EFFECTS OF LIBERALIZED HARVEST REGULATIONS ON WOOD DUCKS IN THE ATLANTIC FLYWAY

Abstract

A comprehensive study of wood duck (Aix sponsa) population dynamics led Bowers and Martin (1975) to suggest that birds in the southern Atlantic Flyway could possibly sustain additional harvest pressure without adverse impact. However, they suggested that any increase in harvest should take place before northern birds, which exhibited comparatively low survival rates, arrive on wintering grounds. Based on this premise, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) offered southern Atlantic Flyway states certain options for liberalization of wood duck harvest regulations. The wood duck season was first offered to Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida in 1977. The option allows these states to split their regular hunting season to provide not more than 9 consecutive days of hunting during 1-15 October. During this period, daily bag limits are 5 and 4 wood ducks in states selecting conventional bag limits and the point system, respectively. In lieu of the early wood duck season option, Florida is conducting an experimental September waterfowl season (5 days, bag limit of 4/day). During 1977-1979 only Virginia and North Carolina conducted early wood duck seasons. In 1980 Georgia also selected the option, but seasons with liberalized bag limits for wood ducks were not conducted in all southern states until 1981. Because of concern over potential impacts on nontarget northern populations, the Atlantic Flyway Council recommended a study of the effects of liberalized regulations. Therefore, we determined temporal changes in Atlantic Flyway wood duck harvest, recovery rates, and survival. We discuss the management implications of the results.