362 Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin Vol. 2j, Art. 2 



in all 48 states; in 1944 in all states but Kill records from duck clubs along the 



South Dakota and Massachusetts. Mississippi River in 1942 disclose that 



The regulation allowing one wood one-third more woodies were bagged 



duck in possession has caused a great there per hunter-day than along the 



deal of controversy among bird lovers, Illinois River. Harry Maltby, U. S. 



Table 12. — The numbers and species of ducks killed at 276 clubs in the Illinois 



River valley, 1942. 



Number 

 Species* Killed 



Wood duck, Aix sponsa (Linnaeus) SIS] 



Redhead, Nyroca americana (Eyton) 332 



Ruddy duck, butterball, Erismatura jamaicensis rubida (Wilson) 627 



Shoveler, spoonbill. Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus) 751 



Gadwall, gray duck, Chaulelasmus streperus (Linnaeus) . 953 



Green-winged teal, Nettion carolinense (Gmelin) 1 , 171 



Canvasback, can, Nyroca valisineria (Wilson) 1 ,415 



Widgeon, baldpate, Mareca americana (Gmelin) 1 , 563 



Ring-necked duck, blackjack, Nyroca collaris (Donovan) 1 , 824 



Blue- winged teal, ^uerquedula discors (Linnaeus) 2,006 



Lesser scaup, bluebill, Nyroca affinis (Eyton) 4, 161 



Pintail, sprig, Dafila acuta tzitzihoa (Vieillot) 4, 875 



Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos Linnaeus ( cq cac 



Black duck, black mallard. Anas rubripes Brewster ) ' 



♦Other duck species occasionally seen in Illinois include the bufflehead, Charitonetla albeola (Linnaeus), and the 

 American golden-eye or whistler, Glaucionetta clangula americana (Bonaparte). 



tThe actual number recorded killed was 476; however, since there was no designated place for wood ducks on the 

 kill sheets, some club members recorded them in the unspecified duck column. Based upon number classified as 

 unspecified in 1941, it is believed that about 200 wood ducks were so classified in 1942. 



conservationists and duck hunters. Does Game Agent, reporting (letter Decem- 



it permit too high a kill of this species? ber 27, 1943) on conditions along the 



Will the status of the species once again Mississippi River in Iowa during the 



become critical? In order to answer 1943 season, stated that a larger number 



these questions, at least in a limited of wood ducks were killed in that region 



way, let us examine the kill records of in 1943 than in 1942. This was due 



Illinois duck clubs and ratios of band to the greater scarcity of other species 



returns to birds banded. early in the season. 



Relatively few wood ducks were From the first season band returns 

 killed in the Illinois River valley in before and after full legal protection 

 1942, table 12. While these ducks were was removed, table 13, it may be possi- 

 relatively numerous, most hunters in ble to evaluate the effect of the regula- 

 this region passed up shots at them to tion allowing one wood duck in posses- 

 kill other species. Occasionally one sion. Only the bands reported from 

 was shot to add to a low bag, and birds wood ducks either shot or "found dead" 

 were shot accidentally in 1942, just as were recorded; the "found dead" wood- 

 when given complete legal protection, ies are assumed to have been shot, for it 

 Because the legal 1942 kill of wood ducks is evident, after comparing the propor- 

 in the Illinois River valley was probably tion of other species reported found 

 little greater than the estimated illegal dead and after noting the greatly re- 

 kill (Hawkins & Bellrose 1939) in the duced number of woodies reported 

 1938 season, it must not be assumed that "found dead" when it was legal to take 

 the one wood duck law had little ad- one, that the "found dead" report was 

 verse effect on the species. sometimes only a subterfuge on the part 



Undoubtedly where other species of of hunters to escape being penalized, 



ducks were less abundant than along Nevertheless, a surprisingly large num- 



the Illinois River, proportionally more ber of protected wood ducks were 



wood ducks were taken by hunters, actually reported shot. Doubtless some 



I 



