Harvest Information Program (HIP) Registration

Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration.

As part of a national program to monitor hunter numbers and harvest, anyone hunting migratory game birds (ducks, geese, woodcock, mourning dove, snipe, rails, gallinules [moorhens] and coots) in Wisconsin is required to first obtain the Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification prior to hunting any of those species. The requirement to be HIP certified is not unique to Wisconsin. To hunt migratory game birds in any state, you will have to be first HIP certified in that state. You must be HIP registered annually and can conveniently do this when purchasing your hunting license each year free of charge.

Who must be HIP certified?

Everyone who hunts migratory game birds in Wisconsin must be HIP certified. This includes all resident and nonresident annual license holders, Senior Citizen Recreation Card holders, first year hunter safety graduates and armed service personnel home on leave. It is important to obtain HIP certification if you think you may hunt migratory birds during the season even while hunting a resident (non-migratory) bird. For example, if you are planning on hunting ruffed grouse (non-migratory) but may hunt woodcock (migratory) while on the same hunting trip you need to be HIP certified.

Why must I be HIP certified?

Wildlife populations fluctuate annually. These changes in wildlife numbers are driven primarily by changes in habitat and weather. However, as populations change, hunting regulations need to adapt to the changes in the available resource.

Responsible management of migratory bird populations and migratory bird hunting includes and ability to monitor harvest levels and hunter numbers. This information is critical to sustaining bird populations and the ability to hunt them. Because migratory birds move across the continent annually, monitoring harvest impacts on these species is particularly challenging.

Migratory birds are protected by international treaty and federal laws because they move between countries and states. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is the federal agency responsible for the management of migratory birds. The USFWS designed and manages the HIP system in order to monitor harvest of not only ducks and geese but also doves, woodcock and other migratory game bird species. State wildlife agencies have agreed to help the USFWS and provide convenience to hunters by HIP certifying migratory bird hunters when selling state hunting licenses.

How do I become HIP certified?

The process to become HIP certified is simple. When you apply for your hunting license you will be asked, “Do you intend to hunt migratory game birds in Wisconsin this year?” If you answer yes, you will be asked about the number of ducks and geese you harvested last year and whether or not you hunted doves, coots, gallinules, rails, snipe, or woodcock last year. Once those questions are answered, you are HIP certified. If you answer no to the question, “Do you intend to hunt migratory game birds this year?”, you are not certified and it would be illegal for you to hunt any species of migratory game bird in Wisconsin. If you obtain your hunting license and indicate you do not want to be HIP certified and then later in the season you decide you do want to hunt migratory game birds in Wisconsin, you can easily become certified at any DNR Service Center or license sales agent.

How much does HIP certification cost?

There is no additional charge to become HIP certified.

What happens after I am certified?

The USFWS will randomly select a sample of HIP certified waterfowl hunters, woodcock hunters, dove hunters, etc and ask them to participate in a harvest survey. Those selected will be asked to record daily hunting and harvest information in a small diary that will be provided and then return the diary to USFWS immediately following the season. The questions that you answer when being HIP certified are not used to create harvest estimates but place each hunter in a list of hunters to potentially be asked to participate in a harvest survey. The results of the hunting diaries submitted to the USFWS are used to estimate harvest of the various species and the number of active hunters of different migratory birds. In addition, the Wisconsin DNR may also use this list to contact hunters on a random basis and ask their opinions about certain aspects of hunting season regulations. We will ask duck hunters about duck regulations, woodcock hunters about woodcock seasons, etc. The information provided will be used to help us better manage our migratory game bird resources.

Thanks!

Your cooperation and support of HIP is greatly appreciated. Harvest information obtained as a result of HIP will help us manage our migratory game bird resources so your children and grandchildren can also enjoy the thrills of migratory game bird hunting for generations to come.

For information about this topic, contact: Assistant Migratory Game Bird Ecologist.

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