(559) 269-250. To people looking for a duck club in Los Banos.. 12323 Views 59 Replies 24 Participants Last post by DuckReaper559, Sep 18, 2013. Los Banos Duck Club Jan 2013 - Present 10 years 4 months. It had been an inspiring day but not an unusual one in Central California. Cell: 410.310.6758. So, I increase the odds on those non-mallard days. seemed very year towards the end of the season when the duck hunting was gettin good he would find someone else in his blind that he booked. Wildfowl's Skip Knowles and Shaundi Campbell of Browning are taking a look at the Browning Maxus 2 Wicked Wing in Vintage Camo. She fires once, and the duck is dead before it hits the water. can only be hunt Sat, Sun, Wed. You can work at the club in the off season to lower your yearly fee. Mud Slough is unique in that it is a junior hunter refuge only. Historically, this is pintail country, but since their decline and subsequent restrictions, they have become less a factor in bag numbers. Handguns & Handgun Hunting. The Chesapeake Duck Club began in 1903 as a private, recreational hunting club. The property is in Zone A-1, General Agriculture Zoning, situated in the West/Central portion of Merced County and is presently enrolled in the Williamson Act. We are wait listed at this time. As he rose, shouldering his Remington Model 870 and swinging on the nearest duck, I cried out, "Don't shoot!" As 5:00 p.m. was the shooting deadline, I knew I would be grateful for what might come my way. Hunters who show consistent results are generally quiet about the areas they hunt, as can be expected. Salt Slough is a free-roam area, except it has one blind for mobility restricted hunters. Take your duck decoy spread to the next level by mixing in some other species. S-93 St ev n Cr k 84 . for a club in the grassland a two man blind for 1200 each is about average. is modeled after Kesterson, with assigned-blind hunting only--no roaming allowed. Unless you plan on standing all day, you will need some type of seat. for an article entitled "Tune Up That Pup," reprinted with permission from, DUTV headed west to California just prior to Christmas, joining long-time DU supporter Dennis Campini and his son, Logan, for a great exposure to the Grasslands in the northern San Joaquin Valley. able to hunt weds, sat and sun. There are also five "stake" blinds where hunters are allowed to hunt within 100 yards of numbered posts. I have a buddy that is a member at a AAA+++club in the south grasslands. Upon leasing the blinds, he made promises, promises we would soon regret believing. As the day brightened, we could identify most of the ducks as mallard and pintail, so we resolved to concentrate our efforts on them. Its too rough out here to hit much else.. S-22 Drakes-N-Paynes 16 AC. You are using an out of date browser. One has assigned blinds, junior blinds, mobility restricted blinds and a large roam area. It's easy to second-guess yourself when you had first choice of blinds and your choice is the quiet one. So clear your At the peak of the market-hunting era, waterfowlers Cameron Freshour was hunting with his wife on Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Central California's large refuges offer quality public. An hour and a half later, we climb back into the boat, our two limits filled with mostly oldsquaw drakes but punctuated by a hefty drake surf scoter destined for the taxidermist. #1 An acquaintance of mine called and wants me to split a spot in a club with him. The limit that year was six birds, but only one could be a hen mallard. The Club is located on Britto Road, 8 miles east of Los Banos, California (3.1 miles south of Highway 152). If you don't have water rights then the price is 35-40 an acre foot, if available. Every new sea duck hunter starts out shooting at everything in range. Los Banos has nine parking lots, with quotas on each. N-37 Chesapeake-Gavlak 19 AC. The author's Chessie "Boomer" peers over blind at San Luis Refuge. Green-winged teal--the most common species in the area--rocket down a channel of a grasslands refuge. The club was originally formed around the 1900s by Henry Miller Bowles and a Dr. Stills, thus the name "Stillbow." be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Mendota is renowned for its production of mallards, as well as other duck species, and many hunters from central and southern California drive many miles to hunt it. S-24 Old Los Banos Land & aCattle 312 AC. All Rights Reserved. Los Banos Duck Club - TEMPORARILY CLOSED. Follow the link below to take a certified hunter safety course online for California. S-13 Chesapeake Duck Clu b 5 4 AC. Publisher Laden Force speaks with Stevie Rogers at the Rogers Sporting Goods Annual Waterfowl Weekend. JavaScript is disabled. 