Hunt Program FAQ

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Click on any APPLY button. If you did not create a new account in 2019 or later, you will need to create one first. If you have an existing account, please log in to that account. Once logged in, click the "Apply for Hunts" tab on the dashboard. Select the hunt region, hunt type or game species you wish to apply for, select dates by clicking the box next to the hunt and proceed to checkout when finished.

You may apply for every single hunt offered in the program; however, you may only apply once per hunt opportunity.

Example: A property offers five hunting groups on October 20 at Grizzly Ranch. You may apply one time for each hunting group or blind on that date.

The only exception is the Assigned Ponds at Grizzly Ranch, Denverton, and Goose Lake. Only mobility-impaired or veterans may apply.

Applying for a group means that if you win the group number you applied for, you are guaranteed a spot for that hunt day, and a draw will be conducted for blinds the morning of the hunt. Applying for a blind means that if you are a hunt winner, you are awarded that specific blind on the specific date you applied for.

Example: If you applied for and won Group 3 at Sanborn Slough on October 20, you are guaranteed a spot for that hunt date at Sanborn and will draw for a blind the morning of the hunt with the other hunting groups for that day. If you applied for Blind 4 at Denverton on November 10 and won, there will be no blind draw the morning of the hunt, and you will hunt Blind 4 that day.

CWA's application/registration system does not allow you to enter more than one application per hunt opportunity. Each person may apply one time per group/blind on each available hunt date.

There are always three people drawn for each hunt: a hunt winner, 1st alternate and 2nd alternate. If the hunt winner declines or cannot attend, the 1st alternate is offered the hunt. If the 1st alternate declines, then the 2nd alternate is offered the hunt. If the winner and both alternates decline the hunt, it will offered first-come, first-served to all applicants of that hunt.

If you are a hunt winner, you will be notified by email immediately after the draws. If you are an alternate who becomes a winner due to the winner declining the hunt, you will be notified immediately via email. You can view your draw results by logging into your account and clicking "View My Hunt Applications" tab. Your draw results will be posted in your account within 3 business days of the deadline.

After you register for a hunt you have won or been invited to as a guest, you will immediately receive a registration confirmation email that includes hunt details. These hunt details can be found in the upper right hand corner of that email in a link titled "Hunter Handbooks."

Hunter capacities vary depending on the hunt. If the hunter capacity is 3, then the hunt winner can bring 2 guest hunters for a total of 3 hunters.

No, you do not need to be a CWA member to apply. But by all means, we encourage you to join! You'll be supporting all the great work we do, and you'll enjoy our great quarterly magazine.

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Yes, all hunters and non-hunters need to become a CWA member before they attend a hunt they either won or are attending as a guest.

Yes, each adult hunter - whether winner or guest - will pay a $25 hunter access fee prior to the hunt date. The fee is waived for junior hunters - any hunter less than 16 years old on July 1 of that license year (e.g., July 1, 2023, for the 2023-24 license year).

Refunds for application and hunter access fees will not be issued for hunts canceled due to extreme weather, flooding or COVID-19. Refunds also will not be issued for a hunt canceled less than 48 hours before the hunt. 

No, but a valid hunting license is required to participate in the hunt.

The hunt locations are on private property, and locations are included in the hunt descriptions accessible from this page.

Most hunts in the program are hosted on CWA properties operated by CWA staff, or by private landowners and guides. Winners of the hunts have the opportunity to hunt on exclusive properties at some of the top ducks clubs in the country. However, hunting can be unpredictable, and harvesting game is not guaranteed. Please respect all hosts to ensure future hunters have the opportunity to hunt on these private lands.

California Waterfowl owns and manages Sanborn Slough, Butte Creek Island Ranch, Quimby Island, Denverton, Grizzly Ranch and Goose Lake. Learn more about these properties here.

Lodging is not included unless it is stated in the hunt description. 

The hunt winner must attend the hunt; the hunt is forfeited if the hunt winner cannot attend and it will be offered to the next alternate. An adult can win a youth-only hunt and give the hunt to a youth hunter. The hunt winner would then become the non-shooting adult chaperone.

Approximately three business days after each deadline. To view all application deadlines, click here. To view your draw results, log into your account here and click on the "View My Hunt Applications" tab, and scroll down to view application results. "Successful" means you have won that group/blind for that date. "Unsuccessful" means that you did not win that group/blind.

During the 2022-23 season, the number of applications averaged 92 per hunt.

The proceeds of fees collected through the Hunt Program support California Waterfowl's conservation, education and hunting programs.

No.

The Hunt Program offers a variety of opportunities throughout the year: dove, turkey, pheasant, deer and pig and hunts, as well as fishing trips.

Hunting groups must have at least one hunter age 21 or older.