preseason population of only 0. 6 im¬ 
mature to adult, which is unreasonably 
low in view of apparent blue-winged teal 
population trends. 
Pintail age ratios 
The pintail is a major game species 
only in the three western Flyways. 
Moderate increases were observed in all 
three Flyways. The greatest number of 
immatures to adult was found in the 
northern parts of all three Flyways. In 
California, where more pintails are har¬ 
vested than in any other State, the age 
ratio in the kill was 1. 1 immatures to 
adult in 1963, which was similar to the 
1962 ratio of 1. 0 (table D-23). 
The continental weighted age ratio has 
increased steadily from 0. 76 in 1961, to 
1. 29 in 1863 (an increase of 70 percent). 
Preseason banding data for pintails are 
extremely spotty. In California, they in¬ 
dicate that immature pintails were 1. 5 
times more likely to be taken in Cali¬ 
fornia than adults. This suggests that for 
this important area the age composition 
of the preseason population was only 0.7 
immature to adult. South Dakota bandings 
revealed that immatures were 1. 75 times 
more likely to be taken than adults. This 
banding station relates to recoveries 
largely in the Central Flyway and indi¬ 
cates that the 1.4 immatures to adult age 
ratio observed in the Central Flyway kill 
represents a ratio of only 0. 8 immature 
to adult in the preseason population. 
Wood duck age ratios 
Wood duck age ratios showed an up¬ 
ward trend in 1963 (table D-24). The in¬ 
crease was greater in the Mississippi 
Flyway (1. 25 in 1962 and 1. 81 in 1963) 
than in the Atlantic Flyway (1. 29 in 1962 
and 1.48 in 1963). 
The preseason banding program for 
wood duck is on a relatively larger scale 
than for any other species. The recovery 
rates indicate that in 1963 immatures 
were 1.2 times more likely to be taken 
than adults, while in 1962 the vulner¬ 
ability ratio was 1.3 (Administrative Re¬ 
port 51). This suggests thatthe pro¬ 
portion of the preseason population 
consisting of immatures increased 
slightly more than indicated by the age 
composition in the kill. 
RESULTS OF GOOSE TAIL COLLECTION SURVEY, 1962 AND 1963 
HUNTING SEASONS 
Data supplied by Alfred J. Godin and Aelred D. Geis 
Division of Wildlife Research 
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife 
In 1962, a goose tail collection survey 
was inaugurated to measure the species 
and the age composition of the goose kill 
throughout the United States. Hunters in¬ 
dicating that they shot 1 or more geese in 
the previous year's mail questionnaire 
survey were sent 10 goose tail collection 
envelopes. In addition, to gain insight 
into the extent of the goose kill by other 
waterfowl hunters who had not reported 
geese the previous year, 1, 970 Wisconsin 
duck hunters were sent supplies of goose 
tail collection envelopes in 1963. In 1962, 
a total of 7, 459 hunters who were sent 
goose tail collection envelopes returned 
5, 250 tails, while in 1963, 9, 724 hunters 
sent 7, 353 tails. The sample of duck 
hunters contacted in Wisconsin who had 
not shot a goose the previous year re¬ 
turned goose tails at 26 percent of the 
rate of previously successful goose 
hunters. This indicates that a significant 
goose kill is made by duck hunters who do 
not regularly take geese. 
Species was determined from the color, 
size, and shape of the tail feathers. Pre¬ 
liminary data suggest that Canada geese 
may be further segregated into size 
groups and flocks based on tail measure¬ 
ments and/or the geographic area in 
which they were taken. For this report 
it is necessary to combine all Canada 
35 
