Refuge Regs - Hunt
Results - Accessibility - Maps
- Waterfowl Surveys
Hunting Program
Public hunting is
permitted on portions of Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa, Sutter and Sacramento
River NWRs (Complex). The hunting program is administered by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, in cooperation with the California Department
of Fish and Game (CDFG), on all Refuges except Sacramento
River Refuge.If your questions aren't answered below, see our frequently asked hunting questions (pdf, 9 KB).
You can also use Your Guide to Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges (pdf, 1.1 MB) to plan your hunting adventures to wildlife refuges across the nation. Then work on your waterfowl identification using the Ducks Unlimited - Know Your Waterfowl flier (pdf, 253 KB).
Current Hunting Program Status (as of 11/3/08)
Visit the following links to find out the anticipated hunter reservations and quota (pdf, 3 KB) and flooded areas: Sacramento Blind Area (pdf, 443 KB), Sacramento Free Roam Area (pdf, 334 KB), Delevan (pdf, 462 KB), Colusa (pdf, 479 KB) and Sutter (pdf, 274 KB).
Hunting
season and bag limits 2008
Visit the CDFG web site for information
on the waterfowl and upland game bird hunting regulation booklet, waterfowl
reservation system and hunting seasons and bag limits for California.
The following link will provide the Refuge hunting
season
dates and bag limits for the Sacramento NWR Complex (pdf, 33 KB) Sacramento Valley
Wildlife Areas and Refuge.
Join us for our Junior Waterfowl Hunts (pdf, 17 KB): Saturday, December 13th at Sacramento NWR and Saturday, December 20th at Delevan NWR and our Junior Pheasant Hunt (pdf, 18 KB): Sunday, December 14th at Llano Seco Ranch.
Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa and Sutter NWRs 2008
The hunting
areas on Sacramento and Delevan NWRs are divided into two portions--a
spaced hunting area and a free roaming area. Colusa NWR is divided into two portions -- an assigned pond area and a free roaming area. Sutter NWR has
only free roaming areas.
The spaced
hunting sites on Sacramento
NWR (pdf, 10 KB) and Delevan NWR (pdf, 7 KB), provide an opportunity to hunt with little interference or competition
from other hunters. This allows for the maximum effectiveness of decoys
and calls.
The free
roaming area on Sacramento
NWR (pdf, 8 KB), Delevan
NWR (pdf, 4 KB), Colusa
NWR (including assigned ponds - pdf, 9 KB) and Sutter
NWR (pdf, 7 KB), allows for unrestricted hunter movement.
Spaced hunting sites maps
of Sacramento and Delevan NWRs and the free roam maps for all
four Refuges are available.
What To Bring and Take
Out
Cover for the blinds and hunt sites becomes very sparse late in the season
due to the high use. It is recommended that hunters
bring and take out additional camo material. Cut tules/cattails
to cover blinds and islands may be available for hunters at the Sacramento
NWR check station. Note when considering bringing in vegetation for cover that according to Title 50 Code of Federal Regulations 27.52 it is unlawful to bring nonnative plants on to a refuge (for example: arundo, bamboo, etc). To make it more comfortable and successful to hide
in the vegetation around the hunt site islands on Delevan NWR and the
free roam areas, tule stools are highly recommended.
Sacramento River NWR 2008
The units
on Sacramento River Refuge that are open to public access offer wildlife
viewing, photography, interpretation, and educational opportunities.
In addition, hunting
and fishing is allowed on selected units of the Refuge. As in the
past, gravel bars will continue to be open for hunting and fishing. Refer
to the Refuge
specific hunting and fishing regulations (pdf, 18 KB) and Refuge
hunting season dates and bag limits (pdf, 33 KB) for details.
Visitor Services maps
offer general unit locations and current public use. The maps divide the
Refuge into four sections north to south, along a 77-mile stretch of the
Sacramento River: North (pdf, 1.1 MB),
North
Central (pdf, 369 KB), South
Central (pdf, 372 KB), and South (pdf, 343 KB).
Refuge Unit maps give
more detailed unit locations and regulations on hunts where hunting is
allowed:
North: LaBarranca (pdf, 3.3 MB), Mooney & Ohm (pdf, 1.8 MB) and Heron
Island (pdf, 1.7 MB)
North Central: Rio
Vista (pdf, 2 MB)
South Central: Pine
Creek (pdf, 1.8 MB), Capay
& Phelan Island (pdf, 2.5 MB), Jacinto & Dead Man's Reach (pdf, 1.7 MB) and South
Ord (pdf, 1.8 MB)
South: Llano
Seco Island 1& 2 (pdf, 2.6 MB), Sul
Norte (pdf, 2.8 MB) and Afton (pdf, 2.7 MB)
Weather
The Sacramento Valley during hunt season can often experience dense fog or high winds. Please check your local news station
to determine what to expect before you come. You can also call (916) 646-2000
for the Sacramento Valley weather forecast, or check out The
Weather Channel's homepage or the National
Weather Service's Sacramento weather forecast.