Walk on the Wild Side

Experience the thrill of hunting in one of several special events for the YOUNG HUNTER. Junior hunts are open to hunters with a junior hunting license. Hunters can purchase a junior license until they are 16 years old and it is valid for that hunting year (July 1 to June 30). Family hunts are available to all. Womens's hunts are open to all females with a California Resident or nonresident hunting license. Call for information about these hunts:

University of California Foothill Research and Extension Center Junior Turkey Hunt is held each year in April on the university property near Browns Valley in Yuba County. Small fee is required. Call the University at (530) 639-8800 or the Department of Fish and Game at (530) 743-5068 for reservation information.

Feather River Wildlife Area (or Sutter-Yuba) Junior/Women°Øs Pheasant Hunt is held each November near the community of Nicolaus in Sutter County. Free. Sponsored by the Sutter County and Yuba County Fish and Game Commissions. Call the Department of Fish and Game at (916) 358-2900 for reservation information.

Gray Lodge Wildlife Area Junior Pheasant Hunt is held each November twelve miles west of Live Oak. Free. Call the Dept. of Fish and Game at (530) 846-7500 for reservation information.

Little Dry Creek Junior Pheasant Hunt is held each November eight miles west of Biggs. Free. Call the Dept. of Fish and Game at (530) 982-2169 or (916) 358-2877 for reservation information.

Little Dry Creek Family Pheasant Hunt is held each November eight miles west of Biggs. Small fee for adults, free for junior hunters. Call the Dept. of Fish and Game at (530) 982-2169 or (916) 358-2877 for reservations.

Bag some venison in Three Deer Hunts conducted in the area in the fall and winter. Call the Dept. of Fish and Game at (916) 227-2177 or (916) 358-2900 for deer tag application procedures in May for the following hunts:

Gray Lodge Wildlife Area Shotgun Either-Sex Deer Hunt is held each September twelve miles west of Gridley.

Sutter-Yuba Wildlife Areas Either-Sex Deer Hunt is held from September to January on several wildlife areas in Sutter and Yuba counties.

Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area Junior Either-Sex Deer Hunt is held each December twenty miles east of Marysville.

Join a COMMUNITY PHEASANT HUNTING AREA co-op. These hunting cooperatives are usually operated as a fundraiser for community projects. Most operate only during the pheasant season, and all Fish and Game regulations apply. Pen raised pheasants augment the natural populations on these private lands. Hunters pay a nominal fee. Members usually receive a map of the available lands and there are usually no field assignments or check in/out requirements. You just go hunting!

Meridian Pheasant Association, Tom Teesdale, PO Box 305, Meridian, CA 95957 (530) 696-2539.

South Sutter Recreation Association, Diane Fales, 265 Worth Road, Nicolaus, CA 95659 (530) 656-2303.

Yolo Sportsmen's Association, PO Box 82, Woodland CA 95776 (530) 662- 2349

Knights Landing Sportsmen°Øs Club, Inc, PO Box 547, Knights Landing, CA 95645 (530) 662-3372.

Join a ZONE A LICENSED GAME BIRD CLUB. These are private areas where released game birds are hunted. They offer a 3 1/2 month pheasant hunting season and a 7-month season for other game birds (September-March). There are no bag limits and hunters can take either sex game birds. In addition to pheasants, some clubs release chukar, turkeys and bobwhite.

South Butte Gun Club, P.O. Box 572, Sutter, CA 95982, (530) 674-1064.

Garcia's Pheasant Club, 3121 Humphrey Road, Loomis, (530) 652-2359.

Yankee Slough Hunt Club, Inc., 3805 Highway 65, Lincoln, CA 95648 (530) 645-6028.

Take AIM AND FIRE. Shooting sports offer skills improvement and confidence. Here's where you learn to shoot or practice on what you already know.

