Dates Set for Upcoming Volunteer Blind Brush Up Days at San Jacinto Wildlife Area

Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, advised that they have scheduled two volunteer “blind brush up” work days for San Jacinto Wildlife Area. The dates are Saturday, July 26^th and Saturday August 23^rd.  Volunteers are asked to gather at 6:30 AM at the SJ Check Station Parking Lot. In addition to brushing up the blinds other activities will be cleaning out water control structures on the wildlife area’s duck ponds, building new blinds and/or repairing old blinds and generally cleaning up the blind areas (pulling out a plethora of tumbleweeds). Tom advised that anyone coming out to volunteer should bring gloves, shovels and/or hoes, fencing/wire pliers and lots of water, since it is expected to be hot. Also sunscreen and mosquito repellent are suggested as good ideas. After the work is done we will get together at Casa Mexicana Restaurant for a well-deserved lunch (each person responsible for their own bill).

Hopefully we’ll have a good turnout as on each date as there is lot of work to do to get ready for the upcoming season. As always, when it comes to work days, the more the merrier (and the less work for each person).  Also, if you have access to palm fronds please bring as much can for use in brushing the blinds. (see the flyer below for the proper type of palm fronds – don’t bring any with the thorns on them, our waders can’t take those).

A good turn out for these work days will help get things in “ship shape” at San Jacinto and we’ll all look forward to another great season of waterfowling.

If you have any questions contact Tom Trakes at the San Jacinto headquarters at (951) 236-3040.

Great Turnout for San Jacinto’s Annual Hunter’s Education Class

Saturday, May 31^st was San Jacinto Wildlife Area’s Annual Hunter’s Education Class. Tom Trakes, of San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that 54 new hunters attended and everyone passed their Hunter’s Education test. This means that they are now eligible to be fully licensed hunters in the State of California. The students ranged in age from about 9 years old to over 60 years old and they will soon be joining the ranks of we hunters.

The hunter’s education students enjoyed a great lunch at the San Jacinto Headquarters at midday consisting of giant sub sandwiches, watermelon and various donated goodies from the participants.

The next activity for hunters will be a workday at San Jacinto Wildlife Area, probably in late July. This will be a general workday to clean out water control structures and plan and perhaps build or replace some blinds in the waterfowl area. There will then be at least one additional workday, likely in late August, to finish up what work is needed and to brush up the blinds. Keep your eye on SoCalHunt for announcements of the exact dates when these are set.

Here are a couple of pictures of the Hunter’s Education class in progress.

Students hard at work.

Instructors imparting wisdom to those in attendance.