Migratory bird hunting activity and harvest during the 2005 and 2006 hunting seasons: Preliminary Estimates

Table of Contents Abstract ………………………………………………………………………… 1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………. 1 Design and Methods ……………………………………………………………. 1 Results and Discussion …………………………………………………………. 3 Waterfowl harvest estimates Species, state, flyway …………………………………………………… 8 Special seasons …………………………………………………………. 29 Canada harvest ...………………………………………………………. 32 Long-term trends graphs …………………………………………….…. 34 Waterfowl age and sex ratios …….………………………………………… 36 Long-term trends graphs …………………………………………….…. 49 Dove and pigeon estimates …………………………………………………. 53 Woodcock estimates ………………………………………………………… 55 Snipe, coot, gallinule, and rail estimates ……………………………………. 56 Species-specific rail estimates ………………………………………………. 6

Migratory bird hunting activity and harvest during the 1999 and 2000 hunting seasons Final Report April 2006

National surveys of waterfowl, dove, band-tailed pigeon (Columba fasciata), American woodcock (Scolopax minor), common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), rail, gallinule, and American coot (Fulica americana) hunters were conducted during the 1999 and 2000 migratory bird hunting seasons. About 1.3 million waterfowl hunters harvested 16,188,300 (±3%) ducks and 3,455,700 (±5%) geese in 1999, and a similar number of waterfowl hunters harvested 15,966,200 (±4%) ducks and 3,716,000 (±7%) geese in 2000. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), gadwall (A. strepera), green-winged teal (A. crecca), wood duck (Aix sponsa), and blue-winged teal (A. discors) were the most-harvested duck species, and Canada goose (Branta canadensis) was the predominant goose species in the harvest. About 1.2 million dove hunters harvested 24,437,300 (±4%) mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in 1999 and 26,295,300 (±4%) in 2000. Woodcock hunters numbered about 170,600 in 1999 and 154,500 in 2000, and they harvested 444,800 (±20%) birds in 1999 and 390,900 (±20%) in 2000. Among the lesser-hunted species, about 40,200 people hunted snipe in 1999 (29,200 in 2000), and they harvested 276,500 (±56%) and 86,400 (±52%) snipe in 1999 and 2000, respectively; rail hunters (11,900 in 1999 and 6,900 in 2000) harvested 31,600 (±41%) rails in 1999 and 15,300 (±56%) rails in 2000; about 4,000 hunters harvested 32,900 (±74%) gallinules in 1999 and 20,900 (±70%) in 2000; and about 40,000 coot hunters harvested 236,000 (±26%) coots in 1999 and 335,000 (±45%) in 2000

Migratory bird hunting activity and harvest during the 1999 and 2000 hunting seasons Final Report April 2006

National surveys of waterfowl, dove, band-tailed pigeon (Columba fasciata), American woodcock (Scolopax minor), common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), rail, gallinule, and American coot (Fulica americana) hunters were conducted during the 1999 and 2000 migratory bird hunting seasons. About 1.3 million waterfowl hunters harvested 16,188,300 (±3%) ducks and 3,455,700 (±5%) geese in 1999, and a similar number of waterfowl hunters harvested 15,966,200 (±4%) ducks and 3,716,000 (±7%) geese in 2000. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), gadwall (A. strepera), green-winged teal (A. crecca), wood duck (Aix sponsa), and blue-winged teal (A. discors) were the most-harvested duck species, and Canada goose (Branta canadensis) was the predominant goose species in the harvest. About 1.2 million dove hunters harvested 24,437,300 (±4%) mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in 1999 and 26,295,300 (±4%) in 2000. Woodcock hunters numbered about 170,600 in 1999 and 154,500 in 2000, and they harvested 444,800 (±20%) birds in 1999 and 390,900 (±20%) in 2000. Among the lesser-hunted species, about 40,200 people hunted snipe in 1999 (29,200 in 2000), and they harvested 276,500 (±56%) and 86,400 (±52%) snipe in 1999 and 2000, respectively; rail hunters (11,900 in 1999 and 6,900 in 2000) harvested 31,600 (±41%) rails in 1999 and 15,300 (±56%) rails in 2000; about 4,000 hunters harvested 32,900 (±74%) gallinules in 1999 and 20,900 (±70%) in 2000; and about 40,000 coot hunters harvested 236,000 (±26%) coots in 1999 and 335,000 (±45%) in 2000

