CDFW Offers Draw for Junior Apprentice Waterfowl Hunt at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is offering a special draw for a junior apprentice waterfowl hunt at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in Solano County on Dec. 28.
Spaced blinds on Pond 11 and the Crescent Unit of the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area will be available for valid junior California hunting license holders and chaperones only and closed to the general public.
An adult chaperone (18 years of age or older) is required to accompany and supervise each apprentice hunter. The chaperone may hunt with the junior apprentice hunter and must possess the required 2013-14 California hunting license and state and federal waterfowl stamps and the free Harvest Information Program (HIP) validation.
All junior apprentice hunters must have the free HIP validation to hunt waterfowl and those over the age of sixteen must have a federal waterfowl stamp. All available blinds can accommodate two persons; the apprentice hunter and his or her adult chaperone. Non-toxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required for waterfowl hunting. A minimum of 12 duck decoys are required at all blind sites and chest waders are recommended.
To apply for a reservation, please mail a standard-sized post card to:
Grizzly Island Wildlife Area
2548 Grizzly Island Road
Suisun, CA 94585
Applicants must include the following information:
- Apprentice hunter’s name
- Junior hunting license number
- Mailing address and phone number
- Name of chaperone
Each applicant may apply only once. Application cards must be received by close of business on Monday, Dec. 16. Apprentice hunt reservations will be filled by a random drawing conducted on Tuesday, Dec. 17. There will be 23 reservations issued for this date. All successful applicants will be notified by mail. The Grizzly Island Wildlife Area will also accept apprentice hunters on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the hunt to use the free roam areas and to fill any reservation no-shows. As a reminder, all chaperones who wish to hunt must have either a Type A One-Day, Two-Day or Season Pass, and these must be purchased prior to arriving at the check station through either a License Agent or online at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/hunting/huntdescrip.html (allow two weeks’ mailing time if ordering online).
CDFW would also like to encourage use of the West Family Unit, which is available only to apprentice hunters. Hunt days are Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the open season. The gate will be opened approximately two hours before shoot time. An adult chaperone is required and five double blinds are available, including one mobility-impaired blind and one three-person blind. The unit is north of Benicia on Goodyear Road; from Highway 680 take the Marshview Road exit and turn right onto Goodyear Road from the off-ramp. The hunt area will be on the left.
