BY JIM NIEMIEC
NILAND – This first early fall flights of puddle ducks started arriving at refuges the last week of September and according reports coming in from refuge biologists, more flock of sprig and green winged teal are arriving daily. Refuge duck ponds are currently being flooded and should be huntable come opening day. In addition to ducks showing up, there are also small groups of specks winging over wetlands in this southern part of the Pacific flyway.
WON checked in with refuge managers to get an update on the status of each refuge and the following information was passed on.
A good report from Wister was filed by Cris Crecelius, Wildlife Habitat Supervisor II, “We should be at least 90% filled by opening weekend. Right now, we are seeing good numbers of sprig and green winged teal loafing on flooded ponds and there is a good supply of food available. I would think the refuge should offer good gunning come opening weekend and the outlook for the remainder of the season is promising. In addition to new arriving ducks at Wister, the staff also reports seeing a few small flocks of speckled belly geese flying over the ponds.”
Crecelius went on the add, “Most all the dirt roads were pretty much impacted by all the rain the Imperial Valley received last month, but our crews are out working on roads and most all access to blind sites should be accessible come opening morning. One reason why ponds won’t be a 100 % filled by opening day is that this refuge is last on the list to receive fresh water from the Imperial Valley Water District, which could cause delays in our flooding.”
According to Scott Sewell, Wildlife Habitat Supervisor II for the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, refuge ponds will be full and the wetlands will be ready for the opener.
“The wetlands have been planted and irrigated and they are already holding good numbers of dabbling ducks. There is plenty of food available, which should hold the birds on the refuge. Our crews report seeing newly arriving ducks daily. Also, Mystic Lake is 60 % full and is holding good number of ducks, which should offer duck hunters a good option to hunting ponded water on the refuge. It is looking like a good waterfowl season ahead, as the status of this refuge is looking very good.”
Moving up the Kern National Wildlife Refuge, refuge Project Leader Miguel Jimenez, reports that the refuge has over 1,700 acres already flooded and the ponds are holding good numbers of Northern pintails and green winged teal. It’s not likely the refuge will be fully flooded by opening day, but Jimenez is confident that new wetlands will be flooded as the season progresses. By winter this refuge estimates it could see as much as 3,800 acres flooded that should accommodate as many as 90 hunters.
Prado Basin should offer up fair to good duck hunting this fall. All three clubs in the basin are starting to fill ponds and reports indicate a pretty good hatch of local ducks occurred this past summer. The lack of flooding behind the dam last season resulted in fewer ducks harvested and a fire this past summer also wiped out some of the prime wetlands along Chino Creek, which could affect hunting this season.
San Diego’s Lake Barrett will again be open for duck hunting on Saturday and Wednesday this coming season. This lake offered up good hunting for both puddle ducks and divers last winter for unattached hunters. For additional information contact the city of San Diego at BarrettReservoir/San DiegoOfficalWebsite.
California Waterfowl Association (CWA) offered a lot of assistance in helping refuges rebuild ponds, repair dikes, and improve wetlands at all refuges this past off-season. Wister received help from CWA for hunt sites W12A and 312 A&B on 621 acres of wetlands and hunt sites 513 and 115, consisting of 532 acres, underwent complete reconstruction.
CWA also did major work at the Palo Verde Ecological Area. This wildlife area is located on the lower Colorado River just north of Blythe on the California side. The CWA crew leveled 360 acres of farmable land and then last month they mowed 135 acres of winter wheat and 60 acres of wetlands were refurbished.
This WON Sr. Hunting Writer received some bad news from Bob Corbett, owner of the Cibola Sportsman’s Club, located south of Cibola on the Arizona side of the Colorado River. Corbett emailed this writer that the club’s South Ranch will not be offering goose hunting this coming season. Seems that fall/winter migrations of large Canada geese into this valley has dropped off to less than 1,500 honkers and they have not offered up much in the way of gunning opportunities. According to Corbett, the ranch will be spending this year in redesigning fresh water pond(s) and goose hunting fields. WON will keep hunters advised on the status of South Ranch.
