California Waterfowl is proud to offer exceptional hunts and other outdoor opportunities to servicemen and women through its Veteran Hunt Program.
The program promotes wellness through outdoor healing and the camaraderie of fellow veterans. Participants have enjoyed hunter education courses, fun shoots, fishing trips and hunts for waterfowl, dove and turkey from the Klamath Basin to the southern San Joaquin Valley.
CWA coordinates all hunt details and supplies food and lodging, shotgun shells, guns, jackets, gear bags, duck calls, shirts, hats and more to all participants. Hunts are free and are limited to veterans.
All of these hunts are open to any veteran currently serving or who has served in the military, naval or air service and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. A committee reviews applicants and selects veterans best suited to enjoy the hunt.
In addition to these opportunities, the Hunt Program has blinds reserved on most lottery hunt days for people who are veterans and/or mobility impaired—click here for more information.
Want to read about some of our hunts? Click here.
Sponsored by:
UPCOMING HUNTS
hit and miss Ranch veteran PIG HUNT
Hunt dates: 7/17, 7/27, 8/7
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
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.
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.
GRIZZLY RANCH 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 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 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.
HOODOO ISLAND Veteran turkey hunt
Hunt dates: 11/13, 11/27
Application type: Special Application
Cost: Free
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: Veterans or active-duty military*
Capacity: 1 hunter
Restrictions: None
Description: HooDoo Island, a portion of the Little Dry Creek unit of the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area in Butte and Glenn counties, consists of 130 acres of pristine wetland and riparian habitats. Butte Creek and Howard Slough flow around the island, creating a wildlife corridor teeming with wild turkey and other wildlife.
Click here to visit our application website.
DISPATCHES FROM THE VETERAN HUNT PROGRAM
Exciting News: Promotion Announcement for Jeff Smith at California Waterfowl!
We are delighted to announce the well-deserved promotion of Jeff Smith to the position of Director of Hunting and Education Programs at California Waterfowl. Jeff has been an integral part of our organization for an impressive 16 years, demonstrating unwavering dedication and passion for educating the public on the vital role of hunting in conservation efforts.
2024-25 Waterfowl Seasons and Bag Limits Finalized
The California Fish and Game Commission voted today to approve the seasons and bag limits for the 2024-25 waterfowl season. California Waterfowl provided testimony at the hearing in San Jose.
2024 CWA End of Season Survey
Welcome to the 2024 CWA End of Season Survey. You may notice that we reduced the number of questions significantly for this year’s survey to focus only on waterfowl seasons and bag limit issues
