By Jim Niemiec
NILAND –As expected, based on wildlife refuge pre-season reports, this past weekend’s waterfowl opener was exceptional. Both cinnamon and green winged teal topped comp lists, along with pretty good counts on early-season sprig, mallards and gadwall. Wister hunters harvested 841 cinnamon teal to go along with 169 GWT, while San Jacinto hunters bagged 334 cinnamon teal. Kern National Wildlife Area shot for nearly a 5.0 per gun average with GWT and shovelers topping the comp list.
Wister Wildlife Refuge – For more information on hunting Wister Unit call the DFW on site office at (760) 359-0577. Shot very well for the 394 hunters that headed out to blinds and they harvested a total of 1261 ducks that produced a 3.2 per gun average. Cinnamon teal topped the comp list, along with green-winged teal. Big puddle ducks were also shot over ponded water with a total of 87 pintail and 61 mallards killed. Hunting on Sunday was slow and there was very little action on the Hazard Tract.
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge – Hunters thinking about hunting this part of the refuge system will have to wait until November 1 to start hunting for snow and Ross’ geese. For more information on hunting this national refuge, which is managed by the Wister staff, call (760) 359-0577.
Finney-Ramer Unit – No report filed. Finney-Ramer is part of the Imperial Wildlife Area, located on the south end of the Salton Sea, is open to hunters 7 days a week under a self-registration and self-reporting system. For more details on this refuge, also managed by the Wister Unit call (760) 359-0577.
San Jacinto Wildlife Area – This refuge hosted 216 hunters for the Saturday hunt and they bagged a total of 568 ducks and 4 Canada geese that produced a 2.68 per gun average. As was the case with Wister, this refuge shot well for cinnamon and GWT, along with a mixed harvest of some bigger dabbling ducks. Shoot days are Wednesday and Saturday and draw time is 3 A.M. For additional information call the wildlife office at (951) 928-0580.
Lake Perris – No report filed. Hunts from a boat only take place on every other Sunday throughout the season. Limited to just eight boats. For additional information contact lakeperrishunting.com.
Prado Basin – Shot well for Canada geese. Clubs in the basin shot okey on teal, mallards and some gadwall, with about a 3.5 per gun average.
Lake Henshaw (My Country Club) – No report for this past week. Waterfowl hunting reservations are a must. For additional information call (760) 782-3501.
San Diego City Reservoirs – Hunters enjoyed a successful duck opener at this lake with a harvest of teal, along with good numbers of puddle ducks, ruddy ducks and a few divers.
Kern National Wildlife Refuge – A total of 66 hunters headed out to blind sites and they harvested 319 ducks for a respectful 4.8 average. Top blinds were in hunting site 2. For additional information on hunting Kern call (661)725-2767 or for the hunter information hotline call (661) 725-6504, which is updated after each shoot day. A web site is also available to access hunt results and other information about this popular southern San Joaquin Valley hunting refuge.
Cibola/Lower Colorado River – For waterfowl hunting information contact the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge at (928) 857-3253 for shoot days and draw information on the Farm Fields and open hunting on the Island Unit. The Palo Verde Wildlife Reserve offersduck and dove hunting for unattached hunters and is located just north of Blythe on the California side of the Colorado River.
