Hunting
Hunting - 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 flyer (pdf, 253 KB).

Current Hunting Program Status (as of 11/17/08)
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 (pdf, 2.1 MB), 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.

Find out why White-fronted Goose (Speckle-belly) hunting regulations are more restrictive in the western Sacramento Valley - Special Management Area.

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.
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Turkey Hunters - Hunting is open to the public on designated areas of the Sacramento River NWR; however, refuge operations will continue as normal Monday thru Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Activities including weed control, road maintenance, and habitat management may occur within the hunt areas during these time periods.

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, 1.2 MB), North Central (pdf, 1.2 MB), South Central (pdf, 1.1 MB) and South (pdf, 1.1 MB).

Refuge Unit maps give more detailed unit locations and regulations on hunts where hunting is allowed:
North: LaBarranca & Todd Island (pdf, 2.1 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, Drumheller North & Drumheller Slough (pdf, 635 KB)

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.