The fall bird hunting is just around the corner, with the earliest seasons kicking off in September. 

California Waterfowl Association (CWA) has a variety of camps and clinics designed to get the whole family ready for the upcoming bird hunting seasons.

From aspiring hunter camps for women and youth to a waterfowl calling clinic designed to help anyone call in the ducks, CWA’s events provide a gateway to the adventure of hunting and a chance to put true “free-range” food on the table this fall. 

Here are some upcoming programs to help you get ready for bird hunting:

California Waterfowl Women and Children Shoot First Skills Clinic

• Date: Aug. 16

• Location: Coyote Valley Sporting Clays, Morgan Hill

• Cost: $30

Women and children are given an opportunity to learn gun safety, archery and recreational shooting.  This is your chance to enjoy archery, .22 rifle, and shotgun shooting with experienced safety instructors. 

Cost includes targets, shells, shooting equipment, Cabela’s goodies, lunch and CWA membership.  Dads and drivers can shoot the regular course (cost separate) and stay for lunch for $5.

California Waterfowl Youth Shooting Clinics

• Dates: Two to choose from, Aug. 22 or Sept. 19

• Location: Grizzly Island Ranch, Suisun

• Cost: $20

Youth hunters (age 9-17) are given the chance to get ready for the 2009-10 hunting seasons by practicing their safe shooting skills.  Certified trained instruction will be offered at the two clinics prior to the hunting season.  The cost includes targets, shells and archery equipment.  Bring your own gun, or CWA can provide them.

California Waterfowl Duck and Goose Calling Clinic

• Date: Aug. 29

• Location: Rancho Esquon in Durham, Butte County

• Cost: $25

Everyone (aged 10+) is invited to perfect their calling skills for ducks and geese with coaching by expert callers.  Classes are designed for beginning and intermediate callers.  Practice calls will be provided.  Spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.  The cost includes lunch and CWA membership.

California Waterfowl Women’s Pheasant Hunt Weekend

• Date: Sept. 26-27

• Location: Birds Landing Hunting Preserve, Solano County

• Cost: $150

CWA’s first ever camp for the aspiring huntress to finish hunter education class, get a hunting license, receive gun safety training, and then go on a pheasant hunt with an experienced guide and a dog. 

Cost includes the hunting license, upland game stamp, firearms instruction, and lunch both days.  Friends and family already licensed can shoot the regular sporting clays or 5-stand range while the aspiring huntress gets ready for the coming season.

California Waterfowl Youth Hunters Camps

• Dates: Two weekends to choose from, Sept. 26-27 or Oct. 3-4

• Location: Grizzly Island Ranch, Suisun

• Cost: $100 per camp

Youth hunters (age 10-15) can get ready for the 2009-10 hunting seasons by participating in the CWA Hunters Camps.  Hunter Education, shotgun practice, shotgun patterning and archery shooting will get them certified and ready to head afield this fall.  Cost includes all meals, lodging, targets, shells.  Guns are provided.

These CWA camps and clinics are co-sponsored by Cabela’s, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Community Youth Center of Concord.

For more information and to register, visit www.calwaterfowl.org or call (916) 275-0961.

Guy Carl is a CPA and partner with BDCo Accountants and

Advisors in St. Helena (www.bdcocpa.com).  Contact Guy at GC.

outdoors@sbcglobal.net.