I would like to know about pheasant and duck hunting in Southern California. I am rifle and pistol owner and would like to know about hunting pheasants, ducks and the like. Are there groups, communities, locations to learn about it?

You have first hand experience and would like to share.

I have never hunted ducks but hunting pheasant is something I enjoy very much. We go pheasant hunting at the pheasant capitol of the world, South Dakota. If there is one skill that you need it would be being able to pick up your gun as fast as you can, and remaining cool. Because let me tell you, you couldn’t guess how many times that I have been within inches of stepping on them. It scares the poop out of them and you, well literally for them and maybe for you. The best time to shoot them is when the have just jumped out of the grass. When the first come out of the grass the go into a "helicopter mode". They sort of the go straight up really slowly. If you can get your gun up and on them during this time you have a good shot at getting them!
Good Luck.