The waterfowl count at the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Wednesday, as usual, headed back up, but just slightly, compared to Sunday’s low averages. Gadwall were found in first place Wednesday for number of birds bagged with Green Wing Teal holding on to the second spot. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Wednesday, 1/17/18 were as follows:
100 adult hunters and 1 junior hunter harvested 3 Northern Shovelers, 6 Mallards, 28 Gadwall, 7 Widgeon, 16 Pintail, 19 Green Wing Teal, 14 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Redhead, 1 Ring Neck, 2 Bufflehead, and 1 Ruddy Duck. 17 Snow Geese were taken at Wister on Wednesday. 1 Coot was brought in at Wister on Wednesday. This worked out to an average take of 0.97 ducks per gun or, with the Geese and Coot added to the totals, 1.15 waterfowl for each person. Out of 100 reservation cards issued 23 arrived on time to claim their spot.
The waterfowl totals for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Saturday slid downward slightly compared to Wednesday’s count. Gadwall retained the first position for number of birds checked in with Green Wing Teal remaining in the second spot. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Saturday, 1/20/18 were as follows:
204 adult and 23 junior hunters checked in 3 Northern Shoveler, 4 Mallards, 61 Gadwall, 13 Widgeon, 15 Pintail, 31 Green Wing Teal, 25 Cinnamon Teal, 2 Redheads, 1 Ring Neck, 5 Bufflehead, and 9 Ruddy Ducks. 3 Snow Geese and 1 Ross’ Goose were bagged at Wister on Saturday. There were no Coots checked in at Wister on Saturday. This came out to an average take of 0.74 ducks per person or, with the Geese included, 0.76 waterfowl per hunter. There was no information provided regarding how many reservation holders showed up on time for their spot.
The waterfowl take for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Sunday headed south even more compared to Saturday’s low averages. Green Wing Teal jumped up into the first position for number of waterfowl harvested on Sunday with Pintail found in a tie for the second position with Snow Geese. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Sunday, 1/21/18 were as follows:
50 adult and 12 junior hunters harvested 1 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 2 Widgeon, 5 Pintail, 9 Green Wing Teal, 3 Cinnamon Teal, 1 Blue Wing Teal and 1 Merganser. 5 Snow Geese were downed at Wister on Sunday. 2 Coots were also checked in at Wister on Sunday. This came out to an average bag of 0.40 ducks per person or, with the Geese and Coots included, 0.76 waterfowl per hunter. There was no information provided regarding how many reservation holders arrived on time for their spot.
Wister is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only. At this point in the season it is now too late to put in for reservations on-line through the DFW Automated License Data System (ALDS). You can still get in on the daily “sweat line” drawing for the remaining blinds by arriving at Wister to get in on the drawing by 10:30 PM the night before. Reservation spots are given out starting at 3 AM and the “sweat line” spots given out after that.
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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