Waterfowl Automated Reservation Drawing Information

HOW CAN I ENTER?

There are three ways to apply for reservation drawings.

The one-choice application ($1.30) may be used to apply for one area and one shoot date.

The five-choice application ($6.30) may be used to apply for either:

One area for five different shoot dates;
Five areas for one shoot date;
Five different areas and five different shoot dates.

The season-long application (fee determined by number of choices) may be used to apply for every available Saturday, Sunday or Wednesday shoot date and pay $1.25 for every shoot date.

Examples:

For every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday at Little Dry Creek, pay $55.00 (44 shoot dates @ $1.25 each).

OR

Every Saturday at Little Dry Creek, Sacramento, Delevan, Sutter and Colusa, pay $93.75 (five areas x 15 Saturdays = 75 choices).

You may purchase one-choice and five-choice applications at your local license agent or Department office. Season-long applications are only available at Department offices (if you applied for any reservation drawing in the previous two seasons, you will automatically receive a season-long application in the mail by mid-September).

Fill out your application completely, including the code for each waterfowl hunting area and the shoot date requested, and mail it to: DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME, 1740  N. MARKET BLVD., SACRAMENTO, CA 95834.

Season-long applications must be received at least 17 days before the earliest shoot date requested or you will miss out on a few of the drawings which you will have paid for.

HOW DO THE DRAWINGS WORK?

When your application reaches the Department, staff enter all data into a computer system. Application data is sorted first according to waterfowl hunting area and shoot date, then drawings are conducted:

The computer checks for persons submitting more than one application for the same area and shoot date and rejects those applications.  The computer assigns a random number to each hunt choice. For example, a person applying for several areas for the same shoot date receives a different random number for each area. The random numbers will determine the order in which reservations are awarded.  To conduct the drawings, the computer assigns reservations for each area in random number order (the person with the lowest random number for Gray Lodge gets Gray Lodge reservation #1; the next lowest random number gets reservation #2, etc., until the quota fills.  Using computer drawing data, Department staff print and mail postcard reservations to successful applicants. Reservations include the hunter's name and address, and the area and shoot date for which the reservation is valid. Numbered reservations (#1, #2, etc.) show the order drawn and may determine the order of admission to the area.

If drawn, you must present your reservation for admission to the area. (Lost reservations: Lists of reservation holders are provided to waterfowl hunting areas. If you lose your reservation postcard, area personnel may verify your reservation on the list, but you should plan to arrive early and be prepared to show your hunting license and driver's license for verification purposes.)

DON'T FORGET...

You must include your California driver's license (CDL) or DMV identification number on all applications for waterfowl reservations. This is your permanent hunter identification number in the Department's database. (The Department will assign temporary ID numbers for persons without a driver's license or a DMV ID number.  Your application must reach the Department at least 17 days before the earliest shoot date requested. In past years, the most common reason for rejection from a drawing was that the application was received after the deadline.

Keep a record of areas and shoot dates requested on one-choice and five-choice applications to avoid duplication and rejection from the drawing.  Reservation Drawing Schedule

Questions? Comments? Send an E-mail to Glenn Underwood at the Department’s License and Revenue Branch.