Lucy’s Pond can be seen with kids and volunteers hanging off her sides from Sacramento’s to Salt Lake City’s International Sportsman’s Expo Junior Fair to San Francisco’s “Catch a Smile” children with disabilities project and W.U.’s member picnic.

The “brainchild” of Gene Bohner, Lucy’s Pond has been bringing smiles to children’s faces ever since. Giving thousands the opportunity to feel the tug of a bit on their line and reel-in their first fish. Complete with a “river”, W.U. member volunteers and many others donate their time to share the tradition of fishing.

Hosted at W.U.’s Hayward office, WUF and W.U. offer four hunter safety courses a year. Taught by a certified hunter safety instructor. The class is one day and is approximately, 10-12 hours long. Students will read through the hunter safety manual, review topics using discussion, lectures, speakers, and video. At the end of the class, students will take the hunter safety test and upon passing will receive their hunter safety certification.

Please note: It is the student’s responsibility to take their certification to the California Dept of Fish and Game (CDF&G) or a sporting good store and purchase a hunting license. W.U. and WUF do not have hunting license, tags or stamps for purchase.

Contact Wilderness Unlimited for more information.

Wild Turkey Expo

Co-sposored by National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)
Led by Terry Knight and Ryan Mathis

Come down and learn the tricks from the “Turkey” himself, Terry Knight. Knight has been hosting Turkey Seminars with Wilderness Unlimited (since 1994). He will walk you through the steps to having a successful turkey hunt. Learn how to call using a box, slate, or mouth calls. Find out what blinds are best or and how to arrange your decoys.

Contact Wilderness Unlimited for more information.

Junior Deer Hunt

The Junior deer hunt is entering its third year. This is an opportunity for five Junior hunters to harvest their first deer. It is a three-day, guided hunt and is held on W.U. property, the Clarke Ranch. The hunt is for Junior hunters 12 to 16-years old that have not successfully harvested a deer (doe or buck). The hunt begins with an information and safety talk and on Saturday night WUF caters a BBQ dinner with all the trimmings.

Other contributors to the hunt are W.U. Patrolmen and volunteer guides, Alpen Optics, who in the past has donated a pair of binoculars to each hunter, along with many other goodies, and Clarke Ranch owners.

Each hunter goes home a more experienced and educated hunter. They will have made new friendships, hunting partners and hopefully bag their first deer.

At this time, this event is offered to W.U. member only.

Contact Wilderness Unlimited for more information.

Junior Fly Fishing

Instruction begins with a knot tying lesson. Large rope is used to practice tying. Once the students are ready, they move on to practicing with monofilament. After learning a few basic knots the students are broken into small groups to rotate around instruction stations. The stations included:

• Casting – Target, stance, grip, stroke, rod position, timing and line control, false casting and final casting
• Entomology – Bugs, bugs and more bugs! What fish eat, the life stages of insects, hands-on bug “fishing” and how to choose the right fly to maniac the real thing.
• Fly-Tying – Basics of fly-tying, hooks, thread, colors, and body and wing building. Each student tied a damselfly that was used later that day.

A two-day, four-hunt-group event held at the W.U. Sac Valley RV Park and Game Bird Club. On Saturday and Sunday there are two-groups of 10 Junior hunters, five birds are released per Junior hunter. Experienced guides and hunting dogs are provided and WUF supplies lunch for everyone!

This event fills up fast and is open to the public based on availability.

Contact Wilderness Unlimited for more information.

This is a new Junior event for 2008. Terry Knight proposed the idea in the winter and WUF jumped on board. The hunt will be for four Junior hunters, aged 12-16 years that have not successfully harvested a turkey. The hunt will be held on a W.U. ranch during the opening weekend of the season and will be guided by Terry Knight and Ryan Mathis of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). A BBQ will be hosted by WUF. Knight and Mathis will take the Junior hunters through the steps in having a successful turkey hunt, calling, blinds, decoys, roost trees and more.

