The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced that the Shasta Valley Wildlife Area in Siskiyou County will be closed to waterfowl hunting for the entirety of the 2022-23 season as a result of lost wetlands and waterfowl habitat due to ongoing drought conditions.

The Northeastern Zone waterfowl season runs from October 1, 2022, through January 11, 2023. The Shasta Valley Wildlife Area closure includes the preseason Northeastern Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days that were scheduled for September 17-18, 2022, and the postseason Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days scheduled for January 14-15, 2023.

The 4,700-acre Shasta Valley Wildlife Area typically provides important seasonal wetlands for migrating waterfowl supplied by three reservoirs on the property. Two of those reservoirs – Steamboat Lake and Bass Lake – are completely dry and a third reservoir – Trout Lake – is at approximately 25 percent of capacity. Closing the wildlife area to all waterfowl hunting is necessary to protect the waterfowl using what limited habitat remains.

The Shasta Valley Wildlife Area will be open for upland game bird hunting for dove, quail, snipe and pheasant as regulations permit. Pheasant hunting is allowed only on Sundays during the season and will be by reservation only with no walk-ins, sweat line or refills. A Type A Season Pass or Type B Season Pass is required for all non-Junior Hunting License holders. Reservation applications for Sunday pheasant hunts are available at CDFW’s Online License Sales and Services website. Shasta Valley’s annual apprentice pheasant hunt for Junior Hunting License holders will take place Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. The area will be closed to all hunting Sunday, December 25, 2022, in observance of the Christmas holiday.

Waterfowl hunting opportunities will vary at other Northeastern Zone state and federal lands popular with duck and goose hunters. Hunters are strongly advised to call ahead in preparing for any Northeastern Zone waterfowl hunt.