--- title: Gun Dog Training From Sacramento | Royal Gun Dogs url: https://royalgundogs.com/from/sacramento/ business: Royal Gun Dogs trainer: Richard Gebhart (professional gun dog trainer since 2002) phone: (530) 341-4496 email: royalgundogs@yahoo.com trains_at: Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, 7758 Hastings Island Rd, Rio Vista, CA 94571 (Solano County) booking: call or text Richard directly --- - [Home](https://royalgundogs.com/) - [All of California](https://royalgundogs.com/from/) - [Sacramento Valley and Sierra foothills](https://royalgundogs.com/regions/sacramento-valley/) - Sacramento # From Sacramento to Rio Vista for gun dog training Rio Vista is about 69 minutes and 47 miles from Sacramento by road. Richard Gebhart trains retrievers and upland dogs at Hastings Island Hunting Preserve there, and dogs come to him from all over California, the capital included, for board-and-train. ## From Sacramento to Hastings Island - **Drive to Rio Vista:** about 69 minutes 47 miles, OpenStreetMap routing, no traffic - **County:** Sacramento US Census Bureau - **Population:** 528,706 ACS 5-year 2024 - **Median age:** 36.0 ACS 5-year 2024 Drive estimate from road routing between town centers (no traffic), pulled October 2026. Census figures: American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Sacramento is the state's capital and the region's anchor, with 528,706 residents and a median age of 36.0 (Census ACS 5-year 2024). Its hunters sit near the heart of Pacific Flyway country. ## The refuge north of town Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, 10,819 acres in Glenn and Colusa counties about 70 miles north, regularly sees over 500,000 ducks and 250,000 geese at its peak (USFWS). The five-refuge complex totals nearly 70,000 acres. For a retriever, a hunt like that means long marks, crowded skies and a lot of other dogs. Training that builds steadiness, as in the [steady-to-shot guide](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/steady-to-shot/), matters most in these conditions. ## Where the dogs are trained The drive south and west puts Sacramento owners in Rio Vista in a little over an hour. A mid-week visit is realistic. Call first. Drop-off is arranged by phone, and Richard likes dogs on the books a month out. Google lists the hours as Monday and Wednesday through Sunday, 8 AM to 2 PM. The region page, [Sacramento Valley and Sierra foothills](https://royalgundogs.com/regions/sacramento-valley/), lists refuges and clubs across the valley if you want to see what is near your own hunting spots. ## Clubs for the Sacramento hunter The Sacramento Valley Retriever Club, the Lassen Retriever Club and the Marin Retriever Club all appear on the 2026 California trial and hunt test calendar, with several events at Clear Creek Sports Club in Corning. The California Retriever Training Association is based in Cameron Park, east of the city. Dates change, so use the [California calendar page](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/california-calendar/) and AKC Event Search rather than relying on this page. ## What owners usually ask first Most want to know how long board-and-train takes and what it costs. The Basic Waterfowl Program runs 10 to 16 weeks at $325 a week and Puppy Camp is $450 a week (rates as of October 2026); Richard decides where in each range your dog falls, so call him. In the meantime the [how-to-book FAQ](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/how-to-book-training/) covers the first conversation, and [handler lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/) explains the teaching side for owners. ## Upland near the capital CDFW's upland game bird page lists the 2026 general pheasant season as November 14 to December 27, and chukar as October 17 to January 31. Valley quail follow separate CDFW quail zones. Those dates are a summary, so confirm them on wildlife.ca.gov. Pointing dogs need very different work from retrievers; the [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/), built for pointers, explains Richard's approach. For a flushing breed, ask Richard. ## If the dog is going to be gone a while In board-and-train, the dog lives with Richard through the program, so ask what to send with your dog and how you will get updates. The [what-to-bring FAQ](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/what-to-bring/) and [progress updates FAQ](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/progress-updates/) cover the usual questions. ### Sources (3) - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service : [fws.gov/refuge/sacramento](https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sacramento) (checked October 27, 2026) - Bird Dog & Retriever News : [bdarn.com/ca/trialtests/](https://www.bdarn.com/ca/trialtests/) (checked October 27, 2026) - U.S. Census Bureau : [census.gov/data/developers/data-sets/acs-5year.html](https://www.census.gov/data/developers/data-sets/acs-5year.html) (checked October 27, 2026) ### Where Richard trains Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, 7758 Hastings Island Rd, near Rio Vista in Solano County. Call before you drive out. [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Hastings+Island+Hunting+Preserve+Rio+Vista+CA&destination_place_id=ChIJA_E9R8AphYAR_4YnvcqbaAU) ### Start here - [Board-and-train](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/board-and-train/) - [Private and group lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/) - [Free training consult](https://royalgundogs.com/free-consult/) ### Your trainer Richard Gebhart has trained dogs professionally since 2002, learned the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics under Billy Sargenti, and has run and qualified at an AKC Master National. [Meet Richard](https://royalgundogs.com/richard-gebhart/) ### Related - [Sacramento Valley and Sierra foothills](https://royalgundogs.com/regions/sacramento-valley/) - [Board-and-train](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/board-and-train/) - [Private and group lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/) - [From Elk Grove to Rio Vista](https://royalgundogs.com/from/elk-grove/) - [From Davis to Rio Vista](https://royalgundogs.com/from/davis/) ## Other drive times [Livermore](https://royalgundogs.com/from/livermore/)[Elk Grove](https://royalgundogs.com/from/elk-grove/)[Woodland](https://royalgundogs.com/from/woodland/)[Oakland](https://royalgundogs.com/from/oakland/)[Modesto](https://royalgundogs.com/from/modesto/)[Davis](https://royalgundogs.com/from/davis/)[Napa](https://royalgundogs.com/from/napa/)[Walnut Creek](https://royalgundogs.com/from/walnut-creek/) ## Questions from Sacramento owners [All questions](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/) ### How far is Rio Vista from Sacramento? About 69 minutes and 47 miles by road, with no traffic. ### Which refuge is nearest Sacramento? Sacramento NWR sits about 70 miles north. Stone Lakes NWR is close to Elk Grove; check each property's rules about dogs before bringing one. ### Where do I find hunt tests? The California trial and hunt test calendar lists clubs and venues. Confirm dates on AKC Event Search. ### Can I arrange handler lessons from Sacramento? Richard trains handlers one-on-one or in group lessons. Call to ask what suits your dog.