Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Magazine Article for all Migratory Bird Hunters

January 2002

Migratory Bird Hunters Get "HIP"

	Whether you're watching Canada geese coming in to your decoys, searching for woodcock in cut-over aspen, or trying to match the aerobatics of mourning doves over a field of nodding sunflowers, migratory birds provide some of the most enjoyable experiences the hunting tradition has to offer.
	 If you hunt migratory birds, you need to "get HIP."  The Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) is a scientific survey method by which your state wildlife agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) are able to develop reliable estimates of the number of all migratory birds harvested throughout the country.  Harvest estimates give biologists the information they need to make sound decisions about hunting seasons, bag limits, and population management.  
[Sidebar: You must be HIP-certified if you hunt any kind of migratory birds, including ducks, coots, geese, brant, swans, doves, woodcock, rails, snipe, sandhill cranes, moorhens, band-tailed pigeons, or gallinules.]
How does HIP work?

	HIP is based on a voluntary survey of selected migratory bird hunters in the United States.  The Service randomly selects a sample of hunters and asks them to provide information on the kind and number of migratory birds they harvest during the hunting season.  This information is then used to develop reliable estimates of the total harvest of all migratory birds throughout the country.
What does HIP require of hunters?

	To comply with HIP, first you must identify yourself as a migratory bird hunter and provide your name, address, and date of birth--something most hunters do already when they buy their hunting licenses.  Second, you must answer several short questions about your hunting experience during last year's season.  In some states, license vendors will ask for this information at the time you purchase your license.  In other states, you must call a toll-free telephone number to provide the information.  No matter how the information is collected in your state, once you have accurately answered the questions, you will be issued some proof that you are HIP-certified.  This proof varies by state-it may be a card or stamp or a number that you write onto your license.  You must have this proof of your participation in HIP with you whenever you hunt migratory birds. Hunting migratory birds without HIP certification is like hunting without a license-you could be ticketed or fined by state or federal conservation police officers.
[Sidebar:  When you buy your state hunting license, ask the clerk what you need to do to become HIP-certified.  If he or she does not know, check your state hunting regulations.  Even if you hold a lifetime license, you still are required to receive HIP certification.  It's your responsibility!] 

A few hunters will be surveyed

	When you become HIP-certified, your name is put in a pool along with all the other migratory bird hunters in America.  A small sample of hunters will be randomly selected from the pool and asked to complete a more detailed survey about this year's hunting season.
The short questions about last year's hunting experience that you are asked when you become HIP-certified are not part of the survey, and are not used to compile harvest estimates, but are simply used to identify what types of birds you usually hunt.  This allows the Service to target its surveys to the appropriate hunters.  For example, most surveys about dove harvest are sent to hunters who usually hunt doves, while most waterfowl harvest surveys are sent to hunters who usually hunt ducks and/or geese.
	If your name is one of the few selected for the national harvest survey, you will receive a personal letter and a hunting record form, and will be asked to voluntarily keep a record of the number of migratory birds you harvest during the season.  You will be given an addressed, postage-paid envelope to return your hunting form at the end of the season.  
[Sidebar: Responses from hunters who choose to participate will be kept strictly confidential and will not be used for any other purpose.  As soon as the harvest survey is completed, the Service will destroy all hunter names and address records.]
The follow-up survey provides the information used to develop nationwide harvest estimates for all migratory birds.
	Some states may charge a small fee to compensate for HIP administration, but the Service will not collect any money from the program.  HIP is strictly to gather information and is not a means of raising money for conservation programs.
Don't we already have migratory bird surveys?
	The Service has conducted waterfowl harvest surveys since 1952, and many states have long histories of conducting harvest surveys.  These surveys provide some of the information currently used to set waterfowl hunting regulations.  Although this information has been very useful, there are problems with the techniques that must be corrected to improve the scope and quality of the information.
	Previous federal waterfowl surveys were based on a sample of hunters who bought the federal duck stamp.  In addition to questions about the harvest of ducks, geese, and swans, the survey also included questions about non-waterfowl migratory birds.  However, there are about 2 million people who hunt only non-waterfowl species such as doves and woodcock.  Because they are not required to buy federal duck stamps, these hunters were never included in the federal harvest survey.  Information from the waterfowl harvest survey has been useful and adequate in the past, but we need to improve on it to meet the management challenges of the 21st Century.

What about state surveys?
	Responsible migratory bird management often requires determining harvest estimates for varying geographical areas, including flyway, regional, and species-specific management units.  Many individual states conduct their own migratory bird harvest surveys, but because they each use differing methods for conducting the survey, results are simply not comparable among states.  In addition, some states conduct surveys every year; other states conduct surveys only every few years; still others do not conduct surveys at all.  Several groups of experts have tried to overcome the problems associated with making state surveys compatible--so they could be combined into a national survey--but they finally agreed the idea was not feasible.  A national harvest survey that provides reliable harvest estimates at the state, flyway, and management unit level was judged to be the best approach to ensure the proper management of migratory bird resources.

What do hunters gain from HIP?
	Hunters were concerned about wildlife conservation long before it was trendy to do so.  They have a long history of taxing themselves, paying license fees, buying stamps--all to ensure the health and vigor of wildlife populations--hunted and non-hunted alike.  HIP is just another page in that history.  It is simply good conservation.  
As the threat to and concern for migratory bird populations continue to mount, it is essential to gather the best information possible about the factors affecting these populations.  It is in the hunter's best interest to have wildlife management decisions based on scientific information, not on opinions, philosophies, or politics.  The Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program, through the cooperation of hunters, will provide wildlife biologists with much of the evidence they need to ensure that our migratory bird resources--and hunting tradition--will be around for future generations to enjoy.


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