Hunter Participation, Harvest, and Hunting Behavior During the 2015 Illinois Conservation Order Season

Harvest of light geese(Chen caerulescens, Chen rossii)during the 2015Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order season was estimated at 123,944. An estimated 2,599 hunters participated in the 2015 Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order season. Hunters spent an estimated 30,360days afield during 2015, and the majority (53%) of the snow goose harvest occurred during the month of February. Due to changes in sampling of addresses and calculation of estimates,comparisons should not be made to years2013 and before in figures and tables. Addresses were sampled from Harvest Information Program (HIP)registrants who reported they hunted snow and other light geese (including Ross’ and Blue geese) during the 2014Light Goose Conservation Order seasons. Electronic calls were used by 78% of hunters, 77% used unplugged shotguns, and 60% reported hunting between sunset and ½ hour after sunset. Forty-five percent of snow goose hunters indicated an increase in effort over the past five years, and 39% of hunters perceived an increase in snow goose abundance during the regular goose seasons. A majority of the hunters(80%) were interested in snow goose hunting to extend their hunting season.Federal Aid Project Number W-112-R-24IDNR Division of WildlifeU.S. Fish & Wildlife Serviceunpublishednot peer reviewe

2014-2015 Illinois Otter Trapper Report

llinois otter trapping was reinstated during the 2012-2013 Illinois Furbearer Trapping season. During 2014-2015, thethirdyear of reinstatement, 495 Illinois residents who trapped an otter were provided anotter permit; each otter trapper was mailed a 4-page questionnaire. We received 342 (74%) usable questionnaires. During the 2014-15 season, an average of 30 traps were set per trapper over the course of 43 days or nights. Respondents harvested an average of 2.2 otters (Lontra canadensis) for a total of 723 otters, which represented a 25% decrease from 2013-14. Participants also harvested 15,513 raccoons (Procyon lotor), 7,410 muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), and 2,557 opossum (Didelphis virginiana) during the 2014-2015 Illinois trapping season. Trapper attitudes toward wildlife related issuesand marketing practices were also examined.IDNR Division of WildlifeU.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceFederal Aid Project Number W-112-R-24unpublishednot peer reviewe

2014-2015 Illinois Hunter Harvest Report

A random sample of 3,000 hunters wasselected from 2014Illinois resident Habitat Stampand hunting licenseholdersandmailed an 8-page self-administered questionnaire designed to query hunters about their hunting activities and harvest in Illinois. We received1,296questionnaires,1,207of which were usable, for a 43% response rate. Illinois resident license salesdecreased1.0% from 2013(281,399) to the 2014seasons(278,546).Total days afield decreased for 12 game species (rabbit, dove, snipe, rail, crow, turkey, deer, raccoon, coyote, opossum, red and gray fox) from 2013-14, but increased for 4 species (woodcock, groundhog, and red and gray squirrel).Harvest decreased for 9game species(dove, woodcock, snipe, crow, raccoon, red and gray fox, coyote, and opossum) from 2013-2014, butincreasedfor 3species (groundhog, gray squirrel and fox squirrel). Harvestdid not change for onegame species (rail)and could not be compared for fourgame species (rabbit, wild quail, wild pheasant, and wild gray partridge).Hunters were also asked about small game hunting, applying for Free Upland Game Permits, and the effects of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) and Blue Tongue Virus (BTV) on deer hunting, as well as their opinionsabouthunting experiences and regulationsin Illinois.Federal Aid Project Number W-112-R-24IDNR Division of WildlifeU.S. Fish & Wildlife Serviceunpublishednot peer reviewe

Hunter Participation, Harvest, and Hunting Behavior During the 2016 Illinois Conservation Order Season

Harvest of light geese (Chen caerulescens, Chen rossii)during the 2016 Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order season was estimated at 121,689. An estimated 2,187 hunters participated in the 2016 Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order season. Hunters spent an estimated 33,048 days afield during 2016, and the majority (61%) of the snow goose harvest occurred during the month of February. Due to changes in sampling of addresses and calculation of estimates, comparisons should not be made to years 2013 and before in figures and tables. Addresses were sampled from Harvest Information Program (HIP) registrants who reported they hunted snow and other light geese (including Ross’ and Blue geese) during the 2015 Light Goose Conservation Order seasons. Electronic calls were used by 82% of hunters, 79% used unplugged shotguns, and 67% reported hunting between sunset and ½ hour after sunset. Forty-nine percent of snow goose hunters indicated an increase in effort over the past five years, and 37% of hunters perceived an increase in snow goose abundance during the regular goose seasons. A majority of the hunters were interested in snow goose hunting to enjoy the outdoors (91%) and extend their hunting season (86%)U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Aid Project Number W-112-R-25 Job Number 101.4 Wildlife Restoration Oct. 1, 2015-Sept. 30, 2016unpublishednot peer reviewe

2013-2014 Illinois Trapper Report: Harvest, Effort, and Trapper Education Courses

A random sample of 1,200 persons who purchased a 2013resident Illinois trapping license was generated from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources licensing database.Licensees were mailed a 4-page questionnaire, and we received 748(64%) questionnaires.Trapping license sales increased 23%from 2012(6,320licenses)to 2013(7,782).Trappers set an average of 18.5traps for an average of 27.8days or nights during the 2013-2014season,and they harvested an estimated251,178furbearers (up29% from the 195,360harvested in 2012-2013).An estimated 151,367raccoons (Procyon lotor) were trapped by trappers during the 2013-2014Illinois trapping season, an increase of 44%from the estimated 104,947trapped during the 2012-2013season.Opossum(Didelphis virginiana) harvest was the next highest at34,208opossumstrapped (47% increasefrom previous year).Sightings of bobcat (Lynx rufus) by trappers, and harvest of furbearers by hunting,were also documented.unpublishednot peer reviewe