Coon Creek Trap and Skeet. South of Wheatland on Highway 65 to Wise Road, west on Wise Road two miles to Dowd Road, north on Dowd Road 1.5 miles to Waltz Road, left on Waltz Road to the tall red microwave tower. Eight trap ranges (three lighted for night shooting; 3 skeet ranges; two, five-stand sporting clays; 15 RV spaces with water and electric hookup; snack bar and lunch room. ATA and PITA tournaments, sporting clay events, local trap and skeet shoots (call for dates and events), and hunter safety classes. Open to public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. until dark. Thursday night lighted trap shooting and five stand sporting clays. (530) 539- 8544 or (530) 765-8278.

Sutter Rifle Range. Second Street, near Sutter County Airport in Yuba City. 25, 50 and 100 yard ranges, Open Saturday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. year-round, and on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. from July through October. (530) 673-5018 or (530) 742-3630

Shooter's Paradise. 1407A Colusa Avenue (across from Meek°Øs Lumber), Yuba City. 25 yard indoor range for handguns and .22 rifles Open 7 days/week, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Dealer in firearms and ammunition. (530) 673-4100

Spenceville Public Target Shooting Area. Twenty miles east of Marysville on the Spenceville Wildlife Area. 25 - 300 yard target areas, no range master. Open 7 days/week, daylight hours. (530) 538-2236

Several wildlife areas in the Yuba-Sutter area offer a variety of opportunities to experience the abundance of flora and fauna that graces the Sacramento Valley. Department of Fish and Game areas are:

The Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, a 9,200 acre waterfowl area located 6 miles west of Live Oak on Pennington Road, there are 2 1/2 miles of auto tour route and three miles of walking trails open seven days a week during daylight hours. Hunter Check Station open during hunting season. Duck, goose, pheasant, and dove hunting are very good. Fishing is open on a daily basis when waterfowl season is closed. A Wildlife Viewing Platform with a telescope is available. Escorted weekend tours are planned during active wildlife months. Call (530) 846-7505 for tour information. Sanitary facilities are located at the parking lots. Hunting available during the hunting seasons on 6400 acres. Free roam hunting, no permanent blinds available except for the mobility impaired hunter blind. Hunters without reservations may obtain a first-come, first-serve number when they arrive. Popular game species include ducks, geese, pheasant, snipe, coots, dove, deer, and rabbits. Call (530) 846-7500 for hunter/fishing information.

Feather River Wildlife Area - Marysville Unit. 97 acres located adjacent to the City of Marysville north levee. Access is via Sampson Street or 14th Streets. No facilities. Riparian forest consisting of cottonwood and willow trees. Wildlife viewing is popular. Many wetland birds such as herons, egrets, and wood ducks frequent the area. Red-shouldered hawks, owls, and numerous songbirds nest in the trees and brush. During a wet spring, thousands of western toads and tree frogs can be found near the ponds. (530) 743-5068

Feather River Wildlife Area - Nelson Slough Unit. 750 acres located 17 miles south of Yuba City and under the Highway 99 bridge over the Feather River. Access is via Sacramento Avenue either east or west to the Feather River levee. No facilities or hunter check station. Weedy fields, riparian forest with cottonwood and willow trees. Hunting with shotgun or archery equipment only. Hunting available from July 1 - January 31 and during spring turkey season. Popular game species include pheasant, waterfowl, quail, deer, tree squirrel, rabbit, wild turkey, coyote, crow, and dove. (530) 358-2900.

Feather River Wildlife Area - Lake of the Woods Unit. 700 acres located 10 miles south of Marysville and 1/5 mile downstream of the Star Bend Boat Ramp on Feather River Boulevard. Walk-in access from the Star Bend Boat Ramp. No facilities or hunter check station. Weedy fields, riparian forest with cottonwood and willow trees. Hunting with shotgun or archery equipment only. Hunting available from July 1- January 31 and during spring turkey season. Popular game species include waterfowl, quail, deer, tree squirrel, rabbit, wild turkey, coyote, crow, and dove. (916) 358-2900.

