WATERFOWL STATUS REPORT 
Each year in early August, waterfowl 
shooting regulations are established for 
the current hunting season. Information on 
the status of waterfowl must be available 
to responsible wildlife officials during the 
conferences leading to formulation of the 
regulations. This report has been compiled 
to provide such information. 
Data concerning the current status of 
waterfowl are gathered by means of four 
major surveys: 
Survey conducted among waterfowl 
hunters immediately following the 
season to measure the size and species 
composition of the kill and the effect of 
hunting regulations on hunter activity 
and success. 
2. Duck wing collection survey conducted 
during the hunting season to obtain 
information on age ratios in the hunt- 
ing kill. 
3. Survey of wintering areas on the 
North American Continent in early 
January to measure the distribution 
and relative number of birds remain- 
ing after the shooting season. 
4. Survey of the major continental breed- 
1961 
ing areas during May, June, and July 
to measure size and distribution of 
the breeding population and the rela- 
tive number of young produced. 
A fifth major endeavor in recent years 
has beenbanding, particularly of young birds 
on the breeding areas. The purpose of this 
banding is to establish relationships between 
breeding ground and harvest area so that 
data from breeding ground surveys can be 
properly associated with the four Flyways 
for management purposes. 
Results of the winter and breeding ground 
surveys are summarized as forecasts of 
anticipated changes in the relative size of 
the 1961 fall flight of ducks, geese, brant, 
and coot in each of the four Flyways in the 
United States. 
Inasmuch as waterfowl management in 
the United States is based on the Flyway 
concept, this report is organized accord- 
ingly. For purposes of this report, the four 
Flyways have been extended beyond the 
International boundaries of the United States 
to include breeding and wintering grounds of 
waterfowl most closely associated with 
the Flyways. 
SCOPE OF INVESTIGATIONS AND 
METHODS USED 
WATERFOWL KILL SURVEY 
Each year, immediately after the shoot- 
ing season, the Bureau of Sport Fisheries 
and Wildlife, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Serv- 
ice, carries out a mail-questionnaire sur- 
vey among waterfowl hunters. The purpose 
of this survey is to estimate the size of 
the waterfowl harvest and the amount of 
hunting; and to provide information on the 
relationships among harvest, hunter 
activity, and regulations, under changing 
conditions. This survey was inaugurated 
during the waterfowl hunting season of 
1952-53. 
Principal objectives of the 1960-61 survey 
were to obtain estimates for each Flyway 
of the-- 
1. Total number of ducks, geese, and 
coots shot, including those that 
Approved for publication, October 4, 1961. Special Scientific Report--Wildlife No. 61. 
