Hunt Results for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area, Wednesday – 1/24/18, Saturday – 1/27/18, and Sunday – 1/28/18

The waterfowl count at the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Wednesday, bounced back up quite a bit compared to Sunday’s low numbers.  Gadwall were back in first place Wednesday for number of birds taken with Green Wing Teal and Cinnamon Teal in a tie for the second position.  The Wister Staff reported that the results for Wednesday, 1/24/18 were as follows:

96 adult and 2 junior hunters harvested 17 Northern Shovelers, 2 Mallards, 28 Gadwall, 14 Widgeon, 14 Pintail, 22 Green Wing Teal, 22 Cinnamon Teal, 2 Redheads, 1 Bufflehead, and 1 Blue Wing Teal. 5 Snow Geese were bagged at Wister on Wednesday.  No Coots was checked in at Wister on Wednesday.  This worked out to an average take of 1.26 ducks per person or, with the Geese included in the totals, 1.31 waterfowl for each gun. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 28 arrived on time to claim their spot.

The waterfowl totals for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Saturday dropped back downward somewhat compared to Wednesday’s numbers.  Cinnamon Teal left the Green Wings in the dust, taking over first place for number of birds brought in with Green Wing Teal staying in the second position.  The Wister Staff reported that the results for Saturday, 1/27/18 were as follows:

152 adult and 11 junior hunters checked in 21 Northern Shoveler, 5 Mallards, 25 Gadwall, 12 Widgeon, 19 Pintail, 29 Green Wing Teal, 45 Cinnamon Teal, 4 Redheads, 1 Ring Neck, 1 Scaup, 5 Bufflehead, and 2 Ruddy Ducks.  16 Snow Geese were harvested at Wister on Saturday.  Again, no Coots brought in to the check station at Wister on Saturday.  This worked out to an average take of 1.04 ducks per hunter or, with the Geese included, 1.13 waterfowl per gun. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 30 came in on time for their spot.

The waterfowl take for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Sunday headed slipped even more compared to Saturday’s count. Shovelers were found in the first position for number of waterfowl checked in on Sunday with Cinnamon Teal dropping back into the second position. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Sunday, 1/28/18 were as follows:

68 adult and 4 junior hunters harvested 10 Northern Shovelers, 5 Gadwall, 5 Widgeon, 8 Pintail, 8 Green Wing Teal, 9 Cinnamon Teal, 10 Blue Wing Teal, 2 Redheads, 1 Ring Neck,1 Bufflehead and 5 Ruddy Ducks.  5 Snow Geese were bagged at Wister on Sunday.  1 Coot was checked in at Wister on Sunday.  This came out to an average bag of 0.75 ducks per person or, with the Geese and Coot included, 0.83 waterfowl per hunter. There was no information provided regarding how many reservation holders arrived on time for their spot.

So, another season in the books.  Thus ends the 2017/2018 regular waterfowl season for Wister. If you’re a junior hunter, or you have a junior hunter in the family, there’s one more chance for them to waterfowl this season at Wister’s Junior Waterfowl hunt, next weekend, February 3^rd and 4^th. For more information, contact the staff at Wister at 760-359-0577.

Hunt Results for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area, Wednesday – 1/24/18, Saturday – 1/27/18, and Sunday – 1/28/18 (Not Yet)

Well, so far, for some unknown reason, Wister hasn’t sent out the hunt results for the last three days of the season (January 24th, 27th, and 28th).  Since it’s been two days past when I would usually get them I just wanted to let anyone who might have been looking for the results know why they haven’t been posted yet.  As soon as I get them I’ll share the hunt results in a separate post.  Sorry for the delay.

SoCalHunt San Jacinto Hunting Report 1/27/18

First off I want to apologize for the lack of hunting reports this season.  I did try the sweatline once, the Saturday after my last hunting report, but I wasn’t fortunate enough to get drawn low enough to get on in the morning and I couldn’t stay for the afternoon. After that was a short time of planned absence from SJ for Christmas holiday activities and guests visiting from out of state.  Then, raring to go…I got the creepin’ crud (flu?) that was going around, then my wife got it, and it hung on for a couple weeks for each of us, so…finally things were good to go again after a very long period of no hunting…with one day left in the season.  However, as luck would have it, the good thing was one of my usual hunting partners had drawn a low reservation number!

So, with reservation in hand, we arrived at the San Jacinto Check Station to pick our spot for the last hunt day of the 2017/2018 waterfowl season.  My other usual hunting partner was also available, but only for about the first hour, as he had to get to work after that, so he met up with us in the reservation line.  We were optimistic that we’d have a good hunt coming up today.

We picked our spot, one of our favorites, and headed out to set up.  Once we had the decoys set and the blind arranged we settled back with a cup of coffee to await the starting horn.  As the sun began to light the sky from behind Mount San Jacinto SJ showed us another great sunrise.

When the starting horn blew, it wasn’t long before we had several opportunities.  Each of us fired several shots, but nothing fell.  All three of us had the “I can’t hit nothing” ailment this morning.

As the sun rose higher the sky brightened and it was easier to pick out the birds flying in towards our blind.

