SCOPE OF INVESTIGATIONS AND METHODS USED 
Waterfowl Kill 
During the 1952-53 waterfowl shooting season the Fish and Wildlife 
Service inaugurated a new method of measuring the waterfowl kill. The 
method functions through the cooperation of the Post Office Department and 
provides for a sampling of the hunters in each Flyway in proportion to their 
occurrence in the various States. The objectives of the kill survey are to 
determine for each Flyway (1) the number of birds taken by hunters with an 
error not to exceed 5 percent; (2) the size of the average daily bag; and (3) 
the average number of times a hunter went afield during the season. 
The mailing addresses for the questionnaire survey are obtained at 
the time duck stamps are purchased at Post Offices. The questionnaires 
are mailed out on the closing date of the shooting season in each State. 
Three weeks later, a follow-up questionnaire is mailed to those who have 
not answered the first questionnaire. The number of questionnaires mailed 
out and the number returned in each Flyway is shown ir the following table: 
Questionnaires ~ Questionnaires . 
Sent Out - Returned Percent Returned 
Flyway 1952-53 1953-54 1952-53 1953-54 1952-53 1953.54 
Atlantic 3,091 6, 643 2,449 4,645 79.2 69.9 
Mississippi 3,995 11,549 3,130 8,126 78.4 70.4 
Central 2, 644 7,035 1,988 4,560 75.2 64.8 
Pacific 2, 828 7,903 2,334 5,601 82.5 70.9 
Total 12,558 33,130 9,901 22,932. 78.8 69.2 
Winter Survey of Waterfowl Distribution and Conditions 
The annual waterfowl survey to obtain information on wintering conditions 
and distribution covered the major wintering grounds of known importance in 
Alaska, Canada, the United States, Mexico and the West Indies. The cooperative 
Survey was conducted mostly during January. In Alaska, Mexico and the 
West Indies, the Fish and Wildlife Service organized and conducted the surveys. 
In the United States the Service organized the survey but most of the field work 
was performed by personnel of the 48 State Conservation Departments. In 
Canada the survey was organized by the Canadian Wildlife Service and the field 
work was conducted by the Service and the Provinces. 