12 were here. We dont leave until its light enough to see, and the boat ride takes nearly an hour. Hunters are cautioned to bring a bucket to hunt one of the blinds, as they may need bailing. Contact: Kirby@chesapeakehunting.com. The property is situated on the East side of Mercy Springs Road approximately mile North of Henry Miller Road, Los Banos, California, Mercey Springs Road , Los Banos, CA 93635. This collection was tranferred to USU Special Collections and Archives from the Utah Division of State History in 2018. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. An acquaintance of mine called and wants me to split a spot in a club with him. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Then, too, some of the parking lots have vehicle quotas, so preparation is important. NEW Redneck Mallard Duck Blind offering the LARGEST semi-portable solution to all your waterfowl needs.Price includes all SD sales tax - no shipping charges.Holds four hunters.Only ONE in stock. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Prime location on the Pacific-Flyway for migratory waterfowl. N-36 Reeves Lake Land Co., Inc. 515 AC. Department Head. A first-hand look and field test with the new HydroFoam diver decoys from Heyday Outdoor. Nushagak River Bristol Bay Alaska Retired Principal . All Rights Reserved. Double Blind available Great Club. Otherwise, Mendota is strictly a roam area. All weather road that is maintained by the county. Its best use is Hunting and Pasture. Address: 1416 9th Street 12th Floor Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone Number: (916) 445-0411 Website: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting California Hunter Safety Course Hunter safety courses are required in most states in order to purchase a hunting license. The Club is located on Britto Road, 8 miles east of Los Banos, California (3.1 miles south of Highway 152). To the west, Freitas is bordered by Highway 140 and to the east Highway 165 splits what's known as the north and south units. One unique feature is that Merced only allows hunting on Saturdays and Wednesdays, and shooting time ends at noon. S-94 Dyer 62 AC. Two drake greenwings, a drake and hen spoonie and a hen ringneck--hardly a glamorous string of birds but day-savers under the circumstances. Hunting Mentors & New Hunters. My wife, Michelle, hands me her 870 and climbs into the boat next to me. HUNTING THE GRASSLANDS Most of the refuges allow hunting on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and holidays, from half an hour before sunrise to sunset. Adding honker floaters in your duck decoy spread can greatly add to your success. 160 Acres in Los Banos, CA - $550,000 Drake And Payne Duck Club This is an historic, classic, grasslands duck club. Green-winged Teal and American wigeon made up most of the targets for the day in Stillbow's very shallow, moist-soil habitat, which is dominated by swamp timothy and bulrush. We are a privately owned Waterfowl Hunting club. He graduated from Campbell High School in 1960. . Junior hunters must be accompanied by adults. I drill a couple of holes in the bottom (seat) allowing captured air to escape, so the bucket does not pop to the surface when I stand to shoot. Pistolas & more. The main focus of the forum was to help out others in the pursuit of big game, waterfowl, upland hunting and all of the travel and experiences that come with an outdoors lifestyle. China Island is bordered on the north by the San Joaquin River, while Mud Slough meanders through a good part of it. You have plenty of shells? he asks. Give a Gift There are 3 in ground double barrel blinds, one single barrel blind with dry walk out and 2 stand up blinds. A couple of highballs brought the ducks our way, coming in low on James' side. Duck Club, Los Banos. $35,000 for a lifetime membership, $2000 a year. Organizational and financial records include meeting minutes that indicate the steps the club took to manage this portion of the wetlands as well Four refuges have blinds reserved for mobility-restricted hunters. At 6:30 a.m. a hard south wind and driving rain punished my back. Blind number one is a two-man blind, the other five blinds are three man. . San Luis has a devoted group of mallard hunters, although good numbers of all species of duck and geese can be found there. He