After 8 years of conservation and property enhancement, Winemaker's Island was opened to limited waterfowl hunting. Located on the famed Oregon Trail in Western Nebraska, Winemaker's Island began as an outlet for Sam Sebastiani – California Winemaker – to focus on his other passion, waterfowl and wildlife conservation. The heart of the ranch is an 800 acre island in the center of the North Platte River. With more than 18 ponds, numerous waterways, and over 6 miles of river frontage, this is a waterfowler's wonderland. Ethical hunting and habitat enhancement work hand-in-hand on this 2,300 acre paradise.

• Featured on both "Beretta's Bird Hunter's Journal" and "Versus Wild
  World of Birds"
• Beretta's Bird Hunter Journal said "We saw more birds here in 3 days of filming on Winemaker's Island than we sometimes see in a whole year."
• Nebraska Game & Parks visitors said "This is an incredible ranch with unparalleled bird activity."
• Ducks Unlimited tours Winemaker's Island regularly with scientists and conservationists viewing this site as a model for habitat enrichment and
  cultivated hunting.

In the 1950s, my father, winemaker August Sebastiani had me tending his penned, personal collection of North American waterfowl. I fell in love with watching the cycle of bird life in his 50 plus cages of various sizes. Each contained a pond and enough height to allow room for short flights.

But what I really wanted was to take care of birds in the wild. I got my chance in 1990 when I built my first waterfowl preserve at my Viansa Winery in Sonoma Valley, California. This 90 acre wetland restoration project designed and created by Ducks Unlimited was a resounding success. We were subsequently awarded Private Conservationist of the Year by the EPA.

Always looking to greater things, I was blessed to discover the North Platte River in Nebraska. Impressed with the waterfowl numbers, and after a protracted search, in 1992 I purchased an 800 acre island with an additional surrounding 1,500 acres. This 2,300 acre ranch looks from the sky like a land of lakes and waterways. We have built 18 ponds connected by undulating streams of warm water. The ultimate effect has been the creation of a veritable duck and goose magnet.

2010 was the first season the ranch was opened to commercial hunting. Previously only family and friends had hunted infrequently. With over 6 miles of river under controlled hunting, and by moving shooters from zone to zone, we are going to maintain a light hunting pressure on the game. Our corn and alfalfa fields serve as feeding sites and excellent goose hunting areas.