California’s statewide waterfowl season opened Saturday, Oct. 26, and waterfowl hunters headed to public hunting areas this season will encounter some of the best habitat and wetland conditions in years.
“Overall, it should be a great year to get out and enjoy your public wildlife areas and refuges,” said Jeff Kohl, Wetland Conservation Program Habitat Coordinator for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). “The majority of wetlands in California received close to a full water allocation this year, so hunters should generally expect habitat conditions across the state to be in pretty good shape for this fall.”
Opening and closing dates of waterfowl seasons vary by zone. Waterfowl season for the Balance of the State, Southern San Joaquin Valley and Southern California zones all opened Oct. 26 and extend through Jan. 31, 2025. The Colorado River Zone opened Oct. 23 while the Northeastern Zone kicked off on Oct. 5.
CDFW waterfowl biologists and habitat specialists offered some highlights of wetland conditions at some of California’s most popular waterfowl hunting areas throughout the state.
Sacramento Valley
Thanks to significant upgrades and improvements to the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area’s water conveyance infrastructure in recent years, CDFW was able to irrigate close to 2,000 acres of seasonal wetlands this summer, particularly on the east side.
At the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, the Sacramento, Delevan and Colusa refuges received 100 percent of their base water allocations, which allowed staff to irrigate close to 6,000 acres. Flooding wetlands seasonally, particularly in the spring and summer months, can stimulate food growth and provide habitat for waterfowl broods.
Suisun Marsh/Delta
Hunters will notice significant improvements at the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in the Suisun Marsh, starting with a long-overdue sprucing up and facelift of the hunter check station. Several habitat projects have been completed over the past couple of years, including the complete rebuild of Pond 12, several levee and water infrastructure improvements and a new water lift station that will be able to flood acres in the hunting zones that haven’t seen water in over two decades.
At the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, staff were able to flood up the landscape much earlier than normal, which should allow for more hunter opportunity earlier in the season than in the past. Staff members were able to irrigate close to 1,000 acres this spring and summer.
San Joaquin Valley/Southern California
Habitat conditions in the San Joaquin Valley have recovered nicely after a multiyear drought and last year’s flooding events. Having received 100 percent of their water allocations, the North Grasslands, Los Banos and Mendota wildlife areas were able to irrigate several thousand acres of seasonal wetlands collectively. Favorite duck foods such as watergrass and smartweed responded well. Habitat conditions at the San Luis and Merced national wildlife refuges are mostly positive with significant food growth in units that were disced recently.
Farther south, CDFW staff and California Waterfowl have been working together on a major overhaul of wetland units at the Imperial Wildlife Area in Imperial County to produce more wetland acreage and improve habitat quality overall.
California waterfowl hunters are reminded to obtain a HIP Validation, California Duck Validation and a signed Federal Duck Stamp along with a valid hunting license before entering the field or visiting a state-operated wildlife area to hunt.
A wildlife area pass is often required to hunt many of these state-operated lands. Licenses, validations and passes are not sold at wildlife areas or federal refuges so hunters must purchase these items in advance.
Waterfowl hunting and public land regulations are available within CDFW’s 2024-2025 California Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations digital booklet.
