Fresno owners: planning the drive to Rio Vista

Fresno is the largest city in the central San Joaquin Valley, with about 546,000 residents and a median age of 32.8 (Census Bureau). Dogs come to Richard from across California, and the Valley is part of that range, so this page lays out what the trip involves.

Three hours north

The drive is about 156 miles and about 3.2 hours with no traffic (OpenStreetMap routing). It is a long drive in each direction, and the site places Fresno in the long-drive tier. Set aside the better part of a day for each trip.

That shapes the plan. Instead of a weekly drive, a Fresno owner uses board-and-train: the dog stays at Hastings Island, and you travel for drop-off, a handler lesson and pick-up. Call Richard about the schedule that suits you.

Mendota and the west side

Mendota Wildlife Area, about 11,800 acres in Fresno County roughly 40 miles from Fresno, runs limited-day waterfowl and pheasant hunting, and CDFW's page says dog training is allowed in designated areas outside waterfowl season. If you hunt Mendota, you already know the demands: open water, wind, long retrieves.

The page is worth reading in full before you plan a day: our refuges data page summarizes it and links CDFW.

Why drive to the Delta at all

A trainer's ground matters. Hastings Island is a hunting preserve in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta with marsh, upland cover and a long game bird season, which the preserve gives as mid-September to mid-March. Richard's background spans retrievers and, since 2013, pointers and other upland breeds, so one stay can cover both waterfowl and upland work.

His philosophy is "Balance, encouraging the hunting drive and desire in the dog, coupled with the necessary 'team player' attitude to develop an exceptional hunting partner or competitive team."

Valley clubs

The Central Coast Hunting Retriever Club of California lists a hunt test at the CRTA Goose Lake grounds in Lost Hills, and the Arrowhead English Springer Spaniel Club lists events at Kincaid Wildlife Management Area near Porterville. Both are within the southern Valley. Check AKC Event Search for current schedules.

If you are new to testing, the AKC versus HRC page explains the difference.

Hours and timing

Because the drive is more than three hours, timing matters. Google lists Richard's hours as 8 AM to 2 PM Monday and Wednesday through Sunday, closed Tuesday. Call first and agree a drop-off time with him; Wednesday through Saturday is his preferred window. Leave Fresno early enough to arrive well inside the window, and ask Richard which day suits a drop-off. The how to book training answer lists what to expect from the first call.