Unlucky Ducks
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According to the latest statistics from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, duck hunting remains a popular recreation activity.
In 2008, an estimated 13,635,700 ducks were harvested, one of the largest harvests recorded in the past fifty years of record keeping.
The top five unlucky duck species on the list were:
- Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
- Green-winged teal (A. crecca)
- Gadwall (A. strepera)
- Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
- American Wigeon (Anas americana)
Hunting in five states accounted for approximately forty five percent of the total harvest. In order they were:
- Louisiana - 1,750,500
- California - 1,632,900
- Arkansas - 1,258,300
- Texas - 760,600
- Oregon - 644,400
Duck hunting conditions remain favorable, primarily because of improved habitat conditions at traditional breeding sites in the northern United States and southern Canada. The 2009 Waterfowl Management report estimate, "was 42.0 million birds. This estimate represents a 13% increase over last year's estimate of 37.3 million birds, and is 25% above the long-term average".
© 2009. Patricia A. Michaels. All rights reserved.