley flooded-rice duck hunting, San Francisco Bay diver hunting and California Delta hunting on a floating blind.
Due to the drought flooded rice hunting may be limited.
One suggestion: Don't forget to tip! These are professional guide teams who rely in part on tips to make a living.
Click here to visit our application website.
GOOSE LAKE Youth waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: 2/1/25
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Tulare Basin
For: All hunters
Capacity: 3 hunters
Restrictions: None
Description: CWA's Goose Lake property located just south of Lost Hills consists of 2,175 acres of total habitat. In 2014, we reconstructed 300-acres of wetlands on the Houchin Unit to improve water use efficiency and promote the growth of waterfowl food plants, such as swamp timothy and watergrass. Houchin will not be avialable for waterfowl this season.
The 926 acre Badger-Almond Unit has undergone separate restoration/reconstruction efforts since acquisition in 2014. In 2015 CWA restored the eastern 320 acres of fallow farmland into 300 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands and 20 acres of upland habitat. In 2018 through a project funded by NAWCA and WCB, CWA reconstructed 346 acres of previously developed ground by NRCS to allow for more efficient moist soil management practices. No all-season roads. Access will be closed with inclement weather.
THERE WILL BE NO PHEASANTS FOR THE 24-25 SEASON!
Click here to visit our application website.
GRIZZLY RANCH mi/veteran Blind waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: Oct-Feb
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt
Region: Suisun Marsh
For: Veteran* or active-duty military, or mobility-impaired hunter
Capacity: 3 hunters
Restrictions: One hunter must be able to push the floating blind to the hunt location.
Description: This 982-acre formerly private duck club is California Waterfowl's flagship property. Blind E0 is accesible by boat or by using a wheelchair accessible floating blind. Decoys and stools are provided. Learn more about Grizzly Ranch here.
Capacity: 3 hunters
*Open to any active-duty service member, or veteran of the military, naval or air service who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
Watch the Grizzly Ranch Drone Flyover Video Now.
Learn more about the CWA Veteran Hunt Program.
Click here to visit our application website.
GRIZZLY RANCH first-come, first-served waterfowl HUNT
Hunt dates: Nov-Jan
Application type: First-come, first-served
Cost: $200-300 (no hunter-access fee for guests)
Region: Suisun Marsh
For: All hunters
Capacity: 2-3 hunters
Restrictions: ****May only register as a hunt winner or attend as guest once per person, per hunting season. May not register as hunt winner and attend as guest on separate dates****
Description: This is a California Waterfowl-owned property in the famed Suisun Marsh, bordering Grizzly Island Wildlife Area. Grizzly Ranch is over 900 acres and the wetlands are managed by CWA biologists. Decoys and transportation to and from the blinds are provided.
Click here to visit our application website.
*All dates for the 2024-25 season have been reserved*
DENVERTON mi/veteran Blind waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: Oct-Feb
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Suisun Marsh
For: Veteran* or active-duty military, or mobility-impaired hunters
Capacity: 3 hunters
Restrictions: None, but one hunter must push the floating blind out to the hunt location
Description: Denverton is a 762-acre formerly private duck club in the Suisun Marsh. Assigned Pond MI/VET is wheelchair accessible, and blind stools are provided. One member of the hunting party must be able to push the blind out to the desired hunt location. Learn more about Denverton here.
Capacity: 3 hunters
Click here to visit our application website.
View the Denverton aerial video here.
Watch our veteran hunt story here.
GOOSE LAKE MI/VET blind waterfowl HUNT
Hunt dates: Dec-Jan
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Tulare Basin
For: Veteran or active-duty military*, or mobility-impaired
Capacity: 3 hunter
Description: CWA's Goose Lake property located just south of Lost Hills consists of 2,175 acres of total habitat. Our floating blind is wheelchair accessible and has low sides for shooting from a sitting position. Decoys and stools are provided. This years MI blind will be at the Badger Almond Unit.
*Active-duty service member, or veteran of the military, naval or air service who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
THERE WILL BE NO PHEASANTS FOR THE 24-25 SEASON!
Click here to visit our application website.
BUTTE CREEK ISLAND RANCH waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: Oct-Feb
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: All hunters
Capacity: 3 hunters
Restrictions: None
Description: This 110-acre, CWA-owned property sits between Butte Creek and Sanborn Slough, across from the famed Little Dry Creek unit of the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area. Hunts will take place either in stand-up blinds or floating blinds located in two separate units. Mallards and wood ducks are common in the area, as they come into the marsh after feeding in nearby rice.
Special thanks to Closed Zone Farms for providing mowing and discing services to CWA’s Butte Creek Island Ranch and Sanborn Slough properties.
Decoys are provided. Two groups of three hunters will be drawn each hunt date. Groups will draw for blinds the morning before the hunt.
Click here to visit our application website.
H-POND waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: December or January (TBD by hunter and host)
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: All hunters
Capacity: 1 hunter
Restrictions: none
Description: Join H-Pond club member Dean Ongaro at the H-Pond duck club in the Yolo Bypass near Davis. The hunter will be boated to the blind on this beautiful natural wetland.
SANBORN SLOUGH waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: Dec-Feb
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: All hunters
Capacity: 3 hunters
Restrictions: none
Description: This 260-acre, newly acquired CWA-owned property sits between Sanborn Slough and Cherokee Channel, across from the famed Little Dry Creek unit of the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area. Hunts will take place in stand-up blinds scattered across the wetland unit. Hunters will boat to selected blinds.
