Episode Details

Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down for a quick opening-weekend recap, breaking down how California Waterfowl properties performed across the state and comparing this year’s results with recent seasons. From a seven-bird average at Sanborn Slough to strong shoots at Grizzly Ranch, Butte Creek Island Ranch, Potrero, and Goose Lake, the opener delivered plenty of opportunity—but also a few surprises in bird behavior and species composition.

Episode highlights

• A strong opener overall — CWA properties combined for roughly a 4.6-bird average, nearly a bird better than the previous year.
• Sanborn Slough stole the show — hunters averaged seven birds per hunter, including geese, making it potentially one of the strongest CWA property openers on record.
• Grizzly Ranch delivered again — a 5.4 average, led by green-winged teal and northern shovelers, with enough opportunity that Carson felt most groups had a real shot at limits.
• Butte Creek bounced back — after averaging 2.3 birds last year, the property climbed back to a five-bird average, with wood ducks leading the way.
• Potrero moved in the right direction — after flooding earlier this year, the Suisun property jumped to a 4.6-bird average, while nearby Denverton came in lower than expected.
• Goose Lake stayed productive — the Tulare Basin property averaged 3.8 birds, down slightly from last year but still providing plenty of shooting opportunity.
• The ducks are already acting educated — Jeff and Carson talk about birds in the rice behaving more like January ducks than opener birds—circling, ignoring calls, and doing their own thing despite plenty of birds being present.
• Refuge results — Yolo finished among the strongest state wildlife areas, while Delavan posted a solid opener with pintail leading the harvest.
• More hunts are coming — first-come, first-served rice blinds are expected to open soon, along with additional pig hunts and donated family opportunities in the Yolo Bypass.

Opening weekend showed that there are plenty of birds on the landscape—but with mild weather in the forecast and ducks already showing signs of pressure, the question now is how quickly things settle into the early-season doldrums and what the next weather change brings.