
1.7 percent from the 1962 level (table 1). This also marks 
this Unit's third successive year of decline from the peak index 
reached in 1960. The index showed a general increase during 
the 7 years prior to 1961 (figure 2). 
In hunting States of the Central Unit, the index declined 
7.1 percent from its 1962 level (figure 3). 
The index in the nonhunting States of the Central Unit 
avai an increase of 5.4 percent above the 1962 levels (table 
1). 
The Central Unit's 1963 index is 21.5 percent below the 
peak index reached in 1960 and is 3.5 percent below the 10- 
year average index (1953-62). 
Western Management Unit. 
The index for the Western Unit increased 3.8 percent from 
the 1962 level (table 1). The 1963 level is 18.6 percent below 
this Unit's peak population index, reached in 1959, and is 3.3 
percent below the 10-year average index (1953-62). 
Discussion of population index trends 
Indexes to the mourning dove breeding populations showed 
declines from the 1962 level in the Eastern and Central Manage- 
ment Units. The Western Unit showed an increase from the 1962 
level. The breeding population index for the entire United 
States showed a very slight (0.8 percent) decline from the 1962 
level. 
The 1963 mourning dove breeding population index for 
the. entire United States is 16.8 percent below the peak 1960 
index and 3.3 percent below the 10-year average (1953-62). 
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