is no longer a member..Not sure how they are now but if it were my money I would be putting it on the sure thingjust my two cents.. Mendota can accommodate more hunters (600-plus) than any other refuge in central California. Soon, our limits begin adding up. Skip Knowles is with Joel Hodgdon of Remington to learn about Gun Club Cure. That hunt occurred in 1995, and I had hunted the Los Banos refuge only a few times before. Suddenly, a group of ducks appeared to our left in the early morning gloom. Indeed, the Grasslands Refuges offer something for every type of waterfowler. Suddenly a pod of pintails--with feet out--were in our face and then quickly flaring into the wind as we jumped to our feet. Ive crossed a trip off my waterfowling bucket listthough Id say my itch to hunt sea ducks has only gotten a little worse. JavaScript is disabled. Michelle and I come up shootingand we dont cut a feather from the rocking boat on the first flock. Great duck & geese hunting club. This 316-acre club is strategically located between the 7,400-acre North Grasslands Wildlife Area. No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan. Club or Co-Op Income: Initiation fees & contributions: $77,000 Income from public use of club facilities: $0 Fiscal year ending Feb. 2011 Fiscal year ending Feb. 2011. We dont move. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Legal shooting time was 6:50 a.m. As it drew near, we both began to doubt James' choice of blinds. Ok, I will ask some more questions, These are the things I now so far. He tries to only hunt small hidden holes in thick tule patches. Relentlessly adaptive birds are leery of mid-field these days, but you can still take your game to the next It is interspersed with flooded checks and dry uplands. As he motors away, the first flock of oldsquaws is coming our way. Howev. S-95 M ari nS tos 1AC. The blinds are strategically placed adjacent to the "No Hunt" zone. There are many private clubs in the surrounding area known for its abundance of waterfowl. The "spoonie" was resplendent in color but not what we had in mind to shoot that early in the day. A variety of carts are used, including large rickshaw types and golf carts. 833 were here. Almost all the refuges have their hard core followers who have learned the favored ponds or cells, as they are often called, of the mallard and pursue this bird exclusively. He moved with his family to the San Francisco Bay Area in California when he was 4 years old. Interested in a blind to. sorry I can not cover it more but I suck at writing, let me know if you would like for me to take a look at it and give you my opinion. Established in 1993, it has become a mecca for mallard hunters. Yesterday, the wind blew too hard to risk going out, and the forecast is the same for tomorrow. Adjacent to San Luis Refuge east of Highway 165 is Salt Slough. and environmental issues on the northern wetlands of the Great Salt Lake. N . Gadwall is bordered on the north by Highway 152 and the east by Santa Fe Grade road. The Duck Club property consist of a total of 121.90+/- acres. mesquite duck club - PERMANENTLY CLOSED. He feathers the outboard throttle and quarters the bow as needed, never too much. When I checked in, my two favorite parking lots were filled, so I opted to try an available blind--one I had not hunted before. Skip Knowles talks with Christian Hogg of Fiocchi about what's new with B&P Ammunition. S- 23 Fly way Ranch 160 AC. There are planted checks--some flooded and some left dry for pheasant. Just a short distance south of Los Banos is the 550-acre Mud Slough Refuge. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The grasslands hold good numbers of divers throughout the season. Mountain Mike's Pizza - 2260 E Pacheco Blvd Ste A & B. I ended the day with four greenheads and a hen. The spot is in Merced County. Los Banos, California. Thanks very much. STILLBOW DUCK CLUB: Stillbow is a membership owned club that is based upon 30 member-shares. Our final tally was one spoonbill, two pintails and seven mallards. Thats about the time it takes for Wayne Radcliffe to climb a wave, drop into a trough, and begin the next ascent. Gadwall is a free-roam area, yet it has numerous blinds on it from the former private club. Today is our only chance on a three-day trip, and given how rough the Chesapeake is under a 12-mph north wind, I can see why. South of Kesterson on the west side of Highway 165 from San Luis is the Blue Goose Refuge. Kill him, I say. I am looking to find another person to split the cost