New Procedures for Donations for the Annual Junior Hunt at San Jacinto Wildlife Area

(Note:  The below info was edited to reflect 2022/2023 season dates and information to avoid any confusion – the original post is from 2015)

I spoke to Tom Trakes, San Jacinto Wildlife Area’s Wildlife Habitat Supervisor, about a change in state policy regarding donations for their annual Junior Hunt. As most of you probably know, especially if you frequent the SoCalHunt Blog, the annual San Jacinto Wildlife Area Junior Hunt is an important event to pique the interest of our up and coming junior hunters who will be the future of hunting in California.

Per a change in policy by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife donations of money, food or merchandise cannot be accepted unless the donations go through a formal acceptance procedure. What this means is that if you want to donate any prizes, merchandise, food or funds to the Annual Junior Hunt you need to contact Tom at San Jacinto prior to January 6th so there will be adequate time to get the donation approved.

So, because of this new procedure, if you are of a mind to contribute to the Junior Hunt you have to plan ahead and get a list of the pending contribution(s) in on time or they can’t accept the donation. Tom wanted me to make sure I noted that this information is not a solicitation for any donations but information for anyone who wants to contribute.

I asked Tom how this was going to affect our donations to the Junior Hunt via the “money box” that was formerly set on the counter in the check station. Tom advised that the money box is gone but to make up for that Sportsman’s Warehouse in Murrieta and Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga are both having separate raffles that will generate money that will be used to purchase prizes for the Junior Hunt giveaway.   Details on these two raffles are in the links below:

Shotgun and Hunting Equipment Raffle at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Murrieta to Benefit San Jacinto’s 29th Annual Junior Waterfowl Hunt

Shotgun Raffle at Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga to Benefit San Jacinto’s 29th Annual Junior Waterfowl Hunt

Tom told me that this new procedure will not affect San Jacinto’s Annual Toy Drive, this year benefiting The Bryant Park Head Start Preschool as, in that case, they are just collecting the toys for the school and the donated toys are not being donated to the DFW, they are just the middle-man in that situation so the toy box will be at the check station as usual.

So, if you are of a mind to contribute anything to the Annual Junior Hunt, which will be held on Saturday, February 4^th, 2023 this season, you need to contact Tom Trakes at either phone at 951-236-3040 or email at Thomas.Trakes@wildlife.ca.gov by January 5th.

SoCalHunt has an example donation email that you can copy and modify to reflect what you are donating to notify SJWA about your donation.  The email example can be found on the SoCalHunt website Map and Downloads page here (scroll down to the bottom of the page):

http://www.socalhunt.com/maps-and-downloads.html

This new procedure applies statewide so if you instead or in addition to want to donate to any other DFW Junior Hunt the same procedure applies. In the case of any other refuge or wildlife area you would need to contact your chosen area directly.