Suisun Marsh

Many California duck hunters know Suisun Marsh by reputation. It lies near Rio Vista on the Pacific Flyway, which is why it matters for retrievers: tidal water, reeds and levee edges are the setting for many waterfowl retrieves.

What it is

According to the Water Education Foundation's Aquapedia, the marsh holds more than 10 percent of California's remaining wetlands. The acreage varies by definition, from about 84,000 to 116,000 acres across sources, so this page ties the figure to its source.

Most of the marsh is managed by duck clubs and the state. Access depends on land ownership and each area's own rules, so look up each property before you go.

Why dogs and marsh go together

A retriever in a marsh must swim, mark birds across water, push through cover and come back with the bird. These skills are the reason marks and blind retrieves matter so much. A calm dog in the blind matters too; see training a duck dog to be calm in the blind.

For a nearby public option, read about Grizzly Island Wildlife Area.

Training connection

Richard trains in the Delta at Hastings Island Hunting Preserve and sometimes works retrievers at Denverton near Suisun City. His work focuses on dogs that hunt: see the Basic Waterfowl Program and the Advanced Waterfowl Program.

Season and rules

Check CDFW for the current waterfowl season and for the zone your hunting area falls in, and confirm your county on the zone map. Regulations change each year, so the CDFW waterfowl page is the place to start before every season.

Visiting responsibly

If you plan to hunt or scout, learn who manages the property and follow its rules about access, dogs and gear. Duck clubs and state areas each have their own procedures. CDFW's waterfowl page lists current seasons, and the state's regulations booklet has the legal text. A prepared hunter with a well-trained dog is a welcome guest almost anywhere.

Read about waterfowl habitat and refuges in California to see how the marsh fits into the larger picture of flyway habitat.

A word on conditions

Marsh days are wet and cold, with wind, tide and mud. A dog should be conditioned for them well before the opener, with swimming, retrieving through cover and steady waiting in a blind. These are the same skills built in the Basic Waterfowl Program.