Wing Survey

R

Rod VanZile

Active member
Is anyone else participating in the Department Of The Interior Harvest Surveys? This is my third year so I assume my last for a while. I send wings from ducks and tail feathers and wing tips from geese.

RVZ
 
I have never been asked. Last year I was asked to send in whole birds for a contaminants study. After each hunt I would upload pics of the birds, share where they were harvested, and a biologist would get back to me fairly quickly as to if they wanted the birds or not. If they wanted them they sent a cooler with prepaid return shipping. I sent in quite a number of ducks and geese. Supposedly the results were to be shared with me before this season but so far nothing.
 
I am. I got a letter asking I use last year's envelopes to help them cut costs. Problem is I sent all my leftovers back last year. So now I have no envelopes. I haven't been hunting yet and won't until Dec. 15 because of conflicting family plans, so I guess I have time to get the USF&WS to send me some envelopes before my season starts.

Eric
 
This will be my second year on the wing survey. Unfortunately I have no water currently in my private marsh(1st time in 17 years that I have owned this marsh) with no forecast of any significant rain in the near future and very few public options around me. I am truly just hoping to get out on a hunt or two this year.
 
I've done a written harvest log 2 of the last 3 years, I didn't get asked this year. I would be curious to see how that data is actually used!
 
Eric,
I ordered 30 to begin the season and received 10, then ordered another 30 and received 20, I am currently out of envelopes. Good luck with your season.

RVZ
 
Blake,
I hope you get a few hunts in to. I think this drought has affected our entire migration this year. I have been hunting ducks for forty years and this years migration is the strangest one yet. I"m on the Indiana / Michigan border.

RVZ
 
Cody,
I did a written survey the last two years for Indiana only. I hope the information we send in helps with whatever they are looking for. Maybe a cross reference to the HIP survey we take when purchasing our license.

RVZ
 
I've done it the last few seasons. Haven't received them this year due to the envelope shortages and I didn't have any leftovers last season.

I was also asked to keep a log for the feds, which is now an online portal vs. the old handwritten one. So I have been doing that.

I also save the carcasses for the local biologist to swab for avian flu.
 
I'm not in the questionnaire survey or wing survey this year. I've heard about the envelope shortage, but I don't have any leftover from last year.

Thank you for those who participate, your information is used to assess populations and help with setting regulations. Here is a link to the article I wrote this year for the DU magazine on the harvest survey. https://www.ducks.org/conservation/...rfowl-hunters-and-harvest-management?poe=home


I've posted links before showing the results of the harvest survey, here is the report that estimates harvest by species for each state, flyway and the whole country. https://www.fws.gov/media/migratory...st-during-2020-21-and-2021-22-hunting-seasons

Let me know if you have any questions.
 
Participated the last three years so out for a while. The return info was very generic..."hen blue bill age unknown, Canada goose sex and age unknow".
 
Brad,
That was a very informative article you wrote for DU. As for the envelope shortage, I threw my leftover envelopes away from last year. I assumed they were serial numbered for each user.

RVZ
 
There is page on the USF&WS for those participating in the harvest survey to request more envelopes. I just sent my request. Hopefully I'll have them in a couple weeks when I start hunting. This early season has been a bust for me. Too many family events preventing me from going. It's a shame too because this season has been off to a HOT START for Thomas and crew. One of the best starts I can ever remember.

Migratory Bird Harvest Surveys Materials Request | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Eric Patterson
 
I'm on my fourth year now. So guess I have another 2 after this season and didn't have issues with the envelopes and I have some leftover from last year.

Have yet to hunt this year though as putting more focus on deer plus the ducks don't really come down until January anyways anymore.
 
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