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Lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) availability for sport hunting, especially in the Upper Midwest, is influenced by wariness of the birds and their intolerance to disturbance. A largely unrecognized wariness of lesser scaup to all kinds of disturbances, especially sport hunting, reduces their use of many fall habitats in the lake region of the Upper Midwest. Development of appropriate harvest techniques could improve the take of these birds by sport hunting. Such techniques should emphasize availability of feeding and resting areas rather than enlarged seasons and bag limits.