Grizzly Ranch Hunter Handbook

California Waterfowl

2019-2020 Waterfowl Season

4179 Van Sickle Road Suisun City, CA 94585

2

Table of Contents

Hunt Details 3 2019-2020 Waterfowl Shoot Times 4 Directions to Grizzly Ranch 5 Blind Descriptions 6 Blind Map 7 Grizzly Ranch Duck Blind Instructions 8 Grizzly Ranch Boating Instructions 9 Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety 10

3

California Waterfowl Hunt Program

2019-2020 Grizzly Ranch Hunt Details

Grizzly Ranch: (Capacity 2 hunters per blind). This 900+ acre land is a California Waterfowl owned property located in the famed Suisun Marsh, bordering Grizzly Island State Wildlife Area and managed by CWA biologists. Ten groups of two hunters will be drawn on each hunt date, giving every group a great chance for a memorable hunt. The hunt consists of overnight lodging, and decoys and transportation to and from the blind is provided. Note: Attendees have the choice to stay the night before or show up the morning of. Bring your own food and drinks (we will supply coffee only). This is simply a place to stay the night before the hunt. The main clubhouse will be open from 8:00 – 10:00 PM (pool table, balcony, TV, etc.). Hunters will have the choice to stay in one of two bunkhouses, which consists of two rooms with two bunk beds in each room, and two bathrooms. The rooms are reserved for female guests if present. Other sleeping accommodations are cots with sleeping pads. *Please arrive at 8:00 PM the night before hunt or 2 hrs prior to legal shoot time* (Please RSVP with Carson Odegard or Garrett Williams if you plan to stay at Grizzly Ranch the night before your hunt) What to bring:

• Recommended: All hunting gear, including valid 2019-20 hunting license, CA Duck stamp, Federal Duck stamp, HIP, ear and eye protection, steel ammunition, gun, floating gun case, waders, camouflage jacket, hat, gloves, and warm clothes

When you arrive: • Keep guns/ammunition locked up in your vehicle until ready to leave for

blinds in the morning • Dogs should be kept in vehicles, on a leash, until ready to leave for blinds

What to expect: • Hunters will boat out to duck blinds, decoys are provided • Boats, personal flotation devices, etc. are provided • You are welcome to bring any legal motion decoy with you • A check-in/safety meeting/blind drawing will begin 2 hours before legal

shoot time (do not be late, if you are late the draw will start without you) • Hunt ends at noon

4

If you have any questions prior to the hunt date please contact: Carson Odegard (916) 960-9848 codegard@calwaterfowl.org Hunt Program Coordinator Garrett Williams (209) 324-8801 gwilliams@calwaterfowl.org Hunt Program Coordinator

Jeff Smith (530) 305-9234 jsmith@calwaterfowl.org Hunting and Education Supervisor

2019 – 2020 Waterfowl Shoot Times

Date SF Bay Area

AM (half an hour before sunrise)

PM (sunset)

October 19 6:52 6:27 October 26 6:58 6:17 November 2 7:05 6:10 November 9* 6:13 5:03 November 16 6:20 4:57 November 23 6:28 4:53 November 30 6:35 4:51 December 7 6:41 4:50 December 14 6:47 4:51 December 21 6:51 4:54 December 28 6:54 4:58

January 4 6:55 5:03 January 11 6:54 5:10 January 18 6:52 5:17 January 25 6:49 5:25 February 1 6:43 5:32 February 8 6:37 5:40

5

Directions to Grizzly Ranch Address: 4179 Van Sickle Road, Suisun City, CA Google Map – Click here

• Take Hwy 80 to Fairfield • Take Hwy 12 East toward Suisun City

o Note: When you get off Hwy 80 you will travel a short distance before going under a bridge. Hwy 12 is the first left after the bridge.

