Clearing, cool weather conditions greeted hunters Saturday at San Jacinto Wildlife Area as yesterday’s storm moved out of the area and the average waterfowl take dropped back slightly. Green Wing Teal stayed in first place and Shovelers kept the second position for number of birds checked in. Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that the waterfowl numbers for Saturday, 12/12/15, were as follows:
148 adult and 18 junior hunters checked in with 87 Northern Shovelers, 10 Mallards, 55 Gadwall, 12 Widgeon, 16 Pintail, 135 Green Wing Teal, 12 Cinnamon Teal, 3 Redhead, 1 Canvasback, 4 Ring Necks, 13 Bufflehead, 10 Bufflehead, and 19 Ruddy Ducks. No Geese were taken at San Jacinto on Saturday. In addition 3 Coots were checked in at San Jacinto on Saturday. The average take per hunter came out to 2.21 ducks or, with the Coots figured in to the total, a 2.23 average on waterfowl for each gun. Tom advised that out of 52 reservation cards 29 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
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. Details of this year’s toy drive can be seen here:
https://socalhunt.wordpress.com/2015/11/19/san-jacinto-wildlife-areas-annual-toy-drive-has-begun-2/
Also, be sure to check SoCalHunt’s article on donations for the 22nd Annual Junior Hunt, which is coming up on February 6th, 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:
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 