What percentage of waterfowl are harvested each year?

The correct choice indicates that 10 to 15 percent of the waterfowl population is harvested each year, which reflects a balance between sustainable hunting practices and conservation efforts. This percentage is grounded in the principles of wildlife management, which aim to maintain healthy populations of waterfowl while allowing for regulated hunting that does not threaten their long-term survival.

Sustainable harvest levels are guided by scientific research and monitoring, ensuring that hunting does not exceed the capacity of waterfowl populations to reproduce and thrive. Wildlife management organizations, such as Ducks Unlimited, implement strategies based on this data to create a framework for hunting that supports both conservation and recreational opportunities.

In contrast, the other options represent higher percentages that could indicate overharvesting, potentially jeopardizing waterfowl populations, and leading to ecological imbalance, which is why they are not considered valid in this context.