Major Threat to San Jacinto Hunting Program! ACTION NEEDED BY HUNTERS!

THIS!!…

…just showed up on San Jacinto Wildlife Area property!  This is a direct threat to the hunting program, and the wildlife, at San Jacinto.  The Riverside Planning Department is holding a public hearing notice regarding a plan to start building up to 11,350 residential dwellings and up to 70 ½ acres of commercial use on 2,883 acres adjacent to San Jacinto.

This, of course, will have the effect of shutting down all hunting at San Jacinto as well as adverse effects to the wildlife that utilizes the area. 11,350 residences will have an adverse effect on the wildlife of the adjacent wildlife area and the residents will complain about the gunfire noise on hunting days and you can probably figure out where that will lead when a bunch of new residents complain.

EVERYBODY that uses SJ, hunters, birdwatchers, equestrians, nature photographers, EVERYBODY and ANYBODY that can get off work and make the public hearing needs to come out and voice their concerns about this ill-conceived plan.  The meeting is September 6^th at 9 AM at 4080 Lemon Street, 1^st Floor, Riverside, CA 92502 (Really considerate of them to give such advanced notice and schedule it during a time that working people can attend…yes, that’s sarcasm).

Please, if there’s any way you can make it to this hearing BE THERE!  We need an overwhelming show of support for San Jacinto to prevent this from happening.

(BTW – Tom had them move the sign from SJ property.)

Google maps link to 4080 Lemon Street, Riverside, the location of the hearing.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Lemon+St,+Riverside,+CA+92501/@33.9777754,-117.3755947,17.08z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x80dcb1e5ff7ca79f:0x566b43c951322556!8m2!3d33.9778578!4d-117.3733832?hl=en

2nd Volunteer Work Day Set for San Jacinto Wildlife Area- Saturday, August 26, 2017

Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, advised that the next volunteer work day for San Jacinto Wildlife Area would be Saturday, August 26^th.  This work day will be primarily to start brushing up the area’s blinds for the coming season.  Tom advised that volunteers should meet at the check station at 6:30 am and anyone coming out to volunteer should bring gloves, shovels and/or hoes, wire pliers and lots of water since it’s expected to be hot. Also, if anyone has access to palm fronds they are way low on their supply of these.  More are needed and we can’t have too many so if you can bring some along, please do.  After the work is done we will get together at a local restaurant for a well-deserved lunch (each person responsible for their own bill).

Again, I know this is short notice so Tom wanted to apologize again as some equipment problems got them behind and they’re still catching up.

Hopefully, we’ll have at least as good a turnout as we had on the August 5^th work day so we can get the blinds brushed up for another waterfowl season.  As I always say, the more the merrier (and the less work for each person).

Tom also told me that they will have one more date in September for a final volunteer blind brush-up day at San Jacinto (exact date still to be determined).

Also, if you do come out to help there a potential bonus as this is 6 days before the opening of dove season.  The waterfowl side of the wildlife area will be opened for dove hunting the entire first weekend of dove season (Sept. 1 – 3).  If you want to hunt SJ this would also be a good time to get a little scouting in for the dove opener while you lend a hand.  Just remember, if you do come out to hunt dove at San Jacinto it’s unleaded this year, NON-TOXIC SHOT ONLY!

Hopefully, we’ll have a good crew of volunteers for this one to get the blinds looking good for the upcoming season and another great year of duck hunting.

If you have any questions contact Tom Trakes at the San Jacinto headquarters at (951) 236-3040, or the San Jacinto staff at (951) 928-0580.

Good Turnout = Lots Accomplished at the Volunteer Work Day at San Jacinto, Saturday August 5th

On Saturday, August 5^th, an excellent turnout of about 30 volunteers, along with the San Jacinto Wildlife Area staff, assembled at the SJ check station parking lot at 0630 for first volunteer blind day.

The volunteers received their assignments and were off to help start getting the blinds in order for the fast approaching waterfowl season. The wood blind that was a F-2 was moved to E-4 and a hog wire blind was built to replace it at F-2.  The blind at C-1 was removed and replaced with a new hog wire blind a little higher on the island.  General clean up as done around and inside some of the area’s blinds and notes were made on what further needs to be done to get ready for the season.

There are already a lot of ducks using the area and things are looking good so far for a great season.

After the work was done most of the volunteers gathered at the Casa Mexicana Restaurant for a great lunch.

The Staff at San Jacinto would like to extend a big thanks to everyone that came out and worked hard to get a start on getting things in order for the waterfowl season to come.

Tom wanted me to tell everyone that the next volunteer work day is coming up fast.  The next work day will be Saturday, August 26^th.  (I’ll post a separate announcement on this soon, check back with SoCalHunt for the “official” announcement.)

This work day is just the weekend before the dove season opener on September 1^st.  If you have any plans to hunt SJ for the dove opener attending the work day would be a great way to get some scouting in for the dove opener (while the work is done of course).

Tom told me that the waterfowl area will be opened for dove hunting for the first three days (September 1 – 3) of the dove season.  Also, if you are going to hunt at SJ any time during the dove season, including opening weekend, there is NO LEAD SHOT ALLOWED on State Wildlife Areas.  Non-toxic shot only (steel, bismuth, tungsten).

Hope to see you out there for the next work day or maybe even for the dove opener!

Moving F-2 to E-4

Building Blinds

Some of the volunteers…Thanks guys!