Duck Hunting Calif rivers

So the question is. Has anyone ever Duck hunted out of a kayak on the rivers? I live in Hughson CA (Modesto) and was thinking about going hunting on the river this saturday. The river is tuolumne. just to check it out but i have not seen anything in the Regs about what to and not to do. I have done some research about this issue and everyone i talk to say its ok to hunt the rivers. so i was just wanting to get other input on the subject. But i know there are a ton of ducks out there because i have fished it in my kayak and have seen a ton of ducks.

I duck-hunt from my kayak, which is a sit-inside type.  I use my whitewater boat for hunting because it's so small and turns easily.  I use an cylinder-bore H&R single-shot 12 (they are easier than other types to clean after a dousing) for kayak hunting.  I tether it to the boat.   

Because of the nature of a kayak, you have only a 90-degree port-side "swing."   Because of the nature of both that limited swing, interference of the overhung brush you're sitting in, and the fact that shooting from a kayak is shooting from a kayak, you aren't going to be taking second and third shots.

The water belongs to you.   The land doesn't.  If your duck falls on private land...well.....it's a judgment call for You, for Them, and for The Law.   

DFG "law" says: "Illegal to waste game."   Trespass law says:  "Dont trespass...especially where hunting & fishing are concerned."   The law prohibits discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling.   Be aware of "back-bank" dwellings.   When in doubt, don't.

So....What if you are following up a slough that passes through or alongside a private conservatory or public/private wildlife reserve?   I don't know.

I hunt very small, very privately, always solo, as invisibly as possible.  I use natural overhanging brush for cover.

People don't expect a "kayaker" like myself to be a "hunter."   I don't disabuse them of that notion.   When there are witnesses about I keep my gun out of sight inside my boat during launch and non-hunting activity.   I do not use a duck-call, not ever.   I use one single DEEK named Gertrude.   Gertrude has an elliptical weight in her under radio-control that makes her vibrate gently in the water.   Flying ducks...see everything.  It's enough.

Judd

Fresh, smoked duck is amazing!

Seeing as I did not get onto the water much this year chasing fish, I am thinking about using the Prowler to chase ducks later in the year. I have hunted rivers from a canoe before. We were after wood ducks on the San J. We did alright. But, shooting from a sitting/floating position takes some practice.

Like Jwsmith mentioned, you have to be watchful for houses near the water.

I plan to hunt Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge (SF Bay) this season from my kayak.  I will be hunting the outer Bair Island area, which is in Redwood City and accessed from the Port of RWC.  Portions of the Federal Wildlife Area fall within the city limits of RWC that extend out into the bay.  RWC prohibits discharge of a firearms within City limits;  HOWEVER, the RWC municipal code expressly and affirmatively allows LICENSED HUNTERS to hunt waterfowl and discharge of firearms (i.e., shotguns) during hunting season (all other state & federal regs apply!). This was most recently rehashed at a city council meeting 2000 when some anti-hunting peeps complained and tried to get the ordinance overturned but were rebuffed. 

http://www.fws.gov/desfbay/Hunt/Hunt_Brochure.pdf

If you plan to hunt this area, it will be wise to keep a low profile and not get into a pissing match with any treehugger BASK-types that ALSO like to kayak in Corkscrew Slough... Keep a low profile, be respectful, PICK UP ALL TRASH AND EMPTY SHELL CASINGS (I can’t emphasize that enough)… also know your rights and know that it is a felony to interfere with lawful hunting activities.  Accordingly, I print out and keep copies of laws germane to my lawful pursuit of a duck dinner on my person when hunting this area, just in case some nutcase calls the cops on me (it happens).  Also, I guarantee you, if you screw up and accidentally get the prohibited boundaries wrong, a very high chance of a very unpleasant interaction with law enforcement may result (plus you’ll make hunters in general look bad).

So, who wants to go blast some ducks?  The season opens this Saturday... I already have plans on Saturday, and in general the duck/goose hunting will be better in a month or so and when the weather is a bit nastier.

Sec. 37.8. FIREARMS AND WEAPONS-EXCEPTIONS TO SECTION 37.7:

http://ordlink.com/codes/redwoodci/index.htm

D. To persons duly licensed to hunt waterfowl discharging or firing or causing to be discharged or fired shotguns at waterfowl when in season, and in accordance with the California Fish and Game Code and pertinent regulations of the State or the United States Government, within submerged lands and tidelands (to the point of mean high tide) of San Francisco Bay, excluding and excepting the following:
1. All of Steinberger Slough;
2. All of Smith Slough;
3. All of Belmont Slough;
4. All of Redwood Creek;
5. That portion of Corkscrew Slough lying between the confluence thereof with Redwood Creek and a line perpendicular to the centerline of said Slough one thousand (1,000) yards westerly of said confluence;
6. That portion of Corkscrew Slough lying between the confluence thereof with Steinberger Slough and a line perpendicular to the centerline of Corkscrew Slough one thousand (1,000) yards easterly of said confluence;
7. Within any wild life management area or game preserve managed by an agency of the State or the United States Government not expressly permitting such hunting;
8. Within any such lands on Redwood Peninsula, and within a band of land lying between the toe of that portion of the outboard levee on said Peninsula as said toe extends between the mouths of Belmont Slough and Steinberger Slough, and a line five hundred feet (500') bayward of and parallel with said toe of the levee, and including Bird Island; and provided that, prior to any such discharging or firing of such shotguns within such tidal or submerged lands bayward of such five hundred foot (500') wide band of land, there shall have been posted and maintained on Redwood Peninsula signs giving reasonable notice of the prohibition of shooting or hunting on said peninsula;
9. Within five hundred (500) yards of a residential or industrial building; and
10. Within five hundred (500) yards of any marked navigation channel. (Ord. No. 731, § 2; Ord. No. 1605, § 2, 6-17-74; Ord. No. 1634, § 1, 6-2-75)

The salt ponds in the South Bay also allow hunting but a special use permit is required for this area. 

http://www.fws.gov/desfbay/Hunt/Hunt_Information.htm

Hey Bigdog... I haven't seen you in about 2-3 years since we moved that boat with Steve and Phil... wanna hookup and try our hand at some ducks/geese one weekend over here on my side of the bay? 

