Effect of weekly hunting frequency on rate of ducks harvested

Abstract

Waterfowl hunting is important culturally and economically in North America. Few studies have evaluated the relationship between weekly hunting frequency and rate of ducks harvested. We evaluated the effect of hunting 2 or 4 d/wk on rate of ducks harvested on three Mississippi Wildlife Management Areas, USA, during three waterfowl hunting seasons, December–January 2008–2011. Harvest of all ducks combined, mallard Anas platyrhynchos, northern shoveler Anas clypeata, or green-winged teal Anas crecca per hunter day did not differ between areas hunted 2 or 4 d/wk, but increased with hours spent afield. We suggest Wildlife Management Areas may be hunted 4 d/wk without reducing duck harvest per hunter day. We recommend continued evaluations of weekly hunting frequency on rate of ducks harvested to sustain science-guided management of waterfowl hunting on Mississippi public lands and elsewhere.