Duck hunters in the San Francisco Bay Area will have ten opportunities to hunt at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve this season, with no entry fees or advance reservations required. The hunts include special Tuesday dates when most other public waterfowl hunting areas are closed, offering additional access to productive Bay Area wetlands.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced on October 22, 2026, that waterfowl hunting will return to the Congressman Pete Stark Ecological Reserve at Eden Landing in Alameda County. Located along the eastern shoreline of San Francisco Bay near Hayward and Union City, the reserve provides public hunting opportunities in a region where access to productive duck habitat can be limited.
Unlike many state-operated waterfowl hunting areas that require advance reservations or hunting passes, Eden Landing operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no entry fee. Hunters can participate on ten designated dates between November 2026 and January 2027.
2026–2027 Eden Landing Waterfowl Hunt Dates
CDFW has scheduled the following hunting opportunities:
2026:
- Saturday, November 21
- Tuesday, November 24
- Saturday, December 5
- Tuesday, December 8
- Saturday, December 19
2027:
- Saturday, January 2
- Tuesday, January 5
- Saturday, January 16
- Tuesday, January 19
- Saturday, January 30
The check station opens at approximately 4:30 a.m. on each hunting day. Hunters must check in and out with CDFW staff and present harvested birds for species identification and harvest reporting.
The Tuesday hunts are particularly attractive because most California public waterfowl hunting areas operate on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Eden Landing gives hunters additional opportunities during the week without competing for the usual reservation drawings.
How Good Is Duck Hunting at Eden Landing?
Eden Landing offers a mixture of managed ponds, tidal marshes, sloughs, and former salt ponds that provide habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl along the Pacific Flyway.
According to CDFW, hunters averaged approximately 2.8 waterfowl per hunter during the 2025–2026 season. The reserve accommodated an average of 84 hunters per hunt day, with approximately 234 ducks and three geese harvested per day.
Northern shovelers and American wigeon were the most commonly harvested ducks. Other species, including teal and diving ducks, may also be encountered in the area’s varied wetland habitats.
Actual hunting success depends on migration patterns, weather, tides, and water conditions. The arrival of winter storms can change bird distribution throughout San Francisco Bay and the surrounding wetlands.
Do Hunters Need a Boat or Waders?
One of the most important considerations at Eden Landing is access. While some hunting locations can be reached from levees, CDFW strongly recommends bringing a small boat, kayak, canoe, or other flotation device to reach ponds, marshes, and hunting blinds.
The reserve includes a boat launch at Mount Eden Creek, providing access to tidal areas. However, hunters must pay close attention to tide tables, as low tides can expose extensive mudflats and create hazardous conditions.
Waders alone may not be sufficient for accessing or retrieving birds in some areas. Pond bottoms can contain deep mud, submerged channels, and unexpected drop-offs. Hunters should avoid entering unsafe water and only shoot birds they can retrieve.
Dogs are permitted and can be particularly useful for retrieving downed waterfowl. Existing blinds are not maintained by CDFW, so hunters should inspect them carefully before use.
Hunting Regulations and Requirements
Although there is no entry fee, hunters must comply with California’s waterfowl hunting regulations and Eden Landing’s special rules.
- A valid California hunting license and required state duck and HIP validations are necessary for adult hunters.
- A federal duck stamp is required for hunters age 16 and older.
- Only approved nonlead ammunition may be used.
- Hunters are limited to 25 shotgun shells in the field.
- Hunting parties must remain at least 100 yards apart.
- Hunting is allowed only in designated areas and on the scheduled hunt dates.
Junior hunters must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old, who may be a hunter or non-hunter.
Eden Landing is within California’s Balance of State Waterfowl Zone, where the regular 2026–2027 duck season runs from October 24 through January 31. The general daily duck bag limit is seven birds, subject to species-specific restrictions.
How to Get to Eden Landing
The reserve’s hunter check station is accessed from Veasy Street in Union City. From Interstate 880, hunters should take the Alvarado Boulevard exit west, turn onto Union City Boulevard, then follow Bettencourt Road, Whipple Road, Horner Street, and Veasy Street to the yellow entrance gate.
Hunters should arrive early, especially on popular Saturday hunt dates. Access is first-come, first-served, and some levee roads may be temporarily closed because of heavy rain or unusually high tides.
CDFW provides detailed hunting maps, designated hunting boundaries, and additional information on its official Eden Landing Waterfowl Hunting page. Hunters should review the maps before visiting because several portions of the reserve remain closed to hunting.
Hunterizer Helps California Duck Hunters Plan Their Hunts
California’s waterfowl regulations vary by hunting zone, species, and date, while public hunting areas often have their own access restrictions and special requirements.
The Hunterizer app helps hunters determine what they can legally hunt at their location on a specific date, including season dates, hunting zones, bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulations. Hunterizer also includes pictures of California’s duck species, showing both males and females to help hunters identify birds in the field.
Whether hunting at Eden Landing, a Central Valley wildlife area, or another California wetland, Hunterizer makes it easier to prepare for a hunt and understand the regulations before heading out.
