Hunt Results for San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Saturday – 10/31/15

Saturday’s average take of ducks mirrored Wednesday’s per-gun numbers under warm weather conditions, although, due to more coots taken the waterfowl average went up slightly. Cinnamon Teal slipped into first place for number of birds bagged followed very closely by Green Wing Teal in second place. Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that the waterfowl count for Saturday, 10/31/15, was as follows:

135 adult and 20 junior hunters checked in with 40 Northern Shovelers, 4 Mallards, 12 Gadwall, 20 Widgeon, 6 Pintail, 59 Green Wing Teal, 61 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Blue Wing Teal, 2 Redheads, 46 Ring Necks, 4 Bufflehead and 6 Ruddy Ducks. Again no geese were taken at SJ on Saturday. 40 coots were also turned in at the check station on Saturday. This came out to an average of 1.68 ducks per hunter or, with the coots included, 1.94 waterfowl per hunter. Tom advised that out of 52 reservation cards 31 of them arrived on time to claim their spots.

San Jacinto is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. You can put in for reservations on-line through the DFW Automated License Data System (ALDS). Your reservation request has to be to the ALDS system 17 days in advance to get in on the drawing or you can get in on the daily “sweatline” drawing for the remaining blinds after the reservations are taken care of. Reservation spots are given out starting at 3 AM and the “sweatline” drawing is done after that. The ALDS can be accessed through the DFW web site at the below link –

https://www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/InternetSales

San Jacinto Wildlife Area has begun its annual Toy Drive for the Bryant Park Head Start Preschool. If you’re able, please bring a new, unwrapped toy for the kids. This is a great program and a chance to show that hunters have a heart. More details of this year’s toy drive will be posted at SoCalHunt soon.

Also, be sure to check SoCalHunt’s article on donations for the 22^nd Annual Junior Hunt, which is coming up on February 6^th, 2016. New state regulations regarding donations for this great event are in effect this year. It’s a great cause to donate to for the future of our sport so don’t let a little paperwork keep you from donating. Also, don’t forget Bass Pro Shops’ Art Print Drawing to help raise funds for the Junior Hunt. Bass Pro Shops in located in in Rancho Cucamonga. Details on donating and the BPS drawing can be found at the below link:

https://socalhunt.wordpress.com/2015/10/29/san-jacinto-wildlife-area-announces-the-22nd-annual-junior-waterfowl-hunt-february-6th-2016/

Don’t forget that all licenses and 1 day, 2 day or season passes must be purchased at a DFW Office or a license agent before your arrive at the refuge. These can be purchased on-line via the ALDS system also, however, you may not get your pass in time to use it as they have to mail it to you which can take up to 15 days. At this point you need to purchase your license and passes in person at a DFW office or license agent so you will immediately get them without the wait for the mail. No licenses or passes will be sold at the check stations this year. You can also show up for an afternoon refill hunt but the last refill is at 2 PM. For more information, contact the staff at San Jacinto at 951-928-0580.

San Jacinto Wildlife Area announces the 22nd Annual Junior Waterfowl Hunt – February 6th, 2016.

Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area advised that their 22^nd Annual Junior Waterfowl Hunt has been set for the Wildlife Area. The date for the hunt is February 6^th, 2016. This is a great event and gives the junior hunters a crack at some great waterfowl hunting after the regular season closes. This year’s hunt will honor our Game Wardens and the Men and Women of Law Enforcement. There is great pancake breakfast provided by the San Jacinto Staff and volunteers prior to the hunt and a great lunch afterwards with lots of raffle prizes for the junior hunters. Juniors can apply for the hunt by going to the DFW reservation system at:

https://www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/InternetSales/

Due to new DFW regulations this year regarding donations (details here: https://socalhunt.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/new-procedures-for-donations-for-the-annual-junior-hunt-at-san-jacinto-wildlife-area/ ) anyone who wants to donate prizes for the raffle or money towards prizes / food needs to have their donation(s) “on the books”, so to speak, by December 15^th by following the procedure laid out in the above link. Bass Pro Shop in Rancho Cucamonga is assisting this year by giving hunters a chance to win one of five exclusive wildlife canvas prints by BBC nominated photographer David Salem

( www.davidsalemphotography.com ). See the BPS flyer below for details and visit Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga to get in on the drawing.

If you’d like to volunteer to assist at the breakfast and/or lunch, or need any further info on the DFW approved method to donate this year, you should contact Tom Trakes at (951)-236-3020.