Hunter Participation, Harvest, and Hunting Behavior During the 2014 Illinois Conservation Order Season

Harvest of light geese(Chen caerulescens, Chen rossii) during the 2014Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order season was estimated at 82,161. An estimated 1,962hunters participated in the 2014 Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order season. Hunters spent an estimated 21,170 days afield during 2014, and the majority (51%) of the light goose harvest occurred during the month of March. Due to changes in sampling of addresses and calculation of estimates, comparisons cannot be made to previous years’ figures. Addresses were sampled from Harvest Information Program (HIP) registrants who indicated they hunted light geese during the 2013 waterfowl hunting season. Electronic calls were used by 81% of hunters, 77% used unplugged shotguns, and 70%indicated hunting between sunset and ½ hour after sunset. Fifty-six percent of light goose hunters indicated an increase in effort over the past five years, and 49% of hunters perceived an increase in light goose abundance during the regular goose seasons.A majority of the hunters(91%) were interested in light goose hunting to extend their hunting season.unpublishednot peer reviewe

Conservation Reserve Program in Illinois: Investigation of Participants' Motives, Expectations, and Desired Outcomes

A mail survey of 5,000 Illinois agriculture producers resulted in a 39% response rate. Survey questions focused on conservation program enrollment and wildlife habitat conservation. More than half (56%) of respondents were currently participating or participated in the past in a conservation program. At the time of the survey thirty-four percent of agriculture producers participated in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and 91% were familiar with this program. Native grasses/forbs and wildlife habitat were the most commonly reported conservation practices performed by respondents. The most important reasons among survey respondents for enrolling in a conservation program were to reduce soil erosion, increase wildlife habitat, and improve water quality. The majority of agriculture producers (85%) believed that it is their personal responsibility to help protect wildlife, whereas only 62% believed that farmers as a whole were doing their part to protect wildlife habitat.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of WildlifeU.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

2015-2016 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Report: Harvest, Youth Hunts, and Season Preferences

A total of 2,012(44%response rate) Illinois waterfowl hunters responded to the 2015-16Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Survey. An estimated 40,104waterfowl hunters spent795,289days afield, adecreaseof 19% from the 982,193 days devoted during the 2014-2015license year. Waterfowl harvest decreased11.4%, from 550,946 during 2014-15to 488,321during 2015-16.Duck harvest estimates for the regular duck season were as follows: 166,506mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), 43,655wood ducks (Aix sponsa), and 119,619other ducks. A total of 28,031teal (Anasspp.) were harvested during the September teal season. Goose hunters harvested 75,198Canada geese (Branta canadensis) during the regular Canada goose season, a 14.2% decreasefrom the 87,672Canadageese harvested during the 2014-15regular goose season. Hunters harvested 15,693Canada geese during the September Canada goose season, a 17.8% decreasefrom the previous year. During the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season, 4,718adults took 6,291youths waterfowl hunting, a 26.3% decrease in adult participation and a 26.6% decrease in youth participation from the 2014-15Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season.Duck huntercommitment to waterfowl hunting, preferences for season and zones,and satisfaction with the waterfowl seasons are also discussed.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Aid Project Number W-112-R-25Illinois Department of Natural Resource, Division of Wildlifeunpublishednot peer reviewe

2015-2016 Illinois Hunter Harvest Report

A random sample of 3,000 hunters was selected from 2015 Illinois resident Habitat Stamp and hunting license holders and mailed an 8-page self-administered questionnaire designed to query hunters about their hunting activities and harvest in Illinois. We received 1,447 questionnaires, 1,319 of which were usable, for a 47% response rate. Illinois resident license sales decreased 2.4% from 2014 (278,546) to the 2015 seasons (271,939). Total days afield decreased for 11game species (rabbit, dove, crow, groundhog, fox and gray squirrel, turkey, coyote, opossum, red and gray fox) from 2014-15, but increased for 3 species (woodcock, deer, and raccoon). Harvest decreased for 10 game species (rabbit, dove, crow, groundhog raccoon, fox and gray squirrel, red fox, coyote, and opossum) from 2014-2015, but increased for 4 species (woodcock, turkey, deer, and gray fox). Harvest could not be compared for two game species (wild quail and wild pheasant). Efforts to distinguish between harvested wild birds and birds harvested on shooting preserves began in 2012, but suitable data points to develop adjustment factors have not been obtained. Hunters were also asked about hunting information, harvest reporting, youth turkey season preferences, deer bag limits and seasons, the effects of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) and Blue Tongue Virus (BTV) on deer hunting, as well as their attitudes toward wildlife and hunting in Illinois.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of WildlifeU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, W-112-R-25unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

2013-2014 Illinois Hunter Harvest Report

A random sample of 3,000 hunters was selected from 2013 Illinois Habitat Stamp and hunting license purchasers. Of the sample of 3,000 hunters, 72 addresses were removed as undeliverable. We received 1,508 questionnaires; 1,488 (51%) of which were usable. License sales decreased from 2012 (282,698) to the 2013 season (281,399). From the 2012-13 to 2013-14 seasons, harvests for 11 game species increased (dove, snipe, crow, groundhog, fox and gray squirrel, raccoon, red and gray fox, coyote, and opossum), decreased for one game species (woodcock), and did not change for one game species (rail) and could not be compared for four game species (rabbit, wild quail, wild pheasant, and wild gray partridge). Hunters were also asked about their use of the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, applying for Free Upland Game Permits, and the effects of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) and Blue Tongue Virus (BTV) on their deer hunting behaviors, as well as their opinions about wild hogs present in Illinois.unpublishednot peer reviewe