Jeff Smith checks in with three boots-on-the-ground voices to break down how California’s opener really went—and what to expect as November weather finally shows up. Guests include Garrett Spann (Manager, Yolo Wildlife Area), Derek Seweck (Wildlife Habitat Manager, Upper Butte Basin), and Orlando Rocha (Environmental Scientist, Grizzly Island Wildlife Area).

What you’ll hear

• Opener by the numbers — solid starts in spots, soft elsewhere; teal and wigeon led many straps while mallards were patchy.
• Why it felt “quiet” — late rice harvest, limited flood-up in key zones, and a streak of 80°+ bluebird days that scattered birds.
• Flood-up status & timing — which units are online now, what’s filling next, and how that will shift day-to-day bird use.
• Local patterns — Yolo’s steady trickle of new water holding birds, Upper Butte’s wood-duck swing not materializing (yet), and Grizzly Island’s east vs. west marsh differences.
• Youth & access intel — how the Howard Slough youth area and nearby rice options are structured (free roam vs. blinds), plus what to expect on busy Saturdays.
• Pintail reality check — 3-bird limit is on the books, but most hunters haven’t hit it… yet; watch for classic December–January rice flights.
• Hunt smarter in the lull — read wind and pressure, pivot units as new water comes up, and be ready when the first real fronts push fresh birds.

If you’re lining up your next reservation or boat-in plan, this roundtable gives you a clear read on conditions, timing, and the moves that’ll matter when the weather finally flips.

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