Sacramento NWR Complex - Hunting - Admission

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Hunting home page  <--- Click here to return to the Hunting home page

Hunting is permitted on Sat, Sun and Wed only, during waterfowl season. Entry to the hunt areas is through the hunter check stations. Permits may be obtained by reservation, lottery, or first-come-first-serve. 

*This webpage is specific for Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa and Sutter NWRs*.  Click here to find information about hunting at the Sacramento River NWR. 

Before you Arrive....

Check Stations DO NOT SELL any license items, validations, or passes!
Hunters must purchase any needed licenses, validations and passes prior to arrival at the Check Station.

Licenses, validations and passes may be obtained from:

1. CDFW license sales office (link to CDFW page)
2. license agent (link to CDFW page)
3. online (link to CDFW page)

 Items you must have: 

• California Hunting License
• Prepaid Type A Pass (not required for junior hunters) - Type A One-day, Two-day or Season Pass (this is like an entry day-pass)
• Harvest Information Program (HIP) Validation (if hunting ducks, geese, coots or snipe)
• California Duck Stamp (not required for junior hunters; not required if only hunting pheasants)
• Federal Duck Stamp (required for all hunters age 16 or older; not required if only hunting pheasants)
• Upland Game Bird Stamp (required if hunting pheasants; not required for junior hunters)

Admission Methods for Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa & Sutter NWR's:

There are 3 methods of admission to the hunt areas:

1. RESERVATION (link to description of daily admission procedure)
   • You must apply for a reservation at least 17 days in advance of desired hunt day
   • You may apply for a reservation through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or wherever hunting licenses are sold
   • The daily quota of hunters is filled first by those holding advance reservations
   • See past years' waterfowl reservation drawing statistics (link to CDFW page)
2. LOTTERY(link to description of daily admission procedure)
   • You may enter a lottery drawing at the check station between 6:00-8:00 pm the night before you want to hunt;  Up to 4 people may put their names on lottery entry
   • Results will be posted at the check station after 8:00 pm; need not be present for drawing
   • Lottery number holders will be admitted after reservation holders the morning of the hunt; Numbers will be purged at 8:00 am
3. FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVED (aka "Sweat-Line") (link to description of daily admission procedure)
   • You may wait in the "sweat-line" and will be allowed admission that morning after all reservations and lottery holders are admitted 

View Details:  ADMISSION PROCEDURES TO FILL DAILY QUOTA 
View Details:  MOBILITY-IMPAIRED HUNTER ADMISSIONS

Check Stations: 

Hours: the check station hours at Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa and Sutter during waterfowl season are:

•    6:00 pm Tuesday until 1.5 hours after shoot time ends Wednesday
•    6:00 pm Friday until 1.5 hours after shoot time ends Sunday  

Overnight parking: is allowed in the check station parking lots. You must stay inside your vehicle/RV - trailers are allowed, but tents are not allowed. No open flames are permitted, but you can have a portable gas stove.

Filling Vacancies: 

Vacancies occurring from no-show reservation hunters and from hunters leaving the area are filled in accordance with current CDFW procedures. If you do not get drawn for a reservation, you may enter a lottery the evening before the hunt. Non-reservation hunters may enter the lottery drawing for all of the following: Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa and Sutter Refuges, on any hunt date. After all reservation and lottery number holders have been processed, hunters may enter on a first-come, first-served system.

Admissions Summary: 

*NOTE for annual quota changes due to water availability, see our Annual Hunt Program Changes page*

Still Have Questions? 

Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for lots more information.