Table 5. Chronology of direct recoveries (%) of immature mourning doves banded in Missouri in 1968-76, 
and recovered in 1968-76. 



Date of recovery 






Total September ; 
Recovery location recoveries 1-10 11-20 21-30 Total Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb, 
Missouri 
Eastern 166 69.9 19.9 3.6 93.4 6.6 — — — — 
Central 120 76.7 11.7 6.7 95.1 5.0 _ = — — 
Western 33 84.9 15.2 100.0 — _ — ~ ~ 
Total 319 
Alabama 4 = ~ 50,0 50.0 25.0 25.0 “= — —~ 
Arkansas 2 50.0 50.0 100.0 — = — 2 =! 
California 1 100.0 — 100.0 ~ — — — — 
E] Salvador 1 =~ — = — — 100.0 — _ 
Florida 20 — = — 60.0 20.0 15.0 5,0 — 
Georgia 6 33.3 16.7 50.0 16,7 16.7 16.7 ~ = 
Guatemala 1 = = _ s a 100.0 = = 
Illinois 16 68.8 25.0 6.3 100.0 — ~ — ~ — 
Kansas 10 50.0 40.0 90.0 10.0 = = a = 
Kentucky 2 as 100.0 100.0 — — — — ~ 
Louisiana 12 8.3 — 8.3 25.0 25.0 25.0 16.7 — 
Mexico 10 < a _ 40.0 30.0 10.0 10,0 10.0 
Mississippi | - — 25.0 25.0 - 50.0 = 25.0 — 
Oklahoma 5 60.0 20.0 20.0 100.0 — — — = = 
South Carolina 4 = 50.0 50.0 25.0 — 25.0 ss = 
Tennessee 1 — — ~ 100.0 _ ~ ~ — 
Texas 24 8.3 12.5 8.3 29.1 58.3 8.3 — 4.2 — 
Total 449 59.3 15.8 4.8 79.9 12.4 3,8 Ze 1.4 0.2 





‘Detailed numerical bases for these percentages are in Appendix Table B-3. 
the first 10 days in September. Eighty-eight percent of the 
adult males were harvested during September, whereas only 
77% of the females were harvested then (Table 6). 
Western Missouri had the highest percentage of direct 
recoveries of adult doves in September (97 % ), central Mis- 
souri had 96% , and eastern Missouri, 87% (Table 4). West- 
ern Missouri had the highest proportion of adult males re- 
covered in September (100%). Ninety-seven percent of the 
central Missouri adult male harvest and 82% of the eastern 
Missouri adult male harvest occurred during September. 
Eastern Missouri had the highest percentage of female doves 
harvested in September (95%); central and western Mis- 
souri had 92 and 91%, respectively. The distribution of re- 
coveries of immatures followed the same trend as recoveries 
of adults. Western Missouri had the largest percentage of 
recoveries occurring in September (100% ); central and east- 
ern Missouri had 95 and 93%, respectively. 
The pattern of out-of-state recoveries for adult and 
immature doves was similar. Most recoveries occurred in 
September and the number of recoveries declined each 
month through February. The general trend was for the 
early recoveries to be in the midwestern States (e.g., Kansas, 
Illinois, Arkansas) and later recoveries to occur farther south 
(e.g., Alabama, Georgia, Florida), as expected. 
States Contributing to the 
Missouri Dove Harvest 
Mourning doves banded in other States and recovered 
directly in Missouri were from the Eastern and Central 
Management Units. No direct recoveries of doves banded 
in the Western Management Unit were reported in Missouri. 
Most direct recoveries were from States bordering Missouri; 
Kentucky and Illinois combined contributed half the direct 
recoveries of doves banded out of Missouri (Table 7). Mis- 
sissippi, North Dakota, and Wisconsin were the only States 
not bordering Missouri that had banded doves recovered 
directly in Missouri. The eastern region of Missouri had the 
largest number of direct recoveries of doves banded out of 
State (25); central and western Missouri had 6 and 3 re- 
coveries, respectively. 
About 78% of the direct recoveries of adults and 92% 
of the direct recoveries of immatures banded in other States 
and recovered in Missouri occurred during September 
(Table 8). Most recoveries of immatures (56% ) banded out 
of State and recovered in Missouri were during the first 
10 days in September; the corresponding figure for adults 
was only 33%, 
