The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released results from their 2024 Waterfowl Population Survey, using data from surveys conducted in May and early June. The surveys and population estimations were conducted by the USFWS, Canadian Wildlife Service and other state and provincial partners.
The survey marks the first increase in total surveyed breeding ducks since 2015.
According to the results, the number of total ducks increased by almost 1.7 million from last year’s estimate. The 33.988 million ducks reported this year are a 5% increase from the 32.305 million the previous year but still 4% below the long-term average (LTA) since 1955. The American Wigeon improved the most, with a 55% increase over the last year from 1.89 million to 2.92 million. The American Wigeon is 12% higher than the LTA.
“This year’s report suggests that some duck populations had better production last year than expected, with good carryover to spring of this year,” said Dr. Steve Adair, chief scientist of Ducks Unlimited.
In contrast, the Northern Pintail continues to drop in population, falling 11% since 2023 estimates and 49% below the LTA. The Northern Pintail fell just under the two million mark from 2.2 million the previous year. Under the recently approved interim pintail harvest strategy, the population will still provide the opportunity for a three-pintail daily limit in the 2025-26 hunting season, the first time since 1997.
The mallard population, at 6.6 million, rose 8% but is still 16% below the LTA.
The report also examined breeding population estimates for six common species groups from the Eastern Survey Area, which includes eastern Canada and the northeastern US from Virginia to Maine. It also features status updates on goose and swan populations.
Pond estimates in the US and Canadian prairies increased 4% to 5.2 million. The report said rain in April and May “fell too late to benefit early migrants; it should improve conditions for late nesters and brood production.”
With these figures in mind, the USFWS will recommend a continued liberal duck season framework for 2025-2026, according to a companion Adaptive Harvest Management report released simultaneously with the survey results. The recommendation is for all four flyways – Pacific, Central, Mississippi and Atlantic.
For more information or to read the full report, click here.
Photo by/Credit: Georgia Hart/USFWS
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