By Jim Niemiec
NILAND – It was slow week for duck hunting for refuges and clubs. A significant lack of weather and not much in the way of any kind of migration through this part of the Pacific flyway made for difficult hunting. Even the full moon didn’t contribute much to the harvest of puddle ducks.
Wister and the San Jacinto wildlife refuges shot for just over a 1-bird per gun average and hunting pressure was light. There were no geese harvested at Wister last week, but San Jacinto did report 3 white fronted geese shot. With the full moon a few new small flocks of white geese arrived at the Sonny Bona National Wildlife Refuge, but the birds stayed on refuge ponds and fed.
Wister Wildlife Refuge – Hosted only 160 hunters for the Saturday shoot, but hunting was very slow with only a total of 211 ducks harvested. Top duck on the comp list was the gadwall, followed by a mix of green-winged and cinnamon teal. No geese shot last week. For additional information on the Wister Unit call the DFW on site office at (760) 359-0577.
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge – No report filed this week. 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 – Over all pretty slow shooting. The Saturday hunt was hampered by early morning fog. This refuge hosted 164 hunters on Saturday who combined to kill 242 ducks for a 1.4 per gun average. Top ducks shot were the mallard 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 – Pretty slow duck hunting, as the basin is not seeing the arrival of many new puddle ducks. Average per gun is less than 2 birds. 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) – Will not start hunting until either late November or early December. Waterfowl hunting reservations are a must. For additional information call (760) 782-3501.
San Diego City Reservoir – Hunting was slow on this lake for most all hunters. A mix of teal and some divers was reported.
Kern National Wildlife Refuge – The only report last week was for the mid-week Wednesday hunt. A total of 55 hunters headed out to blind sites and they shot 216 ducks for a respectable 3.9 bird average. Top duck killed was the northern shoveler, although the count for gadwall and widgeon was significant. 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 – Based on one report to WON, a few small flocks fo Canada geese arrived over this past week’s full moon. It’s still too early to see much in the way of new ducks and Canada geese for Cibola Valley. 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.
