Derivation Of Northern Wood Ducks Harvested In Southern States Of The Mississippi Flyway

Over 2,400 first-year band recoveries of 144,800 northern banded wood ducks (Aix sponsa) were examined to identify the source of northern migrants harvested during 1950 through 1968 hunting seasons in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. Harvest trends for the seven-state area revealed that 20 percent of the northern migrants was derived from Eastern Canada and Atlantic Flyway production areas. However, 80 percent of the northern birds was obtained from two Mississippi Flyway production areas. Individual state derivation patterns of northern adults and immatures are discussed in detail.