Decoy trapping and rocket-netting for northern pintails in spring

Decoy traps and rocket-nets were compared for capturing Northern Pintails (Anas acuta: hereafter pintails) during May 1991 on the Yukon Flats, Alaska. Males were captured at similar rates using both methods (1.38 vs. 1.07 males/trap d, respectively), but baited rocket-nets were more efficient than decoy traps for capturing females (0.52 vs. 0.12 females/trap d). There were no significant differences in masses of pintails captured by each method.