Finally, a Teal flew in high over the blind and we all fired at it.  The bird folded (I think we all may have hit it) and it went crashing down, right into a thick stand of tules.  After an exhaustive search, the bird could not be located.  Shoot, I always hate to lose them like that.

It wasn’t long before my hunting partner that had to leave for work ran out of time and we wished him well as he headed back to his truck.  That left two of us to “defend” our blind from any encroaching waterfowl.

As the sun rose higher the conditions remained calm and the water glassy.  The light clouds enhanced the scenery and we enjoyed the views as we waited for more ducks to arrive.

After a short time, another Teal came in towards the blind and my partner had the shot.  The bird was hit, but not hard and actually flew a short distance before going down behind a thick stand of reeds.  After another long search, this bird was able to evade capture.  I’m sure it swam into the reeds after it went down.

We had several more opportunities and continued our “catch and release” hunting technique.  Blowing holes in the sky around the ducks and then watching them fly away.  After several birds escaped our efforts we were sitting in the blind when a group of four Cinnamon Teal drakes swam by close to the blind from behind some tules.  We stood and the birds jumped to fly and my partner was able to hit one hard, splashing it in opened water and winging another one that crash-landed next to the adjacent dike.  The bird that fell by the dike was still swimming and was able to quickly duck into some brush on the dike.  My partner went to retrieve his birds but the one that was still mobile either went over the dike unseen and into the next pond and who knows where from there, or continued down the edge of the dike, using the brush for cover and made it into the reeds at the end of the pond.  Another long search failed to locate this duck also but at least the one down on the opened water wasn’t going anywhere.  Finally, a bird for the strap.

Not long after this things began to slow down significantly, however, the wind came up fairly strong, which usually starts to move bird around, so we opted to stick things out a while longer.

For the next hour or so we caught and released a few more birds but the wind didn’t seem to be moving the birds much so we decided to call it a day.  We packed our decoys and gear and headed out with our lone Cinnamon Teal.

The next thing up for San Jacinto Wildlife Area is the 24^th Annual Junior Hunt and Raffle next Saturday, February 3^rd.  Hope to see a great group of Juniors in attendance next Saturday.  Hopefully, it should be a good hunt with the bonus of a great lunch and lots of raffle prizes for the Juniors.

Hunt Results for San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Saturday – 1/27/18

The waterfowl count at San Jacinto Wildlife Area slipped back down again from Wednesday’s numbers on a day that was partly cloudy with cool temperatures along with some wind. Coots were found in first place today for number of birds harvested with Green Wing Teal tied with Cinnamon Teal for the second position. Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that the results for Saturday, 1/27/18 were as follows:

151 adult and 6 junior hunters bagged 41 Northern Shovelers, 4 Mallards, 13 Gadwall, 2 Widgeon, 10 Pintail, 45 Green Wing Teal, 45 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Ring Neck, 1 Scaup, 4 Bufflehead, and 9 Ruddy Ducks.  Once again, no Geese were brought down at San Jacinto on Saturday.   51 Coots were also included in the harvest at San Jacinto on Saturday.  This came out to an average harvest of 1.11 ducks per hunter or, with the Coots included, 1.44 waterfowl per person. Tom advised that out of 52 reservation cards 25 arrived on time for their spot.

So, the 2017/2018 regular waterfowl season is in the books. Junior hunters have one more shot at it next Saturday, February 3^rd.  If you’re a junior hunter or you have a junior hunter in the family, here’s hoping you’ll take advantage of San Jacinto’s Annual Junior Waterfowl hunt, next Saturday, 2/3/18. Here’s hoping the Juniors have a great hunt!  For more information, contact the staff at San Jacinto at 951-928-0580.

 

Hunt Results for San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Wednesday – 1/24/18

The waterfowl harvest averages at San Jacinto Wildlife Area headed back upward from Saturday’s low totals on a partly cloudy day that started cold but ended up just into the 70s. Green Wing Teal swapped places with Cinnamon Teal, coming in first place today for number of birds taken with the Cinnamons sliding back into the second spot. Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that the results for Wednesday, 1/24/18 were as follows:

106 adult and 4 junior hunters bagged 17 Northern Shovelers, 3 Mallards, 21 Gadwall, 1 Widgeon, 6 Pintail, 49 Green Wing Teal, 32 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Redhead, 2 Scaup, 8 Bufflehead, 1 Goldeneye, and 6 Ruddy Ducks.  No Geese were checked in at San Jacinto on Wednesday.   13 Coots were also included in the count at San Jacinto on Wednesday.  This worked out to an average harvest of 1.34 ducks per hunter or, with the Coots added in, 1.45 waterfowl per person. Tom advised that out of 52 reservation cards only 17 showed up on time for their spot.

San Jacinto is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. At this point in the season it is now too late to put in for reservations on-line through the DFW Automated License Data System (ALDS).   You can still get in on the daily “sweat line” drawing for the remaining blinds after the reservations are taken care of. Reservation spots are given out starting at 3 AM and the “sweat line” drawing is at 3:30 AM.

