Effect of hunting on annual survival of Canada geese in Utah

Analyzed band-recovery data from Branta canadensis moffitti banded in Utah during 1952-84. Investigations of the hypotheses of additive and compensatory mortality were conducted on the basis of response of survival rates to variations in harvest regulations, correlation of survival rates with recovery rates, and linear relationships between survival rates and kill rates. Survival rates showed weak relationships to variation in season length, were negatively correlated with recovery rates and showed weak evidence of linearity in relation to kill rates. Whether these relationships are manifestations of additive mortality, or compensatory mortality operating above the threshold point, cannot be determined. They may be explained by the high intrinsic survival rate of the species in the absence of hunting, which allows little potential for compensation. -from Author