Planning for Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

February 1, 2018

Question: My son is asking me to take him out on the special youth waterfowl hunt next weekend. We have everything we need like waders, camo, shotguns and so forth. But I don’t have reservations anywhere and we don’t have access to a duck club. What are my public waterfowl hunting options? I want to make it a good experience for him. (John W., Sacramento)

Answer: As you noted, the upcoming Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days are this weekend, Feb. 3-4. Many state areas will be open throughout the greater Sacramento Valley including Yolo Bypass, Little Dry Creek and Gray Lodge wildlife areas, in addition to Delevan, Colusa and Sacramento national wildlife refuges. Each of these public hunt areas will be open for both hunt days while Sutter National Wildlife Refuge is open only on Sunday. The Howard Slough and Llano Seco units of Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area and Joice Island will be closed.

The various hunt areas are part of the CDFW reservation system with applications accepted 17 days in advance and reservations issued by random drawing. However, many areas will have openings for hunters to sign in and immediately go hunt. Gray Lodge, Yolo Bypass, Grizzly Island and Mendota will fill unreserved spaces on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, youth hunters can take advantage of openings created when reservation holders do not show up.

Federal regulations require that hunters must be 17 years of age or younger to participate. They must also be accompanied by a non-hunting adult 18 years of age or older. All youth hunters must have a valid junior hunting license and Harvest Information Program Stamp. A Federal Duck Stamp is required for hunters 16 years of age and older. The daily bag and possession limits apply along with all other waterfowl regulations for the 2017-18 waterfowl season. The regulations can be found online at www.wildife.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl.

You mention that you want to make it a good experience for your son. With that, here is one last word of advice. If your son gets too cold or too tired and wants to call it a day, then call it a day. Many parents get overly excited and enthusiastic and end up pushing their kids to stay out far too long. Listen to your child. We want our young hunters to finish every hunt on a good note, with everyone looking forward to the next adventure.