At this time, this event is offered to W.U. member only.

The state of California offers the weekend after the end of the state waterfowl closer for Junior hunters. W.U. makes many of their properties available for this special, Junior hunter’s only event.

Space is Limited
Cost: $60

Are you new to big game hunting? Or, are you not as successful as you’d like to be? Here’s the class for you…learn from the experts. In partnership with Wilderness Unlimited and the California Hunter Education Instructors Association we are offering this two-day clinic that will give you the hands-on information you need to be successful. The format will include four sessions, two on Saturday and two on Sunday covering:

1. Deer of California, areas to hunt, zones, etc.
2. Hunting strategies, scouting, tracking, and recognizing signs
3. Equipment, shot placement, shoot-don’t shoot scenarios
4. Field dressing, butchering, and transporting

W.U. is proudly sponsoring three Billy G Duck Calling Seminars for W.U. members from Oregon to Southern California. Featured host, Billy Gianquinto, will be leading the seminar. Billy was the former host of Pull, America’s Great Gun Clubs and Ducks with Billy and Buck as seen on the Outdoor Life network.

Billy has been giving Duck Calling Seminars for 35 years in California and all over the U.S. He has been leading W.U. ‘s waterfowl seminars since the late 80 s.

WHis innovative calling techniques and teaching methods have been lauded as some of the best anywhere on the continent. Wait until you hear his whistles; they will astound you. You will become a better caller by using his methods and will have the chance to practice your techniques with the maestro during this hands on seminar.

At the seminar, Billy will have for sale some of his innovative whistles, calls, instructional DVD s and CD s. There will be a $20 reservation fee per session of which $15 can be used for the purchase of Billy s products or will be returned to you in person. (i.e. if you no show no refund). $5 will go to the Wilderness Unlimited Foundation for sponsoring the Clinic.

Sign up early by calling the reservation number, 877-611-4898, as space is limited.

Contact Wilderness Unlimited for more information.

Bidwell Ranch, near Burney, is a privately owned ranch with five crystal clear ponds that are fed by Lost Creek and home to native trout. Accommodations are campsites and inside toilet facilities and a pop-up hot water or ambient temperature showers are available. Participant must bring their food and camping gear. Five world-renowned instructors share their expertises and provide individual attention. This comprehensive workshop covers all of the basics of fly fishing; casting, reading the water, entomology, conservation, fly tying, knots, landing and releasing fish, and plenty of hands-on practice. All equipment will be provided, e.g., fly rod, reel with line and some flies. Additional flies can be purchased at Bidwell Ranch during the program at a reasonable price. This introductory class is for beginners.

The overall program effectiveness has improved by the incorporation of an intermediate element to run concurrently with the introductory program. Graduates from prior BOW-WUF introductory classes can refresh and review basics and indulge in more advanced moving water techniques with instructors. A fish decoy course for sight casting and fly presentation will be set up at pond #2 inflow. This will allow one to practice and accomplish moving water techniques as a skill improvement from set fishing positions.

When you call-in for reservations, please specify introductory or intermediate for a proper head count and planning.

Contact Wilderness Unlimited for more information.

Cost: $40

In partnership with Wilderness Unlimited, this clinic will include information about how to hunt pheasant, quail, and chukar. Topics will include history, habitat, food, range maps, equipment, and hunting with or without a dog. There will also be dog demonstrations.

Contact Wilderness Unlimited or Susan Herrgesell with California Dept of Fish and Game (CDF&G) for more information.

A two-day, four-hunt-group event held at the W.U. Sac Valley RV Park and Game Bird Club. On Saturday and Sunday there are two-groups of 10 hunters, four birds are released per hunter. Experienced guides and hunting dogs are provided and WUF supplies lunch for everyone!

Contact Wilderness Unlimited for more information. This event coincides with the BOW pheasant hunt.