Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Waterfowl Hunt

2023/24 Hunt Season

Flood damage from the 2023 New Years floods impacted many units and activities on the refuge, including the 2023/24 waterfowl hunt season at the Sun River Unit, resulting in a delayed season.

General Information

Welcome to the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge waterfowl hunting program.  Located just minutes outside of Sacramento, this unique Central Valley delta waterfowl hunting program is open to the general public. Run directly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this is a “RESERVATION ONLY” duck hunt through a random drawing . You must apply for the draws using the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Waterfowl Hunt applications (see below). There is no fee to apply. Hunts are conducted on Wednesdays and Saturdays from sunrise to noon. Seven blinds total will be drawn. Blind pick will be conducted 5:00 a.m. the morning of the drawn hunt in order of the assigned pick number on the confirmation reservation postcard, except Mobility Impaired blind which is pre-assigned. All successful drawn applications will be sent a confirmation reservation postcard via U.S. Mail.  NO waiting line ("backfill / sweatline").

Check Station

The Service is following federal, state, and local public safety guidelines to provide continued access to recreational opportunities on public lands. Any entry onto Service property during this period is at the visitor’s sole risk. Check station will conduct hunter check-in outside of the building, and each hunting party must wait in the parking area until called up for blind pick. When visiting Stone Lakes NWR, please ensure public health and safety by following guidance from the CDC, state and local public health authorities. All persons during check-in and check-out must adhere to Sacramento County health and safety guidelines.

All hunters must present a valid CA hunting license, HIP validation, and required State and Federal stamps at the check station; Type A pass is not required. 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 and depart by 1:00 p.m.

Youth blind has first pick on Saturdays. All licensed hunters in a blind may participate in hunt (exceptions for 'Youth Only Hunt' and 'Veterans Only Hunt' in the Special Hunts; see details below). Unlicensed hunters may accompany a licensed hunter but may not hunt. An unlicensed hunter counts as a 'person' in the blind towards the total number of persons allowed for the blind.

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 riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

Learn more about riparian and wetland setting. All State and Federal regulations apply to Refuge hunts including bag limits, State and Federal duck stamps, and 25 shotshell limit. Unsportsman-like, unsafe or illegal conduct will not be tolerated and may or will 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 to 'scout'; requests will be refused and you may or will be cited for trespassing in a closed area.

Licenses and stamps are NOT sold at the check station or refuge headquarters.
 

DFW Regulations, Licenses, & Refuge Hunt Rules

Before you arrive, purchase all licenses, validations & stamps. Licenses and stamps are NOT sold at the check station or refuge headquarters. Hunters must purchase any required licenses, validations and stamps prior to arrival at the Check Station. Type A pass is not required. Please use the California Department of Fish & Wildlife website to locate where to purchase your license and stamps. 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 and depart by 1:00 p.m.

Items you must have prior to your hunt:

• California Hunting License (hunters less than 16 years of age must have a valid Junior Hunting license)
• Harvest Information Program (HIP) Validation
• California Duck Stamp (excluding juniors hunting under the authority of a Junior Hunting License)
• Federal Duck Stamp (not required for junior hunters less than 16 years of age; junior hunters must purchase a Federal Duck stamp once they turn 16, even if it's during the season with a Junior Hunting License)
   

All State and Federal regulations apply to Refuge hunts including bag limits, State and Federal duck stamps, and 25 shotshell limit. Unsportsman-like, unsafe or illegal conduct will not be tolerated and may or will result in loss of hunting privileges to this area. This is a unique, small and in-demand hunt. We try to refill blinds when there's a cancellation, so repeat "no-shows" who do not cancel prior to hunt date will be eliminated from drawings.  For questions or to cancel your drawn reservation, email:stonelakes@fws.gov

Additional Regulations and License Information:

• Additional Hunt Rules for Stone Lakes NWR
• California Department of Fish & Wildlife Regulations
• DFW License Information and Sales

Blinds

All licensed hunters in a blind may participate in hunt (exceptions for 'Youth Only Hunt', and 'Veterans Only Hunt' in the Special Hunts; 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 blind camouflage as available natural cover may be limited at individual blinds, or 'brushing' may deteriorate as the season progresses.

