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BIRD HAVEN RANCH—FAMILY 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
BIRD HAVEN—YOUTH HUNTER CAMP
This camp, held once a year at Bird Haven Ranch in Glenn County, includes hunter education, shooting, archery, hunting skills and a duck hunt on the third day. All gear is provided!
Special conditions: For youth ages 11-17 to have not yet completed hunter education
Date: (2018 event concluded)
BULL SPRIG OUTING WATERFOWL HUNT
Application type: Special Veteran Hunt
Cost: Free
Located near the Yolo Refuge, this club has been a family operation since 1976 and is 110 acres of a mixture of tules and Timothy grass. The hosts have excellent accommodations, comfortable blinds and A LOT of ducks. The lucky veteran hunters will enjoy an afternoon of pre-scouting, enjoy a pre-hunt dinner and wake-up with a fully guided hunt to include decoys, blinds and ducks.
Special conditions: Hunters will meet early afternoon the day before for some scouting and updates, enjoy a dinner with the hosts, then settle in for some tall tales of duck hunting days past while they wait for the sun to rise! You can almost hear the whistle of wings already!
Hunt dates: December 4-5
BUTTE CREEK ISLAND RANCH
Application type: Lottery
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 floating blinds located in two separate units. Mallards and wood ducks are common in the area, as they come into the marsh after feeding in nearby rice.
*2018 habitat project completed
Special conditions: Decoys are provided. Three groups of two hunters will be drawn each hunt date. Groups will draw for blinds the morning before the hunt.
Capacity: Two hunters
BUTTE CREEK ISLAND RANCH/SANBORN SLOUGH—WATERFOWL HUNT
Application type: Special veteran hunt
Cost: Free
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.
Special conditions: Decoys and transportation near the blind is provided. Overnight lodging and meals provided.
Hunt date: November 28
BUTTE CREEK ISLAND RANCH—YOUTH HUNT WEEKEND
Application type: Lottery
This 110-acre, CWA-owned property sits between Butte Creek and Howard Slough, across from the famed Little Dry Creek unit of the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area. Hunts will take place in either stand-up or floating blinds located in two separate units. Mallards and wood ducks are commonly harvested in the area, as they come into the marsh after feeding on nearby rice. Decoys are provided.
Capacity: One junior and one non-shooting adult chaperone. Three groups of two hunters will be drawn for each hunt. Groups will draw for blinds before the morning hunt.
Hunt Date: February 2
CICC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES—GUIDED HUNT
Application type: Lottery
Enjoy a morning hunt with the professional team of CICC Outdoor Adventures, hunting premier waterfowl properties bordering Delevan or Colusa national wildlife refuges in the beautiful Sacramento Valley. All calling and game retrieval is included.
Hunt Date: Hunt on a mutually agreeable date in January.
Capacity: Four hunters
CLOSED ZONE FARMS—FAMILY 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
CLOSED ZONE FARMS—YOUTH HUNT WEEKEND
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. Two groups will be drawn on the hunt date.
Capacity: Two hunters (one junior and one non-shooting adult chaperone)
Hunt Date: February 2
CLOSED ZONE FARMS, LITTLE DRY CREEK FARM, MOM’S FARMS—NOVICE WOMEN’S DUCK HUNT
Application type: First-come, first-served
Date:Nov. 2-4
Cost: $300
This event prepares novice duck hunters with a full day of training including shooting instruction, lessons in waterfowl ID, calling, cleaning and cooking.
The next day, we take you for morning hunts at three outstanding Upper Butte Basin duck clubs just north of the Little Dry Creek closed zone. It’s a great experience, and the participants often form long-lasting friendships at this event.
Lodging and meals are included.
Special conditions: Women must be at least 21 years old. Event is for women who have hunted ducks five times or fewer, and they must already have a valid hunting license and required stamps/validations. Individuals may attend two consecutive years.
COLUSA NWR—VETERAN HUNT
Application type: Special veteran hunt
Cost: Free
On this special hunt, all the assigned ponds 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 a hunting a national wildlife refuge. A BBQ lunch will be provided after the hunt.
Special conditions: There will be a meet and greet on Friday before the hunt from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Colusa Casino to select blind locations and cover the logistics of the hunt. A dinner will be provided along with free rooms at the Colusa Casino.
Hunt date: January 5
FOWL PURSUER OUTDOOR ADVENTURES & NORTH WIND OUTFITTERS—GUIDED HUNT
Application type: Lottery
Fowl Pursuer Outdoor Adventures and North Wind Outfitters have partnered to offer specialized hunting opportunities. Together they have the expertise and properties to offer a great waterfowl hunt. All hunts are fully guided and include transportation to and from the blind, decoys, calling and bird retrieving.
The hunt location will be determined based on scouting reports, with options including : Sacramento Valley dry-field goose hunting, Sacramento Valley flooded-rice duck hunting, San Francisco Bay diver hunting and California Delta hunting on a floating blind.
Capacity: Two hunters
GLIDE IN RANCH
Application type: Lottery
Located in the Yolo Bypass and bordering the southernmost closed zone of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, the Glide In is the premier duck club in the bypass. Encompassing nearly 1,200 acres of rich, seasonal marsh makes the Glide In Ranch a duck hunters dream. Come join a member of the Glide In for a morning shoot, which will conclude at noon. Shooting limits of pintail, mallard and teal is not uncommon, so be ready for a great hunt!