Hunt Results for San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Wednesday – 10/28/15

Wednesday’s per-gun average take of waterfowl, not unexpectedly, took a nose-dive compared to Saturday’s excellent opening day numbers under fairly mild and partly cloudy weather conditions. Ring Necks took over first place for number of birds bagged followed closely by Cinnamon Teal, which barely edged out Shovelers by one bird for second place. Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that the waterfowl count for Wednesday, 10/28/15, was as follows:

137 adult and 5 junior hunters checked in with 52 Northern Shovelers, 4 Mallards, 8 Gadwall, 3 Widgeon, 1 Pintail, 38 Green Wing Teal, 53 Cinnamon Teal, 3 Redhead, 1 Canvasback, 58 Ring Necks, 1 Bufflehead and 16 Ruddy Ducks. There were no geese taken on the refuge on Wednesday. 17 coots were also bagged on Wednesday. This figured out to an average of 1.68 ducks per hunter or, with the coots included, 1.80 waterfowl per hunter. Tom advised that 34 of the 52 reservation holders arrived on time to claim their spots.

San Jacinto is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. You can put in for reservations on-line through the DFW Automated License Data System (ALDS). Your reservation request has to be to the ALDS system 17 days in advance to get in on the drawing or you can get in on the daily “sweatline” drawing for the remaining blinds after the reservations are taken care of. Reservation spots are given out starting at 3 AM and the “sweatline” drawing is done after that. The ALDS can be accessed through the DFW web site at the below link –

https://www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/InternetSales

San Jacinto Wildlife Area has begun its annual Toy Drive for the Bryant Park Head Start Preschool. If you’re able, please bring a new, unwrapped toy for the kids. This is a great program and a chance to show that hunters have a heart. More details of this year’s toy drive will be posted at SoCalHunt soon.

Don’t forget that all licenses and 1 day, 2 day or season passes must be purchased at a DFW Office or a license agent before your arrive at the refuge. These can be purchased on-line via the ALDS system also, however, you may not get your pass in time to use it as they have to mail it to you which can take up to 15 days. At this point you need to purchase your license and passes in person at a DFW office or license agent so you will immediately get them without the wait for the mail. No licenses or passes will be sold at the check stations this year. You can also show up for an afternoon refill hunt but the last refill is at 2 PM. For more information, contact the staff at San Jacinto at 951-928-0580.

SoCalHunt Now Has Downloadable Maps for San Jacinto Wildlife Area AND the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area

SoCalHunt.com now has had downloadable maps for San Jacinto Wildlife Area for a while now and we still do, and they now have been updated to the latest versions. In addition, concurrent with SoCalHunt beginning to report on Wister hunt results we also have maps of the Wister Area of the Imperial Wildlife Area!

The downloads available for San Jacinto are the Fish & Wildlife directional map to SJWA, the most recent waterfowl area map for SJWA (showing all blind locations and whether they are island blinds or have a walkway out to them and if they are pit blinds, hog wire blinds or natural cover blinds), A downloadable page of the current SJWA rules, a map of the Walkers blinds only and a map showing the boundaries of the entire SJWA (excluding the Portero Unit which isn’t opened to the public yet anyway). You can also download an article regarding SJWA’s different habitats. You can download these to your computer by clicking on the thumbnail and then you can print up as many as you need.

The downloads available for Wister are the Fish & Wildlife directional map to Wister, which includes, on a second page, the current Wister rules and an Fish & Wildlife article on Wister’s habitats and wildlife.

To obtain any or all of these downloads go to SoCalHunt’s web site (not this blog site) at:

www.SoCalHunt.com

Click on “Maps and Downloads” near the top of the page and you’re there! There is also links on the page to the Google map location of San Jacinto’s check station and Wister’s check station. At this link you can put your address in and get directions right to SJWA’s and/or Wister’s front door.

SoCalHunt San Jacinto Hunting Report 10/28/15

Once again, due to work obligations, SoCalHunt had to skip the opener last Saturday. So, today, as I did last season, I ventured out to San Jacinto Wildlife Area for, hopefully, my delayed season opener with a solo afternoon refill hunt.

I started out early, figuring that I might need the extra time since it was the first Wednesday of the season. As I pulled up to the check station there were about 20 trucks parked in the lot. Being it was about 8 am I figured a few on the refill list were probably out to breakfast, so I still wasn’t sure that the refill list wouldn’t be a long one. I walked up to the check station and found I was about ¾ of the way down the first page of the refill list. It looked like I would get out, it was just a question of when and where.