Migratory bird hunting activity and harvest during the 2006 and 2007 hunting seasons: Preliminary Estimates

Table of Contents Abstract ..........................................................................................1 Introduction .......................................................................................1 Design and Methods.........................................................2 Survey Results......................................................................................3 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................5 References ..........................................................................6 Waterfowl harvest estimates Species, state, flyway ...............................8 Special seasons........................................................................29 Canada harvest .........................................................................33 Long-term trend graphs............................................35 Waterfowl age and sex ratios ...........................................................37 Long-term trend graphs....................................................................49 Dove and pigeon estimates..................................................................53 Woodcock estimates........................................................................55 Snipe, coot, gallinule, and rail estimates. .................................................56 Species-specific rail estimates....................................................................6

Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest During the 2009 and 2010 Hunting Seasons

National surveys of migratory bird hunters were conducted during the 2009 and 2010 hunting seasons. Hunters of the following types of migratory birds were surveyed: waterfowl (family Anatidae), doves (mourning [Zenaida macroura] and white-winged [Z. asiatica]), bandtailed pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata), American woodcock (Scolopax minor), Wilson’s snipe (Gallinago delicata), American coot (Fulica americana), gallinules (Common moorhen [Gallinula chloropus] and purple gallinule [Porzana carolina]), and rails (king rail [Rallus elegans], clapper rail [R. longirostris], Virginia rail [R. limicola], and sora [Coturnicops noveboracensis]). About 1.1 million waterfowl hunters harvested 13,139,800 (±4%) ducks and 3,327,000 (±5%) geese in 2009, and about 1.1 million waterfowl hunters harvested 14,796,700 (±4%) ducks and 3,169,900 (±5%) geese in 2010. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), green-winged teal (A. crecca), gadwall (A. strepera), blue-winged/cinnamon teal (A. discors), and wood duck (Aix sponsa) were the 5 most-harvested duck species in the U.S., and Canada goose (Branta canadensis) was the predominant species in the goose harvest. About 974,400 dove hunters harvested 17,354,800 (±6%) mourning doves in 2009 and 959,900 hunters harvested 17,230,400 ± 5% in 2010. Woodcock hunters numbered about 109,000 in 2009 and 138,300 in 2010, and harvested 238,400 (±15%) birds in 2009 and 332,900 (±11%) in 2010. About 29,400 people hunted snipe in 2009 and 37,500 in 2010, and they harvested 83,500 (±45%) and 118,200 (±37%) snipe in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Coot hunters (about 31,100 in 2009 and 50,500 in 2010) harvested 219,000 (±34%) coots in 2009 and 302,600 (±50%) in 2010. Gallinule hunters (about 2,300 in 2009 and 15,000 in 2010) harvested 7,400 (±66%) gallinules in 2009 and 13,700 (±87%) in 2010. About 7,800 rail hunters harvested 36,100 (±62%) rails in 2009 and 17,000 rail hunters harvested 27,100 (±57%) rails in 2010

Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest During the 2008 and 2009 Hunting Seasons

