"Last year wasn't bad," says Steve Brueggemann, area manager for the 12,000-acre Mendota SWA, noting that only 81 hunters showed up on opening day. Split between parking lots 21 and 22 on a first-come, first-served basis, 41 hunters shot a 7.2 bird/hunter average on the Traction Ranch section, while the rest of the hunters spread out on the free-roam area and managed a 4.8 bird/hunter average. Safflower has been planted on both the Traction Ranch section and the free-roam area this year. If you can't find time to scout, or don't make the draw for Traction Ranch, ask staff at the check station which patch is the best. They can help.

"It was a poor year at O'Neil, but Los Banos did OK." Reports Roger Wilbur, assistant manager of the Los Banos SWA, adding, "It wasn't crowded at all.

O'Neil Fore Bay found 84 hunters knocking down 53 doves for .63 bird/hunter average. While at Los Banos, 156 hunters bagged 1,161 doves for 7.89 bird/hunter average. This year, more than 100 acres of safflower have been planted in 5- to 15-acre plots on both O'Neil Forebay and Los Banos in places that have shot well in the past. Hunters can obtain maps of the area at the Los Banos headquarters check station.

Steve Miyamoto, manager of the 6,335-acre North Grasslands SWA, reports close to 80 acres of safflower planted. Seven miles north of the city of Los Banos, the Salt Slough Unit will require a reservation on opening day morning. Divided into three sections, A, B and C, each planted with safflower, hunters will be assigned to sections at check-in dependent upon conditions and bird usage at the time. But at noon the area opens to walk-on hunters for the rest of the early dove season.

Last year, 344 hunters took 1,073 doves for a 3.11 average over the course of the early season, with an opening day average of 4.5 doves/hunter.

Half-way between Newman and Gustine, the China Island Unit provides hunting space on a first-come, first-served basis for 300 hunters. A popular place that is always crowded on opening day, over 55 acres have been planted to safflower/sunflower and some sections shot an 8.0 birds/hunter average on opening day last year. Maps of the area can be obtained at the main check station.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
"We hope that hunters respect the owner's property and pick up their trash," says Leon Lescika of Desert Wildlife Unlimited, a nonprofit group based in Brawley that uses money from the Upland Game Bird Heritage Program to lease over 2,700 acres of private land around the town of Niland in Imperial County that DFG plants with safflower and wheat. Last year over 3,500 hunters took advantage of the free access to this private land to hunt doves.

"If you could shoot you got a lot of birds last year," Lescika laughs, estimating that the acreage shot at least a 7.6 bird/hunter average. Hunters who did not get limits reported the birds were there -- they just couldn't hit them. He further notes that last year's hunters were the "most courteous group they had ever hunted around."

This year promises to be even better. With a little more acreage and a lot more enthusiasm by local businesses, opening weekend looks like it will be an event of major proportions. Field sizes range from 35 to 160 acres and, best of all, the acreage is open to the public -- with no charge and no sign up.

Get a map of the area, obtain hunting information and find local accommodations and amenities on the Desert Wildlife Unlimited Web site at www.desertwildlifeunlimited.com. Maps and hunting information can also be obtained on the DFG Web site, at the SOCO Service station in Niland, or the Calipatria or Brawley Inns.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
The early dove season runs Sept. 1-15, with a 10-bird limit. A resident license ($33.35), an Upland Game Bird Stamp ($6.85) and a migratory bird stamp (free) are required. Be sure to fill out the HIP survey -- not all vendors remember to ask.

Hunting and Other Public Uses On State and Federal Areas and Wing Beat News are publications of the Department of Fish & Game that provide information on the state's public shooting areas. Contact Department of Fish & Game offices, by calling (916) 653-7664 or go online to www.dfg.ca.gov.