| Summary: | Waterfowl hunting is important historically, culturally, and economically in Mississippi and North America. I evaluated effect of hunting frequency (2 or 4 days/week) on duck abundance, harvest, and hunters perceived quality of their experience on Mississippi Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). Neither relative abundance nor harvest of all ducks, mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ), northern shoveler ( A. clypeata ), or green-winged teal ( A. crecca ) differed between experimental hunting frequencies. Duck harvest increased with hours spent afield. Hunters perceived quality did not differ between hunting frequencies but was greatest when hunters harvested > 4 ducks/ day and increased with harvest of larger sized ducks. I suggest WMAs may be hunted 4 days/week without impacting duck abundance, harvest, or hunt quality. I recommend continued evaluations of hunting frequency on duck abundance, harvest, and hunt quality to sustain science-guided management of waterfowl hunting on Mississippi public lands.
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