Yet Another Successful Blind Brush-Up Day At San Jacinto Wildlife Area

Saturday, August 23rd, 0700, found a good number of volunteers waiting in the San Jacinto Wildlife Area’s check station parking lot to help out with this year’s volunteer blind brush-up day. Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area reported that about 30 volunteers, hunters that utilize San Jacinto were on hand to receive their assignments and then headed out to the ponds to work on the blinds.

This work party was primarily to clean out the area’s blinds and the get them brushed up and camouflaged for the upcoming season. Several of the blinds were completely rebuilt by the volunteers. Most of the blinds were brushed up with palm fronds primarily provided by the volunteers.

– Building a blind –

Due to the number of volunteers they were able to get a lot done in a short time. Tom reported that he will probably call for one more volunteer work day, probably some time in late September, to finish up some of the blinds and “fine tune” things for the season. Much of the flooding of the ponds has already started, which is a little earlier then usual, but with the water situation in the state this year its better to take it when its available.

– A couple of the completed blinds –

After the September “fine tuning” of the blinds the next thing on the calendar for San Jacinto Wildlife Area is opening day of the waterfowl season on Saturday, October 18th! Everything is looking great for the season ahead. The water is already flowing into the ponds and a lot of birds are already using the area.

Hope to see you out at good old SJ.

Second Volunteer Work Day / Blind Brush Up Day Saturday, August 23rd

The second blind brush up / Volunteer work day at San Jacinto Wildlife Area is coming up fast. Two weeks from tomorrow, on Saturday, August 23rd.

Tom Trakes, of San Jacinto Wildlife Area, 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. Volunteers are asked to gather at 6:30 AM at the SJ Check Station Parking Lot. The main focus of this work day will be brushing up /repair / building of the blinds throughout the wildlife area.

Hopefully we’ll have a good turnout as there is still a 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 the work day 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.