"For Hunters by Hunters"

2007 - 2008 HUNTING INFORMATION

September 2007

By: Rob Tobeck and John Bertilacchi

It is that time again to prepare for the upcoming waterfowl season. Last year many of our members were able to experience the hunting opportunities provided by our organization. This year we have been able to expand upon our hunt areas, and we will offer a total of three four-person blinds which are located on three separate properties. New this year, Valley Waterfowl board member Ron Tobeck will be managing all hunting applications and storm day requests and will be the contact person for all information pertaining to Valley Waterfowl blinds.

All of the pit blinds are located in rice again this year. The McRae blind (Richvale Area) is located northwest of Gridley and is the same blind that we hunted here last year. This property is located on approximately 300 acres and there are only three blinds total on the property, one of which is only for Valley Waterfowl use. The second property, the Browning Road blind near Grimes, consists of 290 acres, and has three total blinds, one of which is for Valley Waterfowl use. Again, this is a blind that we used last year and was the best shooter of the two blinds that we shot from here last year. The third blind is the Delevan Road/ Sac. Refuge blind. This is a new blind for us this year but due to its close proximity to Sac. Refuge, we anticipate that it will be a good shooter.

This newly acquired third blind in the northwest section of the valley is expected to be the gem of our organization. Located 500 yards directly south of the Sac. National Wildlife Refuge and approximately three miles northwest of the Delevan Refuge Closed Zone, this four-man blind has approximately eighty acres of flooded rice surrounding it. South winds should make this blind a real shooter. Adjacent to the west of this blind is 700 acres of un-hunted flooded rice fields. This un-hunted section should enhance the remote feel of this blind.

With these three duck blinds contracted for the upcoming 2007-08 waterfowl season, we are strategically covering three quarters of the Sac. Valley Area.

Our draw hunts will be conducted similar to last year. Every hunter who is interested in hunting on one of the Valley Waterfowl properties must complete and return a draw hunt application and a signed release of a liability waiver. Both of these forms will be available on our web site shortly. Hunt days will consist of Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays throughout the season. However, like last year, we have expanded the hunt days to include foul weather days. If there is a rain storm forecasted for a non hunt day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday) any member can call Valley Waterfowl’s hunting line and request to hunt on that storm day. The storm must be forecasted two days in advance and a request to hunt must be made two days prior to the requested hunt day. To prevent calls from coming in at all hours of the day and night we will only be accepting hunt requests that we receive between 2PM and 5PM two days prior to the storm day. A second requirement for those who wish to hunt the storm days is that they have a release of liability on file. If there is no 2007-08 release of liability waiver on file for the member they will not be permitted to hunt or access the Valley Waterfowl properties.

Due to factors related to the rice crop, it is uncertain when our properties will be open for hunting. Information regarding the opening dates of our blinds will be published on our web site as soon as it is available. The 2007-08 hunting applications and waivers will be available on our web site shortly. We suggest that you complete and return both forms as soon as possible. Each application allows a selected member to bring a guest, however, that guest is also required to be a Valley Waterfowl member. Any hunters who are currently not Valley Waterfowl members can print a membership form from our web site and submit that form with the $35 membership fee. This can be included with the hunt application.

The 2007-08 hunt application and waiver will contain a phone number for our hunting line. This number should be used for questions regarding hunting and to request storm day hunts. Please note that waivers must also be completed for the guest that is listed on each application. It is required that applications and waivers be received by Valley Waterfowl at least fourteen days prior to the requested hunt days. For more information please visit our web site at www.valleywaterfowl.org.

In addition to the above requirements, we ask that you e-mail or phone us as soon as possible after your hunt with the results of your hunt: how many hunters shot how many ducks/geese. It is preferable that this be done via e-mail to limit the number of phone calls to our hunt line. The e-mail address is lizron@comcast.net. If we are not available via a phone and you do not have access to a computer, please leave the hunt results on our voice mail. This information is critical to our decision on which blinds to consider for lease from year to year.

Directions to each of the three blinds will be available on line at Valley Waterfowls web site prior to the start of the season.