hunter numbers and kills, and for species 
where the larger bags are recorded over 
wider areas. Inversely, the statistical relia- 
bility of the report is known tobe consider- 
3 
ably less where fewer outlets, fewer hunters, 
or lower kills are involved, or where hunting 
for a species is concentrated at relatively 
few points. 
WING COLLECTION SURVEY 
Data supplied by Aelred D. Geis 
and Samuel M. Carney, Bureau of 
Sport Fisheries and Wildlife 
In 1958, the Bureau of Sport Fisheries 
and Wildlife began investigating the possi- 
bility of determining the age, sex, and 
Species composition in the duck kill by 
means of detached wings collected through 
the mail from a representative group of 
hunters. A small-scale pilot study in Minne- 
sota indicated that hunters would cooperate 
to a degree that ensured the feasibility of 
this approach. At the same time a method 
was developed for determining with more 
than 95-percent accuracy the age and sex 
of mallards from wings (Carney and Geis, 
1960). 
During the 1959-60 hunting seasona duck- 
wing collection survey was conducted in all 
States in the Mississippi Flyway. In the 
Central, Pacific, and Atlantic Flyways, ar- 
rangements were made to collect samples 
of wings in certain harvest areas. At the 
same time techniques were developed for 
determining the age and sex of most of 
the other more common species of ducks. 
Details of the procedure followed and the 
results obtained in the survey have been 
summarized elsewhere (Geis and Carney, 
1961). 
In 1960, the wing collection survey was 
expanded to include all States in the 
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways and was 
continued in the other Flyways in the same 
selected areas as in 1959. Hunters from 
whom wings were solicited were selected 
from respondents to the 1959 mail-question- 
naire survey who were over 15 years old and 
had reported bagging at least one duck. An 
attempt was made to draw samples of 
waterfowl hunters that were distributed 
geographically within a State in the same 
proportions as all waterfowl hunters inthat 
State. To accomplish this, it was necessary 
in some States to contact successful adult 
respondents to the 1959-60 wing collection 
survey and hunters who had reported shoot- 
ing a bird that had been banded outside of 
their State. 
The number of hunters contacted and 
number of wings received in the 1959- 
60 and 1960-6] hunting season wing col- 
lection survey are shown in table B-l 
(p. 55). 
Immediately before opening of the hunting 
season, hunters in the Atlantic and Missis- 
sippi Flyways were sent supplies of busi- 
ness-reply envelopes and were asked to 
return one wing from each duck they killed 
throughout the waterfowl hunting season. A 
post card addressed to the Bureau was 
included with each package of envelopes 
for the use of those hunters who might need 
additional envelopes. 
All wings received were kept frozenuntil 
they could be examined. Teams of both State 
and Bureau biologists assembled at the 
freezer-storage points and identified the 
species, age, and sex of the bird each wing 
represented. The accuracy of this work was 
carefully verified. A full report onthe 1960- 
61 hunting season wing-collection survey 
will be made in a separate paper. 
The wing-collection survey isa relatively 
new method for measuring waterfowl pro- 
duction, and many phases of the survey are 
at present in the process of evolving from 
the experimental and developmental stage to 
the operational stage. However, it is hoped 
that the information gathered thus far is the 
beginning of a historial series that will 
portray annual changes in production with 
considerable accuracy and will facilitate 
improvements in July aerial production- 
survey techniques. 
