Do any other Western States have “Wister like” refuges?

Dave3006 · 2025-10-04T18:19:36-0700

I moved from CA to ID two years ago. I used to hunt Wister and SJ constantly.

As evil as CA is, I never knew how good I had it at Wister. I’m still glad I escaped Hellifornia. But, I do miss Wister and SJ.

Quite frankly, duck hunting in ID sucks. We have WMAs. But, they are crowded and they just don’t hold the duck numbers that Wister has. Besides opening day, there are no real flights of birds. There is so much water here in Idaho, the ducks don’t concentrate. They are everywhere in small numbers. You can do okay if you have a boat on the snake river. But, it still isn’t like Wister. I don’t want to buy a boat.

Does OR, WA, or UT have refuges that you can get a reservation, pick a spot, and hunt like Wister?

At this point, I would gladly make the drive.

utahduckhunter · 2025-10-04T20:16:15-0700

Will here in Utah you can hunt the refuge 7 days week here

HortoTheSlayer · 2025-10-04T21:35:20-0700

What part of Idaho are you in? I feel like last year the numbers of ducks was lower then my first 2 years here. A boat definitely helps out here and making some friends with some land also. There are some places that you don't need either of those things tho.

HATCHET1 · 2025-10-05T00:19:58-0700

I mean ..they are ducks..maybe switch to large mammals? Idaho has a pretty good stash of them for sure ..

Dave3006 · 2025-10-05T08:29:05-0700

Thanks. I live in Eagle near Boise. I have been to Ft. Boise, Montour WMA, CJ Strike WMA, and Payette WMA. Opening day, it is a nightmare getting a spot. And, after just 2 days, there really isn’t any birds. The water is deep. So, you need a dog in most spots.

If you have no patience for someone setting up right next to you, no dog, no boat, or no access to private land - things are bleak in Idaho for a duck hunter.

That’s why a “Wister like” system is so awesome. You are assigned a spot. The water level won’t drown you. You don’t need a $10,000 boat or a dog. I hunted Wister this way from 2005 to 2022. Like I said, I had no idea how good I had it.

That’s why I was interested in knowing if a reservation based system exists in OR, WA, or UT.

Scal les · 2025-10-05T09:04:51-0700

Sounds like you have a SJ in ID

Aeon · 2025-10-05T10:27:04-0700

there are places all over ID and UT to go duck hunt.

yes the ducks can be transient, it does get cold and they are heading south. meet the wardens that are in the areas and ask dumb questions. Unlike wister you do not just show up and hunt and expect to get your 3 ducks. Takes time to learn how ducks work and when to go. From meeting land owners to shoot a pond or walking the forest and jump shooting creeks when it gets cold.

this will take real work, time and money to figure out.

Dave3006 · 2025-10-05T11:46:15-0700

No disrespect. But, don’t want to bother private individuals to hunt on their property. I would hate it if I owned property and people were constantly bugging me for access. Besides, as this area grows, I expect that fewer and fewer landowners will be willing to do this. So, it doesn’t seem like a good long term plan.

I don’t want to jump shoot ducks like I am quail hunting. That is not the duck hunting I like.

Does OR or UT have refuges that have draws for reservations and assign blinds?

530transplant · 2025-10-05T16:51:43-0700

Oregon has some pretty extensive opportunities for duck hunting, however because population is 1/10th of California, reservations aren’t required in the same lottery system (I.e. Klamath marsh, Ladd Marsh, land near tule lake/Oregon-Ca border). I don’t know of lottery blinds or anything exactly the same as what CA has, however public land duck hunting of the pacific flyway is very accessible

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Do any other Western States have “Wister like” refuges?

Dave3006

Active Member

utahduckhunter

Well-Known Member

HortoTheSlayer

Well-Known Member

HATCHET1

"yes,it killed the hound..ferocious bitch she was"

Dave3006

Active Member

Scal les

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Aeon

just a dude who duck hunts

Dave3006

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530transplant

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