ern part of the State south of Leon. In Michoacan, much 
of the harvest occurred along the northern and western 
border abutting Jalisco but harvest was also distributed 
across the middle of the State from Tepalcatepec through 
Apatzingan and Tacambaro to Zitacuaro. 
Region 5—Central Highlands (n = 49), —This region 
contains 5% of the total land area and 33% of the human 
population (Weil et al. 1975). In spite of the mountainous 
terrain and many urban centers, 6% of the Mexican har- 
vest was obtained here. Although the harvest within the 
region was fairly evenly distributed, most recovery loca- 
tions were in the three southern States bordering Guerrero. 
Region 6— Southern Mexico (n = 20). — This region con- 
tains 12% of the total land area and 16% of the human 
population of Mexico (Weil et al. 1975). Even though this 
region undoubtedly acts as a funnel (particularly the 
Isthmus of Tehuantepec) for migrating doves into Central 
America, only about 2% of Mexico’s harvest occurred here. 
This phenomenon can partly be explained by the fact that 
a large portion of the human population consists of primi- 
tive Indians that cannot afford arms and ammunition. In 
addition, large areas either are overflown or do not receive 
migrating doves, particularly in the northeastern portions 
of the region. 
Region 7—Yucatan Peninsula (n = 0),—This region 
makes up 8.5% of the land area and 4% of the human 
population (Weil et al. 1975). Mourning doves apparently 
do not migrate through this region as no recoveries were 
obtained there. Migratory routes for mourning doves ob- 
viously follow the Pacific coastline once the birds reach 
southern Mexico. This statement is supported by the loca- 
tion of recoveries in Central America. 
Central America (n = 102) 
Central America has an area of about 540,000 km” and 
a population of over 19 million people (Anon. 1977). The 
northeastern sections of the isthmus bordering the Carib- 
bean Sea are tropical and contain large expanses of jungle. 
The southwestern Pacific Coast areas are hot and relatively 
dry; clearing of native vegetation has created an extensive 
system of farming for corn, sorghum, rice, and cotton. 
There are no breeding populations of mourning doves in 
Central America, but many birds from the United States 
annually migrate as far south as Costa Rica. Migrating 
doves are generally found in the agricultural belt, but are 
also encountered in the higher intermontane regions be- 
tween the two coasts. 
Until recently, sport hunting in Central America was 
relatively light although some subsistence harvest with 
traps, .22 caliber rifles, and slingshots has occurred for 
many years. Because arms and ammunition are expensive, 
hunting of migratory birds is now conducted almost ex- 
clusively by foreign hunters, particularly Americans 
(H. Nanne, V. Ortega, and P. Purdy, personal communi- 
cation). Only in the last 5 years have the countries actively 
23 
solicited affluent hunters as a form of tourism. Hunting 
harvest is still relatively low despite increasingly large 
numbers of hunters visiting Central America. 
Of the total Southern Zone harvest of mourning doves 
originating from the United States, 11% occurred in Cen- 
tral America from Guatemala south to northern Costa Rica 
(Table A-41). Nearly half (46%) of Central America’s 
mourning dove harvest occurred in Guatemala; 28 % 
occurred in El Salvador. Another 23% of the kill was taken 
in Honduras and Nicaragua. Costa Rica was a minor har- 
vest area for doves originating from the United States, and 
no birds were recovered in Panama. Costa Rica appears 
to be the southern terminus for mourning doves migrating 
from the United States. 
Region 8— Guatemala (n = 45), —This country has an 
area of 108,880 km* and a population of over 6 million 
people (Anon. 1977). The economy is agrarian, and a large 
proportion of the population is of Maya Indian origin 
(Dombrowski et al. 1970). About half (46% ) of the Central 
American and 5% of the Southern Zone harvest of U.S. 
doves was taken in this country. Distribution of harvest 
within Guatemala followed two routes. The first was in 
a central valley north of the volcanic extension of Mexico's 
Sierra Madre del Sur from Huehuetenango through Jalapa, 
Mojas, and Asuncion Mita. The second was south of the 
Sierra Madre near Tiquisate, La Democracia, and 
Masaqua. Both areas are agricultural; the southern area 
supports cotton, sorghum, and corn and the northeastern 
area supports sorghum, rice, and sugarcane (V. Martinez, 
personal communication). 
Region 9—El Salvador (n = 30),—The smallest Cen- 
tral American country has an area of 21,400 km? (Blutstein 
et al. 1971a), but it contains the highest human popula- 
tion density, 4.2 million inhabitants (Anon. 1977). As in 
Guatemala, migrating doves follow the southern coast and 
central intermontane corridor where they have been har- 
vested mainly by American hunters (current regulations 
effectively bar hunting by foreigners—F. Serrano, personal 
communication). Some central corridor harvest locations 
were Candelaria, Nueva Concepcion, Chalatenango, and 
Santa Rosa. Southern harvest locations were La Libertad 
and La Union, Hunters in El Salvador took 28% of Central 
America’s harvest and 3% of the Southern Zone harvest. 
Region 10— Honduras (n = 12). —Honduras is a large 
and rugged country with an area of 112,150 km? (Blutstein 
et al. 1971b) and nearly 2.9 million human inhabitants 
(Anon. 1977). Most dove harvest occurs in the southern tip 
of the country surrounding the city of Choluteca. Agricul- 
tural crops providing dove foods are corn, sorghum, rice, 
and sesame. Foreign hunters have increased greatly in the 
last few years; in the 1976-77 season, 459 hunters took 
almost 32,000 mourning doves, whereas in 1977-78, 926 
hunters harvested 51,200 mourning doves (P. C. Purdy, un- 
published report). During the study period, hunters in 
Honduras took 9% of the total Central American harvest 
and 1% of that in the Southern Zone. 