Also, San Jacinto’s 24^th Annual Junior Hunt is coming up on February 3^rd, 2018.  New state regulations, which went into effect the year before last, regarding donations for this great event are in effect again this year.  It’s a great cause to donate to as the Junior Hunters are the future of our sport so don’t let a little paperwork keep you from donating. Details on the procedures for donating can be found at the below link:

https://socalhunt.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/new-procedures-for-donations-for-the-annual-junior-hunt-at-san-jacinto-wildlife-area/

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 arrival at the refuge.  These can be purchased online via the ALDS system also, however, you will have to wait for the DFG to mail you 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.  As in past seasons, 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.

 

Hunt Results for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area, Wednesday – 1/17/18, Saturday – 1/20/18, and Sunday – 1/21/18

The waterfowl count at the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Wednesday, as usual, headed back up, but just slightly, compared to Sunday’s low averages.  Gadwall were found in first place Wednesday for number of birds bagged with Green Wing Teal holding on to the second spot.  The Wister Staff reported that the results for Wednesday, 1/17/18 were as follows:

100 adult hunters and 1 junior hunter harvested 3 Northern Shovelers, 6 Mallards, 28 Gadwall, 7 Widgeon, 16 Pintail, 19 Green Wing Teal, 14 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Redhead, 1 Ring Neck, 2 Bufflehead, and 1 Ruddy Duck. 17 Snow Geese were taken at Wister on Wednesday.  1 Coot was brought in at Wister on Wednesday.  This worked out to an average take of 0.97 ducks per gun or, with the Geese and Coot added to the totals, 1.15 waterfowl for each person. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 23 arrived on time to claim their spot.

The waterfowl totals for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Saturday slid downward slightly compared to Wednesday’s count.  Gadwall retained the first position for number of birds checked in with Green Wing Teal remaining in the second spot.  The Wister Staff reported that the results for Saturday, 1/20/18 were as follows:

204 adult and 23 junior hunters checked in 3 Northern Shoveler, 4 Mallards, 61 Gadwall, 13 Widgeon, 15 Pintail, 31 Green Wing Teal, 25 Cinnamon Teal, 2 Redheads, 1 Ring Neck, 5 Bufflehead, and 9 Ruddy Ducks.  3 Snow Geese and 1 Ross’ Goose were bagged at Wister on Saturday.  There were no Coots checked in at Wister on Saturday.  This came out to an average take of 0.74 ducks per person or, with the Geese included, 0.76 waterfowl per hunter. There was no information provided regarding how many reservation holders showed up on time for their spot.

The waterfowl take for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Sunday headed south even more compared to Saturday’s low averages. Green Wing Teal jumped up into the first position for number of waterfowl harvested on Sunday with Pintail found in a tie for the second position with Snow Geese. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Sunday, 1/21/18 were as follows:

50 adult and 12 junior hunters harvested 1 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 2 Widgeon, 5 Pintail, 9 Green Wing Teal, 3 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Blue Wing Teal and 1 Merganser.  5 Snow Geese were downed at Wister on Sunday.  2 Coots were also checked in at Wister on Sunday.  This came out to an average bag of 0.40 ducks per person or, with the Geese and Coots included, 0.76 waterfowl per hunter. There was no information provided regarding how many reservation holders arrived on time for their spot.

Wister is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only. At this point in the season it is now too late to put in for reservations on-line through the DFW Automated License Data System (ALDS).   You can still get in on the daily “sweat line” drawing for the remaining blinds by arriving at Wister to get in on the drawing by 10:30 PM the night before. Reservation spots are given out starting at 3 AM and the “sweat line” spots given out after that.

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 – 1/20/18

The waterfowl harvest averages at San Jacinto Wildlife Area dropped off slightly from Wednesday’s already low averages on a day with cool clear weather conditions. Cinnamon Teal were found in first place today for number of birds bagged, tied with Coots, with Green Wing Teal dropping back into the second spot. Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that the results for Saturday, 1/20/18 were as follows:

146 adult and 10 junior hunters took home 15 Northern Shovelers, 3 Mallards, 17 Gadwall, 4 Widgeon, 2 Pintail, 22 Green Wing Teal, 29 Cinnamon Teal, 2 Scaup, 4 Bufflehead, and 18 Ruddy Ducks.  Again, no Geese were taken at San Jacinto on Saturday.   29 Coots were also bagged at San Jacinto on Saturday.  This came out to an average take of 0.74 ducks per gun or, with the Coots included, 0.93 waterfowl per hunter. Tom advised that out of 52 reservation cards 26 showed up on time for their spot.

San Jacinto is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. At this point in the season it is now too late to put in for reservations on-line through the DFW Automated License Data System (ALDS).   You can still get in on the daily “sweat line” drawing for the remaining blinds after the reservations are taken care of. Reservation spots are given out starting at 3 AM and the “sweat line” drawing is at 3:30 AM.

Also, San Jacinto’s 24^th Annual Junior Hunt is coming up on February 3^rd, 2018.  New state regulations, which went into effect the year before last, regarding donations for this great event are in effect again this year.  It’s a great cause to donate to as the Junior Hunters are the future of our sport so don’t let a little paperwork keep you from donating. Details on the procedures for donating can be found at the below link:

https://socalhunt.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/new-procedures-for-donations-for-the-annual-junior-hunt-at-san-jacinto-wildlife-area/

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 arrival at the refuge.  These can be purchased online via the ALDS system also, however, you will have to wait for the DFG to mail you 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.  As in past seasons, 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.