with. I was too late, however, as he crumpled a drake shoveler. Duckville Hunting Club records, COLL MSS 543, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge photographs, P0020, About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West, Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, Financial records; receipts and disbursements, statemetnts, recommended budgets, insurance, pension plans, Membership roster; list of stockholders, committees, Minutes of Board of Directors and Annual Meetings; reports, receipts, Minutes of Board of Directors and Annual Meetings; Articles of incorporation (1907), By-Laws (1907), statement of reciepts (Mar 1907- Feb 1922), agreements (1909), financial reports, statements of income and expenses, annual reports (1920-1924), Minutes of Board of Directors and Annual Meetings, Minutes of Stockholders and Special Meetings, Reports; annual (1926-1928, 1945), October Report to the Marsh Committee (1960s), report to landowners, water users, duck hunters, and other interested persons on the demand of the U.S. government for the payment of Federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing clubs (1964), Miscellaneous materials; Chesapeake Duck Club, Plaintiff vs. Milt Barber, Defendant, In the District Court of Box Elder County, State of Utah (1960s), Utah Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Project Digest (undated), newspaper clippings (1963-1964). The blinds are marked on a map that can be obtained from the Los Banos and Salt Slough check stations. Is this a club, or just a blind.? Such activities included monitoring and controlling invasive species populations, maintaining marsh water levels, and planting vegetation that supported waterfowl populations. I was kinda down on them until some friends joined and started putting the hurt on the geese last season while I prayed for a refuge draw. Duck Club 460 AC. There is a spot to park a trailer and at one of the clubs there is a bunk house to stay in. I've tried the folding ones made of canvas and aluminum and homemade ones made from plastic and wood. West Bear Creek is roam-only unit with a lot of potential. Just south of Freitas and east of Highway 165 is the West Bear Creek Unit. O.K., I say, weve got to chill out. Michelle is scowling and thumbing shells into her gun with extra force, as if manhandling her 870 a bit will ease her frustration. . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. H. HeadsUpHunters . Easy access from I-5 and the Bay Area. I don't know nothing about ducks or hunting ducks but have been thinking about giving it a go. Shooting days are Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday throughout the CA waterfowl `balance of state` season. We welcome any feedback on how we can improve LoopNet to better serve your needs. There are 30 blinds, most of which consists of two one person cement tubes on islands located in various ponds on the property. LOCATION: 16491 Cotton Road, Los Banos, California 93635. Who knows, I might have still been waiting at Los Banos! Located in Los Banos, California Volta is known for holding large numbers of pintail. Two of the blinds are goose pits, with room for three people in each. Some offer assigned blinds only, others are open to roam. When youre set up properly for these birds in a layout boat, there is nothing else like it in all of duck hunting. The birds are edibleat best. Property tax will be based on the sales price. Will Brantley The duck hunting season might end in January, but care of your retriever is a year-round project. Suddenly, a group of ducks appeared to our left in the early morning gloom. Pistolas & more. This former private duck club sits amidst other clubs and, though it has no other refuges in close proximity, it is in an excellent flyway. Sunday is gonna be good. I spoke with a club manager who oversees three different clubs (Lucky 6, Edgewater and . For decades, this property. I didn't get to the refuge that Saturday until midday because of holiday duties. Sure, I will take straight limits of mallards, but there are many days when that will not happen. Los Banos Duck Club Openings. Los Banos and Salt Slough Refuges also allow the leaving of unattended trailers and campers via a limited drawing for space each fall. