CENTRAL FLYWAY HARVEST AND POPULATION SURVEY DATA BOOK 2020 compiled by: James A. Dubovsky CENTRAL FLYWAY REPRESENTATIVE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE DIVISION OF MIGRATORY BIRD MANAGEMENT 134 Union Blvd., Suite 540 Lakewood, CO 80228 (303) 275-2386 Suggested Citation: Dubovsky, J. A., compiler. 2020. Central Flyway harvest and population survey data book 2020. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lakewood CO. CENTRAL FLYWAY 1948-2020 73 YEARS OF MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION Important Note to Users: From 1961-2001, estimates of waterfowl harvest, waterfowl hunter participation, and waterfowl hunter success in the United States were derived from a combination of several sources: 1) sales of migratory bird conservation stamps (Duck Stamps), 2) a Mail Questionnaire Survey of individuals who purchased ducks stamps for hunting purposes, and 3) the Waterfowl Parts Collection Survey (PCS). This survey, which was based on duck stamp sales was discontinued after the 2001 hunting season. Beginning in 1999, new survey methods were implemented that obtained estimates of waterfowl harvest, hunter participation, and hunter success from: 1) States' lists of migratory bird hunters identified through the Harvest Information Program (HIP), 2) a questionnaire (HIP Survey) sent to a sample of those hunters, and 3) the Waterfowl PCS. The basic difference is that during 1961 - 2001 waterfowl hunter activity and harvest estimates were derived from a Mail Questionnaire Survey (MQS) of duck stamp purchasers, whereas from 1999 to the present those estimates were derived from HIP surveys of people identified as migratory bird hunters by the States. Both survey systems relied on the Waterfowl PCS for species composition data. During 1989-2002, migratory game bird harvest and population survey information in the Central Flyway was presented in annually updated Data Books. Because of the recently implemented changes in survey design, historical harvest estimates will not be directly comparable to current estimates. Therefore, previous harvest survey information derived from the MQS are considered as final and compiled in the Central Flyway Waterfowl Hunting and Harvest Survey Information, 1961-2001. For 1999 and subsequent years, waterfowl hunting and harvest estimates that are derived from HIP, along with the usual population survey information, will be compiled in annual updates of the Central Flyway Harvest and Population Survey Data Book. In the future, the annual Data Book will be expanded to also present annual hunter activity and harvest estimates for other migratory game bird species that are now derived from HIP surveys. The 2019 estimates of migratory bird harvest and hunter activity for Canada were not available at the time of this printing. Canada is undertaking a revision of their harvest estimation methods, which should be completed sometime in 2021. Instead of footnoting all the tables to indicate that the estimates were not available, the lines for 2019 estimates for Canada have simply been left blank, and will be filled in for the 2021 Central Flyway Databook. This will result in less effort (e.g., adding and then deleting footnotes) in this publication and subsequent updates. TABLE OF CONTENTS U.S. DUCK STAMP AND CANADIAN PERMIT SALES: Migratory Game Bird Permit Sales in Canada .......................................................... 2 Federal Sandhill Crane Permits Issued in the Central Flyway and Minnesota ......... 3 Tundra Swan Hunting Permits .................................................................................. 4 WATERFOWL AND CRANE HUNTER ACTIVITY AND SUCCESS: Active Duck Hunters, Total Duck Hunter Days, Average Duck Hunter Days, and Average Seasonal Duck Bag Per Hunter .................................................... 6 Active Goose Hunters, Total Goose Hunter Days, Average Goose Hunter Days, and Average Seasonal Goose Bag Per Hunter .................................................. 7 Active Mid-continent Sandhill Crane Hunters............................................................ 8 Active Tundra Swan Hunters .................................................................................... 9 Average Seasonal Tundra Swan Bag Per Active Swan Hunter ............................. 10 DUCK HARVESTS IN THE UNITED STATES: Mallard, Gadwall, and American Wigeon ................................................................ 12 Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, and Wood Duck ............................................ 13 American Black Duck, Mottled Duck, and Mexican Duck X Mallard ....................... 14 Black-bellied Whistling Duck and Fulvous Tree Duck ............................................. 15 Blue-winged Teal (Special, Regular, All Seasons) ................................................. 