Feather River Wildlife Area O'Connor Lakes/Abbott Lake Wildlife Areas. 910 acres located 10 miles south of Yuba City. Walk-in access at the end of Star Bend Road off Garden Highway. No facilities or hunter check station. Weedy fields, riparian forest with cottonwood and willow trees. Hunting with shotgun or archery equipment only. Hunting available from July 1- January 31 and during spring turkey season. Popular game species include waterfowl, quail, deer, tree squirrel, rabbit, wild turkey, coyote, crow, and dove. (916) 358-2900.

Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area - Hunting every day - 4,034 acres along the levee on much of both sides of the Sutter Bypass and the Tisdale Bypass. Other game includes waterfowl, dove, quail, tree squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, crows, ground squirrels and wild turkey. The Tisdale Bypass is the main hunting area and is located about 10 miles south of the town of Sutter, where Reclamation Road crosses the Tisdale Weir. Waterfowl, rabbit, pheasant, quail, dove, tree squirrel, wild turkey, coyote, and deer hunting are available. Shotguns and archery equipment only. For a map, please call (916) 358-2900.

Spenceville Wildlife Area. 11,213 acres located 19 miles east of Marysville. Go east from Marysville on Highway 20 about 18 miles and turn right on Smartsville Road for 1 mile to enter the wildlife area. Spenceville Public Target Shooting Area, no hunter check station except during the first 9 days of spring turkey season. Primarily blue oak - digger pine grassland. Hunting available from September 1 - January 31 and spring turkey season. Popular game species include deer, valley quail, wild turkey, tree squirrel, rabbit, coyote, ground squirrel, waterfowl, chukar, bobwhite, and wild pig. Permits are issued by drawing for Sat., Sun., and Wed., for the first 9 days of spring turkey season. Camping from September 1 - March 15 in designated campsites only. Dog Training permits for individuals are issued July 1 - March 15 by the DFG, Region 2, 1701 Nimbus Road, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. Equestrian Trail Riding is limited to designated trails, graveled administrative roads and within 25 feet of any wildlife area exterior boundary fence. (530) 538-2236.

Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area. 2,314 acres located 20 miles east of Marysville. Go east from Marysville on Highway 20 about 11.5 miles and turn left on Marysville Road. Proceed 8.5 miles to Dolan Harding Road and turn right for 1 mile to the parking lot. No facilities or hunter check station. Primarily blue oak - digger pine woodland with an understory of coffeeberry, ceonothus and poison oak. Hunting available from July 1 - January 31 and during spring turkey season. Popular game species include deer, quail, wild turkey, tree squirrel, band-tailed pigeon, rabbit and coyote. Permits are issued by drawing for Sat., Sun., and Wed., for the first 9 days of spring turkey season. Horses and bicycles are allowed only from May 1 - September 15. For map call (916) 358-2900.

Oroville Wildlife Area - 11,371 acres - Hunting every day from September 1 - January 31 and spring turkey season. Spring turkey hunting is by drawing only. Best pheasant hunting is around the Thermolito Afterbay. The Oroville Junior Pheasant Hunt usually takes place on the 2nd Saturday of pheasant season near the Thermolito Afterbay. The Afterbay is located between Highways 99 and 70 about 4.5 miles west of Oroville on Highway 162. Waterfowl, rabbit, quail, dove, tree squirrel, dove, chukar, bobwhite, coyote, and deer hunting also available. Spring wild turkey hunting by drawing only. No fall turkey hunting. Shotguns and archery equipment only. Call 530 538-2236 for info.

Sutter National Wildlife Refuge, 2,591 acres located 6 miles west of Yuba City. Travel Highway 99 south from Yuba City and turn right on Oswald Road. Go 6 miles and turn left on Schlag Road to the hunter check station. Hunter check station on Schlag Road open on Sat., Sun., and Wed. during waterfowl season. Marsh habitat. Hunting available by reservation or permit only during the waterfowl season on 1106 acres. Free roam hunting, no permanent blinds available. Hunters without reservations may obtain a first-serve number starting at 4 PM on the afternoon before the hunt day. Popular game species include ducks, geese, pheasant, snipe, and coots. No hiking trails, no auto tour routes or viewing platforms, but visitors can view wildlife from Hughes Road. (530) 934-2801.

