CA Refuge Help

Fred

Active member
I never hunt the refugees except at Tule Lake - Lower Klamath. I need info on how to get a reservation at Kern refuge. Have a chance to hunt with a friend there if we can get a reservation.

Tight Lines ... Fred
 
You have to get a single, or five-reservation card from a sporting goods store. There should be one in your area that has them. I think it's $1.30 for a single reservation application and 6.50 for a five-spot. They have to be received in Sacramento 17 days before the date requested. If you can't find the cards locally, you can probably call the DFG to get some. Otherwise, you might be able to get someone to fill them out for you.

If you're coming all the way to the SJ Valley to hunt ducks, there are some other refuge options available too.

Are you trying to get a Cinnamon Teal?

Good Luck.

Tom*
 
My hunting buddy had to move to Morro Bay so were looking for a place to hunt together. Do I need to get a Type A, B or C permit before hunting these areas?

Will get right on the reservations tomorrow.

Cinnamon teal would be great, but just looking to a little duck hunting somewhere in S.J Valley.

Tight Lines ... Fred
 
For the better refuges, you need a type A permit. You can buy a season pass for about $12, a two-day pass for about $25, and a one-day pass for about $15. (I'm a little off on the numbers, but close.) You probably will want the single or two-day passes. The singles are sold at the refuges in the morning. Two-days you need to get from a DFG office.

Here is a guide to public refuges, and the regulations:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/docs/06-Waterfowl-Upland-Lands.pdf

There are A, B, and C refuges. A's have the fees I cited. B's have a season pass at about $40, and C's are free.

Kern is the southernmost refuge in the Central Valley. Drive about an hour and a half North, and you hit Mendota. That's a pretty good refuge (12,000 acres with a hunter capacity of 600.) Except for opening weekend, you can always get on there, and it shoots a lot of ducks. There are even more refuges farther North, and more and better ones above Sacramento.

There are plenty of places to duck hunt, and some very good ones. Kern is a hotspot for Cinnamon Teal, that's why I asked you in the first place if you wanted to go there in search of one.

Good luck.

Tom*
 
Back
Top