BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Statistical population reconstruction offers a robust approach to demographic assessment for harvested populations, but current methods are restricted to big‐game species with multiple age classes. We extended this approach to small game and analyzed 14 years of age‐at‐harvest data for greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in Oregon, USA, in conjunction with radiotelemetry data to reconstruct annual abundance levels, recruitment, and natural survival probabilities. Abundance estimates ranged from a low of 26,236 in 1995 to a high of 39,492 in 2004. Annual abundance estimates for adult males were correlated with a spring lek count index (r = 0.849, P < 0.029). We estimated the average annual harvest mortality for the population to be 0.028, ranging from 0.021 to 0.031 across years. We estimated the probability of natural survival of adult females to be 0.818 ( = 0.052), somewhat higher than that of adult males (Ŝ = 0.609, = 0.163). Our precision in reconstructing the population was hampered by low harvest rates and the few birds tagged in the radiotelemetry investigations. Despite these issues, our analysis illustrates how modern statistical reconstruction procedures offer a flexible framework for demographic assessment using commonly collected data. This approach offers a useful alternative to small‐game indices and would be most appropriate for species with 5 or more years of age‐at‐harvest data and moderate‐to‐heavy harvest rates.

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Increasing concerns about the exposure of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) to spent lead shot may lead to a review of lead‐shot restrictions. Policy reviews regarding current restrictions likely will involve debates about whether nontoxic‐shot requirements will result in increased crippling loss of mourning doves. We evaluated waterfowl crippling rates in the United States prior to, during, and after implementation of nontoxic‐shot regulations for waterfowl hunting. We use this information to make inferences about mourning dove crippling rates if nontoxic‐shot regulations are enacted. We found differences in moving average crippling rates among the 3 treatment periods for ducks (F = 23.232, P < 0.001, n = 49). Prenontoxic‐shot‐period crippling rates were lower than 5‐year phase‐in period crippling rates (P = 0.043) but higher (P < 0.001) than nontoxic‐shot‐period crippling rates. Similarly, we observed differences in moving average crippling rates among the 3 treatment periods for geese (F = 9.385, P < 0.001, n = 49). Prenontoxic‐shot‐ and 5‐year‐phase‐in‐period crippling rates were both greater than (P < 0.001) nontoxic‐shot‐period crippling rates but did not differ from one another (P = 0.299). Regardless of why the observed increases occurred in reported waterfowl crippling rates during the phase‐in period, we believe the decline that followed full implementation of the nontoxic‐shot regulation is of ultimate importance when considering the impacts of lead shot restrictions for mourning doves. We argue that long‐term mourning dove crippling rates might not increase as evidenced from historical waterfowl data.