Arrowhead blind Veteran WATERFOWL HUNT
Hunt dates: Starting 10/30, every Wednesday and Saturday
Application type: Special veteran hunt
Cost: FREE
Region: Upper Butte Basin
For: Veterans or Active Military
Hunter: 4 (ONLY VETS CAN APPLY, CAN BRING JUNIOR OR VETERANS AS GUESTS)
Description: Situated in the famed Upper Butte Basin of the Pacific Flyway, Merlo Waterfowl has some of the finest and most well managed private properties available.
Located just south of the Lano Seco Refuge, this property boosts one of the highest harvest rates of all our ranches. Blinds run east from Aquas Frias Rd just north of Butte Creek and continue west boarded by several hundred acres of natural habitat. An eastern section of the property boarders Butte Creek and is left for prime dry field goose hunting. The property has a high harvest rate of white and dark fronted goose.
RANCHO VISALIA HUNT CLUB VETERAN WATERFOWL HUNT
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.
SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL LOS ANGELES CHAPTER - VETERAN PHEASANT HUNT
Hunt dates: January 18, 2025
Application type: Veteran
Cost: Free
Region: Southern CA
For: Active military and veterans
Description: Join CWA Veteran Hunt Program and SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL Los Angeles Chapter for a day of Pheasant Hunting at LONE PINE PHEASANT CLUB in Lone Pine, CA.
https://www.lonepinepheasantclub.com/
On January 18th, 2025, you will join CWA and SCI-LA for a day afield including birds, continental breakfast, lunch, bird cleaning, dogs and handlers. LONEPINE Pheasant Club is a professional hunt club with over 800 acres of exclusive pheasant hunting habit. If you are hoping to do a pheasant hunt with a great organization, this is the hunt for you and your Veteran friends.
Special conditions: Open to any active-duty service member, or veteran of the military, naval or air service who was discharge or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
BARRON RANCH VETERAN WATERFOWL HUNT
Hunt dates: 1/18, 1/22, 1/25, 1/26, 1/29
Application type: Special application
Cost: Free
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: Veterans or active-duty military
Capacity: 2 hunters
Restrictions: none
Description: Veterans, come join CWA on a Veteran Hunt at the Barron Ranch near Lincoln on an exclusive private property rice blind duck hunt. This is a great hunt for those just beginning and you can expect to hunt till mid or late morning. This club consistently produces Pintail, Widgeon, Gadwall, Teal, and the Great Northern Shoveler! If you are a physically challenged Veteran, no worries, the guide has two quads to traverse the property. Recommend #2, 3 or 4 shot for ducks and although waders are not required, some kind of rubber boots above the ankle works well for the wet and mud. Face masks for this hunt are required…….the Camo ones…..as we like the ducks in close when it comes time to shoot them. No Dogs please on this hunt as a trained lab trained is used with a field dog blind. Decoys are provided, simply bring your gun, shells, license, and enjoy the day.
*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.
GUSTINE GUN CLUB VETERAN WATERFOWL HUNT
Hunt dates: December 10-11, 2024
Application type: Special veteran hunt
Cost: Free
Requirements: Veteran or active duty military
The Gustine Gun Club is believed to be the oldest club in the Grasslands. With a deep waterfowl history and great wingshooting, Gustine is a great destination for any waterfowl hunter. Hunters will arrive Tuesday night before the scheduled hunt for hors d’oeuvres and dinner with their hosts.
Participants will arrive the day before the hunt. Food and lodging included.
Special conditions: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.
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.
SEBIA DUCK CLUB VETERAN HUNT
Hunt dates: 1/15/25
Application type: Special application
Cost: Free
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: Veterans or active-duty military*
Capacity:
Restrictions: none
Description: This 6,400-acre rice ranch borders the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge. The club is well-known for excellent duck and goose hunting. The hunt is hosted by Manager Mark Kirsten and includes decoys, dinner, overnight lodging on the night before the hunt, breakfast, duck and goose calling, and transportation to and from blinds.
*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.
GOOSE LAKE VETERAN WATERFOWL HUNT
Hunt dates: 2/8/2025
Application type: Lottery
Cost: Free
Region: Tulare Basin
For: Veterans or Active Military
Capacity: 3 hunters
Restrictions: Blind #1 at the Houchin Unit will have the option to hunt the entire unit or hunt from the floating blind or stand-up blind. One member of the hunting party must be able to push the floating blind out to the desired hunt location.
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.
New-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.
GRIZZLY RANCH VETERAN WATERFOWL HUNTS
Hunt dates: 2/8/25
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 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.
GRIZZLY RANCH MID SEASON VETERAN WATERFOWL HUNTS
Hunt dates: 12/14 and 12/15
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 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.
Separate hunters will be drawn for each hunt date. You may apply for both days.
