The Junior Waterfowl Hunt weekend at the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area yielded a good average bag for the Junior Hunters in attendance on Saturday. Green Wing Teal were found in the first position for most birds bagged with Shovelers holding the second position. The Wister Staff reported that the waterfowl take for the Junior Hunt on Saturday, 2/4/23, was as follows:
24 Junior Hunters came away with 12 Shovelers, 10 Mallards, 1 Gadwall, 1 Widgeon, 5 Pintail, 13 Green Wing Teal, 5 Cinnamon Teal, 2 Bufflehead, and 4 Ruddy Ducks. No Geese or Coots were bagged by the Junior Hunters on Saturday. This came out to an average bag of 2.21 Ducks per Junior Hunter and, of course, with no Geese or Coots to add to the total, 2.21 waterfowl per Junior Hunter. Out of 104 reservation cards issued to the Junior Hunters 12 arrived on time to claim their spot.
The average harvest of waterfowl for Sunday, the second day of the Junior Hunt weekend, at the Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area dropped a bit from Saturday’s average. Coots came in at the first position for most numerous bird taken with Green Wing Teal dropping back to the second spot. The Wister Staff reported the waterfowl harvest for the Junior Hunt on Sunday, 2/5/23 was as follows:
15 Junior Hunters bagged 4 Shovelers, 2 Mallards, 2 Gadwall, 5 Widgeon, 1 Pintail, 6 Green Wing Teal, and 4 Cinnamon Teal. No Geese were checked in at the Junior Hunt on Sunday. 8 Coots were taken by the Junior hunters on Sunday. 4 Snipe were also reported taken by the Junior Hunters. This worked out to an average take of 1.60 Ducks per Junior Hunter or, with the Coots included, 2.13 waterfowl per Junior Hunter. Out of 104 reservation cards issued to the Junior Hunters 8 showed up on time to get their spot.
If you’re a Veteran or an Active Duty Military Member you have two more chance this season. The after-season Veteran/Active Duty Military hunt, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday, February 11th and 12th at Wister. Hopefully, our Vets and Active Duty Heroes will take advantage of this opportunity. Here’s hoping our Vets and Active Duty have a great hunt! If you don’t have a reservation for the Vets/Military Hunt you can still get in on the sweatline drawing, just like any regular hunt day, by showing up 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. For more information, contact the staff at Wister Staff at 760-359-0577. And, of course, thanks for your service.
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