The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s latest harvest survey shows hunters killed 12.7 million ducks during the 2002-03 season, eight percent fewer than the previous year. Given the number of complaints from hunters last season, this decline is not surprising.

By flyway, it worked out this way: Atlantic Flyway, 1.83 million ducks killed, an increase of nine percent from the previous season; Mississippi Flyway, 5,97 million ducks, down 10 percent; Central Flyway, 2,57 million ducks, down 21 percent, and Pacific Flyway, 2.29 million, no change.

A more meaningful analysis involves the distribution of the kill. Northern states fared better than their southern counterparts, as can be seen by looking at the total kill and percentage change from the previous season of the seven top-ranking states.

1. Arkansas, 1.14 million, -19 percent.

2. California, 974,100 ducks, -7 percent.

3. Minnesota, 944,600, +10 percent.

4. Texas, 924,400, -46 percent.

5. Louisiana, 820,800, -31 percent.

6. North Dakota, 530,600, +7 percent.

7. Wisconsin, 529,500, +43 percent.

As you can see, the kill in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas declined an average of 32 percent, while North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin averaged a 20 percent increase in their kill. (California is an exception because it reduced its season length last season below the federally allowable maximum.)

The reasons for this are unclear. In the Mississippi Flyway some suggested abnormally warm weather allowed ducks, especially mallards, to winter farther north. Others declared the lack of ducks in the Deep South resulted from increased food supplies and construction of greater wintering habitat in northern states. This is viewed as short-stopping, a practice critics say shows no signs of diminishing.

The largest kill increase in a major waterfowling state occurred in Michigan. The service said its hunters bagged 416,600 ducks, an astonishing 118 percent over the previous season.

The somewhat bizarre results suggest that many will question the accuracy of the services harvest estimates. (We will have more on this in subsequent postings.)

For the moment, however, we can examine the service’s state-by-state listing. The first figure is the total duck kill, the second the percentage increase or decrease from the previous season. States are listed alphabetically by flyway.

ATLANTIC FLYWAY

Connecticut, 32,900, +19%

Delaware, 59,000, +33%

Florida, 130,700, +36%

Georgia, 81,100, -18%

Maine, 80,600, +47%

Maryland, 192,900, -5%

Massachusetts, 24,900, -30%

New Hampshire, 20,100, +18%

New Jersey, 74,700, +21%

New York, 237,100, +27%

North Carolina, 227,400, -16%

Pennsylvania, 248,100, no change

Rhode Island, 7,600, -18%

South Carolina, 201,600, +20%

Vermont, 26,800, +52%

Virginia, 178,000, +39%

West Virginia, 7,500, +150%

MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY

Alabama, 209,400, +7%

Arkansas, 1,137,200, -19%

Illinois, 363,300, -9%

Indiana, 137,900, +15%

Iowa, 287,200, -3%

Kentucky, 144,700, -28%

Louisiana, 820,800, -31%

Michigan, 416,600, +118%

Minnesota, 944,600, +10%

Mississippi, 246,700, -11%

Missouri, 229,700, -59%

Ohio, 193,300, +33%

Tennessee, 313,200, -23%

Wisconsin, 529,500, +43%

CENTRAL FLYWAY

Colorado, 94,600, -31%

Kansas, 221,400, +24%

Nebraska, 225,400, +5%

New Mexico, 89,800, +46%

North Dakota, 530,600, +7%

Oklahoma, 195,200, +7%

South Dakota, 250,200, +4%

Texas, 924,400, -46%

Wyoming, 43,000, +2%

PACIFIC FLYWAY

Arizona, 34,900, -11%

California, 974,100, -7%

Idaho, 160,600, +16%

Montana, 130,900, +7%

Nevada, 46,000, +31%

Oregon, 351,300, +10%

Utah, 195,000, 18%

Washington, 393,100, -7%