Annual duck blind drawing slated for Aug. 11

  • Published
  • By Gary Hatch
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Waterfowl hunters can participate in the annual duck blind drawing scheduled Aug. 11, at the Rod and Gun Club. Base hunting permits can be submitted to drawing officials from 9 a.m. until the actual drawing begins at about 10 a.m. 

Duck blind reservations are required for all base-affiliated waterfowl hunters desiring assigned blind locations at the Piute Ponds hunting area. 

Two people are assigned to each blind location, so each participant must choose another authorized Edwards hunter as a partner or have one chosen during the selection process. Participants and their partners must be at least 18 years old. Only one family member per household may participate. 

The price of hunting permits is $25 for active-duty enlisted personnel and $50 for all others. All hunters in priority levels 1 through 3 must sign a letter certifying they intend to hunt from the duck blind they select. Procedures have been developed in the event mobility-impaired hunters require a handicap duck blind. 

Guest hunting permit holders are not eligible to participate in the blind selection or to be blind partners. 

The reservation ensures a hunter and a partner the use of their chosen duck blind location throughout the authorized waterfowl-hunting season on Sundays, Wednesdays, federal holidays and selected Saturdays. Duck blind reservations are $50 per person, $100 per blind, payable at the time of the selection. Blind owners are responsible for constructing and maintaining the actual blind at the designated location for this hunting season. 

Participants in the blind reservation process or those to be selected as a blind partner must purchase an Edwards hunting permit (AFFTC Form 5317). Base hunting permits are available for $27 for active-duty military members and $52 for everyone else. Permits are available at Outdoor Recreation and the Rod and Gun Activity. 

Participants should purchase their permits before the day of the drawing to avoid the last-minute rush. Base hunting permits are used in the blind selection process and must not be modified in any way to make selection more likely -- through lamination or other physical alteration. Those with altered permits will be excluded from the selection process. 

For more information about hunting on base or the annual duck blind reservation selection process, call Mark Hagan at 277-1418, or Outdoor Recreation at 275-CAMP, Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.