2002-2003 WATERFOWL HARVEST DOWN SLIGHTLY

More than 12.7 million ducks were harvested in the United States in the 2002, according to preliminary estimates compiled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This number is down eight percent from 13.9 million in 2001. Also in the 2002 season, hunters harvested nearly 3.4 million geese, down seven percent from 3.6 million from the previous year.

The Service recently released a report called, Harvest Information Program: Preliminary Estimates of Waterfowl Hunter Activity and Harvest during the 2001 and 2002 Hunting Seasons, estimating waterfowl hunting activity, success, and harvest by species.

"Despite dry habitat conditions and a warm winter in 2002 that may have contributed to a reduced harvest, it