• Sun River Hunt Blind Map
• Sun River Blind Information
• Season Averages

Applicants may apply for ONE of the three blind options per hunt day: General, Youth or Mobility Impaired

General Blind

• 2-person
• 6 blinds Wednesday; 6 blinds Saturday
• Only hunters 16 or older with a general license may apply
• General blinds are up to 2 persons total: Either two hunters, OR, one hunter (the drawn applicant) and one non-shooting guest (regardless of age) may be in the blind. Only 2 persons total are allowed in the General blind.

Youth Blind

• One adult mentor and up to two youth hunters
• One blind pick is reserved for youth hunters on Saturday, and will have the first pick. Only hunters with a junior license may apply for Youth blinds. California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations consider a junior hunter as less than 16 years of age at the beginning of the license year (July 1). Hunters with a general license may NOT apply for Youth blinds. All youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older.  
• Youth blinds are up to 3-persons: Up to two youth hunters accompanied by ONE adult mentor (adult can be shooting or non-shooting) in the Youth blind. The Youth blind is NOT intended for the adult to be the primary hunter. The youth drawn for the hunt must be present and participating in hunt. The intention of the Youth blind is to give youths an opportunity to be the primary shooter and gain experience. The adult role is first and foremost as a mentor. Please honor the spirit of the Youth blind in mentoring the youth hunter so they may gain experience and individual success. Please Note: Recurring abuse of this special first pick status whereas the adult is clearly the primary shooter may result in all adults losing future shooting privileges in the Youth blind. *Only ONE adult permitted in the Youth blind.

Mobility Impaired Blind

• 2-person
• Pre-assigned floating pontoon blind reserved for mobility impaired hunters on Wednesdays, which may be moved in lower half of assigned wetland unit via human power
• 1 blind Wednesday; One mobility impaired hunter accompanied by one able-bodied person (shooting or non-shooting); Only licensed mobility impaired hunters may apply for Mobility Impaired Blind
• To qualify as mobility impaired, the applicant must possess a DMV placard identification card/receipt with the applicants name listed and must show at check-in station. Only mobility impaired hunters may apply for the Mobility Impaired blind. Able-bodied hunters may NOT apply for Mobility Impaired blinds. Licensed able-bodied hunters accompanying a mobility impaired hunter MAY hunt. Mobility Impaired blind is pre-assigned; blind is a floating pontoon boat that may be moved within the lower half of designated wetland unit via able-bodied human power.

One Mobility Impaired blind Wednesday; One Youth blind Saturday;
Six General blinds both Wednesday and Saturday

Application Procedure

All applications must be sent through the U.S. Mail. Please do NOT send envelopes with a "Signature Required" as we are often in the field and no one to sign to receive the envelope. No fee required to submit applications. Applications MUST be received on or before the appropriate application due date as listed below. We appreciate when applications are submitted all together in one large envelope with proper postage (helps us with filing and saves you postage!). No drop-offs.

This is a non-fee hunt. All applications for all blinds must use the FWS Form 3-2439 (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. Multiple applications for the same hunt date, or multiple applications for more than one blind type for the same hunt date, will disqualify the hunter from that season's drawings. Be sure to use the proper application form for the hunt blind type, especially the Special Youth Only Hunt and Special Veterans Only Hunt. All incomplete applications or applications used for the wrong date/blind type will be disqualified.

Hunt days for Youth blind is Saturday and Mobility Impaired blind is Wednesday. Youth blind has first pick on Saturday. Mobility Impaired blind is pre-assigned.

NO waiting line ("backfill / sweatline").

NO prior access to hunt area; area is closed to general public. Please do not ask for access to 'scout'; requests will be refused and you may or will be cited for trespassing in a closed area.

Please do not call about draws. We receive numerous applications and you have less than 1% chance of being drawn. 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. As per policy, successful applicants will not be posted on the website, and general staff answering phones do not have the reservation list. If you cannot attend your hunt day, we kindly request notification via email of your cancellation so we may refill that draw. This is a unique, small and in-demand hunt, so repeat "no-shows" who do not cancel prior to hunt date will be eliminated from drawings.  For questions or to cancel your drawn reservation, email: stonelakes@fws.gov

Application Forms

A separate application must be printed, filled out and submitted via U.S. mail for EACH hunt date! You will only be entered in the drawing for the 1st date indicated on each application. Applicants may only apply ONCE per hunt day. Multiple applications for the same hunt date, or multiple applications for more than one blind type for the same hunt date, will disqualify the hunter from that season's drawings. No fee required to submit applications. We appreciate when applications are submitted all together in one large envelope with proper postage (helps us with filing and saves you postage!). No drop-offs.

