Luck, I hunt in Michigan and have shot 5 bands in two years and been hunting for12 years. First one was2006 seasonand it was a goose 1 year old. Then a friend took me to his field to duck hunt, were he has been hunting for 10 years and has never seen a band. First set of birds come in I took 3 mallards and one was banded 7 years old. I shot 3 bands this2007 seasonand 1 goosewas from the east side of Canada and the other was shot 30 mileseast of were it was banded 9 years ago. The last one this year will tell everyone that it is luck to get a band unless you hunt near a golf course. Shot a Blue Bill that was banded in Jan.1988 out of New York. The bird Hatched 1987 or earlier. This bird is now the oldest blue bill on record 20 years and 5 months as stated by the USGS.