Hunter Success in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area

Forty-nine hunters were surveyed in the Six Mile Slough and Duck Lake Units during the 1984 waterfowl hunting season to determine the hunter success. The hunter success decreased slightly this year to last year (1.9 compared to 1.6 birds bagged per hunter per day). Also, the hunter success varied considerably between the two units. Twenty-six hunters were surveyed in the Six Mile Slough Unit, resulting in a success rate of 2.3 birds bagged/hunter/day. Twenty-three hunters were surveyed in the Duck Lake Unit and had a success rate of 0.9 birds bagged/hunter/day. Species composition changed as the season progressed, resulting in fewer species within the hunter's bag during the last half of the season. Overall, crippling losses increased this year from 13.6% to 30.8%. Also, the crippling loss was found to be higher in the Duck Lake Unit as opposed to the Six Mile Slough Unit (27.0% compared to 35.1%). Skybusting was not a problem in the beginning of the season, but increased as the season progressed. Also, there appeared to be more skybusting in the Duck Lake Unit as opposed to the Six Mile Slough Unit. Generally, the hunters using the Six Mile Slough Unit possessed better equipment and usually used more equipment to improve shooting conditions and insure better retrieval of waterfowl.