Page 8 - Edwards AFB Desert Wings 7-31-15

Desert Wings Commentary July 31, 2015

8 www.aerotechnews.com/edwardsafb facebook.com/EdwardsDesertWings

Duck blind drawing slated for Aug. 8

Waterfowl hunters can partici- 8. Department of Defense, ten- the drawing or represented there Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB. Air Force photograph by Jet Fabara
pate in the annual duck blind draw- ant organization and contractor em- by someone. An individual repre-
ing scheduled Aug. 8 at the Rod ployees currently assigned to Ed- senting another at the blind selec- must also sign a letter certifying LQJUHJXODWLRQVDQGVSHFL¿FDOO\WR
and Gun Activity, Bldg. 210. wards AFB and their dependents, WLRQPXVWSURYLGHRI¿FLDOVZLWKWKH their intent to hunt from the se- Appendix 2 for duck blind reserva-
and grandfathered members of the same documentation the blind par- lected duck blind. tion guidance.
Base hunting permits may be Rod and Gun Activity. ticipant is required to submit.
VXEPLWWHGWRGUDZLQJRI¿FLDOVIURP Priority level four through eight The Natural Resources Section
9 a.m. until the actual drawing be- The reservation ensures a hunter The following documentation is participants who are being repre- of Environmental Management
gins, which will be at approximate- and a partner the use of their cho- required at the blind selection: VHQWHGPD\KDYHWKHLUYHUL¿FDWLRQ and Services’ Outdoor Recreation
ly 10 a.m. sen duck blind location throughout brought to the drawing by their rep- are sponsoring the drawing.
the authorized waterfowl-hunting ‡+XQWLQJSHUPLWLIUHSUHVHQWHG resentative.
Duck blind reservations are re- VHDVRQ 6XQGD\V :HGQHVGD\V permit of the person being repre- For questions about hunting on
quired for all base affiliated wa- federal holidays and selected Sat- sented) The waterfowl-hunting season base, or the annual duck blind res-
terfowl hunters desiring assigned urdays. Duck blind reservations usually opens in mid- to late Octo- ervation selection process, contact
blind locations at the Piute Ponds are $50 per person and $100 per ‡ 6WDWH KXQWLQJ OLFHQVH RI WKH ber and extends into January. Steve Watts at 661-277-2017, or
hunting area. blind, payable at the time of the blind owner Outdoor Recreation at 661-275-
selection. A $10 administration fee Please refer to EAFBI 32-8, 2267, Monday through Friday 8:30
Two people are assigned to each also applies to all duck blinds sold. ‡3HUPLWRIVHOHFWHGSDUWQHULI Management of Hunting Fishing a.m.-5:30 p.m.
blind location, so each participant Blind owners are responsible for represented, permit of the person and Volunteer Program, for hunt-
must choose another authorized constructing and maintaining the being represented)
Edwards AFB hunter as a partner. actual blind at the designated loca-
A partner may also be assigned tion for this hunting season. ‡%OLQGUHVHUYDWLRQIHHV
during the selection process. Both ‡%OLQGSDUWLFLSDQW¶VPDLOLQJDG-
participants and their partners must Participants should purchase dress
be at least 18 years old. Only one their permits before the day of the ‡ %OLQG SDUWLFLSDQW¶V ZRUN DQG
family member per household may drawing to avoid the last minute home phone numbers
participate. rush. Base hunting permits are used ‡3URRIRISDUWLFLSDQW¶VSULRULW\
in the blind selection process and status
Participants in the blind res- PXVWQRWEHPRGL¿HGLQDQ\ZD\
ervation process, and those to be including lamination or other phys- Priority level one through three
selected as a blind partner, must ical alteration. Those with altered participants who are being repre-
purchase an Edwards AFB Hunt- permits will be excluded from the sented must do this in advance by
ing Permit (AFFTC Form 5317). selection process. entering their name on a list com-
The price for a hunting permit is piled by the Natural Resources
$25 for active duty enlisted person- Participants must be present at Section of Environmental Manage-
nel E-1 through E-9 and $50 for all ment after verifying their priority
RWKHUV$¿YHGROODUDGPLQLVWUDWLRQ A Black-crowned Night- status with their military ID. They
fee also applies to all permits sold. +HURQÀLHVRYHU3LXWH3RQGV
Base hunting permits can be pur- at Edwards Air Force Base. Air Force photograph by Melissa Buchanan
chased through Outdoor Recreation
at 661-275-2267 and the Rod and
Gun Activity at 661-275-TRAP
(8727).

To be eligible to draw or be se-
lected as a duck blind partner, base
hunters must show a current Cali-
fornia hunting license in addition to
a base hunting permit. Guest hunt-
ing permit holders are not eligible
to participate in the blind selection
or to be blind partners. All hunters
in priority levels one through three,
shown below, must sign a letter cer-
tifying they intend to hunt from the
duck blind they select. Procedures
have been developed in the event
mobility-impaired hunters require
a handicap-accessible duck blind.

The priority levels of those au-
thorized to hunt on base are as fol-
lows:

1. Active duty members and their Courtesy photograph
families assigned to Edwards AFB

2. Active duty members and their
families assigned to another mili-
tary installation

3. Military members retired with
pay and their dependents

4. 100 percent disabled veter-
ans, Medal of Honor recipients and
their dependents

5. Members of reserve compo-
nents while on orders

6. Unmarried spouses of military
members who died while on active
duty or while retired and their de-
pendents

7. Military members of foreign
nations and their dependents who
are authorized exchange privileges