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Harvest Information Program
by
Steve McCadams
www.stevemccadams.com
Anyone who hunts migratory
birds this season--not just ducks and geese, but doves, woodcock or other
migratory birds--must be HIP-certified. HIP stands for Harvest Information
Program, an annual program in which hunters provide information that helps
biologists manage North America’s incredible migratory gamebird
populations.
HIP is based on a voluntary survey of selected migratory bird hunters in
the United States. The state wildlife agencies collect the name, address,
and some additional information from each migratory bird hunter in their
states, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service randomly selects a sample
of those hunters and asks them to provide information on the kind and
number of migratory birds they harvest during the hunting season.
Those hunters’ reports are then used to develop reliable estimates of the
total harvest of all migratory birds throughout the country. In this way,
hunters serve as biologist’s eyes and ears in the field, helping to
improve wildlife conservation efforts and protecting the hunting heritage.
To comply with HIP, hunters must identify themselves as migratory bird
hunters and provide their name, address, and date of birth when they
purchase their licenses--something most hunters do already. They must do
this in every state in which they hunt migratory birds. Hunters also will
be asked to voluntarily answer several questions about their hunting
experience during last year's season.
Answers to these questions are not used to compile harvest estimates, but
are simply used to identify what types of birds they usually hunt. This
allows the Service to mail 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/geese.
Different states have different methods for collecting the information and
signing up hunters into the HIP program, but most states rely on hunting
license vendors to do it.
Hunters must carry proof of their participation in HIP wherever they hunt
migratory birds. Hunters who hunt migratory birds without proof of
participation in the HIP program can be ticketed or fined.
In many states, including Tennessee, HIP certification is free. The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service receives no income from this program. The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service will use names and addresses provided by hunters
for survey purposes only, and all contact information will be destroyed
immediately after processing each year.
Steve McCadams
is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing
area and host of The Outdoor Channel's television series IN-PURSUIT. |
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