Capacity: One hunter
Hunt dates: December 15, January 19
H-POND
Application type: Lottery
Join Austin Edwards, CWA Board Member, at the H-Pond duck club in the Yolo Bypass, Davis, CA. The hunter will be boated to the blind on this beautiful natural wetland. Hunt on a mutually agreeable date in January.
Capacity: Two hunters
Hunt Date: TBD January
LITTLE DRY CREEK FARM—FAMILY HUNT
Application type: Lottery
This property sits across the northwest side from Closed Zone Farms and is a 600-acre property of natural wetlands. 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 Ekstrom, 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
LITTLE DRY CREEK FARM—YOUTH HUNT WEEKEND
Application type: Lottery
This property sits across the northwest side from Closed Zone Farms and is a 600-acre property of natural wetlands. 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 Ekstrom, 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 non-shooting adult chaperone)
Hunt Date: February 2
MOM’S FARMS—FAMILY 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 Kim and Todd 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
MOM’S FARMS—YOUTH HUNT WEEKEND
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 Kim and Todd Mageline.
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 non-shooting adult chaperone)
Hunt Date: February 2
MOUND FARMS—FAMILY 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—FAMILY 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
OBANION ROAD RICE BLIND
Application type: First-come, first-served
Cost: $25 per adult
Hunt a four man rice blind south east of the Sutter National Wildlife Refuge. Stools and decoys are provided.
Hunt dates: Dec. 1 – Jan. 27
O’BRIEN RANCH—FAMILY 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—FAMILY 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 Date: Check back this fall – 2018 hunt dates aren’t set.
RECLAMATION DISTRICT 833
Application type: Lottery
Enjoy a memorable hunt on this 800-acre property in the heart of the Butte Sink. Depending on the conditions at the time of the hunt, a boat ride to the blind is required, and your host will take care of all the necessities. This club has been completely overhauled as a result of a CWA project completed in 2010. This area is located just south of the Bean Field, which is the largest U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sanctuary in the Butte Sink. Do not miss out on this exclusive hunting opportunity.
Capacity: Two hunters
Hunt Date: January 7
RICE-N-DICE
Application type: Lottery
Shoot a three-man rice blind in the Sutter Basin near the town of Robbins with CWA staff.
Special Conditions: 20 gauge only
Capacity: Two hunters
Hunt dates: December 5, January 5, 9, 12, and 19
ROBBINS RICE BLIND/DNH FARMS
Application type: First-come, first-served
Cost: $25
Dates: Dec. 1. – Jan. 27 (all dates reserved)
DNH Farms has donated a rice blind near Robbins, specifically for families, veterans and women. 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 a one time $25 fee to reserve a date and attend.
Special conditions: At least one member of the hunting party must be a junior, veteran or woman. May hunt all day.
NEW–SANBORN SLOUGH
Application type: Lottery
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.
Special conditions: Decoys and boats are provided. Four groups of three hunters will be drawn each hunt date. Groups will draw for blinds the morning before the hunt.
Capacity: Three hunters
SEBIA DUCK CLUB—VETERAN HUNT
Application type: Special veteran hunt
Cost: Free
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, breakfast, duck and goose calling, and transportation to and from blinds.
Special conditions: No 3½-inch shells and no 10 gauge
Hunt date: December 20 (Applications closed)
SOHNREY FAMILY FOODS—YOUTH/VETERAN BLIND
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)
TANGLEFREE PROPERTIES, LLC
Application type: Lottery
This property is located in Lambertville, near the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. The lucky winner and their guest will meet at the club on January 4, before the morning hunt for a wonderful afternoon hunt. Following the hunt, you will be treated to an evening of great outdoor cooking and cocktails by Doug and Cory Foskett of Tanglefree. Following dinner, you will be able to relax and listen to ducks and geese in anticipation of your morning hunt. Special thanks to Doug and Cory Foskett and Tanglefree.
Special Conditions: Food and lodging provided. Bring a sleeping bag and a towel for the shower.
Capacity: Two hunters
Hunt Date: January 4-5
TULE PATCH
Application type: Lottery
Tule Patch is a long standing duck club within the heart of the Butte Sink and is located just south of the Little Dry Creek Unit of the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area by about 3 miles and bordering CWA’s Sanborn Slough property. The lucky winner and their guest will show up the morning of the hunt and will be taken to the blind by UTV.
Capacity: Two hunters
Hunt Date: Hunt on a mutually agreeable date in January.
UPPER VALLEY RANCH
Application type: Lottery
Located north of Marysville and east of Gridley, this property can produce great duck hunting opportunities as birds move down the eastern half of the valley from the Oroville Afterbay and surrounding duck clubs. The ranch was restored by California Waterfowl in 1999 and contains over 450 acres of seasonal wetlands and 350 acres of uplands dedicated to waterfowl and pheasant. The property is well-known for its mallard harvest and its ability to work birds with little disturbance due to the lack of neighbors. CWA Senior Biologist Chadd Santerre designed and built this spectacular ranch and he will be your host.
Capacity: Two hunters
Hunt dates: November 28 and January 9
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.
