can only be hunt Sat, Sun, Wed. You can work at the club in the off season to lower your yearly fee. On Merced, all hunting is done from assigned blinds. Easy access from I-5 and the Bay Area. It's easy to second-guess yourself when you had first choice of blinds and your choice is the quiet one. 'Broke, for about $1,300/yr you can get you and your whole family a waterfowl membership in Wilderness Unlimited (that also includes pig, deer, pheasant hunting, fishing). Many of those birds are taken on public-access lands. When I finally got my decoys out and was settled into the roomy three-man blind, it was almost 2 p.m. There are 190 farmable acres, total farm 294.38 acres. I was too late, however, as he crumpled a drake shoveler. There are planted checks--some flooded and some left dry for pheasant. Two of the handsome drakes stayed with us. for a club in the grassland a two man blind for 1200 each is about average. Astute hunters will already be in their waders when they arrive at their chosen parking areas. The club was originally formed around the 1900s by Henry Miller Bowles and a Dr. Stills, thus the name "Stillbow." LOCATION: 16491 Cotton Road, Los Banos, California 93635. In my decoy bag I have 20 mallards, four sprigs (all drakes), and six green-winged teal. When hunting free-roam areas, a race for chosen cells or ponds sometimes occurs. The layout boat dips and tips nearly 45 degrees with each wave. The duck hunting season might end in January, but care of your retriever is a year-round project. Radcliffe motors into the spread with a landing net, and scoops up ducks before they drift away. 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. We are a privately owned Waterfowl Hunting club. Most hunters prefer the larger birds but many target greenwings for both sport and table quality. He feathers the outboard throttle and quarters the bow as needed, never too much. It's adjacent to the Los Banos Waterfowl Management area and the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge. A single drakea brilliant black-and-white bird with a long sprigbanks away from the rest and sets his wings over the decoys. You must log in or register to reply here. Another flock of longtails wings overhead, their melodic whistle giving them away just before we see them. S-27 Lia tnip, Inc. 221 AC. . 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. The Country Duck changes out-dated furniture into "Show-stoppers" I am retired and replying for fun. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Copyright Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors L.L.C. Prime location on the Pacific-Flyway for migratory waterfowl. The drake is 2 feet off the water, gliding our way at 15 yards. I spoke with a club manager who oversees three different clubs (Lucky 6, Edgewater and . Something else to consider is transportation of decoys and other gear to the hunting area. Trailer space is a plus. The Chesapeake Duck Club is the Gavlak family owned Waterfowl Hunting Club for more than 40 years. He pays no attention to Michelle as she sits up and deliberately shoulders her gun. 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. Good water. The exterior of the Field Jacket is made from 8-ounce waxed cotton, which protected waterfowlers from the elements back in the day. New Holland 112 Speed Roller Swather is included. Its almost too rough.. Seller said their only costs are property tax and water; said water is less than $1,00 per year. People in Los Banos Also Viewed. Lots of great info. Upon leasing the blinds, he made promises, promises we would soon regret believing. Fortune Farms DUCK CLUB LOS BANOS CALIFORNIA 9/21/2016 - YouTube 0:00 / 8:01 Fortune Farms DUCK CLUB LOS BANOS CALIFORNIA 9/21/2016 ronieboy44 1.15K subscribers Subscribe 3.2K views. The cost would be $1200.00 each. The property is in Zone A-1, General Agriculture Zoning, situated in the West/Central portion of Merced County and is . Pretty Bird: A drake long-tailed duck is a trophy for any serious waterfowler.. David Stimac. 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. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Blue Goose has six well-spaced blinds. We can also bring a guest with us as long as there is one person from the lease there (Maximum of 2 people in the blind so one of the lease holder could not be there as long as the other is there with a guest). You have to focus on the birds in the decoys, and let the rest go. Directly south across Highway 140 from China Island lies Kesterson Refuge. Will Brantley O.K., Im terrified! she says, grasping my right hand and nestling down into the boat. Have fun! Parking area provides a short dry walk to any of the blinds. | Its best use is Hunting and Pasture. N . Mentioning quotas brings to mind a hunt at Los Banos in December a few years back. Duck Club Membership with Cabin in North Grasslands. Who knows, I might have still been waiting at Los Banos! One membership to the Lonesome Mallard Duck Club located at 7861 Coral Road South, Los Banos, CA 93635.Membership involves 130 30 memberships total ownership of 685 acres of land which includes a member clubhouse, a bunkhouse and a RV park. For the most part, specific hot spots must be found by watching the birds. Back then water wasn't an issue, and it was 1-5 dollars an acre foot. This collection was tranferred to USU Special Collections and Archives from the Utah Division of State History in 2018. A variety of carts are used, including large rickshaw types and golf carts. