Junior and Youth Hunting
at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex

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What's a JUNIOR vs. YOUTH hunter?

Junior Hunters are 16 and under and possess a Junior Hunting License
- Junior Hunting Licenses are issued to hunters who are less than 16 years old at the beginning of the license year (July 1). 

Youth Hunters are 16 or 17 and possess an Adult Hunting License.
- Adult Hunting Licenses are issued to hunters who turn 16 on, or before, the beginning of the license year (July 1).

Adult Hunters are 18 or older and posses an Adult Hunting License.

Special Hunts for Juniors/Youths: 

  1. In December, two IN-SEASON JUNIOR HUNTS are offered at Sacramento/Delevan NWRs:

    • Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Delevan NWR  
    • Saturday, December 16, 2023 at Sacramento NWR


    1. To be eligible, applicant must possess a Junior Hunting license.  Youth hunters with Adult Hunting licenses are not eligible.
    2. The In-season Junior Hunt Reservation process opens September 1 for the upcoming season. Click here for information on how to apply: "How to apply for In-Season Sacramento and Delevan Junior Hunts
    3. All blinds and assigned ponds are reserved for Junior Hunters on the listed days and closed to adult hunting during the In-Season Junior Hunts. Free roam will be open to adults.
    4. At these events, all junior hunters must be accompanied by an adult guardian. Accompanying adults may not hunt during Junior Hunt Events in the assigned blinds area.
    5. Drawing results: individuals who are drawn for a reservation will receive confirmation by mail in late November/early December.  

  • In February, a POST-SEASON YOUTH HUNT is offered by the state on Sacramento/Delevan/Colusa/Sutter NWRs:
  1. To be eligible, applicant must be age 17 or younger at the time of the event, and can possess either a Junior or Adult Hunting license.  Individuals 18 years and older are not eligible.
  2. Reservation applications are accepted through CDFW, using their online reservation system at least 17 days prior to the hunt date.
  3. Reservations will be the same as the regular waterfowl season (see Admissions Summary table).
  4. Lottery will be the same as regular waterfowl season (see Admissions Summary table)
  5. 2024 Post-Season hunt dates will be Feb. 3-4 on Sacramento/Delevan/Colusa; Sutter is a one-day youth hunt on Sunday (TBD 2024).
  6. At these events, all junior/youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult guardian.  Accompanying adults may not hunt during Youth Hunt Events.
  7. White-fronted Goose Special Management Area (scroll to bottom of linked page for info) - (includes Sacramento/Delevan/Colusa): a daily bag limit of 3 white-fronts will be allowed during the Youth Hunt.
  • In March, a JUNIOR SPRING TURKEY HUNT is offered by the state on the Sacramento River NWR:
  1. 2024 Spring dates will be posted here when they are determined
  2. To qualify to hunt, you must have a junior license. 

Special Areas for Juniors/Youths:

  • Delevan NWR: offers 1 Assigned Pond (AP 11) for Junior Hunters.
  1. This AP will be given to the first interested party having a Junior Hunter, following the standard admission process.  This AP is for hunting parties with a Junior Hunter only, and will not be filled by adult hunting parties. 
  2. Accompanying adults may hunt along with the Junior Hunters, as long as it is not during a Junior/Youth Hunting Event (see above).
  • Colusa NWR: offers 1 Assigned Pond (AP 10) for Junior Hunters.
  1. This AP will be given to the first interested party having a Junior Hunter, following the standard admission process.  This AP is for hunting parties with a Junior Hunter only, and will not be filled by adult hunting parties. 
  2. Accompanying adults may hunt along with the Junior Hunters, as long as it is not during a Junior/Youth Hunting Event (see above).
  • Sacramento River NWR - Codora Unit:  The Codora Unit is open only to junior hunters, only on weekends, from August 15 - May 31. Junior must be accompanied by an adult. Accompanying adults may not hunt along with the Junior Hunters. 
Junior/Youth Hunter Summary
Question15 years old or under (Junior)16 years old with 
Junior license (Junior)
16 years old with
Adult license (Youth)
17 years old with
Adult license (Youth)
18 years old with 
Adult license (Adult)
Participate during in-season junior hunt?yesyesnonono
Participate during post-season youth hunt?yesyesyesyesno
Needs a Junior Hunting License?yesyesnonono
Needs an Adult Hunting License?nonoyesyesyes
Needs a HIP validation?yesyesyesyesyes
Needs a Type A Pass?nonoyesyesyes
Needs a Federal Duck Stamp?noyesyesyesyes
Needs a State Duck Stamp?nonoyesyesyes
Needs an Upland Bird Stamp?
(only if hunting pheasants)
nonoyesyesyes
Needs an adult accompanying them on regular hunt days?yesnononono
Needs an adult accompanying them at a junior or youth hunt?yesyesyesyesn/a

Frequently-asked Questions

  • Q: Do Junior/Youth Hunters need a license/HIP Valid/Type A Pass/Duck Stamp?
    A:  please see table above 
     
  • Q: Can an accompanying adult hunt along with junior/youth hunter at Junior/Youth Hunt Event?
    A:  no, adults may not hunt at a Junior/Youth Hunt Event. 
     
  • Q: Does an accompanying adult for junior/youth hunter need a hunting license?
    A:no, not if they are not hunting; they must get a non-hunter pass from the check station 
     
  • Q: Does an accompanying non-hunting adult need a Type-A Pass?
    A:no, but they do need a non-hunter pass from the check station
     
  • Q: If a junior hunter has a reservation for an in-season Junior Hunt (Sac/Del), can they bring a fellow junior hunter on their reservation?
    A:yes....note: there are only 2 junior hunters allowed per adult 
     
  • Q: May a 16 or 17 year old junior hunter hunt by themselves?
    A:Yes on regular shoot days but they will need a non-hunting adult guardian on youth and junior hunts.
     
  • Q: May a 16 or 17 year old hunter be accompanied by a 15 year old junior hunter, without an accompanying adult?
    A:no, junior hunters under the age of 16 must be accompanied by someone 18 years old, or older
     
  • Q: May a 16/17 year old hunter be accompanied by another 16/17 year old hunter on a regular hunt day, without an accompanying adult?

   A:yes (see above for a junior or youth hunt) 

  • Q: If a youth turns 16 on July 2, what license do they get?
    A:They will have a junior license for the season. If the youth turns 16 before July 1, they will have an adult hunting license.