The waterfowl take at the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Wednesday ticked back up slightly from last Sunday’s extremely low bag. Widgeon climbed into first place for number of ducks shot with Gadwalls, Pintails, Green Wing Teal and Redheads all tying for second with identical numbers. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Wednesday, 11/2/16 were as follows:
72 adults and 1 junior hunter checked in 5 Northern Shovelers, 4 Cinnamon Teal, 7 Gadwall, 25 Widgeon, 7 Green Wing Teal, 4 Mallards, 7 Pintail, 7 Redheads, 2 Ring Necks and 1 Blue Wing Teal. There were no Geese or Coots reported to the check station at Wister on Wednesday. This worked out to an average take of 0.95 ducks per person and, of course, with no Geese or Coots to include, 0.95 waterfowl for each hunter. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 24 arrived on time for their spot.
The waterfowl count for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Saturday headed back down from Wednesday’s already low numbers. Gadwall, Widgeon and Goldeneyes all came in with identical numbers to tie for first place for number of birds bagged with Green Wing Teal coming in second (or fourth place really I guess). The Wister Staff reported that the results for Saturday, 11/5/16 were as follows:
101 adult and 5 junior hunters bagged 8 Cinnamon Teal, 11 Gadwall, 11 Widgeon, 9 Green Wing Teal, 2 Mallards, 5 Pintail, 1 Redhead, 1 Canvasback, 2 Ring Necks, and 11 Goldeneyes. There were 2 Snow Geese harvested at Wister on Saturday. Again, no Coots were shot at Wister on Saturday. This figured out to an average of 0.58 ducks per hunter and, with the Geese included, 0.59 waterfowl per gun. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 28 hunters showed up on time to claim their reservation.
The waterfowl take for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Sunday continued its downward spiral from Saturday’s very low numbers to record the lowest average so far this season. Green Wing Teal and Pintails tied for first place for number of ducks bagged on Sunday with Cinnamon Teal, Goldeneyes and Canada Geese (or Goose actually) tying for the second position. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Sunday, 11/6/16 were as follows:
25 adult hunters and 2 junior hunters bagged 2 Green Wing Teal, 2 Pintails, 1 Cinnamon Teal and 1 Goldeneye. There was a single Canada Goose checked in at Wister on Sunday. Once again no Coots were reported to the check station on Sunday. This figured out to a 0.22 average ducks per hunter and, with the Canada Goose factored in, 0.26 waterfowl per gun. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 7 arrived on time for their spot.
Wister is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only. You can put in for reservations on-line through the DFW Automated License Data System (ALDS). Your reservation request has to be to the ALDS system 17 days in advance to get in on the drawing or you can get in on the daily “sweatline” drawing for the remaining blinds after the reservations are taken care of. Reservation spots are given out starting at 3 AM and the “sweatline” drawing is done the night before at 10:30 pm, with sign-up for the drawing between 7:30 and 10:30 pm. The ALDS can be accessed through the DFW web site at the below link –
https://www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/InternetSales
Don’t forget that all licenses and 1 day, 2 day or season passes must be purchased at a DFW Office or a license agent before your arrive at the refuge. These can be purchased on-line via the ALDS system also, however, you will have to wait for the DFG to mail you’re the actual licenses and passes which can take up to 15 days. If you purchase your license and passes in person at a DFW office or license agent you immediately get them without the wait for the mail. No licenses or passes will be sold at the check stations this season. You can also show up for an afternoon refill hunt but the last refill is at 2 PM. For more information, contact the staff at Wister Staff at 760-359-0577.
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