T. H. Roberts

A Comparison of 1990-1991 State and Federal Goose Harvest Estimates for Tennessee

A multi-phase mail and telephone survey of 9,000 hunters was used to estimate the harvest of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) in Tennessee during the 1990-91 hunting season. The estimate, 13,429 (CI ± 2,469), was substantially lower than that produced by the annual waterfowl harvest survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for that same period. If a high degree of accuracy is needed by states when formulating season framework and harvest recommendations, a detailed state-specific survey may be needed. Methods for conducting a scaled-down version of this survey that would meet...

Beaver Pelt Damage in Mississippi

Beaver pelts from the Mississippi Beaver Cooperative fur sale held during March 1980 were examined to determine both the extent and origin of the damage responsible for downgrading. Of 1,914 pelts in the sample, 1,255 (65.6%) were significantly damaged. Damage inflicted by beaver accounted for 27.5% of the total. Skinning and fleshing cuts accounted for 31.5% of the damage. All other types plus those of unknown origin totaled 41.0%. Methods of dealing with the damage problem are discussed.