License GO ID Number

Use your GO ID number on the applications. Unsigned, incomplete, or prior years application forms will be disqualified. 

2023/24  Hunt Application Forms

•  General Blind - Hunt Application 2023/24 ;  Only hunters with a General license may apply for the General Blind.  Hunters with a Junior license may not apply for the General Blind.
   
•  Youth Blind - Hunt Application 2023/24 ;   Youth AGE must be filled in, and BOTH the youth and guardian must SIGN the application.  Only hunters with a Juniors license may apply for the Youth Blind. Youth Blind draw is available for Saturday hunts. Incomplete applications will be disqualified.
   
•  Mobility Impaired Blind - Hunt Application 2023/24 ;  Only mobility impaired hunters may apply for the Mobility Impaired Blind.  Mobility Impaired Blind draw is available for Wednesday hunts.

Special Hunts

Special Youth Only Hunt

The last Saturday of January is a Youth Only Hunt. Only youth with a valid Junior license may apply for the hunt. You MUST use the "Special Youth Only Hunt Application 2023/24" to apply (see below).  All other forms will be disqualified. Both the youth and guardian must sign the application. All drawn blinds will be up to 3-persons: Up to two youth hunters with one non-shooting adult. ONLY youth may hunt.

• Special Youth Only Hunt Application 2023/24 ;  Youth AGE must be filled in, and BOTH the youth and guardian must sign the application. Only youth hunters with a Juniors license may apply for the Youth Only Hunt. Incomplete applications will be disqualified.
   

Special Veterans Only Hunt

The last Sunday of January is a Veterans Only Hunt. Only qualified Veterans may apply and hunt. Veterans (as defined in Section 101 or Title 38, United States Code) and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than training), may participate. Persons participating in this special hunt must possess and present upon demand verification of eligibility to participate in this hunt. Verification includes: Veteran's ID Card, or Military ID Card for active duty, or a State-issued driver's license or Identification Card with Veteran Designation. Please use the "Special Veterans Only Hunt General Application 2023/24" or the "Special Veterans Only Hunt Mobility Impaired Application 2023/24" to apply (see below). All other forms will be disqualified. All blinds will be up to 2-persons; there are six general blinds and one Mobility Impaired blind available for this hunt. Blinds may have either two Veteran hunters, OR, one Veteran hunter with a non-shooting guest as the second person. Only Veterans may hunt. 

• Special Veterans Only Hunt - General Blind Application 2023/24 ;  Only qualified Veteran hunters may apply for the Veterans Only Hunt.
   
• Special Veterans Only Hunt - Mobility Impaired Blind Application 2023/24 ;  Only qualified Veteran mobility impaired hunters may apply for the Veterans Only Hunt Mobility Impaired Blind.

2023 / 2024 Hunt Application Dates 

Hunt dates for the 2023/24 hunting season are tentative as the refuge works to prepare the hunt area from last winter’s floods. We are accepting applications based on prior years season (mid-November through end of January) and will begin the draws once we are able to prepare the hunt area and blinds. You need to submit the new 2023/24 applications to be in the draw. Please check back in early September for updates on our progress.

*Notice: The Special Youth Only hunt is the last Saturday of January, and the Special Veterans Only Hunt is the last Sunday of January. ONLY Youth and Veterans respectively may hunt on those days.

* SpecialYouth ONLY Hunt and Veterans ONLY Hunt MUST use special designated application forms. All other forms will be disqualified.

For questions or to cancel your drawn reservation, please email:  stonelakes@fws.gov

All applications must be sent through the U.S. Mail. Applications for each hunt day may be submitted all together in one large envelope with proper postage. No Drop-offs. Successful applicants will be selected by a random drawing and notified via reservation postcard at least 10 days prior to hunt. 

Mail Applications to: 

Stone Lakes NWR Hunt
1624 Hood-Franklin Road
Elk Grove, CA 95757