STATEN ISLAND—VETERAN HUNTS
Hunt dates: 12/14, 1/11, and 2/8
Application type: Special application
Cost: Free
Region: CA Delta
For: Veteran* or active-duty military
Restrictions: none
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, rice, triticale, potatoes and hay. Hunters will hunt from stand-up blinds in flooded, harvested corn fields. Water depth ranges from 6 to 24 inches. Blind stools and decoys provided.
Special conditions: Hunters will arrive the night before the hunt for dinner. Each blind will have a waterfowl guide. The volunteer guide will assist with calling, decoy set-up, bird ID, retrieving birds and more. Food and lodging 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.
DENVERTON VETERAN WATERFOWL HUNTS
Hunt dates: 11/27, 12/7, 1/4, and 2/8
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.
DRONE VIDEO
BUTTE CREEK ISLAND RANCH/SANBORN SLOUGH VETERAN WATERFOWL HUNT
Hunt dates: 12/11 and 2/8
Application type: Special application
Cost: Free
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: Veteran* or active-duty military
Restrictions: none
Description: Butte Creek Island Ranch -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 pit blinds located in three separate units. Mallards and wood ducks are common in the area, as they come into the marsh after feeding in nearby rice.
Sanborn Slough-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 transportation near the blind is provided. Overnight lodging and meals provided.
Special thanks to Closed Zone Farms for providing mowing and discing services to CWA’s Butte Creek Island Ranch and Sanborn Slough properties.
*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
COLUSA NWR VETERAN WATERFOWL HUNT
Hunt date: 1/4/25
Application type: Special veteran hunt
Cost: Free
Region: Colusa
For: Veterans or Active Military
On this special hunt, all the assigned ponds in the northern area at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge will be reserved for disabled veterans. Traditionally, this is a spectacular time for waterfowl hunting in the Sacramento Valley. The assigned pond locations will be reserved for the entire day. All selected hunters will be paired with a volunteer who will assist with calling, decoy set-up, bird ID, retrieving birds and more. This is a great opportunity to experience the wonders of hunting a national wildlife refuge. A BBQ lunch will be provided after the hunt.
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.
POP-UP VETERAN GOOSE HUNTS
Hunt dates: TBD
Application type: Special application
Cost: Free
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: Veterans or active-duty military*
Capacity: Multiple hunters
Restrictions: none
Description: CWA Veteran Hunt Program and some extremely gracious landowners and Volunteer Guides have donated POP-UP (when the geese are there you gotta go) goose hunts for VETERANS. VHP will provide hunts from the Delta Islands, Dixon, Colusa area, over to the west side of the valley near Sacramento Wildlife Refuge, and in between. These hunts are not for the faint of heart, as it will be mornings as early as 3am setting up decoy spreads into the thousands.
*You must know that you could be notified as little as 24-48 hours before the day of the hunt. We do our best to get notice out well before each hunt, but it is not always possible.
*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.
VIETNAM VETERAN WATERFOWL HUNT
Hunt dates: 1/1-1/2 2025
Application type: Special application
Cost: Free
Region: Colusa
For: Vietnam Era Veteran
Restrictions: none
CALLING ALL VIETNAM VETERANS!!! Ring in the New Year with CWA's Veteran Hunt Program at CWA's premier Sanborn Slough Clubhouse. Come enjoy dinner, drinks, the view, and camaraderie with some of our nation's finest veterans on the afternoon of 1/1/25. The hunt will take place at three different properties on 1/2/25. We will hunt blinds out of Lambertville, Colusa, and the Durham area
Hunt date will be January 2nd, arrive afternoon of the 1st and all food, lodging and beverages will be provided during the event.
Special conditions: Open to Vietnam Era Veterans.
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 accessible 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.
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
View the Denverton aerial video here.
Watch our veteran hunt story here.
Click here to visit our application website.
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 hunters
Description: 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 year’s 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.
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
MOON LAKE DUCK CLUB VETERAN HUNT
Hunt dates: Oct-Jan
Application type: Special application
Cost: Free
Region: Sacramento Valley
For: Veteran* or active-duty military
Restrictions: none
Join California Waterfowl on a truly enjoyable Veteran hunt with Moon Lake Duck Club. This club is located between the Sacramento NWR and Delavan NWR and is a season-long attraction for the large amount of ducks and geese wintering in this area. You will hunt out of flooded rice fields and well-maintained pit blinds and enjoy shooting waterfowl at close ranges and “feet down” in the decoys. This is one of those remarkable hunts brought to CWA via a generous donor supporting our Veteran Hunt Program. Hunts will occur every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday during the season as well as storm days. It will be 2 groups of 2-3 veterans per hunt depending on weather conditions.
Special conditions: 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.
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.