 

Hunt Results for San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Wednesday – 1/17/18

The average waterfowl take at San Jacinto Wildlife Area continued to remain about the same as Saturday’s averages on another day starting with cool temperatures that climbed into the 70’s with clear skies. Green Wing Teal  jumped into first place today for number of birds bagged with Gadwall sliding back into the second position. Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that the results for Saturday, 1/17/18 were as follows:

105 adult hunters and 1 junior hunter took home 12 Northern Shovelers, 1 Mallards, 23 Gadwall, 1 Widgeon, 1 Pintail, 31 Green Wing Teal, 18 Cinnamon Teal, 12 Cinnamon Teal, 6 Ring Necks, 2 Scaup, 4 Bufflehead, and 14 Ruddy Ducks.  There were no Geese taken at San Jacinto on Wednesday.  There were also 23 Coots shot at San Jacinto on Wednesday.  This worked out to an average harvest of 1.07 ducks per person or, with the Coots added, 1.28 waterfowl per hunter. Tom advised that out of 52 reservation cards 24 arrived on time for their spot.

San Jacinto is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. At this point in the season it is now too late to put in for reservations on-line through the DFW Automated License Data System (ALDS).   You can still get in on the daily “sweat line” drawing for the remaining blinds after the reservations are taken care of. Reservation spots are given out starting at 3 AM and the “sweat line” drawing is at 3:30 AM.

Also, San Jacinto’s 24^th Annual Junior Hunt is coming up on February 3^rd, 2018.  New state regulations, which went into effect the year before last, regarding donations for this great event are in effect again this year.  It’s a great cause to donate to as the Junior Hunters are the future of our sport so don’t let a little paperwork keep you from donating. Details on the procedures for donating can be found at the below link:

https://socalhunt.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/new-procedures-for-donations-for-the-annual-junior-hunt-at-san-jacinto-wildlife-area/

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 arrival at the refuge.  These can be purchased online via the ALDS system also, however, you will have to wait for the DFG to mail you 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.  As in past seasons, 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.

 

Hunt Results for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area, Wednesday – 1/10/18, Saturday – 1/13/18, and Sunday – 1/14/18

The waterfowl count at the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Wednesday headed back up somewhat compared to Sunday’s low counts.  Green Wing Teal showed up in first place Wednesday for number of birds taken with Pintail in the second spot.  The Wister Staff reported that the results for Wednesday, 1/10/18 were as follows:

61 adult and 2 junior hunters checked in 4 Northern Shovelers, 11 Gadwall, 18 Widgeon, 22 Pintail, 26 Green Wing Teal, 2 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Redhead, 1 Ring Neck, and 1 Blue Wing Teal. 6 Snow Geese were bagged at Wister on Wednesday.  There were no Coots checked in at Wister on Wednesday.  This came out to an average bag of 1.37 ducks per person or, with the Geese included in the totals, 1.46 waterfowl for each hunter. Out of 100 reservation cards issued only 16 came in on time to claim their spot.

The waterfowl totals for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Saturday dropped off slightly compared to Wednesday’s averages.  Snow Geese were reported in the first position for number of birds harvested with Pintail in the second spot but only by one bird over Green Wing Teal. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Saturday, 1/13/18 were as follows:

183 adult and 17 junior hunters checked in 11 Northern Shoveler, 9 Mallards, 32 Gadwall, 18 Widgeon, 41 Pintail, 40 Green Wing Teal, 35 Cinnamon Teal, 2 Redheads, 4 Ring Necks, 5 Bufflehead, 1 Blue Wing Teal, 1 Surf Scooter, 2 Mergansers, and 1 Ruddy Duck.  In addition, 47 Snow Geese and 1 Ross’ Goose were checked in at Wister on Saturday.  10 Coot were also bagged at Wister on Saturday.  This came out to an average take of 1.01 ducks per hunter or, with the Geese and Coots added in, 1.30 waterfowl per gun. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 33 showed up on time to for their spot.

The waterfowl take for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Sunday, as usual, dropped even more compared to Saturday’s count. Gadwall were found in the first position for number of waterfowl checked in on Sunday with Green Wing Teal holding on to the second spot, but by only one bird over the Pintails. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Sunday, 1/14/18 were as follows:

63 adult and 5 junior hunters harvested 1 Northern Shoveler, 11 Gadwall, 6 Widgeon, 8 Pintail, 9 Green Wing Teal, 7 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Blue Wing Teal and 3 Bufflehead.  3 Snow Geese and 2 White Front Geese were harvested at Wister on Sunday.  Also, 3 Coots were checked in at Wister on Sunday.  This worked out to an average bag of 0.68 ducks per hunter or, with the Geese and Coots included, 0.79 waterfowl per person. Out of 100 reservation cards issued only 14 showed up on time to claim their spot.

Wister is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only. At this point in the season it is now too late to put in for reservations on-line through the DFW Automated License Data System (ALDS).   You can still get in on the daily “sweat line” drawing for the remaining blinds by arriving at Wister to get in on the drawing by 10:30 PM the night before. Reservation spots are given out starting at 3 AM and the “sweat line” spots given out after that.

