BY JIM NEIMEIC
NILAND – Currently, the outlook for duck season is kind of iffy. Those off shore hurricanes that blew across open ocean waters the past couple of weeks had some affect on coastal wetlands. Monsoonal rains hit this southern part of the Pacific flyway, receiving a little much needed rain.
Last duck season offered up dismal hunting for the bulk of California, as the migration was held up by mild weather in the Pacific Northwest, along with very good feeding and resting habitat throughout Oregon and eastern Washington.
IF, the predicted long range super El Nino weather forecast is accurate, this flyway could experience heavy rain for over a long period of fall and well into the winter months. Currently, duck ponds on refuges and duck clubs are being filled in anticipation of hopefully an early arrival of green winged teal and sprig. The extremely warm waters in the eastern Pacific, off mainland Mexico, are a good indication that warm and wet weather is on its way up the coastline. In years past, El Nino weather conditions brought flooding amounts of rain to California. This flooding of extensive wetlands and other waterfowl habitat could have an adverse effect on the winter migration of ducks through California and down into Mexico.
Also of concern, at least for this part of the flyway, was the recent report by DU biologists of the less than average mallard hatch. Much of California and up into eastern Oregon gave us pretty dry spring conditions that resulted in a less than normal hatch of puddle ducks. This WON Sr. Hunting Writer, checked out a few wetland areas across the state, and can attest to seeing less numbers of mallard ducklings. According to a report filed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Long Term Average (LTA) population for mallards was off 26% and for northern pintail it was off a drastic 48%!
Western Outdoor News checked in with refuges and duck hunting lakes to get a pre-season update on the status of refuge pond flooding, availability of duck food and current waterfowl populations.
The Wister Wildlife Area is one of most heavily hunted refuges in the southern part of the state, not only because is can easily handle hunting pressure, but more importantly it traditionally holds huntable numbers of both puddle ducks and divers, and at times provides some pretty good goose hunting.
Cris Crecelius, Wildlife Habitat Supervisor II for Wister, heads up operations at this popular refuge and works hard, along with his crew, to keep the refuge huntable all season long. The following is the latest update regarding Wister and other state controlled duck hunting sites in Imperial Valley.
“IWA (Wister) intends to be fully flooded by opener and is currently flooding some of the larger units and CWA reconstructed units. We have plenty of water-grass and millet planted, as well as native bulrush and timothy available. We had an early and long brooding season and held good numbers of resident ducks though the summer months. We continue to work with CWA on graveling blind paths, roads and parking lots, which has greatly improved access to hunting sites. In addition, staff has worked diligently at removing salt cedar, cattails and Arundo to provide better access to blinds and better water conditions throughout the wildlife area. By this time next year, CWA will complete the replacement of all dirt irrigation ditches with pipelines that will enhance our water delivery efficiency, providing better irrigation, and reducing the amount of invasive weeds and maintenance,” reported Crecelius.
Crecelius went on to add, “Hunters who were successful in the campground lottery will be able to choose their site (already took place) and being able to move in will coincide with our preseason volunteer cleanup day on October 10. Ramer Lake is currently dry and closed, but
Finny is full and available to hunt.”
The San Jacinto Wildlife Area shot pretty good this past season and habitat work to the ponds and access road should enhance duck hunting opportunities this fall. This Riverside County state refuge is managed by Carlos Gutierrez and he filed the following with WON.
“SJWA intends to be 100% flooded for the opener. CWA is working hard to get the FS and Walker units completed, and we plan to start flooding those units very soon. All units have hard stem bulrush and timothy, and we will also have millet planted. We have held a lot of the birds from the brooding this summer, and we still have a good number of birds hanging around. At the present time, roads and access to hunting sites is in very good condition.”
Gutierrez went on to report, “As to the status for Mystic Lake, it is drying up pretty fast. If we receive some rain, we think we will be able to offer limited hunting, but if the rain does not come, the lake may be dry by opener. As to work in progress, CWA is also making improvements to the FS and Walker units, as well as Marsh U &V and G1-G2. Bridge Street ponds are fully flooded and there is a good crop of mixed bulrush and Timothy, and we hope to have a green field during the hunting season.”
Lake Perris will again offer a duck hunting program for the 2026-2027 season. Hunting will be allowed on specific Thursdays (only) during the season and the number of permits issued will be limited to six blinds. Hunting will be allowed from boats-only and shooting hours will begin with legal shooting hours, but hunting ends at noon, and all boats have to be off the lake and return to the check-in station by 1:00 PM. The hunting fee will $50 for one hunter and increased by the number of hunters per blind. Reservations need to made in advance. For additional information log to the Lake Perris web site lakeperrisduckhunting.com.
The Kern National Wildlife Refuge is a very popular duck hunting destination and traditionally offers up good duck hunting for both dabbling ducks and big divers. WON checked in with Project Leader Miguel Jimenez and he posted the following information on the current status of this refuge.
“Last year’s water allocation was a little over 16,000 acre-feet, but winter rains, allowed the refuge to flood more acres than initially anticipated given that each storm brought roughly 1” of rain. For the 2026/2027 waterfowl season, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation allocated Kern NWR 12,583 acre-feet of water or 50% of our full allocation. Thanks to other CVPIA refuges once again, Kern received and additional acre-feet, bringing our total allocation to 13,583 acre-feet or 54% of our total allocation. This poor water allocation will negatively impact the hunting opportunities on the refuge, unless future amounts are allocated. Management estimates 3,000 acres will be flooded by the end of the season and peak hunter quota is estimated at 64 hunters,” stated Jiminez.
Jimenez went on to add, “Flood up will be delayed to some time this month, but we do plan on having the waterfowl opener on October 24. There were some broods on the refuge this spring. Staff observed gadwall, ruddy ducks and some mallards. The refuge was mostly dry this summer, except for some residual water in Unit 2 and along the north end of the refuge.”
Lake Henshaw will offer duck and goose hunting this season with a tentative starting date the closest shoot day to December 1, and tentatively that could be either on Thursday Dec. 3rd or Saturday December 5th. The quota on unattached hunters is set at 25, but this does not include MCC members. Hunters can set up before each shoot day, Thursday and Saturday, Sunday for MMC members only. The lake will open up at 5:00 AM and all hunters have to off the lake by 3:00 PM. Decoys can only be left out the day before shoot days. Wading and gun dogs are allowed and you can build a blind with natural cover or artificial camo material. The lake is completely free roam, but a 150-yard courtesy rule does apply. The cost to hunt ducks is $50, boat rentals are $35. Launching of private boats is at owners own risk, since the lake is very low, and all private boats must be pre-washed before launching for a fee of only $5. For additional hunting information call the Lake Henshaw general store at (760) 782-3501.
Lake Barrett, located in southern San Diego County, will offer duck hunting on Wednesday and Saturday this coming season. Last year, this lake shot very well for unattached hunters with a daily average per gun of nearly 3 ducks, of which was a mix of puddle ducks and divers. The number of duck blinds for this coming season has not been determined, as of press time. Hunting permits will be issued only to hunters 16 years of age or older, and the cost of a hunting permit, that includes access to the hunt area, rental rowboat and entry for 1 hunter is $35, motorboat for $45, and additional adult hunters $30, payable in cash or check, but not ATM cards. For more hunting information or to make reservation log on to the lake’s website at sandiego.gov/reservoirs-lakes.