• After 3.6 miles, take a right onto Grizzly Island Road • After 5.4 miles, stay right over Montezuma Slough Bridge • After 3.3 miles, turn right onto Van Sickle Road

o Note: You should see “Welcome to Grizzly Island Wildlife Area,” look for a white fence. If you get to the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, you have gone too far

• After 0.4 miles, turn right into Grizzly Ranch • After 0.7 miles, you have arrived at Grizzly Ranch, please check-in at the CWA

sign

6

Grizzly Ranch Blinds

• A1 – Three Man Stand Up Blind: Fast grass, natural cover

• B1 – Three Man Pit Blind: fast grass rebar panel covers, dog box, low profile

• B2 – Three Man Pit Blind: fast grass rebar panel covers, dog box, low profile

• C1 – Three Man Pit Blind: Gibson blind covers, dog box, low profile

• C2 – Two man Pit Blind: Island blind, dog box, fast grass rebar panel covers

• C3 – Two Man Pit Blind: Island blind, dog box, fast grass rebar panel covers

• D1 – Three Man Pit Blind: Island blind, dog box, fast grass rebar panel covers

• D2 – Three Man Pit Blind: Island blind, dog box, fast grass rebar panel covers

• D3 – Three Man Pit Blind: Island blind, dog box, fast grass rebar panel covers

• E0 – Three Man Pit blind: Gibson blind covers, dog box, low profile

• E1 – Two Man Pit Blind: Island blind, dog box, Gibson blind covers

• E2 – Three Man Pit Blind: Island blind, dog box, fast grass rebar panel covers

• E3 – Two Man Pit Blind: Island blind, dog box, Gibson blind covers

• AP1 – Three Man Floating Blind: Mobility impaired accessible, moveable,

natural cover

7

8

Grizzly Ranch Duck Blind – Instructions

1. Try not to stomp down vegetation. THANK YOU!!! 2. You must stay in your assigned area while hunting. Blind AP1 may move their floating blinds up to 100 yards away from their blind location. Blinds must be placed back to original location after the hunt is over. Be courteous of other hunters

a. When moving floating blind use tow rope and attach to eye bold (located beneath the door) 3. Hunt ends at Noon. If you pick up early please call the Onsite Hunt Coordinator 4. Staff will help you out of the blind if needed 5. All trash and empty shell casings need to be picked up. Please leave the blind better than you found it 6. Be sure to pick up all gear you brought with you 7. Radios should be set to channel ‘8’ at all times during hunt. These are for critical communications between CWA personnel, volunteers, and hunters 8. If your radio does not work use your cell phone

Carson Odegard 916-960-9848 Hunt Program Coordinator Garrett Williams 209-324-8801 Hunt Program Coordinator Brandon Myers 318-245-0458 Onsite Hunt Coordinator Jeff Smith 530-305-9234 Hunting and Education Supervisor Joe Rodrigues 707-208-2342 Ranch Manager Robert Eddings 916-275-1007 Suisun Marsh Regional Biologist

Blind safety rules 1. Muzzle pointed in a safe direction – ALWAYS!!! 2. Finger off the trigger until ready to shoot – ALWAYS 3. Make sure the safety is on until you are ready to shoot – ALWAYS 4. Have shooter open the action when you and/or dog are retrieving game, no shooting at cripples and flying birds when dog/hunter is out of blind 5. Shooters “Safe zone of fire” should be established in front of shooter, not behind or over anyone’s head. Use the imaginary clock example of 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock in front of the shooter. Talk about where each shooter will be shooting prior to the start of shoot time

9

Grizzly Ranch – Boating Instructions

1. Wear personal floatation device. 2. In main sloughs, look for signs that point you to blinds. 3. Once out of main slough, stay in the small channel marked by white or brown

posts. Keep the posts on your right as you boat to your blind. 4. Do not step on blind lids, they will not support you! 5. B/C/D/E blinds: Unload all gear in blind and walk boats to hide in tules best you

can. Leave motor down so boat will not drift away. 6. All trash and empty shell casings should be picked up. Please leave the blind

better than when you got there. 7. The decoys need to be picked up, attach lines to decoy clips and store back in

blind. 8. Duck blind lids should be replaced securely on blinds with a concrete rock on

them.

10

The Ten Commandments of Firearms Safety

1. Treat every gun as if it were loaded.

2. Watch that Muzzle! Be able to control the direction of the muzzle at all times.

3. Be sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions.

4. Be sure of your target before you pull the trigger.

5. Unload guns when not in use.

6. Never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot.

7. Never climb a fence or tree or jump a ditch with a loaded gun.

8. Never shoot a bullet at a flat, hard surface or water.

9. Store guns and ammunition separately, beyond the reach of children and careless adults.

10. Do not drink alcoholic beverages or use mind altering drugs before or during shooting.