How to Report a Banded Duck
Every hunting season, hunters shoot ducks that have bands on their legs. These are prized ducks for hunters since banded ducks are rarer than non-banded ducks. They also are prized ducks for the scientists who place the bands on the ducks. That is because when hunters kill banded ducks, and then report that kill, scientists can obtain information on the movement pattern of ducks, mortality rates and survival. To learn how to report a banded duck, read on.
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Instructions
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How to Report a Banded Duck
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Remove the band from the leg of the duck. The easiest way to do this is to use a knife or other cutting instrument to cut the leg off while you are cleaning the duck. Once you have cut the duck's leg off, you can slide the band off. If you do not plan to keep the band, it is not necessary to remove it from the leg of the duck.
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Look at the numbers listed on the band. You should see a band identification number and a telephone number.
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Call the phone number listed. The main phone number is 1-800-327-BAND and goes to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Bird Banding Laboratory of the United States Geologic Survey. Online reporting also is available at www.reportband.gov.
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Report the necessary information, including where and when you harvested the duck, the species, the number on the band, the color of the band and how the duck died. Provide your contact information so that you can receive a certificate of appreciation and information about where and when the duck you harvested was banded.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider collecting bands so you have some memories of the ducks you have shot.
