SCOPE OF INVESTIGATIONS AND METHODS USED | 
Waterfowl Kill 
During the 1952-53 waterfowl shooting season the Fish and Wild- 
life 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 five 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 ‘he 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 in the following table: 


Questionnaires Questionnaires Percent 
Sent Out Returned Returned 
Flyway 1955-56. 1954-55 1955-56 1954-55 .1955-56 1954-55 
Atlantic 10,539 8,274 6,917 keg Bo hs] 65.6 69.6 
Mississippi 10, 820 14,133 7,017 10,168 64.9 71.9 
Central 7,525 8,081 4,976 5,795 66.1 Flatt 
Pacific 7,316 13,227 4,859 9,794 66.4 74.1 
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Total 36, 200 43,715 23,769 31,515 65.7 72.1 
A review of the kill survey data collected during the past three 
hunting seasons has revealed an additional refinement in the method of 
measuring kill. Previously, the total kill was calculated by expanding the 
average seasonal kill per hunter of ducks, geese, and coot by the total number 
of waterfowl hunters as determined by adjusted Duck Stamp sales. A study 
has indicated, however, that although 96 to 98 percent of all waterfowl shooters 
hunt for ducks during the season, that only 60 to 69 percent of the total hunt 
for geese, and only 52 to 56 percent hunt for coot. Greater accuracy in determin- | 
ing total kill of the three types of waterfowl (ducks, geese and coot) is attained 
