Waterfowl wounding monitoring

The GMA is conducting research to monitor trends in waterfowl wounding, as part of a Waterfowl Wounding Monitoring Program.

The GMA is conducting research to monitor trends in waterfowl wounding, as part of a Waterfowl Wounding Monitoring Program.

The Waterfowl Wounding Monitoring Program provides an index of waterfowl wounding as a result of hunting and is designed to monitor trends over time.

The program involves trapping game ducks and x-raying them for embedded shotgun pellets.

In 2022, a total of 596 ducks were captured and x-rayed. Of the 596 ducks, 3.4 per cent (20 ducks) were found with embedded pellets. The 3.4 per cent represents an index, not the actual wounding rate.

Both adult and immature (first year) ducks were captured and x-rayed. Immature ducks had almost three times the infliction rate of adult ducks. Assessing immature ducks is important for providing a more accurate indication of the infliction rate from a single duck season.

This research was conducted following the 2022 duck season, from 14 June to 22 August.  The GMA will continue the research following the 2023 duck season.

Over time, the data collected through the Waterfowl Wounding Monitoring Program will be used to assess the effectiveness of actions to reduce waterfowl wounding.

The results of the monitoring program will also inform the GMA’s hunter education programs.

The GMA provides a wide range of education materials to hunters, including videos, guidelines and fact sheets on how to reduce wounding and hunt responsibly.

For information on how to reduce waterfowl wounding, visit REDUCE Wounding.

For more details on the wounding monitoring program, read the 2022 Waterfowl Wounding Monitoring Program report, or visit Duck Research.