Hunting Information

SPECIAL NOTE: Please use caution if hunting in Grandma Tract units 8 or 10. Please refrain from shooting in the direction of the County RD (south). We recently had an incident where pellets from one of the hunters hit and broke the windshield of a vehicle on County Rd. 56.

Sport hunting is permitted on 2,330 acres of the Refuge in accordance with all State and Federal regulations subject to the special Refuge regulations. The Refuge is open to hunting during regular shooting hours of the waterfowl hunting season on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

HUNT WORKING GROUP

The Hunt Working Group has been re-established to help improve the quality of waterfowl hunting on the Refuge. If you are interested in participating, please contact us at 530.233.3572. The group will meet 1-2 times per year to discuss the hunting program on the Refuge.

LINKS TO USEFUL INFORMATION FOR HUNTERS:

2012 Opening Weekend of Waterfowl Hunting Season on the Refuge

2012 Junior Hunts on the Refuge

2012 Bag and Possession Limits for the Refuge

2012 Gate and Shooting Times for the Refuge

The Most Recent Bird Survey of the Refuge

Map of the Hunting Area at the Refuge

California Dept. of Fish and Game - hunting information and regulations

2012 Hunting Season Harvest Statistics on the Refuge

General Hunting Information

Hunt days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Information stations are located at the designated parking lots North, South, and Grandma tract and at the Refuge Headquarters. The Headquarters office hours are 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Hunting permits and fees are not required for hunting on the Refuge (except Opening Weekend). Self check-in and check-out are required by each hunter at the information stations in the designated parking lots in the hunt area. These registration cards must be in possession while on the Refuge.

Hunting Methods and Habitat

There are a variety of habitats on the hunt area including dry and flooded grain fields, wet meadows, ponds and marshes. The areas include rough, uneven terrain; deep, dense stands of bulrushes (tules) and ditches. The most common species harvested include Canada geese, mallards, wigeon and gadwalls with decoying techniques being the most effective method. Do not take firearms into posted "Retrieval Zone". Do not go beyond "Closed Area" signs. Pick up your cripples at once to prevent waste.

Spaced Blinds

There are three spaced blinds available, out of the North hunt lot, which are all ADA accessible. The ADA blinds may be reserved by disabled hunters either through the opening weekend application process, or during the remainder of the hunt season by calling the Refuge office at least 24 hours in advance of the day you plan to hunt. Blinds not reserved will be available to all hunters on a first-come, first-served basis. The remainder of the hunt area is open for free-roam hunting. The spaced blinds are serviced from the designated parking areas where there are reserved parking stalls with numbers corresponding to the spaced blinds. Hunters utilizing the spaced blinds are required to use the numbered parking stalls. No more than one hunting party may occupy a spaced blind site. A hunting party is limited to four persons. Hunters must remain within the established blind while hunting except to retrieve downed birds and return to or from the parking area. All other State and Refuge hunting regulations apply to the spaced blind hunting area.

Grandma Tract

There are 5 assigned hunt units (2 wetland, 1 dry grainfield, and 2 units which may be either freshly planted grain or moist soil wetland) available on the Grandma Tract hunt area. Hunters utilizing the assigned hunt units must park in the numbered space corresponding to the unit they wish to hunt. Assigned hunt units are available on a first-come, first-served basis after opening weekend. No more than one party may occupy an assigned hunt unit, but may hunt from anywhere within the assigned unit boundaries. A hunting party is limited to four persons. Hunters must remain within the assigned hunt unit except to retrieve downed birds and going to or from their vehicle.

Hunting Access and Terrain

Hunters must enter and exit the hunting area from the three designated parking lots (North, South, and Grandma Tract). All decoys and personal equipment must be taken in and out of the hunt area through the designated parking areas. Other access is prohibited. Guns must be unloaded in the designated parking areas at all times.

Bikes are allowed outside the parking areas, but only on Refuge roads or graveled dikes in the hunt area and only after opening weekend. Boats are not needed to hunt the Refuge. There are two bridges available to cross the Pit River at the north and south end of the hunt area. Additionally, there is a pedestrian pulley-style crossing between the two bridges to cross the river. Hip boots or chest waders are essential for hunting comfort and to retrieve downed birds. There are many canals, flooded fields and marshes. Beware of deep water in ditches, usually adjacent to dikes. Rainfall can make roads and fields muddy and slippery, making them more difficult to negotiate. Hunting difficulty varies by location and hunters should examine their own abilities and limitations before using the Refuge. Handicapped persons should hunt with a partner and consult with the Refuge Manager for suggestions for hunting the area safely.

Respect private property adjoining the public hunt area. Unauthorized entry upon private lands is a trespassing violation.

Camping

No overnight camping or parking is permitted on the Refuge. Commercial campgrounds, RV parks and hotels are available in Alturas, California - three miles north of the Refuge.