National Migratory Bird Harvest Survey

How do waterfowl hunters contribute to waterfowl and habitat conservation?

Contribution 1: Register for the Harvest Information Program

If you recently registered to hunt, you may remember answering questions about the types of birds that you hunt through the Harvest Information Program (HIP). By registering for HIP, you become part of a national effort to manage waterfowl sustainably for all Americans. We use HIP responses to select a sample of hunters for the Harvest Survey. This survey gathers critical information about migratory bird harvest and hunter activity that is used to set hunting season dates, hunting zones, and bag limits.

Only 5% of hunters are selected for the Harvest Survey. In your state, what is the chance of being selected?

*values are averages from 2019-2020

If you are one of the few hunters selected for the Harvest Survey, your contribution will make a difference!

Contribution 2: Buy a Duck Stamp

When hunters register to hunt waterfowl, they purchase a federal duck stamp. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's duck stamp program funds wetland habitat acquisitions, easements, and protection. 98% of all duck stamp sales contribute directly to wetland conservation, which provides more hunting opportunities. Explore the data below to see the program's monetary contributions to waterfowl habitat conservation.

Duck Stamp Revenue* in Present Value and Number of Duck Stamps sold

*Inflation occurs when prices increase over time. For example, a dollar 20 years ago could buy more than a dollar now. Duck stamp prices have increased over time because the price of land has increased over time. Face value (the price on a stamp) has increased over time to consistently raise enough money for waterfowl conservation.

Explore Duck Stamp data to see how your contributions matter

Explore the graphs and maps below to see the distribution of land funded by duck stamps. All data are from 2000 to 2018, but duck stamps have funded refuges and waterfowl production areas since the 1920s.

Acres purchased in your flyway

Black boxes are selected, gray are unselected. Click to select one or more flyways.

Larger area denotes a larger number of acres purchased.

Acreage increases on National Wildlife Refuges and Waterfowl Production Areas

Mouse over to see refuge and Waterfowl Production Area names

Duck-Stamp-funded National Wildlife Refuges with access to hunting

Mouse over to see the refuge names. Symbol size reflects acreage available.
To see more information about hunt units, go to Find Your Hunt.

Registering for HIP and buying a duck stamp are two important ways that hunters contribute to waterfowl conservation.

US Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Migratory Bird Management
Web content created by Emma Chan and Abby Walter