Episode 25: Waterfowl Hunting in the Keystone State

From its rivers, streams, wetlands and agricultural fields, Pennsylvania offers waterfowl – and waterfowl hunters – many diverse and appealing habitats. Through careful planning and habitat management, Pennsylvania has become one of the top states in the Atlantic Flyway, with ample hunting opportunities for Canada goose, mallards and wood ducks. In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett discusses the biology and migrations of waterfowl in Pennsylvania with Nate Huck, Waterfowl Program Specialist for the Game Commission. As the agency’s Waterfowl Biologist, Nate’s main focuses throughout the year include post-season banding, waterfowl surveys and flyway communication with other states. He emphasized the importance of analyzing the banding and survey data to estimate survival and harvest rates, because both play a crucial role in proposing annual seasons and bag limits.