2012 / 2013 Waterfowl Hunt Season

~ Now Accepting Applications ~

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is pleased to announce the eighth annual public waterfowl hunt on the South Stone Lake Unit of Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. This is not a CA Department of Fish & Game hunt. All draws for all blinds will be conducted through the refuge, and all applicants MUST submit the Refuge Waterfowl Application Form 3-2355 for each hunt date.

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General Rules

“RESERVATION ONLY” hunts for the general public will be conducted on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This is a random drawing. Seven blinds total will be drawn; 2 boat-to-blinds will be available in addition to the space blinds. ALL blinds will be available as first pick status per reservation drawn except disabled blind which is pre-assigned.

Check Station
All hunters must present a valid CA hunting license and appropriate stamps at the check station. Check-in time to claim reserved pick status is 5:00 a.m. All hunters must check-in and check-out at the check station and report hunting results. Youth hunters get first pick on Saturdays. All licensed hunters in a blind may participate in hunt (exceptions for 'Youth Only Hunt' in the post season hunt). Unlicensed hunters may accompany a licensed hunter but may not hunt. An unlicensed hunter counts as a 'person' in the blind just as a licensed hunter. Licenses and stamps are NOT sold at the check station or refuge headquarters!

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 and wetland setting. Unsportsman-like, unsafe or illegal conduct will not be tolerated and may result in loss of hunting privileges to this area. Please read the Additional Hunt Rules for Stone Lakes NWR.

NO waiting line ("backfill / sweatline"). NO prior access to hunt area; area is closed to general public. Please do not ask for access; requests will be refused and you may or will be cited for trespassing in a closed area.

 

DFG Regulations & Licenses

Licenses and stamps are NOT sold at the check station or refuge headquarters! Please use the California Department of Fish & Game website to locate where to purchase your license and stamps. All State regulations apply to Refuge hunts.

2012 / 2013 California Department of Fish & Game Regulations

DFG License Sales Office

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Blind Information

Blinds
All licensed hunters in a blind may participate in hunt (exceptions for 'Youth Only Hunt' in the post season hunt). All hunters must hunt from blinds; NO free-roam. Please see blind map 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 camoflauge as available natural cover may be limited at individual blinds, or 'brushing' may deteriorate as the season progresses.

Space Blinds
Consist of either a concrete pit blind or a platform blind. Chest waders are needed for space blinds.

Boat-to-Blinds
Boats for the boat-to-blinds will be provided and must be manually propelled by oars, paddles (provided), or push poles (NO MOTORS). Boat-to-blind hunters must provide their own Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (pdf) type II or III for each person. Boat-to-blinds require that the party uses the boat as the mode of transportation to the floating platform blind located in the water. No hunting from the actual boat. Dogs are recommended for boat-to-blinds.

Applicants may apply for one of the three hunt blind draws:

General Blind
2-person
6 blinds Wednesday; 6 blinds Saturday


Youth Blind
3-person
Up to two youth hunters accompanied by one adult
1 blind Saturday only: only licensed youth may apply


Disabled Blind
2-person
Pre-assigned; floating pontoon blind that may be moved in lower half of assigned wetland unit
1 blind Wednesday only: one disabled accompanied by one able-bodied hunter; only licensed disabled hunter may apply

One Disabled blind Wednesday; One Youth blind Saturday;
Six General blinds both Wednesday and Saturday

Youth Blind
One blind is reserved for youth on Saturday and will have the first pick. Only youths may apply for youth blinds. Adults may NOT apply for youth blinds. Youth blinds may have up to 2 youth hunters accompanied by one adult. All licensed hunters in a blind MAY participate in hunt. Only youth may hunt in the 'Youth Only Hunt' during the post season. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Youths are individuals 15 years or younger at the time of the hunt. Juniors who have turned 16 are not eligible for the youth hunt. Only youths may apply for the post-season Youth Only Hunt.

Disabled Blind
One pre-assigned blind is reserved for disabled on Wednesday. To qualify as disabled, the applicant must possess a DMV placard identification card/receipt with the applicants name listed and must show at check-in station. Only disabled hunters may apply for the diabled blind. Able-bodied hunters may NOT apply for disabled blinds. Licensed able-bodied hunters accompanying disabled hunter MAY hunt. Disabled blind is pre-assigned; it is a floating pontoon blind that may be moved within the lower half of designated wetland unit.

Season Averages

Blind Map & Conditions

Stone Lakes NWR Waterfowl Hunt
Application Procedure

This is a non-fee hunt. All applications for all blinds must use the FWS Form 3-2355 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. No fee required to submit applications, and applications for each hunt day may be submitted in one envelope with proper postage. Applications must be sent through the U.S. Mail or dropped off during refuge office hours: M - F, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Applications MUST be received on or before the appropriate application due date as listed below. Hunt days for Youth blind is Saturday and Disabled blind is Wednesday. Youth hunter gets first pick on Saturday. Disabled blind is pre-assigned. 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. Repeat "no-shows" will be eliminated from the drawings.

Please do not call about selections! Successful applicants will receive a reservation card via U.S. Mail. Due to recent policy changes, successful applicants will not be posted on the website. General staff answering phones do not have the reservation list and cannot give out personal information.

A separate application must be submitted for EACH hunt date! You will only be entered in the drawing for the 1st Choice Date indicated on each application. Multiple applications with the same date will be disqualified.

Be sure to SIGN your applications; unsigned applications will be disqualified.

FWS Form 3-2355; General Blind (170 KB pdf)

FWS Form 3-2355; Youth Blind (170 KB pdf)


FWS Form 3-2355; Disabled Blind (170 KB pdf)

Adobe Acrobat is required to view PDF files; download the free Abobe Acrobat Reader at: www.adobe.com

2012 / 2013 Hunt & Application Due Dates

Mail or drop off applications to:

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

Office Hours: M-F, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closed Saturday, Sunday & Federal Holidays

Successful applicants will be selected by a random drawing and notified via reservation postcard at least ten days prior to hunt.