Distribution and derivation of dabbling duck harvests in the Pacifc Flyway

Hunters in the Pacifc Flyway harvest a wide diversity of dabbling ducks, and better knowledge of the origins of these birds could assist in both harvest and habitat management. We used abundance, banding, and harvest data from throughout the Pacifc Flyway and other important source areas in the Central Flyway to estimate the distribution and derivation of Pacifc Flyway dabbling duck harvests during 1966-2013. Although most of the combined Pacifc Flyway dabbling duck harvest was derived from Alaskan and Canadian sources, each Pacifc Flyway state relied extensively on within-state production for at least some species, especially mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), gadwalls (Mareca strepera), cinnamon teal (Spatula cyanoptera), and wood ducks (Aix sponsa). Harvest from California was especially diverse, including large proportions of ducks produced in California in addition to migrants from throughout the Pacifc and Central Flyways. Although the Pacifc Flyway has long been recognized as a critical wintering area for dabbling ducks, our analyses indicate it is also an important production area for several species. Sustaining future waterfowl harvests will require continued recognition of the diverse production origins of waterfowl that winter in the Pacifc Flyway.