As I waited at the check station the morning shooters began to trickle in. The hunters checking out were ranging all over the board, a couple with limits, some with pretty good straps of 4 to 5 birds, more with 1 or 2 birds and a few with a goose…egg…(none). It seemed like a while before the pace of the hunters checking in picked up and about noon one of the blinds I was shooting for checked in. The hunters had a pretty full strap and it looked good for the afternoon shoot.

I headed out to the blind and by 1:15 I was set up and hunting. I hunkered down in the blind and began to peruse the sky for ducks and absorb the ambiance of the marsh. I was optimistic as the opener on Saturday shot a phenomenal 5.1 average and the morning shooters in my blind had near limits.

As I scanned the sky I also enjoyed the sounds and sights of the marsh. Some grebes swam by close to the blind and the sky was filled with beautiful cloud formations, especially the clouds hanging over Mount San Jacinto towering over the landscape to the southeast.

 

 

As the afternoon wore away the sky remained duckless and only an occasional shot was heard around the Wildlife Area. Although no ducks were forthcoming the scenery and clouds around the Wildlife Area were of some consolation.

 

At 6:00 on the nose the alarm on my cell phone went off, telling me that quitting time had arrived. The sun dropped behind the hills as I packed up my gear another signature SJ sunset faded away.

 

Next week is still up in the air so we’ll have to see how things go. Hopefully I’ll be out at San Jacinto again soon, hopefully next week, and hopefully a few more birds will be around. Maybe I’ll see you out there.

 

Hunt Results for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area, Saturday – 10/24/15 and Sunday – 10/25/15

The waterfowl take for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for opening day was excellent with many hunters scoring quick limits, the majority being teal. Green Wing Teal were way out in front in for number of birds taken with Cinnamon Teal coming in second.   The Wister Staff reported that the results for Saturday, 10/24/15 were as follows:

319 adult and 35 junior hunters bagged 158 Northern Shovelers, 375 Cinnamon Teal, 53 Gadwall, 39 Widgeon, 816 Green Wing Teal, 217 Mallards, 240 Pintail, 22 Redheads, 24 Ring Necks and 2 Bufflehead, 1 Whistling Duck, 4 Blue Wing Teal and 1 Surf Scooter. There were also 2 White Front Geese and 1 Cackling Goose bagged at Wister on Saturday. In addition, 10 coots taken on Saturday. This resulted in an average harvest of 5.51 ducks per hunter or, with the geese and coots included, 5.55 waterfowl for each hunter. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 61 showed up on time for their spot.

The waterfowl take for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Sunday dropped off quite a bit from the opener’s excellent numbers. Green Wing Teal remained in first place for number of birds taken and Cinnamon Teal remained in the second spot.   The Wister Staff reported that the results for Sunday, 10/25/15 were as follows:

149 adult and 13 junior hunters bagged 13 Northern Shovelers, 58 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Gadwall, 5 Widgeon, 128 Green Wing Teal, 23 Mallards, 27 Pintail, 6 Ring Necks, 1 Goldeneye and 1 Scaup (oops!). There was a lone Canada Goose taken at Wister on Sunday. There were also 10 coots included in the count on Sunday. This resulted in a per hunter average of 1.62 ducks and, with the goose and coots included, 1.69 waterfowl. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 38 hunting parties showed up on time.

Wister is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only. You can put in for reservations on-line through the DFW Automated License Data System (ALDS). Your reservation request has to be to the ALDS system 17 days in advance to get in on the drawing or you can get in on the daily “sweatline” drawing for the remaining blinds after the reservations are taken care of. Reservation spots are given out starting at 3 AM and the “sweatline” drawing is done the night before at 10:30 pm, with sign-up for the drawing between 7:30 and 10:30 pm. The ALDS can be accessed through the DFW web site at the below link –

https://www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/InternetSales

Don’t forget that all licenses and 1 day, 2 day or season passes must be purchased at a DFW Office or a license agent before your arrive at the refuge. These can be purchased on-line via the ALDS system also, however, you will have to wait for the DFG to mail you’re the actual licenses and passes which can take up to 15 days. If you purchase your license and passes in person at a DFW office or license agent you immediately get them without the wait for the mail. No licenses or passes will be sold at the check stations this season. You can also show up for an afternoon refill hunt but the last refill is at 2 PM. For more information, contact the staff at Wister Staff at 760-359-0577.