16 Green-winged Teal (Special, Regular, All Seasons) .............................................. 17 Redhead, Canvasback and Ring-necked Duck ..................................................... 18 Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, and Combined ....................................................... 19 Common Goldeneye, Ruddy Duck, and Hooded Merganser .................................. 20 Total Ducks ............................................................................................................ 21 AGE RATIOS IN THE U.S. HARVEST: Mallard All, Female, and Male Age Ratios .............................................................. 23 Northern Pintail, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Wood Duck, Redhead, Greater and Lesser Scaup Age Ratios .............................................................. 24 Blue-winged Teal and Green-winged Teal Age Ratios .......................................... 25 SEX RATIOS IN THE U.S. HARVEST: Mallard Adult and Immature Sex Ratios.................................................................. 27 DUCK HARVESTS IN CANADA: Mallard .................................................................................................................... 29 Northern Pintail ....................................................................................................... 30 Total Ducks ............................................................................................................ 31 DUCK HARVESTS IN NORTH AMERICA: Mallard .................................................................................................................... 33 GOOSE HARVESTS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA: Snow/Blue Geese, Ross’s Geese and All Light Geese .......................................... 35 White-fronted Geese, Canada Geese-Regular and All Season ............................. 36 Total Geese ............................................................................................................. 37 CFAN, Large and Unknown Canada Geese in the Central Flyway ........................ 38 GOOSE AGE RATIOS IN THE U.S. HARVEST: Canada Goose, White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose and Ross’s Goose Age Ratios ............................................................................................. 40 i WEBLESS HARVEST AND HUNTER ACTIVITY IN THE UNITED STATES: CMU Mourning Dove Harvest, Active Hunters, Total Days Afield, and Average Seasonal Dove Bag Per Hunter ........................................................................ 42 CMU White-winged Dove Harvest, Active Hunters, Total Days Afield, and Average Seasonal Dove Bag Per Hunter ........................................................................ 43 Four Corners (Interior) Population Band-tailed Pigeon Harvest, Active Hunters, Total Days Afield, and Average Seasonal Pigeon Bag Per Hunter .................. 44 CMR American Woodcock Harvest, Active Hunters, Total Days Afield, and Average Seasonal Woodcock Bag Per Hunter ................................................. 45 WATERFOWL POPULATION SURVEY INFORMATION: Central Flyway Mid-winter Goose Survey, 2020 ..................................................... 47 White-fronted Goose Population Status, Objectives and Regulatory Thresholds . 48 Canada Goose Population Status, Objectives and Regulatory Thresholds ........... 49 Light Goose Population Status, Objectives and Regulatory Thresholds ............... 50 Central Flyway Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey - 2020 ............................................. 51 Central Flyway Mid-winter Waterfowl Surveys - 2020-2029 ................................... 52 Central Flyway Mid-winter Waterfowl Surveys - 2010-19 ....................................... 53 Central Flyway Mid-winter Waterfowl Surveys - 2000-09 ....................................... 54 Central Flyway Mid-winter Waterfowl Surveys - 1990-99 ....................................... 55 Central Flyway Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey Comparisons - 1948-2020............... 56 Breeding Population Estimates for 10 Duck Species .............................................. 57 TUNDRA SWAN POPULATION SURVEYS AND HARVESTS: Mid-winter Survey for the Eastern Population ........................................................ 59 Harvest Estimates for the Eastern and Western Populations ................................. 60 SANDHILL CRANE POPULATION SURVEYS AND HARVESTS: Spring Surveys for the Mid-continent Population .................................................... 62 Harvest Estimates for the Mid-continent Population - U.S. .................................... 63 Harvest Estimates for the Mid-continent Population - N.A. ................................... .64 Population Surveys for RMP Cranes ...................................................................... 65 Harvest Estimates