In-Hand Duck Identification by Hunters at Mississippi Flyway Public Hunting Areas

• Published in: Wildlife Society bulletin 1995-10, Vol.23 (3), p.472-480
• Main Authors: Wilson, Barry C., Rohwer, Frank C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Birds; Critically Questioning; Ducks; Fowling; Hunting; Hunting seasons; Public property; Questionnaires; Specimens; Test scores; Training; Waterfowl; Wildlife refuges
• ISSN: 0091-7648; 1938-5463

We used mounted specimens and questionnaire responses to assess hunter abilities to identify 13 species of ducks in-hand at public hunting areas in 10 states of the Mississippi Flyway during 1992-1993. Our study showed that hunters using public hunting areas can identify most ducks in hand. Hunters had increased ability to identify species they regularly encounter. Females of uncommon species were most frequently misidentified. Identification abilities were best among hunters that had hunted ≥6 years. Hunters that used identification aids were not more able than non-users to identify ducks, even among hunters with only 1 or 2 years experience hunting ducks. Most hunters were willing to attend a waterfowl identification course, especially those hunters most in need of improvement in waterfowl identification. Distributors of waterfowl identification materials should be aware that hunters most in need of improvement are novices that may not be reached through traditional avenues of information dissemination to waterfowlers. Area-specific training focused on restricted harvest species may especially enhance hunter ability.