MISSISSIPPi FLYWAY 
Number of Hunters, Daily Kill, Seasonal Kill, and Average Times Hunted, 
as Determined by the Waterfowl Hunter Mail Survey 
1952-53 1953-54 Percent Change 
Number of Hunters 
Over 16 980, 665 878, 138 - 10.4 
Under 16 75,556 51,668 - 31.6 
Average Daily Bag 
Over 16 Ducks 115 1.00 - 13.0 
Geese .03 ~ 05 + 66.7 
Coot wht 15 - 6.2 
Under 16 Ducks 32 49 + 53,1 
Geese Ol 03 +200.0 
Coot - 08 ,t2 + 50.0 
Average Seasonal Bag 
Over 16 Ducks 5.02 4.21 = 16,1 
Geese 12 22 + 83.3 
Coot . 70 . 62 - 11.4 
Under 16 Ducks 1,41 2.09 + 48.2 
Geese 02 © 13 +550.0 
Coot . 34 «Be, + 52.9 
Average Times Hunted 4,35 4,23 ~ 2.7 

The kill of ducks decreased considerably (-26%) in the Mississippi 
Flyway during the 1953-54 season as compaied to the previous year. A . 
major increase occurred in the kill of geese (448%), while the kill of coot 
decreased somewhat (-14%). 
The number of adult hunters decreased slightly (-10%}, and the 
average number of times hunted during the season remained abou! vhe 
Same, which means that the total amount of hunting decreased somewhat, 
The decreased amount of hunting combined with a decrease in average 
daily bag accounts for the decreased kill of ducks and coot. A large 
increase in daily bag of geese was sufficient to overcome the decreased 
hunting effort and accounts for the increased kill of geese. In view cf 
the fact that length of season and bag limits remained the same in the 
Mississippi Flyway, it seems apparent thai either there were fewer 
ducks and coot present in the Flyway during the fall period, or the 
weather was such as to reduce the availability of the birds which were 
present. 
53 