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 – 1/13/18

The waterfowl averages at San Jacinto Wildlife Area remained virtually the same as last Wednesday’s count on a day that started cool with temperatures getting up into the high 70’s with clear skies. Gadwall remained in the first position today for number of birds harvested with Shovelers jumping up into the second spot. Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that the results for Saturday, 1/13/18 were as follows:

150 adult and 9 junior hunters harvested 34 Northern Shovelers, 8 Mallards, 36 Gadwall, 17 Widgeon, 1 Pintail, 20 Green Wing Teal, 17 Cinnamon Teal, 3 Redheads, 1 Canvasback, 7 Bufflehead, 1 Blue Wing Teal, and 3 Ruddy Ducks.  Again, no Geese were taken at San Jacinto on Saturday.  There were 9 Coots checked in at San Jacinto on Saturday.  This figured out to an average take of 0.93 ducks per hunter or, with the Coots included, 0.99 waterfowl per person. Tom advised that out of 52 reservation cards 30 arrived on time for their spot.

San Jacinto is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. At this point in the season it is now too late to put in for reservations on-line through the DFW Automated License Data System (ALDS).   You can still get in on the daily “sweat line” drawing for the remaining blinds after the reservations are taken care of. Reservation spots are given out starting at 3 AM and the “sweat line” drawing is at 3:30 AM.

Also, San Jacinto’s 24^th Annual Junior Hunt is coming up on February 3^rd, 2018.  New state regulations, which went into effect the year before last, regarding donations for this great event are in effect again this year.  It’s a great cause to donate to as the Junior Hunters are the future of our sport so don’t let a little paperwork keep you from donating. Details on the procedures for donating can be found at the below link:

https://socalhunt.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/new-procedures-for-donations-for-the-annual-junior-hunt-at-san-jacinto-wildlife-area/

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 arrival at the refuge.  These can be purchased online via the ALDS system also, however, you will have to wait for the DFG to mail you 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.  As in past seasons, 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.

 

Hunt Results for San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Wednesday – 1/10/18

The waterfowl numbers at San Jacinto Wildlife Area turned back upward slightly from Saturday’s very low numbers on a day of cold temperatures and mostly clear skies. Gadwall climbed into the first spot today for number of birds bagged with Green Wing Teal being found in the second position. Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that the results for Wednesday, 1/10/18 were as follows:

120 adult and 6 junior hunters harvested 14 Northern Shovelers, 12 Mallards, 25 Gadwall, 2 Widgeon, 2 Pintail, 18 Green Wing Teal, 12 Cinnamon Teal, 5 Redheads, 1 Canvasback, 1 Ring Neck, 1 Scaup, 8 Bufflehead, and 11 Ruddy Ducks.  No Geese were downed at San Jacinto on Wednesday.  16 Coots were also included in the take at San Jacinto on Wednesday.  This worked out to an average bag of 0.89 ducks per hunter or, with the Coots included, 1.02 waterfowl per person. Tom advised that out of 52 reservation cards only 19 showed up on time for their spot.

San Jacinto is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. You can put in for reservations online 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 website at the below link –

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

Also, San Jacinto’s 24^th Annual Junior Hunt is coming up on February 3^rd, 2018.  New state regulations, which went into effect the year before last, regarding donations for this great event are in effect again this year.  It’s a great cause to donate to as the Junior Hunters are the future of our sport so don’t let a little paperwork keep you from donating. Details on the procedures for donating can be found at the below link:

https://socalhunt.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/new-procedures-for-donations-for-the-annual-junior-hunt-at-san-jacinto-wildlife-area/

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 arrival at the refuge.  These can be purchased online via the ALDS system also, however, you will have to wait for the DFG to mail you 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.  As in past seasons, 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.

 

Hunt Results for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area, Wednesday – 1/3/18, Saturday – 1/6/18, and Sunday – 1/7/18

The waterfowl count at the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Wednesday bounced back up only a little compared to Sunday’s usual low averages.  Pintail were found back in first place Wednesday for number of birds harvested and Green Wing Teal showed up in the second spot.  The Wister Staff reported that the results for Wednesday, 1/3/18 were as follows:

115 adult and 16 junior hunters checked in 20 Northern Shovelers, 2 Mallards, 14 Gadwall, 22 Widgeon, 39 Pintail, 26 Green Wing Teal, 8 Cinnamon Teal, 2 Bufflehead, and 1 Ruddy Duck.  There were 6 Snow Geese taken at Wister on Wednesday.  In addition, 5 Coots were checked in at Wister on Wednesday.  This worked out to an average take of 1.02 ducks per hunter or, with the Geese and Coots worked into the totals, 1.11 waterfowl for each hunter. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 31 arrived on time for their spot.

The waterfowl totals for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Saturday ticked up just slightly compared to Wednesday’s count.  Pintail retained first position for number of birds bagged with Green Wing Teal only one bird behind in the second spot. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Saturday, 1/6/18 were as follows:

180 adult and 15 junior hunters checked in 18 Northern Shoveler, 4 Mallards, 24 Gadwall, 25 Widgeon, 53 Pintail, 52 Green Wing Teal, 39 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Redhead, 4 Ring Necks, 16 Bufflehead, and 1 Ruddy Duck.  There were 38 Snow Geese added to the count at Wister on Saturday.  1 Coot was also harvested at Wister on Saturday.  This came out to an average take of 1.22 ducks per hunter or, with the Geese and Coot included, 1.42 waterfowl per person. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 37 showed up on time to for their spot.

