January 28, 2026

Hunter fates to harvest rates: Integrating hunter behavior to inform waterfowl harvest management

Webinar Overview

Richard Berl, Research Scientist
USGS National Wildlife Health Center

The conservation of waterfowl in North America depends not only on healthy waterfowl populations and habitats, but also on the support of hunters and other conservationists; yet, the number of active hunters has been in steady decline over recent decades. To aid understanding and management of the complexity of the interconnected waterfowl-hunter-harvest system, Berl et al. (2025, J Wildl Manage) developed a modeling framework that links the population dynamics and behaviors of hunters with those of waterfowl populations over time. This framework enables predictions of how changes in harvest regulations, cultural values, or hunter R3 and participation patterns might affect game species and people, offering a more complete picture for future management decisions and progress toward integrating social objectives as the third pillar of waterfowl conservation across North America.

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