CWA's new Sanborn Slough duck club/PHOTO BY JAKE MESSERLI

California Waterfowl has acquired the 260-acre Sanborn Slough duck club in the legendary Butte Sink – a critical addition that will allow the organization to increase public hunting access and educational programs in the Sacramento Valley.

Sanborn Slough represents a bold step for California Waterfowl: It is the first duck club that California Waterfowl has purchased outright – its other five properties were either donated to CWA or purchased using money donated for that purpose.

When the property was listed for sale earlier this year, CWA took notice, because this club is located adjacent to the 110-acre Butte Creek Island Ranch, which was donated to California Waterfowl by CWA Diamond Benefactor John Simmons in 2016.

Butte Creek Island Ranch immediately became the top-performing property in CWA's Hunt Program when public hunting began there in the 2017-18 season. But it doesn't have the capacity to offer the kind of special hunts and hunter training events that CWA offers at its Grizzly Ranch and Denverton properties in the Suisun Marsh. These are typically overnight events with multiple meals included.

Combined with Sanborn Slough, however, these properties have the capacity needed for CWA's extraordinary suite of educational programs. Together, they have become the Butte Sink Hunting, Conservation and Education Center.

Hunter training is a key priority for California Waterfowl because hunters are the leading supporters of wetland conservation in California – hunters need wetlands, and wetlands need hunters.

Providing hunting access to both new and existing hunters is also critical, because lack of access is one of the leading factors that cause people to give up on hunting.

Public hunting through the Hunt Program begins at Sanborn Slough with the 2018-19 duck season, when an estimated 468 hunters will be given access to the property. And through Sept. 15, 2018, anyone who joins CWA or renews their annual membership will receive one free application for a chance to win a hunt at Sanborn Slough on Opening Day. Click here for membership options.

Wetland restoration efforts and educational programming will begin in 2019.

Media contact: Holly Heyser, hheyser@calwaterfowl.org