Decoys and boats are provided. Four groups of three hunters will be drawn each hunt date. Groups will draw for blinds the morning before the hunt.
Special thanks to Closed Zone Farms for providing mowing and discing services to CWA’s Butte Creek Island Ranch and Sanborn Slough properties.
Click here to visit our application website.
QUIMBY ISLAND WATERFOWL HUNT
Hunt dates: Oct-Jan
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Delta
For: All hunters
Capacity: 2 hunters
Restrictions: none
Description: This 789-acre property is located in East Contra Costa County between Mandeville Island, Frank's Tract and Holland Tract in the heart of the California Delta. The property was farmed for corn until it was enrolled in a federal wetland conservation easement program in 2012 and restored to managed wetlands by California Waterfowl staff. Habitats consist of seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands, riparian and grassland areas. The fertile peat soils grow wetland plants and trees like nowhere else in the Valley, producing impressive stands of smartweed and watergrass intermixed with lush willow thickets that attract large numbers of waterfowl. The hunt will take place either in the morning or afternoon depending on weather conditions. All hunters will be transported to the blind by boat. Decoys, blind stools, jet sleds, etc. will be provided. Two groups will be drawn for each hunt date.
Click here to visit our application website.
STATEN ISLAND WATERFOWL HUNT
Hunt dates: Nov-Jan
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Delta
For: All hunters
Capacity: 3 hunters
Restrictions: none
Description: The Delta island is 9,200 acres and located roughly 10 miles east of Rio Vista. It is home to thousands of wintering ducks, geese, swans and cranes. A large population of Aleutian geese winter on the island. Crops consist of corn, triticale, potatoes and hay. Hunters will hunt from pit-blinds, in flooded rice fields. Water depth range from 6 to 24 inches. Blind stools and decoys provided.
Special Conditions: Hunting will end at 10 a.m. Each group must consist of at least two hunters. Hunt winner must bring a guest. Five groups will be drawn each hunt date. Groups will draw for blinds before the morning hunt.
DENVERTON waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: Oct-Feb
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Suisun Marsh
For: All hunters
Capacity: 3 hunters
Restrictions: None
Description: This is a California Waterfowl-owned property encompassing 762 acres and located in the Suisun Marsh off Highway 12. Six hunting groups will be allowed each hunt date, giving every group a chance for a memorable hunt. The hunt area consists of three XFowler floating blinds and three Black Box pit blinds. One of the XFowler blinds is wheelchair accessible and able to float from the parking lot to the desired location in the pond. Decoys are provided.
Click here to visit our application website.
View the Denverton drone video here.
FAMILY CLUB waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: 12/11, 1/8
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Suisun Marsh
For: All hunters
Capacity: 2 hunters
Restrictions: none
This 250-acre Suisun Marsh duck club is located adjacent to Highway 680 just north of the "Mothball Fleet." This is one of the premier duck clubs of the Suisun Marsh, with open water that offers superb pintail and teal hunting. Due to its location along the Goodyear Slough, this club has been known to offer great mallard hunting given the right conditions. Hunters will take a UTV (provided) and walk about 200 yards to the blind. Come experience one of the friendliest clubs in the marsh and have a great hunt too.
Click here to visit our application website.
GRIZZLY RANCH waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: Oct-Feb
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: All hunters
Capacity: 2 hunters
Restrictions: None
Description: This is a California Waterfowl-owned property in the famed Suisun Marsh, bordering Grizzly Island Wildlife Area. Grizzly Ranch is over 900 acres and the wetlands are managed by CWA biologists. Decoys and transportation to and from the blinds is provided. Ten groups of two hunters will be drawn on each hunt date. Hunters will draw for blinds the morning of the hunt.
Click here to visit our application website.
MULBERRY Waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: 12/14/24 & 1/11/25
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Suisun Marsh
For: All hunters
Capacity: 2 hunters
Restrictions: none
This 600-acre Suisun Marsh duck club is located adjacent to Highway 680 near the "Mothball Fleet." The club traditionally holds large numbers of pintail, as well as other ducks, in the 200-acre private sanctuary on the west side of the property. As with most clubs on the marsh, access to the blind is by boat (provided). With recent habitat improvements, this club will offer great teal and pintail hunting. Do not miss this opportunity to hunt a premier Suisun Marsh duck club.
GOOSE LAKE waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: Dec-Jan
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $6 to apply, $25 to hunt (hunt fee waived for youth)
Region: Tulare Basin
For: All hunters
Capacity: 3 hunters
Restrictions: None
Description: CWA's Goose Lake property located just south of Lost Hills consists of 2,175 acres of total habitat. In 2014, we reconstructed 300-acres of wetlands on the Houchin Unit to improve water use efficiency and promote the growth of waterfowl food plants, such as swamp timothy and watergrass. Houchin will not be avialable for waterfowl this season.
The 926 acre Badger-Almond Unit has undergone separate restoration/reconstruction efforts since acquisition in 2014. In 2015 CWA restored the eastern 320 acres of fallow farmland into 300 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands and 20 acres of upland habitat. In 2018 through a project funded by NAWCA and WCB, CWA reconstructed 346 acres of previously developed ground by NRCS to allow for more efficient moist soil management practices. No all-season roads. Access will be closed with inclement weather.
THERE WILL BE NO PHEASANTS FOR THE 24-25 SEASON!
Click here to visit our application website.
