Memphis, TN – A new Ducks Unlimited and duckDNA research update shows that a significant portion of mallards harvested across the United States carry game-farm ancestry, particularly in the eastern flyways.
According to data from the 2024–25 season, researchers analyzed 758 mallard samples nationwide and found that 19% contained game-farm genetic markers. The prevalence varied widely across flyways — from just 11% in the Central Flyway to 74% in the Atlantic Flyway, where captive-bred stock has historically been released for hunting and restoration.
The Mississippi Flyway showed a 22% prevalence, while the Pacific Flyway recorded 15%, consistent with earlier studies by Dr. Phillip Lavretsky and the University of Texas at El Paso.
Researchers say these findings suggest long-term genetic blending between wild and domestic mallards, especially in the eastern U.S. “Even with only two years of sampling, we detected game-farm ancestry in 45 of 48 states,” project leaders noted.
Ducks Unlimited and participating hunters will continue collecting samples to refine understanding of how released game-farm mallards influence native populations and conservation strategies.
