California Waterfowl’s family hunts make it possible for families to enjoy hunts at some of the most exclusive duck clubs in the country together.
Many of these hunts have hosts or volunteer guides to ensure that novices—whether they’re the kids or the adults—get the guidance they need.
BIRD HAVEN RANCH
Hunt on the famed Bird Haven Ranch. Bordering Howard Slough Wildlife Area, Little Dry Creek Wildlife Area and Butte Creek makes Bird Haven Ranch an absolute turkey hotspot. Hunters will hunt from predetermined blinds.
Special conditions: At least one hunter must be a junior.
Capacity: Two hunters 
Hunt dates:
- 4/6
- 4/20
HOODOO ISLAND— TURKEY
Application type: Lottery
HooDoo Island, a portion of the Little Dry Creek 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.
Special conditions: At least one hunter must be a junior.
Capacity: Three hunters (two juniors and one adult)
Hunt dates:
- 3/30
- 4/6
- 4/13
- 4/20
- 4/27
BIRD HAVEN RANCH—WATERFOWL HUNT
Application type: Lottery
This is one of the premier duck clubs in the country. At 2,200 acres and located just west and adjacent to the closed zones of Howard Slough and Little Dry Creek wildlife areas, this club is one of the most beautiful and productive marshes in the Pacific Flyway. In addition to the marsh, Bird Haven Ranch also farms about 1,000 acres of rice and a considerable amount of corn and milo food plots. Hunters will be driven out to large, comfortable stand-up blinds for a morning shoots. Don’t miss this opportunity to spend some time at the one-of-a-kind Bird Haven Ranch.
Special conditions: At least one hunter must be a junior. Two groups will be drawn each hunt date. 20 gauge only.
Capacity: Two hunters (one junior and one adult)
Hunt dates: November 10 and January 5
CLOSED ZONE FARMS—WATERFOWL HUNT
Application type: Lottery
This is a 400-acre property situated directly next to some of the largest concentrations of mallard and pintail in the Pacific Flyway. The club sits on the north side of Little Dry Creek unit of the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area and is hunted only once a week. Eighty percent of the club is never hunted, while the remaining 20% is hunt areas that are rotated every few weeks. Opportunities to shoot limits of ducks, along with white-fronted geese as an added bonus, are very common due to location and light hunting pressure. Some of our past junior hunters have limited on all drake mallards.
All blinds are stand-up and well-hidden in natural cover throughout this incredible marsh. Transportation to the blinds is provided by the hosts via UTV. Lunch and refreshments provided. This opportunity is donated by Larry Gury.
Special conditions: Youth hunters must have prior shooting experience and be very confident handling a gun. Youth hunters must be over 12 years old. Dogs and guides will be provided. Please do not bring a dog.
Capacity: Two hunters (one junior and one adult)
Hunt Date: November 17
GRIZZLY RANCH—FAMILY HUNT PROGRAM
Application type: First-come, first-served
Dates:
Oct. 26-27
Nov. 2-3
Nov. 16-17
Nov. 23-24
Dec. 21-22
Dec. 28-29
Jan. 4-5
Cost: $150-$225
This special hunt opportunity offers fun and exciting waterfowl experiences for new and experienced hunters alike. The two-day event includes overnight lodging prior to the hunt, a boat ride to the blind, breakfast, lunch and a hunt in a well-managed wetland in the Suisun Marsh with very low hunting pressure. The night prior to the hunt also includes an education portion, where participants learn essential waterfowl identification and regulations, blind set-up and firearm safety skills.
The hunt is $150 for one junior and one adult or $225 for two juniors and one adult. The fee includes a Sprig membership and regular membership to California Waterfowl, as well as lodging and food. For a schedule of the event, blind averages and more, click here.
Special conditions: At least one hunter must be a junior. Blind stools and decoys are provided.
LITTLE DRY CREEK FARM—WATERFOWL HUNT
Application type: Lottery
This property sits across the northwest side from Closed Zone Farms and is a 600-acre property of natural wetlands. Don Ekstrom and Joe Murphy are two of the four owners of the property who are donating the hunt. The club is lightly hunted – only twice a week – and over one-third of the property is never hunted and holds thousands of mallards. Seventy percent of the birds taken are mallards and limits are very common.
All blinds are stand-up, well-hidden in the tules and accessed by gravel paths. Transportation to the blind is provided by the hosts via UTV. This opportunity is donated by Joe Murphy, Don Eckstrom, and Mark Koller.