Colusa National Wildlife Refuge. 4,507 acres located five miles south of Colusa via Westcott Road to the hunter check station on Ohm Road. Wildlife viewing auto tour route is located 28 miles west of Yuba City on Highway 20. Hunter check station on Ohm Road is open on Sat., Sun., and Wed., during waterfowl season. The 3 mile auto tour route and the 1 mile walking trail are open 7 days a week during daylight hours. Marsh and riparian forest. Hunting available during the waterfowl season on 1804 acres. Free roam hunting, no permanent blinds available. Hunters without reservations may obtain a first-serve number starting at 4 PM on the afternoon before the hunt day. Popular game species include ducks, geese, pheasant, snipe, and coots. (530) 934-2801.

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) publishes Wing Beat News, a newsletter which describes hunting opportunities and public lands in northern California. If you would like a free subscription and/or a map booklet of the above listed wildlife areas, please call the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area at (530) 846-7500 or the DFG at (916) 358-2900.

There's plenty to see when you go BIRD WATCHING at the Audubon Society Bobelaine Ecological Reserve. 430 acres located 12 miles south of Yuba City along the Feather River. Twelve miles south of Yuba City turn left off Highway 99 onto Laurel Avenue for 1 mile to the parking lot. Parking lot with 2 picnic areas, information kiosk, and sanitary facilities. Five miles of walking trails are open 7 days a week during daylight hours. Riparian forest. Wildlife viewing of birds such as herons, egrets, mallards, wood ducks, hawks and owls is popular. Deer, opossum, fox, coyote, beaver, gray squirrel and muskrat are occasionally observed. Walk in the footsteps of native Californians. No fishing or hunting. (916)-783-8305

Take a GUIDED HUNTING OR FISHING TRIP. Plan a special trip for yourself, a relative, or a friend. Contact one of the following licensed and experienced hunting/fishing guides for a trip to nearby rivers and wildlands. They will show you techniques on how to hunt and fish. This is a great way to introduce your son or daughter to hunting and fishing. Several guides also offer special tours to birders and nature enthusiasts who would like to see and learn more about the local area. The guides provide the equipment and knowledge, you bring the enthusiasm. Call for prices and scheduling.

NorCal Guide Service, Sam Craig (530) 639-1102. Yuba River fishing, duck, quail, spring turkey, pheasant hunts and more.

Sierra West Outfitters, Ray McReynolds, (530) 755-0821. Salmon, striper, steelhead, trout, and bass fishing, deer camps, birder trips and more.

7-11 Guide Service, Don E. Hay (916) 695-1977. Waterfowl hunting, fishing in the Sacramento and Feather Rivers for stripers, salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, shad and more.

Old Man River Guide Service, Phil Hensley (530) 673-3067. Salmon, striper, steelhead, sturgeon, and shad fishing in the local rivers and more.

Jerry Bass (530) 673-9047. Salmon, striped bass, steelhead, sturgeon, and shad fishing in local rivers.

River Guide Service, Jimmy Zannocco, (530) 673-5716. Salmon, striped bass, steelhead, sturgeon, and shad fishing in local rivers, largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing and more.

3 Rivers Guide Service, Rick Bishop (530) 671-9206. Salmon, striped bass, steelhead, sturgeon, shad fishing in local rivers and more.

John Morrison (530) 741-1324. Salmon, striped bass, steelhead, sturgeon, catfish, smallmouth bass and shad fishing in the Feather River and more.

Larry Hemphill, (530) 674-0276 Largemouth bass fishing in Northern California Lakes.

Raith Heryford, (530) 674-5871. Salmon, striped bass, steelhead, sturgeon, and shad fishing in local rivers and more.

Steve's Gundogs & Guide Service, Steve Klassen (530) 661-3035. Wild pheasant, mountain and valley quail, waterfowl hunts on private and public land. Experienced dogs with professional handler.