2019 / 2020 Waterfowl Hunt Season

General Rules

“RESERVATION ONLY” hunts for the general public will be conducted on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This is a random drawing. Seven blinds total will be drawn. ALL blinds will be available as first pick status per reservation drawn except disabled blind which is pre-assigned.

Check Station
All hunters must present a valid CA hunting license and appropriate stamps at the check station. All hunters must check-in and check-out at the check station and report hunting results. Check-in time to claim reserved pick status is 5:00 a.m.  Shoot time ends at 12:00 p.m. (noon), and all hunters must have checked back in by 1:00 p.m.  Youth hunters get first pick on Saturdays. All licensed hunters in a blind may participate in hunt (exceptions for 'Youth Blind' and 'Youth Only Hunt' in the post season hunt; see details below). Unlicensed hunters may accompany a licensed hunter but may not hunt. An unlicensed hunter counts as a 'person' in the blind just as a licensed hunter. Licenses and stamps are NOT sold at the check station or refuge headquarters.

This is a small, high quality hunt that offers well spaced blinds and an opportunity to enjoy a normally restricted area with a natural lake and restored riparian and wetland setting. Unsportsman-like, unsafe or illegal conduct will not be tolerated and may result in loss of hunting privileges to this area. 

NO waiting line ("backfill / sweatline"). NO prior access to hunt area; area is closed to general public. Please do not ask for access; requests will be refused and you may or will be cited for trespassing in a closed area.  

DFW Regulations, Licenses, & Additional Hunt Rules  
Licenses and stamps are NOT sold at the check station or refuge headquarters! Please use the California Department of Fish & Wildlife website to locate where to purchase your license and stamps. All State regulations apply to Refuge hunts.

California Department of Fish & Wildlife Regulations

DFW License Sales Office

Additional Hunt Rules for Stone Lakes NWR

Blind Information

Blinds
All licensed hunters in a blind may participate in hunt (exceptions for 'Youth Blind' and 'Youth Only Hunt' in the post season hunt; see details below). All hunters must hunt from blinds; NO free-roam. Blinds consist of either a concrete pit blind or a platform blind. Chest waders are needed to get to blinds. Please see links below for blind conditions and locations. Only overall running season averages will be posted; individual blind averages will NOT be posted! Hunters are responsible for bringing additional camouflage as available natural cover may be limited at individual blinds, or 'brushing' may deteriorate as the season progresses. Due to cost of maintenance and upkeep, Boat-to-Blinds are no longer available.

Season Averages

Blind Conditions

Sun River Hunt Blind Map   2.7 MB pdf

Applicants may apply for one of the three hunt blind draws:

General Blind
2-person
6 blinds Wednesday; 6 blinds Saturday; Only hunters 18 or older may apply

Youth Blind
3-person
One adult and up to two youth hunters; see 'Youth Blind' description below for more details
1 blind Saturday only; Only licensed youth 17 or younger may apply ** New California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations now consider a junior hunter as less than 18 years of age at the beginning of the license year (July 1). If a youth 16 or 17 had previously applied prior this season in the general hunt, they may reapply for the youth blind.

Disabled Blind
2-person
Pre-assigned; floating pontoon blind that may be moved in lower half of assigned wetland unit
1 blind Wednesday only; One disabled accompanied by one able-bodied hunter; Only licensed disabled hunter may apply

One Disabled blind Wednesday; One Youth blind Saturday;
Six General blinds both Wednesday and Saturday

Youth Blind
One blind is reserved for youth on Saturday and will have the first pick. Only youths may apply for youth blinds. Adults may NOT apply for youth blinds. Youth blinds are 3-person max. All youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older.  Up to two youth hunters accompanied by one adult in the youth blind.  The accompanying adult may hunt.  Or, one youth hunter and one adult hunter, accompanied by one non-shooting guest, regardless of age, may be in the blind. If there are two adults in the blind with one youth, only ONE adult may hunt. Youths are individuals less than 18 years of age at the beginning of the license year (July 1). Only youth may hunt in the 'Youth Only Hunt' during the post season. 

Disabled Blind
One pre-assigned blind is reserved for disabled on Wednesday. To qualify as disabled, the applicant must possess a DMV placard identification card/receipt with the applicants name listed and must show at check-in station. Only disabled hunters may apply for the disabled blind. Able-bodied hunters may NOT apply for disabled blinds. Licensed able-bodied hunters accompanying disabled hunter MAY hunt. Disabled blind is pre-assigned; it is a floating pontoon blind that may be moved within the lower half of designated wetland unit.

Application Procedure

This is a non-fee hunt. All applications for all blinds must use the FWS Form (new form coming this fall - see below) printed on an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of regular #20 typing paper. Faxes, letters, emails, and postcards will NOT be accepted and will be disqualified from the drawing. Applicants may only apply once per hunt day. No fee required to submit applications, and applications for each hunt day may be submitted in one envelope with proper postage. Applications must be sent through the U.S. Mail or dropped off during refuge office hours: M - F, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Applications MUST be received on or before the appropriate application due date as listed below. Hunt days for Youth blind is Saturday and Disabled blind is Wednesday. Youth hunter gets first pick on Saturday. Disabled blind is pre-assigned. All successful applicants will be selected by a random drawing and notified via reservation postcard at least ten days prior to hunt. Reservations are non-transferable and the selected applicant must be present and participating in the hunt. Repeat "no-shows" will be eliminated from the drawings.

Please do not call about selections! Successful applicants will receive a reservation card via U.S. Mail. As per policy, successful applicants will not be posted on the website. General staff answering phones do not have the reservation list and cannot give out personal information.

Application Forms - NEW forms will available for the 2019/20 season beginning of October.

 A separate application must be printed, filled out and submitted via mail (or dropped off) for EACH hunt date! You will only be entered in the drawing for the 1st Date indicated on each application. Multiple applications with the same date will be disqualified.

Be sure to SIGN your applications; Unsigned or incomplete applications will be disqualified.

 New FWS Form coming soon; General Blind  Only non-youth hunters may apply for the General Blind.

 New FWS Form coming soon; Youth Blind  Youth age MUST be filled in, and BOTH the youth and guardian MUST sign the application. Only youth may apply for Youth Blind. Youth Blind is available for Saturday hunts. 

 New FWS Form coming soon; Disabled Blind  Only disabled hunters may apply for the Disabled Blind.  Disabled Blind is available for Wednesday hunts.

2019 / 2020 Hunt Application Due Dates

Mail or Drop-off Applications to:

Successful applicants will be selected by a random drawing and notified via reservation postcard at least 2 weeks prior to hunt.