Lower Klamath and Tule Lake refuges announce updates to 2023-24 hunt season

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The following is a press release from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

TULELAKE, Calif. - The Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex is announcing the fall 2023 and winter 2024 waterfowl and upland game bird hunt plans for Tule Lake and Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuges. 

At Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, public waterfowl hunting will be offered on dryland units for the 2023-2024 season. 

  • A special youth-only hunt is scheduled for September 23 – 24.

  • The general waterfowl season begins October 7 and continues through January 17. Canada geese may be hunted from October 7 through January 14, and white geese (snow, white-fronted) season is from October 7 to December 3, and January 4 to January 17.

  • A late season white goose hunt may be available and will be announced after the first of the year.

  •  Hunting for ducks and geese at Tule Lake Refuge will begin one half hour before sunrise until 1:00 p.m. PT each day. Hunters are cautioned that access to these fields is limited to walk-in only and may be difficult to strenuous in some areas. Hunters are advised to scout the area ahead of the hunt season, and plan accordingly.

  • Pheasant hunting will be allowed on dry field areas only at Tule Lake Refuge from November 11 through December 24, from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. PT daily. For more details on pheasant season, please visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Upland-Game-Birds

For more information, season dates and regulations for the northeastern California zone waterfowl hunt seasons please visit: https://www.eregulations.com/california/hunting/waterfowl-hunting-seasons

On the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, public waterfowl and upland game bird hunting will be closed during the entire fall 2023 and winter 2024 season. 

  • This closure includes general seasons, special group waterfowl hunts (youth, veterans, women) and late season duck and goose hunts.

While the decision to close or limit a hunt season on these refuges is difficult, it is made while considering what is best for an already stressed habitat and resources. The priority of the national wildlife refuge system has always been wildlife conservation.

Our decision to close both waterfowl and upland bird season on Lower Klamath and only offer a dryland waterfowl and pheasant hunt on Tule Lake for 2023-2024 was based on the fourth consecutive year of limited to no available water, resulting in lack of quality habitat necessary to provide both the required sanctuary for birds and to support hunting.

For both Tule Lake and Lower Klamath, refuge managers will continue to evaluate conditions throughout the season and may use their discretion in adjusting the hunt plans based on winter precipitation, water availability and wildlife conservation goals.

For the most current refuge information and 2023-2024 hunt area map please visit the refuge website at: www.fws.gov/refuge/tule-lake/visit-us/activities/hunting or on our social media page at: www.facebook.com/KlamathBasinRefuges