Future Improvement Possibilities 
Probably the greatest imporvement in the accuracy of the survey would 
result from improved stratification and sample allocation. One simple pos- 
sibility lies in subdividing the perimeter of the marsh according to leased 
hunting rights and land open to day shooting programs or to free public hunt- 
ing. 
Improvement may also result from a well-planned public relations program. 
It should be slanted locally to the farmers, explaining the quota system and 
the reason for requesting their help. A more general state-wide program 
should be slanted to the hunters that use the concentration areas. 
Summary of Results of 1961 Season Mailed Questionnaire 
Sampling and Return, 1961 Questionnaire 
The questionnaire itself was unchanged from 1960, except that a question 
on the number of blinds was added. 
Three changes were made in the sampling method. First, the mailing 
list was divided into two sections, one for the 2 p.m. closing zone, and the 
other for the area outside the 2 p.m. closing zone. Second, each of these 
strata was sampled at a different rate. All farmers in the 2 p.m. zone 
received 4 questionnaire in each sampling period, while those outside were 
sampled at the same rate (33 percent each period) as in 1960. Third, the 
sampling periods were shortened to 2 days each. (In 1960 the shortest was 
3 days, and the longest was 5 days.) 
The stratification and shorter sampling periods were improvements, but 
the attempt to sample all farms in the 2 p.m. zone was a disadvantage. The 
receipt of frequent questionnaires seems to have stimulated the response at 
first, but the final result was a loss of interest on the part of the coop- 
erators and the return dropped. The short season also had an adverse effect 
on the return. The announcement of the season closing date was followed by 
a drop in the return. 
Table 13 - QUESTIONNAIRE RETURN RATES BY ZONES AND BY PERIODS, 1961 
Period Percent return 2 p.m. zone Percent return outside 
Oct. 7-8 43 kh 
9-10 Ta TK) 
11-12 31 3h 
13-14 25 28 
15-16 22 30 
17-18 15 29 
19 0 25 
20 0) 26 
21-22 0 21 

28 