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Click here for an article entitled "Tune Up That Pup," reprinted with permission from Wildfowl Magazine. For information in this regard, call 559/655-4645. It currently operates as an LLC, with two (2) member/owners (50% undivided interest). The club also provided club members with amenities such as lodging and food as well as hunting amenities including duck blinds. That doesnt work out here. Fresh Fill w/Juice It Up! The Outdoors Forum established 2005, for outdoorsmen by outdoorsmen. More Info. Mentioning quotas brings to mind a hunt at Los Banos in December a few years back. 5+ bird average including 20% of all mallards reported harvested from private duck clubs, State and Federal Refuges.You as a prospective buyer have several options. Hook Up Here. The Chesapeake Duck Club is the Gavlak family owned Waterfowl Hunting Club for more than 40 years. By the time I recovered from my mistake, the other three had flared and were gone, along with my hope for a double or triple. Back then water wasn't an issue, and it was 1-5 dollars an acre foot. Need A Buddy? Miscellaneous materials; Chesapeake Duck Club, Plaintiff vs. Milt Barber, Defendant, In the District Court of Box Elder County, State of Utah (1960s), Utah Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Project Digest (undated), newspaper clippings (1963-1964) 1960-1969: Names and Subjects Return to Top. There are 30 blinds, most of which consists . WATERFOWL AND UPLAND GAME HUNTING IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FOR OVER A CENTURY We invite you to visit the various links to learn more about the Stillbow Ranch duck club and what it has to offer. Thanks zen, I have been a little leary of WU having seen the ranches they have used to hunt hogs and deer on in my area. Prime location on the Pacific-Flyway for migratory waterfowl. The cost would be $1200.00 each. S-12 Esgibago Land & Ca tle Co. 160 AC. San Luis is a large refuge and has varied marsh and upland cover. Subscriber Services. Take your time, because youre going to get plenty of chances.. The exterior of the Field Jacket is made from 8-ounce waxed cotton, which protected waterfowlers from the elements back in the day. Pepper Snyder - Sprig Haven Farms Duck Club. Bar, Dive Bar. As of today the 2021-22 memberships are on hold to provide the new owner with ability to choose whether or not to sell memberships. Mallards have now become the most sought after duck on the refuges, and some of the areas are groomed just for them. Running that far in winter, then settling into a layout boat for the hunt, is dangerous. All Rights Reserved. Offered by Geneva Brett DRE# 01223541, Century 21 MM, Los Banos. Back in the 50's when all the clubs in my area were built, they sold all the water rights to pay for the land to be leveled, basically to build the clubs. S-27 Lia tnip, Inc. 221 AC. Have fun! rotation on the blinds. The Chesapeake Duck Club is the Gavlak family owned Waterfowl Hunting Club for more than 40 years. The duck hunting season might end in January, but care of your retriever is a year-round project. Duck Club Membership with Cabin in North Grasslands. You are using an out of date browser. A single drakea brilliant black-and-white bird with a long sprigbanks away from the rest and sets his wings over the decoys. Huge numbers of snow geese winter on the entire grasslands area, along with smaller numbers of specks and various races of honkers. Stillbow-related Post on https://vimeo.com/180324439. Hunters must check in and out at Salt Slough. EIN: 87-0326126; . 12 were here. I love boats, big water, longline decoys, and divers that come in low and fast. What is the going rate for a spot? about two miles east of the town of Los Banos. Ill still opt for a modern coat for extreme weatherbut for hunting and anyplace camo may not be appreciated, this stuff is nice. You are using an out of date browser. I was at Los Banos Wildlife Refuge with my good friend James Delormier. | For the most part, specific hot spots must be found by watching the birds. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. When legal shooting time came to an end, I had five ducks. The current estimated valuation per share is at approximately $75-80K and any new member must shoot for at least one year as a "shooting member" prior to joining. Field-tested in the harsh conditions of Alaska, these top-performing shotguns are built to take a beating. But this is sea ducking, and getting out here has long been on my bucket list. A short drive west of Los Banos is the Volta Refuge, a 3,000-acre refuge that consistently ranks near the top in number of birds taken per hunter. able to hunt weds, sat and sun. Along with others like the nearby Duckville Hunting Club, the Chesapeake Duck