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.
UPCOMING HUNTS
HOODOO ISLAND Veteran turkey hunt
Hunt dates: 11/15, 11/29
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.
DENVERTON veteran WATERFOWL HUNTS
Hunt dates: 11/25, 12/9, 1/6, and 2/10
Application type: Special application
Cost: Free
Region: Suisun Marsh
For: Veteran* or active-duty military
Restrictions: none
Description: This is a California Waterfowl owned property encompassing 762 acres and located in the Suisun Marsh off Highway 12. The hunt area consists of three Xfowler floating blinds and three Black Box Pit Blinds. Hunters will arrive Friday night for dinner. Each blind will have a volunteer guide. the volunteer guide will help with blind safety, waterfowl identification, decoy placement, bird retrieval, calling, etc.
*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.
Click here to visit our application website.
View the Denverton drone video here.
Butte sink veteran WATERFOWL HUNT
Hunt dates: 1/9-10/24
Application type: Special application
Cost: Free
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: Veterans or active-duty military*
Capacity: 6-8 hunters
Description: Come and experience some of the best waterfowl hunting in the Butte Sink at CWA’s Butte Creek Island Ranch and Sanborn Slough property.All Veterans are welcome to apply for this hunt as we can accommodate any Veterans with or without disabilities. We will provide all of the food and beverages required.
*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.
GOOSE LAKE MI/VET blind waterfowl HUNT
Hunt dates: Dec-Jan
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $5 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.
Click here to visit our application website.
DENVERTON mi/veteran Blind waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: Oct-Feb
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $5 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 stor here.
GRIZZLY RANCH mi/veteran Blind waterfowl hunt
Hunt dates: Oct-Feb
Application type: Lottery
Cost: $5 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.
Click here to visit our application website.
Watch the Grizzly Ranch Drone Flyover Video Now.
Learn more about the CWA Veteran Hunt Program.
DISPATCHES FROM THE VETERAN HUNT PROGRAM
CWA's all new "Save it for the Blind" Podcast announced!
California Waterfowl proudly presents the Save it for the Blind podcast! Dive into the world of duck hunting, conservation, and legislation. With excellent guests and all things waterfowl being discussed. Come see or listen to CWA personnel and others discuss the duck blind and more.
CWA and SCI team up for a special veteran's pheasant hunt
Fifteen active duty and honorable discharged men and women took part in the FREE event at Lone Pine Pheasant Club.
Honoring and remembering our heroes
A very special Vietnam Veteran Hunt Dispatch from Mike Peeters.
