sweatline for kern opener

[bigfoot1488]

can anyone tell me how hard it is to get on in the sweatline for kerns opener?

[waldo2382]

Tough, it's going to be packed with people probably not going to going to be able to hunt that day there. You never know and they may pull your name. Can't win if you don't play.

[pennywise67]

opening and closing day will be the toughest. I havent heard how much space they will have open due to water. Alot of the times only part of the refuge is open and they take very few in. But if you go, you have the same chance as any one :prayin : Good Luck!!

-Larry

[catch22jkc]

It's hard opening day...You will have 200 plus people there in the sweatline and they will only let on 10 to 20 people in the morning...But I say go for it,if you get on it will be one great hunt...I got on opening day sweatline before and if i didn't have a resi this opener I would still be going...You might not get on untill the afternoon but it will still be a good hunt..

[k_rad]

I picked all saturdays at Kern. When do they draw? I saw the Oct. 9th last saturday but the 16th isn't up yet, what gives?

[bigfoot1488]

thanks fellas. not decided yet. but got the answers i needed. good huntin.

[Duck Fan]

Sweatline and lottery line are 2 different things. Get there for the lotto. If you show up later and go on sweatline, then you are after the lotto guys.

You may know that but just wanted to be sure how you were using the term "sweatline"



Good luck

[pennywise67]

I picked all saturdays at Kern. When do they draw? I saw the Oct. 9th last saturday but the 16th isn't up yet, what gives?

They usually pick between 7 - 10 days before the date. So the 16th will probably be picked on tuesday or wednesday.

[bigfoot1488]

no i didnt know. how many people do they let on in the lotto? and what time do you need to be there to get into the lotto?

[stode]

I picked all saturdays at Kern. When do they draw? I saw the Oct. 9th last saturday but the 16th isn't up yet, what gives?

The results are usually up about a week before the hunt, give or take. I just check fairly regularly. It's always fun to win something!

[Atwater]

It's always worth it if you get on...and you can't get on if you're at home in bed...2cents.

I've had some great luck, and horrible. Want'a gamble?! ;)

[catch22jkc]

no i didnt know. how many people do they let on in the lotto? and what time do you need to be there to get into the lotto?

To me lotto and sweatline are the same thing...As to how many people they let on depends on how many reservations show up..You will need to be their 2 hours before shoot time and fill out a card..Check out there website for all info..Recreation - Kern National Wildlife Refuge (http://www.fws.gov/kern/refuges/kern/recreation/)

[Atwater]

You're absolutely right...but, in this case, those who don't make the lotto, make the "waiting list". The vast majority of applicants make the "waiting" list. It's in the order of your random draw, and thus fair, and will tell you if you should wait, or not.

2 Cents.

[Atwater]

...or as Rick pointed out...the "Sweat Line".

[Duck Fan]

Guess I'm just old. :-)

There are 3 ways to get access on most refuges:

Reservation - you apply ahead of the hunt, at least 17 days ahead of the hunt date. There is an application and cost associated. If you are drawn, you get a postcard and they also post the reservation draws on the dfg website

Lottery - you get to the refuge at a specified time the night before Or early the day of the hunt (process times vary per refuge). At a specified time the staff at the checkstation does a random draw of the hunters that have put their name in the lottery. The order of entry for the lottery hunters is determined. After the reservation holders are processed, any remaining spots go to the lottery guys in the order they were drawn in the lottery.

Sweatline or Wait list - in the old days, there was never a lottery
So hunters called it "sweating" out to get in. The name over time has also been called the "wait" list. This list now, is for anyone that shows up AFTER the lottery was completed. So, if you show up at 6am to get on that day... You go on this list and refill after all the lottery guys remaining to get in were given a chance.

That's my definitions for each.



Good luck

[Atwater]

Dead on Rick. Anyone who misses the Kern opener lotto these days, has no chance of hunting that day. Come in around sunrise, and you'll be number 60 or 70 on the list...no chance. The whole fuge would have to turn over before 1:00.

[Duck Fan]

Dead on Rick. Anyone who misses the Kern opener lotto these days, has no chance of hunting that day. Come in around sunrise, and you'll be number 60 or 70 on the list...no chance. The whole fuge would have to turn over before 1:00.


So true. In the days before lottery, my family and I spent so much time waiting in line ( without a reservation card).

Some of my fondest memories are days (yes, I said "days") sitting in the wait list line at kern. I remember the wait list was based on your spot your vehicle was in the line. Playing a game of catch with my dad and brothers, chasing down bugs in the parking lot, etc. 4 of us sleeping in a station wagon. Ahh... Those were the days. :-)

The check station has moved a couple of times since those days in the 60's through 80's.

They even had a Lutheran church that sold hot chili the night before - right there in the parking lot. Kern in the 60's was not well known. The whole area open to hunt. Walking forever around the refuge. Those are days and nights I will never forget.


Spent days with my son - waiting to get in. When he attended Cal Poly, he made sure no classes on Wednesdays. We'd meet and go in line and most days got in at some point. Other days we kicked rocks in the parking lot and ended up going home - without getting on. Such was life.

[pmillerusa]

This is our first real "season" waterfowl hunting. Had the pleasure of bringing 2 of my boys up and hunting Kern with Atwater last year on the junior hunt. My boys drew #1 and #9 ressies and it was amazing.

So far nothing this year, but we'll keep watching the drawing and may make a few runs up for the lotto/sweat and some new memories of our own...