Distribution and derivation of white‐winged dove harvests in Texas

Abstract

AbstractBand recoveries provide requisite data for evaluating the spatial distribution of harvest relative to the distribution of breeding stocks for a wide variety of migratory species. We used direct and indirect band‐recovery data to evaluate the distribution and derivation of harvest of white‐winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) banded before hunting season in 3 distinct strata in Texas, USA, during 2007–2010. We banded 60,742 white‐winged doves during 2007–2010, and based on 2,458 harvest recoveries, the majority (>95%) of white‐winged dove harvest occurred during the first 2 months of the hunting season (Sep–Oct). Juvenile white‐winged doves represented a greater percentage of the direct recoveries than adults across all strata (north = 80%, central = 69%, south = 82%) and the majority of direct band recoveries (north = 75%, central = 90%, south = 78%) occurred within the original banding strata. Age‐specific weighting factors and harvest derivation indicated that both juvenile and adult harvest were highest within the strata of original banding. Harvest distribution data corrected for band‐reporting rates indicated high fidelity of white‐winged doves to specific geographic strata, with little interplay between strata. Our results suggest that population vital‐rate estimates for survival and harvest for use in future Adaptive Harvest Management should focus on stock‐specific levels. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.