National surveys of migratory bird hunters were conducted during the 2008 and 2009 hunting seasons. Hunters of the following types of migratory birds were surveyed: waterfowl (family Anatidae), doves (mourning [Zenaida macroura] and white-winged [Z. asiatica]), bandtailed pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata), American woodcock (Scolopax minor), Wilson’s snipe (Gallinago delicata), American coot (Fulica americana), gallinules (Common moorhen [Gallinula chloropus] and purple gallinule [Porzana carolina]), and rails (king rail [Rallus elegans], clapper rail [R. longirostris], Virginia rail [R. limicola], and sora [Coturnicops noveboracensis]). About 1.2 million waterfowl hunters harvested 13,635,700 (±4%) ducks and 3,792,600 (±5%) geese in 2008, and about 1.1 million waterfowl hunters harvested 13,139,800 (±4%) ducks and 3,327,000 (±5%) geese in 2009. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), green-winged teal (A. crecca), gadwall (A. strepera), blue-winged/cinnamon teal (A. discors), and wood duck (Aix sponsa) were the 5 most-harvested duck species in the U.S., and Canada goose (Branta canadensis) was the predominant goose species in the goose harvest. About 994,000 dove hunters harvested 17,400,000 (±5%) mourning doves in 2008 and 974,400 hunters harvested 17,400,000 (±6%) in 2009. Woodcock hunters numbered about 130,000 in 2008 and 109,000 in 2009, and harvested 279,000 (±15%) birds in 2008 and 238,400 (±15%) in 2009. About 27,400 people hunted snipe in 2008 and 29,400 in 2009, and they harvested 95,500 (±32%) and 83,500 (±45%) snipe in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Coot hunters (about 31,100 in 2008 and 2009) harvested 275,900 (±43%) coots in 2008 and 219,000 (+34%) in 2009. Gallinule hunters (about 3,700 in 2008 and 2,300 in 2009) harvested 13,200 (±98%) gallinules in 2008 and 7,400 (±66%) in 2009. About 11,200 rail hunters harvested 45,000 (±43%) rails in 2008 and 7,800 rail hunters harvested 36,000 (±62%) rails in 2009

Migratory bird hunting activity and harvest during the 2004 and 2005 hunting seasons: Preliminary Estimates

Introduction Since the 1952-53 hunting season, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has conducted a survey of Federal Duck Stamp purchasers to estimate waterfowl hunter activity and harvest in the United States. That survey was conducted annually through the 2001-02 hunting season, after which it was replaced by a new migratory game bird harvest survey system. In 1992, the FWS and State Fish and Wildlife Agencies (States) established the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP), which was fully operational nationwide by 1999. This cooperative State-Federal program requires licensed migratory game bird hunters to register annually in each state in which they hunt. Each State is responsible for collecting the name, address, and date of birth from each migratory bird hunter, asking each of them a series of general screening questions about their his/her hunting success the previous year, and sending all of this information to the FWS. The States are also responsible for providing the migratory bird hunters with proof of compliance to carry while they are hunting. The FWS is responsible for using these data to conduct annual national migratory game bird hunter activity and harvest surveys. This report presents hunter activity and harvest estimates from the HIP surveys for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 hunting seasons. These estimates are preliminary, pending (1) final counts of the number of HIP registrants in each state each season, and (2) complete audits of all survey response data

Migratory bird hunting activity and harvest during the 2003 and 2004 hunting seasons: preliminary estimates

Introduction Since the 1952-53 hunting season, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has conducted a survey of Federal Duck Stamp purchasers to estimate waterfowl hunter activity and harvest in the United States. That survey was conducted annually through the 2001-02 hunting season, after which it was replaced by a new migratory game bird harvest survey system. In 1992, the FWS and State Fish and Wildlife Agencies (States) established the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP), which was fully operational nationwide by 1999. This cooperative State-Federal program requires licensed migratory game bird hunters to register annually in each state in which they hunt. Each State is responsible for collecting the name, address, and date of birth from each migratory bird hunter, asking each of them a series of general screening questions about his/her hunting success the previous year, and sending all of this information to the FWS. The States are also responsible for providing the migratory bird hunters with proof of compliance to carry while they are hunting. The FWS is responsible for using these data to conduct annual national migratory game bird hunter activity and harvest surveys. This report presents hunter activity and harvest estimates from the HIP surveys for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 hunting seasons. These estimates are preliminary, pending (1) final counts of the number of HIP registrants in each state each season, and (2) complete audits of all survey response data