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. In California we operate nine private clubs with season long blinds and offer limited guided opportunities for ducks and geese. 833 were here. Hunters who show consistent results are generally quiet about the areas they hunt, as can be expected. Legal shooting time was 6:50 a.m. As it drew near, we both began to doubt James' choice of blinds. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. S-26 As they parachuted toward my decoys, I found myself looking directly into the sun and could not tell drakes from hens. $289,000. When someone suggests to me that camo isnt appropriate attire, I suggest that they mind their own business. The Club is located on Britto Road, 8 miles east of Los Banos, California (3.1 miles south of Highway 152). I have a buddy that is a member at a AAA+++club in the south grasslands. Special Collections and Archives. 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. Copyright Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors L.L.C. er, unless you plan to shoot mallards only, have a mixture of birds represented in your spread. West Bear Creek is roam-only unit with a lot of potential. There are large ponds dotted with tule patches, narrow meandering sloughs and a mixture of both--creating a very ducky marshland. Mendota is the largest of the grassland refuges with 12,000 acres under management. Sounds like the waterfowl is far better though. Well be watching from a couple hundred yards away.. As he rose, shouldering his Remington Model 870 and swinging on the nearest duck, I cried out, "Don't shoot!" One has assigned blinds, junior blinds, mobility restricted blinds and a large roam area. 23/24 Duck Blind. Located within the boundaries of Grassland Water District and receives its water only when available. He tries to only hunt small hidden holes in thick tule patches. The Outdoors Forum established 2005, for outdoorsmen by outdoorsmen. A couple of highballs brought the ducks our way, coming in low on James' side. But I do love the retro look of Averys new Heritage clothing. That was a duck short of a limit--I had passed up a number of shots fearing the dropping of another Suzie. Adjacent to San Luis Refuge east of Highway 165 is Salt Slough. When legal shooting time came to an end, I had five ducks. Pistolas & more. After some phone calls and fishing around we got Marion's number who manages the Chesapeake and Sweetwater club off Santa Fe grade . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Joined Aug 26, 2013 . Read More PROPERTY TYPE: Cattle, Duck Club Borderline Farm Glenn County, CA $1,270,000 294 Acres 50% Ownership. 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. A first-hand look and field test with the new HydroFoam diver decoys from Heyday Outdoor. This cafe opens for breakfast at 6 a.m. Published Dec 11, 2017 5:14 PM EST, A spray of 35-degree saltwater hits me in the face every three seconds. To get a little back on topic. Michelle and I come up shootingand we dont cut a feather from the rocking boat on the first flock. Our clubs are located in Willows, Richvale, Biggs, Colusa and Los Banos. JavaScript is disabled. More Info. I don't know nothing about ducks or hunting ducks but have been thinking about giving it a go. A spray . If you don't have water rights then the price is 35-40 an acre foot, if available. As we walked back to my pickup, it was still cold and windy, but we stopped for a moment to watch the flocks working the refuge. Every new sea duck hunter starts out shooting at everything in range. There are several open blinds because of everything that is going on right now. They are, however, still a favorite among many hunters. Espana's Southwest Bar & Grill - 1460 E Pacheco Blvd, Los Banos. This collection also includes some ecological studies on Chesapeake wetlands. It fits in the back of my pickup next to the dog box and is ready to go when the wheels hit the ground. Located in Los Banos, California There are 30 blinds, most of which consists That hunt occurred in 1995, and I had hunted the Los Banos refuge only a few times before. The limit that year was six birds, but only one could be a hen mallard. Gadwall is bordered on the north by Highway 152 and the east by Santa Fe Grade road. S-94 Dyer 62 AC. When A Retriever Requires the Pause Button, Calling the Shot is Critical to Waterfowling Success, Heyday Outdoor - HydroFoam Diver Duck Decoys Review & Field Test, Why You Suck at Shooting.and How to Fix Your Faults, Why You Should Be Using Confidence Decoys for Duck Hunting, Interview with Stevie Rogers from Rogers Sporting Goods. Handguns & Handgun Hunting. The club was originally formed around the 1900s by Henry Miller Bowles and a Dr. Stills, thus the name "Stillbow." Our final tally was one spoonbill, two pintails and seven mallards. 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. PDF. Located in the North Grasslands just minutes from Los Banos. The blinds are marked on a map that can be obtained from the Los Banos and Salt Slough check stations. So, I increase the odds on those non-mallard days. Hunters must check in at the Salt Slough check station and choose one of four wetland units. We keep shooting and scratch down a couple of ducks, but nothing about the display is pretty. Its another wet, arduous ride back to shore, and I can still feel the rolling saltwater under me as I walk across the boat-launch parking lot. When we reached our five-bird limits just before 10 a.m., we shared a cup of coffee and rehashed the morning's events before picking up and bagging our decoys. While putting out my blocks, I had seen occasional groups of ducks and geese drifting in and out of the high fog. Subscriber Services. More information available upon request. Let's dump the excuses and go over common shooting mistakes waterfowl hunters make and how to overcome them. Sorta like a country club membership :lol: This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. has been well-known as a duck hunters favorite, with large numbers of migrating waterfowl returning year after year. Just down the road, 450 life-sized plastic ducks float in three feet of water around Bob Hansen's tiny island, off Highway 165, at Zimmerman Duck Club. Running that far in winter, then settling into a layout boat for the hunt, is dangerous. 