A couple caveats... (1) I'm a noob at calling... all I know is that I have the distress call down pat (i.e., ducks hear the call and fly away from me)... (2) my yak is yum-yum yellow... also known as "tally-ho yellow" from a duck's eye view... not sure what color your yak is but some camo netting contraption is probably in order.

Another decent place (near the Bay Area) is Estero Americano in northern Marin County... hunted ducks there several times (from a canoe and a Jonboat), never any problems (couple kayakers once called us gunnut killers though)... lots of buffleheads, some mallards, some goldeneye, lots of geese.  About a 3 miles paddle from the put in to get to decent place to lay out some dekes.

Hey BC. Yea, I am interested. Can't get it going for a few weekends though. We have our guided hunts on the property coming up. Last weekend of October, first week of November. After the hunts, things will slow down for me a bit.
Its been a while since I hunted the bay area. I used to hunt various areas from a small dingy. Mainly up by Vallejo. But, I think it is time to get my sunrise colored yak out there and start exploring. Definitely will need to get some camo netting.

On a side note, I saw your post about Sonoma on JHO. I would also be very interested in that. Let me know what Joel tells you.

So, who wants to go blast some ducks?  The season opens this Saturday... I already have plans on Saturday, and in general the duck/goose hunting will be better in a month or so and when the weather is a bit nastier.

I'm seriously game.  Just let me know when.

BigDog, here's what RangerJoel from Lake Sonoma e-mailed me...

Yes you will be able to park at yorty creek while you are hunting and camping. Once you have your sticker, it will be like last year where you just write on the check in form how many days you will be out hunting.
Joel  (I'm easer to reach at: [email protected])

I'll e-mail you my cell number and once your deer hunts are over we can plan some hunts... hopefully before then you will see a post of mine bragging about a sucessful duck hunt...

ChuckE, I may try to paddle out on Sunday morning to do a little more recon'ing... looking for blind sites, getting a handle on what tide levels we will need to be aware of... there are places behind and to the NE of Corkscrew Slough where you can get left high and dry for several hours if there is a near-zero or minus tide (and you definately DO NOT want to post hole through the mud to get out).  I doubt I will take dekes, but I may bring my 870 and a couple calls, just in case.  Once I have a bit more info I'll start a new thread on yak duck hunting...

Also, the Lake Sonoma pig hunt calander is now available... the rules changed a little bit this year so it's worth reviewing even if you have already hunted up there... you have a bow, right?  I'm hoping to be able to hit it on the opener, which is Wednesday Nov. 21st... depending on weather, try to camp on Tuesday night so the slaughter can begin at 1st light... again, I'll start a new thread for yak pig hunting so chime in on that too...

See this thread for more info on the pig hunts, rules, dates, etc...

http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=156436

Cheers!  Backcountry (aka, "John")

John, thanks for the thread on Lake Sonoma Pig Hunting.  I too was planning to do that.  I've been shooting my bow at home everyday for the past two months in preparation.

Let me know if you want some company scouting and hunting Don Edwards this Sunday.  I'll PM you my cell phone.

The last time I saw Dave "Big Dog" was when he invited me for a fun pheasant hunt at Suisun Marsh.

We should get our posse together and do some blasting.

There's definitely a growing interest in hunting from a kayak or at least using it as transportation to remote spots.  We just might have to start a new Kayak Hunting Forum.

I am surely interested in "all above". I won't be able to make the opener for Sonoma though. Guiding these deer hunts is going to burn up my PTO. But, there are always weekends. BC, toward the end of the week, let me know your plans for scouting. I am am on-call this weekend and "as usual" hoping for a quiet weekend. I was hoping that if I didn't get any calls, I would hit the pheasant field Sunday afternoon. The dogs and I need the excercise. But, things always change. So, let me know when you finalize.

I'm up for a south bay excursion. Despite being a former member of BASK, I've got no problems with killing things and eating them. I'd probably just want to go jumpshooting, unless someone else has the dekes and can call. I had good success doing this on the Animas from a kayak, when I was out in CO.

Scott

I'm definately into doing some kayak duck hunting. i use to duck hunt a lot as a kid. did well dove shooting this year. never hunted from my kayak but i can't wait to try.

I've kayak duck hunted the last few years at Don Edwards thru the permit system and also last year at Eden Landing in the East Bay.  I use my kayak as a means of transportation to the blinds and to haul my deeks.  I have a Scupper Pro origonally yellow but now spray painted green, brown, & grey.  I did get my permit at Don Edwards again for this season which is real easy to do.  I should be at Don Edwards on Wed. 10/24/07, but I would also like to try Blair Island or somewhere on the bay for a change.