The waterfowl take for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Sunday, as usual, headed back downward compared to Saturday’s averages. Snow Geese climbed into the first spot for number of waterfowl harvested on Sunday with Pintail dropping back into the second position. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Sunday, 1/7/18 were as follows:

68 adult and 2 junior hunters harvested 4 Northern Shovelers, 5 Gadwall, 5 Widgeon, 8 Pintail, 4 Green Wing Teal, 2 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Redhead, and 4 Bufflehead.  22 Snow Geese were downed at Wister on Sunday.  No Coots were brought in to the check station at Wister on Sunday.  This came out to an average take of 0.47 ducks per person or, with the Geese figured in, 0.79 waterfowl per gun. Out of 100 reservation cards issued only 16 came in on time to claim their spot.

Wister is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only. You can put in for reservations online 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 website 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 arrival at the refuge.  These can be purchased online 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 – 1/6/18

The waterfowl numbers at San Jacinto Wildlife Area took a nosedive from Wednesday’s low count on a day of mild temperatures and mostly cloudy skies. Green Wing Teal jumped up into first position today for number of birds checked in with Shovelers showing up in the second spot. Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that the results for Saturday, 1/6/18 were as follows:

131 adult and 9 junior hunters harvested 20 Northern Shovelers, 3 Mallards, 4 Gadwall, 2 Widgeon, 3 Pintail, 30 Green Wing Teal, 10 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Canvasback, 1 Ring Neck, 1 Bufflehead, and 5 Ruddy Ducks.  Again, there were no Geese harvested at San Jacinto on Saturday.  4 Coots were also added to the total at San Jacinto on Saturday.  This figured out to an average take of 0.57 ducks per person or, with the Coots added in, 0.60 waterfowl per hunter. Tom advised that out of 52 reservation cards 22 showed up on time for their spot.

San Jacinto is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. You can put in for reservations online 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 website at the below link –

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

Also, San Jacinto’s 24^th Annual Junior Hunt is coming up on February 3^rd, 2018.  New state regulations, which went into effect the year before last, regarding donations for this great event are in effect again this year.  It’s a great cause to donate to as the Junior Hunters are the future of our sport so don’t let a little paperwork keep you from donating. Details on the procedures for donating can be found at the below link:

https://socalhunt.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/new-procedures-for-donations-for-the-annual-junior-hunt-at-san-jacinto-wildlife-area/

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 arrival at the refuge.  These can be purchased online via the ALDS system also, however, you will have to wait for the DFG to mail you 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.  As in past seasons, 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.

2018 California Game Warden Stamp Now Available

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announces the 2018 edition of the Warden Stamp is now available.  As we all should know by now the Department of Fish and Game changed its name on January 1^st, 2013 to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.  The DFW officially calls their Wardens “Wildlife Officers” now, and it even says so on the Warden Stamps since 2014, but most hunters and fisherpersons still call them “Wardens” and the DFW is still calling this the “Warden Stamp”.

The new Warden Stamp, for 2018 is now available for purchase online via the CDFW online license services (ALDS).  To purchase the new Warden Stamp, just follow the link below to purchase via the ALDS system.

Click on the below link to go to the Warden Stamp page and follow the instructions to buy it online:

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Warden-Stamp

The Game Warden Stamp isn’t really a “stamp” for your license, such as your federal duck stamp is, although the name might lead you to believe that, rather it’s a roughly 3” x 3” decal.

The 2018  version of the stamp is an orange background with a Warden’s badge and a drawing of a Warden K9.  (see picture below)

 

The DFW still has their entire series of Warden Stamps available.  If you like a prior year’s design better than this year’s or would like to collect the entire series, they are all still available, from the first one in 2010 up through this year’s stamps.

The 2010 version is a green shield with a Warden’s badge and an elk silhouette on it.  The 2011 version is a light blue background with a Warden’s badge and a silhouette of a trout or salmon on it. The 2012 version has a dark brown background with a Warden’s badge and a silhouette of a California quail on it. The 2013 version has a gold background with a Warden’s badge and a silhouette of a duck landing on it. The 2014 version has a red background with a Warden’s badge and a silhouette of a lobster on it. The 2015 version of the stamp has a wood grain background with a Warden’s badge and the shadow of a bear on it. The 2016 version has a blue background with a Warden’s badge and the silhouettes of two bighorn sheep on it. The 2017 version of the stamp is a green background with a Warden’s badge and drawing of a sturgeon. (See pictures below). If you like them all you could buy one, or more, of each one if you want to.

The stamps are $5 each and the funds go into a special account. The money is used to provide our Game Wardens with additional equipment, training and new programs, such as new communications and surveillance devices, protective equipment, training in specialized areas, new law enforcement programs to assist them in their duties.

Due to State budget cuts, non-hunting / fishing politicians feel that the DFW is a “painless” way to cut back on the budget by giving the DFW less to do more with.

