2012 Waterfowl Hunter Survey Report

Waterfowl migrate throughout the United States yearly; therefore, regulations on waterfowl hunting can have nationwide impacts.  As a result, waterfowl hunting is regulated federally by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).  The USFWS set season lengths and bag limits, called ‘frameworks’. States then select season dates and bag limits within the guidelines of the frameworks.

Within the Adaptive Harvest Management Strategy, the USFWS can select among four frameworks depending on the results of the Breeding Population Estimate and the May Pond Count. Ohio is in the Mississippi Flyway; the four framework options for ducks in the Mississippi flyway are: closed season, restrictive (30 days and 3 duck bag limit), moderate (45 days and 6 bird bag limit), and liberal (60 days and 6 bird bag limit).  For 2012, the USFWS selected the liberal framework for duck seasons and bag limits in the Mississippi Flyway, meaning member states could open duck hunting seasons for 60 days with a 6 duck bag limit.  The Mississippi Flyway has been under the liberal framework since 1997.

Since 2009, the Ohio Division of Wildlife has surveyed hunters online to gather input on preferred season dates and split dates for waterfowl hunting season.  The 2012 survey was conducted from July 1^st through August 1^st and was open to any hunter.  A total of 570 hunters completed the 2012 survey, of which 93% indicated they waterfowl hunted in 2011.  Results are presented below.

We will continue to survey waterfowl hunters through online surveys in 2013.  We encourage all waterfowl hunters to participate in this survey, so that their opinions are represented.

Hunters participating in this survey are required to provide their customer ID (located on their hunting license).  Survey entries with invalid, duplicate, or incomplete customer ID’s are deleted and do not influence regulations.

Questions and Results:

Did you hunt waterfowl last season?

How would you rate your overall satisfaction with last year’s waterfowl hunting season in Ohio?

What is your most preferred time period to hunt waterfowl in the zone/county you selected above?

What is your second most preferred time period to hunt waterfowl in the zone/county you selected above?

When would you most like to have the split (closed portion) between open season segments in the zone/county selected above? 

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service may allow more harvest opportunity for Canada geese within the Mississippi Flyway in the near future. If given a choice, which of the following options would you prefer for enhancing Ohio's Canada goose hunting season?