Allowable Take of Black Vultures in the Eastern United States

Black vultures (Coragyps atratus) have been increasing in density and expanding their range in the eastern United States since at least the 1960s. In many areas, their densities have increased to the level where they are causing damage to property and livestock and the number of requests for allowable take permits has increased throughout these areas. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) requires updated information to help inform the number of take permits that could reduce conflicts while meeting obligations under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.We expanded analyses used to estimate allowable take in Virginia to cover the range of black vultures in the eastern United States. We used the prescribed take level approach, which integrates demographic rates, population size estimates, and management objectives into an estimate of allowable take. We provide estimates of allowable take at 4 different scales: individual states, Bird Conservation Regions, USFWS administrative regions, and flyways. Our updated population time series provides evidence of rapidly increasing black vulture populations in many regions of the eastern United States, with an overall population estimate of approximately 4.26 million in 2015 in the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways. Estimated allowable take ranged from a few hundred individuals per year in states at the northern end of the species range to approximately 287,000/year over the entire eastern United States. The USFWS has no legal mandate regarding the spatial scale at which take should be managed and we found little biological evidence of subpopulation structure for black vultures in the eastern United States.We suggest that allowable take for the species be implemented at a scale that meets stakeholder objectives (e.g., reducing conflict, and ensuring that black vultures are not extirpated from local areas) and is efficient for administrative and monitoring purposes. Published 2018. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA

Migratory bird hunting activity and harvest during the 2001 and 2002 hunting seasons- Final Report February 2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ………………………………………………………………………… 1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………. 1 Design and Methods ……………………………………………………………. 2 Results and Discussion …………………………………………………………. 8 Waterfowl harvest estimates Species, state, flyway …………………………………………………… 14 Unretrieved kill ………………………………………………………… 36 Special seasons …………………………………………………………. 37 Canada harvest ...………………………………………………………. 39 Long-term trends graphs …………………………………………….…. 41 Waterfowl age and sex ratios …….………………………………………… 44 Dove and pigeon estimates …………………………………………………. 61 Woodcock estimates ………………………………………………………… 63 Snipe, rail, gallinule, and coot estimates ……………………………………. 64 Unretrieved kill doves, pigeons, woodcock ………………………………… 70 Unretrieved kill snipe, rails, gallinules, coots ………………………………. 71 Species-specific rail estimates ………………………………………………. 72 Appendices Waterfowl survey form ……………………………………………………. 73 Harvest parameters and estimators ………………………………………... 74 HIP certifications and expansion factors ………………………………….. 75 Stratum counts …….………………………………………………………. 77 Sample sizes ……………………………………………………………….. 83 Response rates ……………………………………………………………... 87 Duck stamp sales …………………………………………………………... 91 Abstract: National surveys of waterfowl, dove, band-tailed pigeon (Columba fasciata), American woodcock (Scolopax minor), common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), rail, gallinule, and American coot (Fulica americana) hunters were conducted during the 2001 and 2002 migratory bird hunting seasons. About 1.4 million waterfowl hunters harvested 14,131,800 (±5%) ducks and 3,619,300 (±5%) geese in 2001, and about 1.3 million waterfowl hunters harvested 12,439,000 (±4%) ducks and 3,333,600 (±6%) geese in 2002. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), green-winged teal (A. crecca), gadwall (A. strepera), wood duck (Aix sponsa), and blue-winged teal (A. discors) were the most-harvested duck species, and Canada goose (Branta canadensis) was the predominant goose species in the harvest. About 1.2 million dove hunters harvested 23,576,000 (±7%) mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in 2001 and 22,719,100 (±4%) in 2002. Woodcock hunters numbered about 140,000 in 2001 and 148,000 in 2002, and they harvested 341,900 (±19%) birds in 2001 and 265,600 (±18%) in 2002. Among the lesser-hunted species, about 29,000 people hunted snipe in 2001 (24,000 in 2002), and they harvested 85,500 (±39%) and 68,200 (±29%) snipe in 2001 and 2002, respectively; about 6,000 rail hunters harvested 41,200 (±75%) rails in 2001 and 23,800 (±48%) rails in 2002; gallinule hunters (about 8,000 in 2001 and 3,000 in 2002) harvested 11,200 (±77%) gallinules in 2001 and 13,700 (±66%) in 2002; and coot hunters (about 41,000 in 2001 and 22,000 in 2002) harvested 284,400 (±80%) coots in 2001 and 205,400 (±89%) in 2002