Quoting the DFW website on the Warden stamp:

“The Warden Stamp is a decal that can be proudly displayed on vehicles or other items. All funds raised from the sales of the stamp go to purchase:

• New communications and surveillance devices
• Protective equipment
• Training in specialized areas
• New law enforcement programs, such as the CDFW’s K-9 Program

The Warden Stamp Program was initiated in 2010 to address the need for better equipment and training for the state’s wildlife officers and to provide funding for special law enforcement programs.

Wildlife crimes are on the rise and becoming more complex to solve. With approximately 400 wildlife officers in the state patrolling 159,000 square miles of natural habitat, the job is extremely demanding.

Officers must perform a number of roles including catching poachers, eradicating illegal marijuana grows, responding to oil spills, providing public safety, educating the public and much more. Every day is a new challenge.

• Wildlife officers protect more than 1,000 native fish and wildlife species, 6,300 native plant species and 360 threatened or endangered species.
• Wildlife officers patrol about 400 square miles of land per officer.
• Wildlife officers keep watch over 1,100 miles of coastline, 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, 4,800 lakes and reservoirs and 80 major rivers.
• Wildlife officers patrol on foot, by plane, boat, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, and even on horseback.
• There is approximately one wildlife officer for every 100,000 Californians.

By purchasing this special stamp you can show your support for the important work wildlife officers do. Purchase online today!”

Now – back to me…

As I’ve said every year that I’ve written about the Warden Stamp, the important point here, in my opinion, is getting the money to the “boots on the ground”.  If your $5 (or more, if you can afford it) results in some equipment, training or what have you that helps catch a poacher in your area the payoff may be more game or more fish for you and yours to legally harvest.  And, the bottom line is, that’s what’s important.  As for the “stamp”, stick it on your truck, ammo box or tackle box, stick it in a drawer, throw it away if you want, do whatever you want with it.  The important thing is to help give our Wardens the tools they need to protect our hunting and fishing heritage.

Now, as I have done every year since 2010, excuse me while I pull up the ALDS on my computer and order this year’s Warden Stamps.

Hunt Results for San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Wednesday – 1/3/18

The waterfowl take at San Jacinto Wildlife Area started back upward slightly from Saturday’s averages on a day of cool temperatures and partly cloudy skies. Gadwall were found in first position today for number of birds harvested with Green Wing Teal sliding back to the second spot, but just by one bird. Tom Trakes, from San Jacinto Wildlife Area, reported that the results for Wednesday, 1/3/18 were as follows:

119 adult and 14 junior hunters harvested 32 Northern Shovelers, 13 Mallards, 37 Gadwall, 5 Widgeon, 16 Pintail, 36 Green Wing Teal, 14 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Ring Neck, 4 Bufflehead, and 8 Ruddy Ducks.  There were no Geese bagged at San Jacinto on Wednesday.  6 Coots were taken at San Jacinto on Wednesday.  This worked out to an average bag of 1.25 ducks per hunter or, with the Coots included, 1.29 waterfowl per gun. Tom advised that out of 52 reservation cards 25 showed up on time for their spot.

San Jacinto is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. You can put in for reservations online 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 website at the below link –

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

Also, San Jacinto’s 24^th Annual Junior Hunt is coming up on February 3^rd, 2018.  New state regulations, which went into effect the year before last, regarding donations for this great event are in effect again this year.  It’s a great cause to donate to as the Junior Hunters are the future of our sport so don’t let a little paperwork keep you from donating. Details on the procedures for donating can be found at the below link:

https://socalhunt.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/new-procedures-for-donations-for-the-annual-junior-hunt-at-san-jacinto-wildlife-area/

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 arrival at the refuge.  These can be purchased online via the ALDS system also, however, you will have to wait for the DFG to mail you 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.  As in past seasons, 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.

 

Hunt Results for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area, Wednesday – 12/27/17, Saturday – 12/30/17, and Sunday – 12/31/17

The waterfowl count at the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Wednesday headed back upward compared to Sunday’s usual low totals.  Pintail moved back into the first place Wednesday for number of birds bagged and Green Wing Teal came in at the second spot.  The Wister Staff reported that the results for Wednesday, 12/27/17 were as follows:

151 adult and 2 junior hunters checked in 29 Northern Shovelers, 6 Mallards, 26 Gadwall, 48 Widgeon, 72 Pintail, 56 Green Wing Teal, 17 Cinnamon Teal, 4 Redheads, 2 Canvasbacks, 2 Ring Necks, 5 Bufflehead, 1 Blue Wing Teal, and 4 Ruddy Ducks.  There were 13 Snow Geese checked in at Wister on Wednesday.  3 Coots were added to the total at Wister on Wednesday.  This worked out to an average take of 1.80 ducks per gun or, with the Geese and Coots figured in, 1.91 waterfowl for each hunter. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 33 arrived on time for their spot.