Special conditions: Youth hunters must have prior shooting experience and be very confident handling a gun. Youth hunters must be over 12 years old. Dogs and guides will be provided. Please do not bring a dog. Two groups will be drawn on the hunt date.
Capacity: Two hunters (one junior and one adult)
Hunt Date: November 17
MOM’S FARMS—WATERFOWL HUNT
Application type: Lottery
The south and west side of Mom’s Farms sits next to the closed zone of the Little Dry Creek unit in the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area. The property is entirely natural wetlands with tules, trees, smartweed and watergrass. This beautiful club has a large sanctuary, which provides a great benefit to the entire area as the birds exchange between the club and refuge all day long. Opportunities to shoot limits of ducks, along with white-fronted geese as an added bonus, are very common due to location and light hunting pressure.
All blinds are stand-up, well-hidden in the tules and accessible by boat. This opportunity is donated by Todd and Kim Magaline.
Special conditions: Youth hunters must have prior shooting experience and be very confident handling a gun. Youth hunters must be over 12 years old. Dogs and guides will be provided. Please do not bring a dog. Two groups will be drawn on the hunt date.
Capacity: Two hunters (one junior and one adult)
Hunt Date: November 17
MOUND FARMS—WATERFOWL HUNT
Application type: Lottery
Mound Farms was recently restored by CWA in 2013. Located in the southern Yolo Bypass, 16 miles south of Davis. You can plan on shooting a variety of species. All hunting will be from pit blinds or stand-up blinds.
Special conditions: At least one hunter must be a junior. Two groups will be drawn each hunt date.
Capacity: Two hunters
Hunt dates: December 19 and January 2
NORTH RANCH—WATERFOWL HUNT
Application type: Lottery
This property borders the northeast side of the famed Rancho Esquon in Durham. These waterfowl hunts will take place in rice fields December through January. All pit blinds will be ready to hunt, with stools and decoys provided.
Special conditions: At least one hunter must be a junior. Two groups will be drawn each hunt date.
Capacity: Three hunters (two juniors and one adult)
Hunt dates:
12/1 Saturday
12/8 Saturday
12/22 Saturday
1/5 Saturday
1/19 Saturday
1/26 Saturday
O’BRIEN RANCH—WATERFOWL HUNT
Application type: Lottery
The O’Brien Ranch is located 15 miles northeast of Marysville in the legendary District 10. The hunt will take place on one of three wetland units in a stand-up blind. These wetlands hold thousands of migratory ducks and geese each season. The hunt will be hosted by owner Don Ekstrom, who will provide the morning hunt, dog, lunch and smiles! Hunters will meet Don at the ranch headquarters in the morning and need to bring waders, guns, ammunition, snacks/refreshments, etc.
Special conditions: Youth hunters must be 12 years or older. Hunting dog (Labrador retriever) will be provided—we ask that you please leave your dog at home.
Capacity: Two hunters (one junior and one adult)
Hunt Date: November 17
OPA’S DEAD END DUCK CLUB—WATERFOWL HUNT
Application type: Lottery
Located in Zamora, surrounded by the Roosevelt Ranch on both sides, Opa’s Dead End Duck Club is a 31-acre sportsman’s paradise. Ducks, geese and pheasant all frequent the property and may be pursued during the hunt.
Special conditions: At least one hunter must be a junior. Food, lodging and decoys will be provided.
Capacity: Four hunters
Hunt dates: Check back this fall – 2018 hunt dates aren’t set.
SOHNREY FAMILY FOODS—WATERFOWL HUNT
Application type: First-come, first-served
Cost: Free
Sohnrey Family Foods has donated a rice blind off Highway 99 and Nelson Shippee Road specifically for families and veterans. These hunts are unguided in a fully furnished rice blind. Hunters will be in charge of getting themselves to the blind (stools and decoys are provided). Youth hunters need to be accompanied by an adult chaperone (21 or older). There is no fee to reserve a date or attend.
Special conditions: At least one member of the hunting party must be a junior or a veteran. May hunt all day.
Hunt dates: Dec. 1 – Jan. 27 (all dates reserved)
WHIFFLEMASTER GUIDE SERVICE—FAMILY HUNT
Application type: Lottery
Join Dennis Currier on a duck hunt in the famed Lambertville area, which is located less than a half-mile from the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. This area winters thousands of waterfowl each year. Hunters will hunt out of a three-man pit blind in natural habitat. Hunt on a mutually agreeable date with the guide.
Special condition: At least one hunter must be a junior.
Capacity: Two hunters
Hunt dates: TBD in December and TBD in January.
