Wet Fall Creating One Of The Best Seasons For Duck Hunters
BUTTE COUNTY (CBS13) — Local hunters say a wet fall is leading to one of the best duck hunting seasons for the Sacramento area.
A morning star lingers as the day begins for hunters Greg Galli and Chris Tocatlian. On the private land in Butte County about an hour and a half from Sacramento, we followed along on a crisp November morning to get a taste of what makes duck hunting such a popular sport in Northern California.
"This is in our blood," Galli said. "This isn't just a weekend warrior thing for us. We're here 24/7/365. That's all we do is breathe, eat, live ducks."
As the men get into one of several blinds embedded in the fields, they know the season is still ripe as more than decent rainfall makes it feel like hunters are more than on target for what's shaping up to be a very good year.
It became clear how good a year minutes after the experienced sportsmen did their prep work, checking the decoys already in place and positioning new ones.
As the sun rose to greet us, the sound of a whistle and the scene attracted the ducks. With a shot, Bailey went to work, retrieving each fallen waterfowl with an aggressive enthusiasm, but a gentle touch.
There are limits on how many ducks a hunter can bring home, depending on the area where you're hunting. While it's what Bailey loves to do, her human counterparts sent a strong message that it's about more than just killing ducks. It's about respecting the property and giving their time and money to give back to the ducks by preserving the habitat.
Guided duck excursions sell out quickly, starting at around $275 a day, while unguided hunts start at $150.
Galli says his River Valley Outfitters has played host to everyone from plumbers to rocket scientists.
The season runs through the end of January.