A non-fee hunt

The Late-Season Waterfowl Hunt has changed. Both flooded rice field hunts as well as dry land goose hunts are now offered.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

CDFW, in an effort to promote and expand hunting opportunities, is pleased to provide a limited-permit late-season waterfowl hunt on State holdings located in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Lands used for this hunt were purchased with State Water Contract Funds and available through the cooperation of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). CDFW does not have any management authority on these lands so the opportunities will vary from year to year depending upon DWR projects and the management practices and cropping patterns of their tenant farmers.

Flooded rice and dry field (goose) hunts are offered this year. Hunters may apply for both a flooded rice and dry land goose hunt for the same date. Up to three hunters per hunt party are allowed for both flooded rice blinds and dry land space blind sites. If drawn for both a flooded rice and dry land goose hunt for the same date, the hunt party leader will be required to pick one hunt in which participate. The hunt party leader will be making the decision for the entire hunt party. If the hunt party leader chooses the flooded rice they are giving up the blind for the entire hunt party in the dry land hunt and the blind will be filled from the alternate list. The same is true for the opposite.

A special youth hunt will be conducted Saturday, February 2, 2013 for Junior Hunters only (HUNTERS MUST BE 15 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER). Due to the configuration of the blind sites, only two hunters per hunt party may apply for either youth hunt.

Hunts may be cancelled without notice. We schedule the maximum number of hunts possible but due to the crop harvest and field conditions, the actual number of hunts will vary from year to year.

Applicants must apply through online registration (link below). Paper applications are no longer being accepted.

Due to high demand (typically 1200-1500 applicants per hunt date), drawn hunt parties not able to attend their selected hunt must notify CDFW by their notification deadline (contact and deadline information supplied in congratulations letter). Please only apply for hunt dates you can attend.

Successful applicants will be required to hunt from assigned hunting sites. Free roam and sweat lines are not permitted. Hunting locations are only open to successful applicants on the dates listed below. Trespassers will be cited and prosecuted. “Scouting” in not allowed.

Apply online on or before the application due date as listed below. Successful applicants will be selected by random drawing and notified approximately one week prior to the hunt date by US Mail.