33 acre duck club in North Grasslands - Los Banos, CA. 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. Howev. I had just settled into my chosen blind, after placing my decoys, when I spied four mallards fighting the wind to the west. The club is located east of Los Banos off Hwy 152. Youre going to shoot mostly oldsquaw, but expect to see some scoters, too, he says. I spoke with a club manager who oversees three different clubs (Lucky 6, Edgewater and Westside Duck Club). S-95 M ari nS tos 1AC. Waterfowl hunting is religion around here, but even among the devout followers, relatively few of the area hunters are equipped and willing to target offshore sea ducks. Thats about the time it takes for Wayne Radcliffe to climb a wave, drop into a trough, and begin the next ascent. While I belong to a nearby private duck club, I elected to join James and try the refuge for a change of pace. HUNTING THE GRASSLANDS Most of the refuges allow hunting on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and holidays, from half an hour before sunrise to sunset. We are wait listed at this time. The spot is in Merced County. Those willing to pay their dues on public areas can learn secrets of the grassland refuges. Junior hunters must be accompanied by adults. Today, Merced is the second-leading county in the nation for waterfowl bagged each year. You have plenty of shells? he asks. Suddenly, a group of ducks appeared to our left in the early morning gloom. The guy knows the water, and for the most part, he keeps us dry. 12 were here. The harvest is Teal, Mallard, Sprig, Wigeon, Gadwall, and more. I always figured if you had to ask you could not afford it!!!! Ok, I will ask some more questions, These are the things I now so far. Obviously you need not be so rushed when hunting a pre-assigned blind; however, if you are hunting a roam area, be ready before you go through the check line. The Chesapeake Duck Club began in 1903 as a private, recreational hunting club. Avery Heritage Collection Mens Field Jacket $200$210 Avery Outdoors Avery Outdoors. Operation Eagle Claw, the mission that failed. THE BIRDS While the green-winged teal is the number one duck in the grasslands, other species can be found in abundance. The Club is located on Britto Road, 8 miles east of Los Banos, California (3.1 miles south of Highway 152). Some of the blinds do not have seating. Operation Eagle Claw, the mission that failed. 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.. Department Head. To the east of all the other grassland refuges is Merced. Click here as Ralph writes about a good shoot and a nice stringer of ducks as well. One refuge is for junior hunters only, accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. James had called me earlier in the week to say he had the number one draw at Los Banos refuge for Wednesday the 4th and asked if I would like to join him. Mallards have now become the most sought after duck on the refuges, and some of the areas are groomed just for them. Green-winged teal--the most common species in the area--rocket down a channel of a grasslands refuge. Four refuges have blinds reserved for mobility-restricted hunters. Radcliffe laughs nervously. Adults accompanying junior hunters can also hunt, although only one adult is allowed per two junior hunters. I ended the day with four greenheads and a hen. be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Hunting Mentors & New Hunters. Thanks for the help. Thanks. As he motors away, the first flock of oldsquaws is coming our way. He moved with his family to the San Francisco Bay Area in California when he was 4 years old. At 6:30 a.m. a hard south wind and driving rain punished my back. The grasslands hold good numbers of divers throughout the season. Radcliffe sets three dozen decoys on longline rigs 10 yards from the boat. Adding honker floaters in your duck decoy spread can greatly add to your success. It is interspersed with flooded checks and dry uplands. Nearby Restaurants. 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. Hi everyone, with the upcoming waterfowl season I've begun looking at leasing a 2 man blind up in Los Banos. One unique feature is that Merced only allows hunting on Saturdays and Wednesdays, and shooting time ends at noon. Hunters must check in and out at Salt Slough. There are also five "stake" blinds where hunters are allowed to hunt within 100 yards of numbered posts. Parking: Lot, Private. Interested individuals should contact Steven Wildblood at stillbowinfo@gmail.com to ensure they are queued up --or, if you are interested in learning more about the opportunity to join our club. Los Banos has nine parking lots, with quotas on each. The Chesapeake Duck Club is the Gavlak family owned Waterfowl Hunting Club for more than 40 years. The blinds are strategically placed adjacent to the "No Hunt" zone. This far south, on the Atlantic coast, surf scoters and longtails are the primary targets.