CDFW News | Drought forces Shasta Valley Wildlife Preserve to close to waterfowl hunting; Other Northeastern Waterfowl Properties Affected by Water Shortages

Drought forces Shasta Valley Wildlife Preserve to close to waterfowl hunting; Other Northeastern Waterfowl Properties Affected by Water Shortages

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that the Shasta Valley Wildlife Area in Siskiyou County will be closed to waterfowl hunting for the entire 2022-23 season due to wetland and habitat loss. waterfowl due to persistent drought conditions. .

The Northeast Zone waterfowl season runs from October 1, 2022 through January 11, 2023. The Shasta Valley Wildlife Area closure includes the Northeast Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days. is scheduled for September 17-18, 2022, and post-season active military personnel and veterans. Waterfowl hunting days scheduled for January 14 and 15, 2023.

The 4,700-acre Shasta Valley Wildlife Area generally provides important seasonal wetlands for migrating waterfowl, fed by three reservoirs on the property. Two of those reservoirs – Steamboat Lake and Bass Lake – have completely dried up and a third reservoir – Trout Lake – is at around 25% capacity. Closing the wildlife reserve to all waterfowl hunting is necessary to protect waterfowl using what little habitat remains.

The Shasta Valley Wildlife Preserve will be open to upland game bird hunting for dove, quail, snipe and pheasant as regulations permit. Pheasant hunting is only permitted on Sundays during the season and will be by reservation only, without appointments, sweat lines or refills. A Type A or Type B season pass is required for all non-junior hunting license holders. Reservation requests for Sunday Pheasant Hunts are available on CDFW’s Online Licensing Sales and Services website. The annual Shasta Valley Apprentice Pheasant Hunt for Junior Hunting License holders will take place on Saturday, November 19, 2022. The area will be closed to all hunting on Sunday, December 25, 2022, for the Christmas holidays.

Waterfowl hunting opportunities will vary in other federal and state lands in the northeast area popular with duck and geese hunters. Hunters are strongly advised to call ahead to be prepared for any waterfowl hunting in the northeast area. Other popular public waterfowl hunting areas in the northeast area include:

Ash Creek Wildlife Preserve
A bright spot among the Northeast Zone’s public hunting areas, Ash Creek expects its wetlands to be mostly flooded for waterfowl season due to its combination of spring-fed creeks and underground water supply. Reservations are required to hunt opening weekend, October 1 and 2, as well as a Type A or Type B season pass for all non-junior hunting license holders. Ash Creek will also be open walk-in for pre-season Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. No reservations or other check-in procedures required. (530) 294-5824.

Butte Valley Wildlife Reserve
Butte Valley began pumping groundwater in July to flood its seasonal wetlands in time for the Northeast Zone waterfowl opening. Butte Valley expects 600 or 700 acres to be flooded on opening day. Reservations are required to hunt opening weekend with a Type A or Type B season pass for all non-junior hunting license holders. Butte Valley will also be open drop-in for pre-season Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. (530) 398-4627.

Honey Lake Wildlife Area
Another option for younger hunters, Honey Lake Wildlife Preserve’s Fleming Unit will be open for pre-season youth waterfowl hunting days, but hunters will find significantly fewer wetlands than in 2021-22 . Dakin’s unit will be dry this coming season – although it is still open for dry field waterfowl hunting and upland game bird hunting. The Fleming Unit will see roughly 25% of its seasonal wetlands flooded by the season opening on October 1. Reservations are required to hunt opening weekend. A Type A or Type B season pass is required for all non-junior hunting license holders. (530) 254-6644.

Willow Creek Wildlife Preserve
This 2,700-acre wildlife area north of Susanville, Lassen County expects 250 acres of huntable, flooded wetlands by the opening of the northeast zone season on October 1. Reservations are required to hunt opening weekend. A Type A or Type B season pass is required for all non-junior hunting license holders. No pre-season juvenile hunts will take place. (530) 254-6644.

Modoc National Wildlife Reserve
Water conditions have improved at the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge outside of Alturas and the refuge will welcome back young waterfowl hunters Sept. 17-18 after having to cancel its hunt for young waterfowl last season. Youth waterfowl hunting in Modoc is only open to reservation holders. The general season opening of the northeast area of ​​the refuge is also planned, but with a reduced quota of 50 hunters for the opening weekend. The opening weekend of October 1-2, like the youth shoot before it, is only open to reservation holders. After opening weekend, Modoc is open for waterfowl hunting on a walk-in self-registration basis. Shooting days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. (530) 233-3572.

Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has announced that the Tule Lake and Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuges will be closed to all public hunting of mountain birds and waterfowl during the fall and winter hunting seasons. winter 2022-23. Effective September 17, 2022 through March 10, 2023, the closure applies to all upland game bird seasons, the entire northeast zone waterfowl season, and hunts group waterfowl specials, including youth, veterans and women. duck and goose hunting season. The decision to close the hunting season was based on persistent and severe drought conditions and the lack of available habitat, including food, water and shelter to support upland game birds and migratory waterfowl. For more information, please call the USFWS Hunter Hotline at (458) 232-6123.

Photo by CDFW: Young hunter at the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge.

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Media contacts:
Steve Burton, CDFW Northern Region, (530) 340-0104
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858