Valley businesses to feel impact of less dove hunters this season
CALIPATRIA — During dove hunting season, which begins statewide September 1, the Calipatria Inn here usually has all of its rooms booked by out-of-town hunters.
This year, however, the hotel has just six reservations for the season’s opening day.
“People are afraid of COVID- 19,” the hotel’s manager Dipak Patel said. “They’re not sure what’s going to happen.”
The only hotel in the city here “usually” sells out all 40 of its rooms during the season, Patel explained.
“COVID-19 is hurting everybody,” he said.
Because of the COVID- 19 pandemic, health guidelines and a statewide order directing all Californians to stay home are currently in place.
This means that hunters from outside of Imperial County aren’t expected to make their way to the area to participate in the season, which runs until September 15.
The presence and spending of out-of-town hunters is usually a huge revenue generator for local motels and restaurants.
Dove hunting is practiced in all parts of the county, meaning businesses throughout the county see a boost in sales when the season comes around.
Some local businesses, such as Sunbeam Lake RV Resort near Seeley and Barbara Worth Country Club in Holtville, plan accordingly for out-of-town hunters.
In years past, Sunbeam has put on a pre-dove hunt dinner event while Barbara Worth has put on a Welcome Dove Hunters tri-tip dinner.
Hunters staying in the area also book in advance to stay at both locations.
Neither the Sunbeam nor Barbara Worth owner responded to a request for comment as of press time Friday.
A popular spot for hunters is the Imperial Wildlife Area, which is on the east side of the Salton Sea on Highway 111, five miles northwest from Niland.
As such, businesses in Calipatria tend to see a boost in customers each year during dove season.
Calipatria Chamber of Commerce President George Prieto said hunters typically shop for ammunition and hunting licenses at Zendejas Hardware, and pump gas at the Calipatria Queen gas station.
“I believe that this will hurt the two stores,” Prieto said.
The chamber president believed that Market Square, as well as the two corporate stores in the city, Circle K and Dollar General, will be impacted by the low turnout of hunters this year.
Aside from business sales, Prieto noted that the Latin American Club’s annual barbeque fundraiser will also be affected.
The Calipatria-based club puts on the fundraiser on the season’s opening day — with out-of-town hunters being the main customers — to provide scholarships for high school seniors.
Calipatria City Manager Rom Medina said that it is noticeable when dove season comes around, as hunters can be seen throughout the city.
“This city utilized dove season for some economic activity,” Medina said. “It’s unfortunate we’re not going to be seeing that this year due to the coronavirus.”
The city manager explained that hunters bring revenue to the local trailer parks, restaurants and gas stations.
Without their presence this year, Medina anticipates the city will see a decrease in sales and retail tax dollars.
The city manager noted that dove hunting is an activity in which hunters can practice social distancing.
“Yet, when they’re done hunting, they’re going to have to either rest, sleep or eat,” Medina said. “They’ll still have to maybe gather, and that’s not considered right now a method to participate in.”
California Department of Fish and Wildlife senior fish/wildlife habitat supervisor Scott Sewell said that, as of Friday, the dove hunting season will move forward “like normal.”
“We’re still kind of in a hold pattern,” Sewell said. “We’re waiting on our Sacramento people to give a final determination.”
While there are no new rules or regulations in place as of now, the senior supervisor did recommend to the public to stay six feet apart from other hunters and to wear a face mask in public.
Sewell said he encourages hunters to find areas with a lower density of people.
El Centro resident Brynn Mendoza and his son, Dalton Mendoza, have already begun scouting the county for ideal hunting locations.
However, the two have yet to put any real effort into purchasing ammunition and other equipment for this year.
“Because we’re not even sure if we’re not going to be able to hunt,” Brynn said. “We’re waiting for guidelines, and if they allow us to hunt.”
Brynn himself has been hunting in the county since he was 10 years old. He has been hunting with Dalton, 17, since Dalton was 10 years old.
If the father-son duo in fact hit the fields this year, one piece of equipment that will be in their possession will be face masks.
“In most hunting situations, you’re always interacting with people, especially game wardens,” Brynn said of his and his son’s decision to wear face masks. “And you gotta have the respect to keep everyone safe.”
Dalton said he expects the lack of out-of-town hunters to make hunting “less chaotic.”
“I feel like it’s going to be more peaceful, and there’s going to be more birds,” the 17-year-old said.
Dalton noted that he and his dad typically end the day after collecting the daily bag limit. This season, the limit is 15 mourning or white-winged doves (10 of which may be whitewinged doves).
“We always stop at Las Chabelas on the way home,” Dalton said. “It’s our favorite restaurant.”
In years past, the Brawley-based restaurant has held specials specifically for dove hunters, such as five burritos for $5.99.
At one point, the restaurant even had “special hunter hours” — opening at 4 a.m. and opening its bar at 10 a.m.
Las Chabelas owner Carlos Weir explained that dove season tends to be a great way to get out of the “slowness” that the restaurant experiences during the summer.
“It gives us a little boost coming out of the summer to pay bills,” Weir said.
The restaurant would even set up a station for hunters who dined at the restaurant where they can clean their doves. The restaurant even cooked the doves, if the hunter wished.
Weir noted that Las Chabelas has drawn in certain out-of-town hunters consistently for the past 15 years.
“We’re able to get to know them and be ready for them,” the owner said. “So we’re going to miss that.”
Brawley Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Katie B. Luna noted that restaurants, hotels, gas stations, RV accommodations, hardware stores, grocery stores, and more, all see business increase during the tourism season each year from September through May.
“For this reason, encouraging tourism is critical to our economy,” Luna said. “Profits made during the season will sustain businesses through the slow summer months, ensuring that they will have enough cash to maintain properly until the season picks back up again the next year.”
The CEO noted that, since the Valley’s tourism season was cut short in March due to COVID, it left local businesses with a 2.5 month deficit of income.
“Stimulus money that was pennies on the dollar sustained some businesses through the summer months,” she said. “Some businesses closed during the summer months just to save money to re-open in the fall. This is the last shot for our community to regain a positive trajectory toward recovery.”
“We already know that fall festivities won’t be taking shape in the traditional manner we are accustomed to, which means that businesses will be scraping pennies to get by to winter. If we are so lucky, we won’t see a big resurgence of COVID, and next winter/spring we hope to return to some economic stability.”