A mail questionnaire survey of waterfowl hunters is conducted each year in the United States to provide information on waterfowl kill and hunter activity. We carried out a study using data from the 1971-73 and 1972-73 hunting seasons to determine the effectiveness of the present U.S. sampling and estimation techniques, and a number of modifications in both sampling and analysis is recommended.

Groups of data are organized by flyways, from Pacific to Atlantic, with appendixes of tables to correspond. Individuals or organizations that submitted a report have been credited. Although many of the narrative statements have been briefed, and a few tables deleted or shortened if they contained data submitted previously or in another form, the essential information from each report has been retained to the greatest extent possible.