By Jim Niemiec
NILAND – The southerly migration of white geese down into this part of the Pacific flyway has seen the arrival of more than 30,000 snow and Ross’ geese at the Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge and Wister. Project Manager, Jonathan Shore, SBNWR, told WON, that there is plenty of food on the refuge to hold birds, but added that food could be a problem later in the season. The Union Tract is shooting pretty good for white geese with blinds 1 and 2 surrounded by rye grass, while blinds 3 and 4 are seeing alfalfa currently sprouting up. Shore expects there to be more white geese showing up before the end of the year.
Overall, last week saw slow gunning at both Wister and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, both of which shot for less than a 1 bird per hunter average this past Saturday. The reports from Kern for both Saturday and Wednesday indicated a pretty good hunting with a 3.6 per gun average on both shoot days.
WISTER – The top bird on the comp count list for the Saturday hunt was the GWT followed by the gadwall, but only 170 ducks were harvested by 179 hunters for less than a 1 bird per shooter average. Snow goose hunting was good for the Wednesday hunt, but slowed down considerably on Saturday with only a total of 16 snows shot. On Sunday Wister hunters shot an additional 35 white geese. For additional information on hunting Wister or the Hazard unit site call the refuge office at (760) 359-0577.
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge – Reports are currently being combined with the Wister report, but the staff is working on splitting it apart. 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 – Hunting was on the slow side for both shoot days this past week, as the refuge awaits the arrival of new ducks. With 159 hunters out in duck blinds, only a total of 133 ducks were harvested and consisted mostly of green winged teal and gadwall. 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 updated report from this lake. Hunts from a boat only take place EVERY OTHER Sunday throughout the season. Limited to just eight boats. For additional information contact lakeperrishunting.com.
Prado Basin – Newly arriving puddle ducks and some divers has seen an overall improvement in duck hunting at all three clubs in the basin. Some honkers also on the wing. Raahauge’s Duck Club, 951-735-6981, offers public hunting on Wed. and Sunday afternoons with check in time at 1:00 PM.
Lake Henshaw (My Country Club) – No report for this week. Waterfowl hunting reservations are a must. For additional information call (760) 782-3501.
San Diego City Reservoir – Mixed results of puddle ducks and divers on both shoot days this past week. Overall, hunting has slowed due to a lack of new birds in this southern part of the flyway.
Kern National Wildlife Refuge – On Saturday duck hunters shot for a 3.6 bird average, harvesting a total of 149 shovelers to go along with 50 gadwall. Shot pretty well on Wednesday that saw 73 hunters harvest 260 ducks for also a 3.6 bird average. Top duck shot was the spoony with over 100 of this specie bagged. Best shooting blinds were in hunt units 1-A, B6-14 and B15-20. 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 – The report from the Cibola refuge was there were only about 1,000 dark geese and 1,200 white geese on the refuge. The duck count was 3,200 ducks, mostly widgeon and mallards. For information on booking a couple of days in a goose blind while staying in a South Ranch cabin call the Cibola Sportsman’s Club at (818) 383-9434 or log on to their web site cibolasportsmansclub.com. 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.