Club promoted environmental policies that protected waterfowl and the marshland in which they lived. There are three concrete blinds, three platform blinds and a metal tank blind. We keep shooting and scratch down a couple of ducks, but nothing about the display is pretty. After a fun morning, shooters and crew gathered for lunch and chatted about the challenges of drought, alternative uses of water, and urban expansion into the afternoon. He was advertising two clubs last season in the Los Banos / Grasslands area. The Country Duck changes out-dated furniture into "Show-stoppers" Located within the boundaries of Grassland Water District and receives its water only when available. This far south, on the Atlantic coast, surf scoters and longtails are the primary targets. Radcliffe sets three dozen decoys on longline rigs 10 yards from the boat. I would classify hunting as very good with most hunters averaging 4-5 ducks per day over the season. Two of the handsome drakes stayed with us. If you're interested or know someone who might be interested send me a message or comment below. S-21 Rooney Ranch 2 5 AC. As I huddled deeper into my rain gear, I pondered my decision to hunt. One of the first families of the American West, the Fleishhackers, owned the club when it was only possible to reach the shooting grounds by train and wagon, and famed actor Clark Gable was a regular visitor. er, unless you plan to shoot mallards only, have a mixture of birds represented in your spread. A spray . I spoke with a club manager who oversees three different clubs (Lucky 6, Edgewater and Westside Duck Club). If it was too rough, we wouldnt be out here. A rogue wave breaks across the bow and rains upon a pile of scoter decoys. Editor-in-Chief Skip Knowles is with Beth Shimanski from Savage Arms to get a look at this reliable, soft kicking shotgun. We have four boxes of Black Cloud between us, and I nod yes. When someone suggests to me that camo isnt appropriate attire, I suggest that they mind their own business. Easy access. From then on we witnessed an almost steady procession of ducks from near and far. There are several open blinds because of everything that is going on right now. Another flock of longtails wings overhead, their melodic whistle giving them away just before we see them. While I belong to a nearby private duck club, I elected to join James and try the refuge for a change of pace. S-26 Sunset Gun Club 182 AC . A barrage of calling rang out across the marsh, followed by numerous shots, yet we had neither seen nor heard a duck. Post up the name of the club and you might get more info on it, there are at least two guys on this board that have and maybe still shoot clubs up there , I have seen place's that cost more then that and shoot squat and places that cost less and are worth every penny , my old club farther north in Colusa county was 1200 per hole two man blind but I could shoot it 7 days a week :beer-toast: . There are large ponds dotted with tule patches, narrow meandering sloughs and a mixture of both--creating a very ducky marshland. Hunters must check in at the Salt Slough check station and choose one of four wetland units. The best hunting for species like scoters and long-tailed ducksthe politically correct name for oldsquaws, which is still used by sea duck hunterstakes place a mile or more from shore. I've since had many hunts on Los Banos and other public-access refuges in the grasslands of California, and I believe this region offers waterfowlers one of the best bargains anywhere in the West. Those willing to pay their dues on public areas can learn secrets of the grassland refuges. Radcliffe laughs nervously. Looking for blind lease north grasslands. One refuge is for junior hunters only, accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Who is the club manager you spoke with? For world class duck hunting, it just doesnt get much better than this and we look forward to hearing from you in the near future. Dennis is the president of the Grassland Resource Conservation District and the Stillbow Duck Club, which has a long history of waterfowl tradition and waterfowl characters. N-68 Tule AcresN Land Co. 36A C. N-65 L osBan P rop eti s 32 AC.-67 Hershel Harvey . Mallard is the decoy of choice at the refuges. After some phone calls and fishing around we got Marion's number who manages the Chesapeake and Sweetwater club off Santa Fe grade . Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Directly south across Highway 140 from China Island lies Kesterson Refuge.
