The average waterfowl bag for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Wednesday jumped up quite a bit from Sunday’s low average. Widgeon showed up in first place for the most birds checked in with Pintail found in the second spot. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Wednesday 12/1/21 were as follows:
82 adult and 4 junior hunters harvested 31 Northern Shovelers, 3 Mallards, 19 Gadwall, 42 Widgeon, 41 Pintail, 36 Green Wing Teal, 27 Cinnamon Teal, 2 Redhead, 2 Canvasback, 1 Scaup, 9 Bufflehead, 1 Blue Wing Teal, 1 Merganser, and 4 Ruddy Ducks. 16 Snow Geese were checked in at Wister on Wednesday. 1 Coot was also taken on Wednesday. This worked out to an average of 2.55 ducks per gun or, with the Geese and Coot worked in, 2.74 waterfowl per person. Out of 104 reservation cards issued 24 hunters showed on time to get their spot.
The waterfowl average harvest for the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Saturday dropped somewhat from Wednesday’s good average. Snow Geese climbed into first place for most birds taken with Green Wing Teal re-earning the second spot. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Saturday, 12/4/21 were as follows:
172 adult and 5 junior hunters bagged 35 Northern Shovelers, 10 Mallards, 19 Gadwall, 37 Widgeon, 68 Pintail, 89 Green Wing Teal, 25 Cinnamon Teal, 35 Redhead, 1 Canvasback, 8 Ring Necks, 5 Bufflehead, 1 Goldeneye, 2 Mergansers, and 2 Ruddy Ducks. 112 Snow Geese were bagged at Wister on Saturday. 2 Coots were also taken at Wister on Saturday. This came out to an average bag of 1.71 ducks per person or, with the Geese and Coots added in, 2.35 waterfowl per gun. Out of 104 reservation cards issued 36 hunters showed up in time to get their spots.
The average waterfowl harvest at the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area for Sunday dropped quite a bit from Saturday’s average. Green Wing Teal were found in first place for the most birds harvested with Pintail back in the second spot. The Wister Staff reported that the results for Sunday, 12/5/21 were as follows:
73 adult and 4 junior hunters checked in with 11 Northern Shovelers, 1 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 9 Widgeon, 15 Pintail, 18 Green Wing Teal, 9 Cinnamon Teal, 8 Bufflehead, and 1 Ruddy Duck. 13 Snow Geese were bagged at Wister on Sunday. No Coots were taken at Wister on Sunday. This came out to an average take of 1.00 ducks per hunter or, with the Geese added in, 1.17 waterfowl per gun. Out of 104 reservation cards issued none of the reservation holders showed up to claim their hunting spot.
Wister is open for waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only. You can put in for reservations online 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 website 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 arrival at the refuge. These can be purchased online 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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