 

Hunt Results for San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Saturday – 10/24/15

The San Jacinto Wildlife Area waterfowl take for opening day was outstanding with many hunters scoring limits under warm clear skies. Shovelers and Cinnamon Teal tied for first place for most birds taken on the opener last year and this year they were only one bird away from another tie for numbers taken. Shovelers edged out the Cinimons for first place on this opener.  Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that the results for Saturday, 10/24/15 were as follows:

204 adult and 34 junior hunters bagged 364 Northern Shovelers, 363 Cinnamon Teal, 16 Gadwall, 26 Widgeon, 266 Green Wing Teal, 3 Blue Wing Teal, 20 Mallards, 3 Pintail, 13 Redhead, 4 Canvasbacks, 114 Ring Necks, 1 Bufflehead and 23 Ruddy Ducks. There were no geese bagged on the wildlife area Saturday. There were also 20 coots taken on Saturday. This resulted in an average harvest of 5.11 ducks for each hunter or 5.19 waterfowl with the coots included. Tom advised that out of 52 reservation cards 39 showed up on time.

San Jacinto is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. You can put in for reservations on-line through the DFW Automated License Data System (ALDS). Your reservation request has to be to the ALDS system 17 days in advance to get in on the drawing or you can get in on the daily “sweatline” drawing for the remaining blinds after the reservations are taken care of. Reservation spots are given out starting at 3 AM and the “sweatline” drawing is done after that. The ALDS can be accessed through the DFW web site at the below link –

https://www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/InternetSales

Don’t forget that all licenses and 1 day, 2 day or season passes must be purchased at a DFW Office or a license agent before your arrive at the refuge. These can be purchased on-line via the ALDS system also, however, you will have to wait for the DFG to mail you’re the actual licenses and passes which can take up to 15 days. If you purchase your license and passes in person at a DFW office or license agent you immediately get them without the wait for the mail. No licenses or passes will be sold at the check stations this season. You can also show up for an afternoon refill hunt but the last refill is at 2 PM. For more information, contact the staff at San Jacinto at 951-928-0580.

SoCalHunt Will Post Wister Hunting Results Also This Season!

SoCalHunt has reached out to the Department of Fish and Wildlife and, if all goes according to plan, will not only be posting San Jacinto Wildlife Area’s hunting results, as we have for the last 5 years, but we will also be posting the hunting results from Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area! As many of you probably already know, with the exception of Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve, which has been dry for several years, Wister is the only other State Wildlife Area in Southern California that allows duck hunting.

Publishing the Wister results will mean that, as far as duck hunting on State land goes, SoCalHunt will truly be covering all of Southern California.

As this is a new aspect for SoCalHunt hopefully all will go smoothly and we’ll be able to post the results from Wister by the next day as we normally do for San Jacinto.

This is a new exciting step for SoCalHunt and, hopefully, will give our audience more information to help them enjoy the great sport of duck hunting in Southern California.

 

Second Volunteer Blind Brush-Up Work Day At San Jacinto Wildlife Area also a Big Success!

The second volunteer blind brush-up day for the 2015 / 2016 season, Saturday, September 26^th, was also a big success. There was a good turn out with about 20 hunters showing up to volunteer. Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area reported that the volunteers met at the check station parking lot early morning and eagerly headed out to the waterfowl area to get to work.

The Volunteer Workers (Thanks guys!)

This work party’s main goal was to brush up several blinds throughout the wildlife area for the upcoming season. Many blinds were brushed up with palm fronds, many of them provided by the volunteers.

Hard at work!

Another blind ready to go!

Much was done in a short time and then the crew headed to El Comal Restaurant in Nuevo for a well-earned lunch. Tom wanted me to remind hunters that there are still a few blinds that need brushing up as the volunteers ran out of palm fronds. Tom said the staff at SJ will finish the work before the season opener but wanted me to remind everyone that they still need palm fronds to finish the job. If anyone wants to donate any palm fronds give him or his crew a call to make arrangements to drop them off. Just give the SJ Staff a call at (951) 236-3040 if you want to drop some off.

Lunch!

The next thing on the calendar for San Jacinto Wildlife Area is opening day of the waterfowl season on Saturday, October 24^th! Everything is looking great for the season ahead. The ponds are filling and many ducks, and even a few geese, are now using the wildlife area.

Start getting the gear in shape and maybe we’ll see you some time during the season at San Jacinto.