The waterfowl totals for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Saturday slid back slightly compared to Wednesday’s harvest.  Pintail held on to first place for number of birds checked in with Green Wing Teal holding steady in the second spot. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Saturday, 12/30/17 were as follows:

189 adult and 14 junior hunters checked in 42 Northern Shoveler, 10 Mallards, 42 Gadwall, 35 Widgeon, 65 Pintail, 53 Green Wing Teal, 29 Cinnamon Teal, 2 Redheads, 1 Canvasback, 3 Ring Necks, 3 Bufflehead, 1 Goldeneye, and 12 Ruddy Ducks.  In addition, 30 Snow Geese were added to the count at Wister on Saturday.  2 Coots were also checked in at Wister on Saturday.  This came out to an average take of 1.47 ducks per hunter or, with the Geese and Coots added in, 1.63 waterfowl per person. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 43 showed up on time to for their spot.

The waterfowl take for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Sunday, as it almost always does, headed south quite a bit compared to Saturday’s count. Snow Geese reclaimed first position for number of waterfowl bagged on Sunday with Gadwall sliding into the second spot. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Sunday, 12/31/17 were as follows:

70 adult and 8 junior hunters harvested 2 Northern Shovelers, 2 Mallards, 8 Gadwall, 4 Widgeon, 6 Pintail, 1 Green Wing Teal, 1 Cinnamon Teal, 6 Bufflehead, and 1 Ruddy Duck.  11 Snow Geese were checked in at Wister on Sunday.  No Coots were bagged at Wister on Sunday.  This came out to an average take of 0.40 ducks per gun or, with the Geese included, 0.54 waterfowl per person. Out of 100 reservation cards issued only 18 came in on time to claim their spot.

Wister is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only. You can put in for reservations online 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 website 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 arrival at the refuge.  These can be purchased online 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.

 

 

SoCalHunt Gear Review – StepDaddy Truck Ladder

Today SoCalHunt will review the StepDaddy Truck Ladder.

If you’re like me, especially if you own a full size 4X4 pickup, the StepDaddy Ladder is a real handy accessory to have for your truck.  As you get older, (like me), it can be even more important to have a way to climb up into the bed of your truck.

The StepDaddy Ladder is a very strong and sturdy steel ladder that is attached to the tailgate of your truck and actually stores on the inside of the tailgate so it’s ready for use at any time.  The ladder, when needed, swings around and extends to the ground, and even has a grip handle that folds out, so you can easily climb into the bed of your truck.

Also, a trait of the ladder that I really like, is that you can remove it from the tailgate of your truck in seconds without any tools.  To remove the StepDaddy Ladder you just open your tailgate, rotate the ladder 180 degrees and lift.  The videos on the StepDaddy Ladder website explain it much better than I can in a few words here. (Link to website below)

www.StepDaddyladder.com

Now, a few words of caution and/or suggestions.  My truck is a full size 4X4 and is not lifted and does not have super big tires.  The inside of my tailgate is about 41 inches off the ground on level ground.  With the StepDaddy Ladder on my truck, when I use it, I have to extend it out to the last hole for it to reach the ground.  If you have a lifted 4X4 and/or larger tires on your truck the StepDaddy ladder may not work for you.  There appears to be some room on the top of the section of the ladder that adjusts that you might be able to drill some additional adjustment holes to get a couple more inches but you’d have to determine if that’s something you need or want to do.  Also, as you can see in my pictures above, in my case the lip on my tailgate cap had to be notched to accommodate the ladder.  This is not a real common problem as that lip on my tailgate is due to the shell I have on my truck and the design of my trucks tailgate.  That lip is an aftermarket tailgate cap to give my shell door (rear window) something to nest against when it’s closed.  Most trucks and shells won’t have that problem to deal with.  Also, if you don’t have a shell or a locking tailgate it would be possible for someone to jack your StepDaddy Ladder.  If your tailgate locks (as long as you lock it) or if your bed is enclosed with a shell I don’t believe there’s any way someone could make off with your ladder.  Although, if you don’t have the mounting plates for the ladder I don’t know what use it would be to someone.

The price for the StepDaddy Ladder is currently listed on their website as $219.00 plus shipping fees.  Yes, there are cheaper tailgate ladders but this is a case of you get what you pay for.  I’ve had one of those cheaper ladders and I think I used it twice and then decided that it (the other ladder) was almost useless as it didn’t feel stable and the “steps” were something like 1/2“ square steel. I didn’t feel safe on it and the design, which had you climb in from the side of the tailgate, caused interference from the tailgate cables.

If you want to order a StepDaddy Ladder for your truck I would strongly suggest you call their number (877-477-7154) and chat with Kay Fisher about the StepDaddy Ladder if you have any question about how or if it will fit on your truck.  You can also email Kay on the “email us today” link at the top right corner of their website.  Kay will give you great customer service (as she did with me) and is very responsive to any questions you might have.  They do have two designs of the StepDaddy Ladder.  The standard one adjusts to the length you need and then is bolted together so it is always at the same length.  The second type (the one I have) is adjustable with pins you pull so you can adjust the length of the ladder as needed.  This is a necessity if you need the longer ladder as it would be too long to store on the inside of the tailgate if it wasn’t adjustable.  If you have a 2X4 truck the one that bolts together will probably work for you, if you have a full sized 4X4 you’ll probably need the adjustable one (which as far as I can tell isn’t listed on their website yet – Ask Kay about it – I believe it costs a little more too, but not a lot more).

Anyway, if you want a great easy way to get into your truck bed check out the StepDaddy Ladder at the above website.