Results of the 2008 Illinois Conservation Order Light Goose Hunter Survey

Abstract

A random sample of 1,200 purchasers of the Illinois resident trapping license (2006-2007 series) were mailed a 5-page questionnaire between March and May 2007. We received 859 usable responses (73% response rate). Trapping license sales increased 52% from 2005-2006 (2,414 licenses) to 2006-2007 (3,660 licenses). Trappers set an average of 24.6 traps for an average of 28.3 days/nights during the 2006-2007 season, and they harvested an estimated 210,395 furbearers (127% increase from 92,835 furbearers harvested in 2005-2006). An estimated 93,819 raccoon (Procyon lotor, Wilson and Reeder 2005) were taken by trappers in 2006-2007, more than any other furbearer species. Estimated harvest of other species included 66,297 common muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), 3,784 American mink (Neovison vison), 22,617 Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), 1,219 red fox (Vulpes vulpes), 102 gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), 11,124 American beaver (Castor canadensis), 4,768 striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), 47 least/long-tailed weasel (Mustela nivalis/M. frenata), 6,553 coyote (Canis latrans), and 85 American badger (Taxidea taxus). Sightings of gray fox, North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), and bobcat (Lynx rufus) by trappers, and harvest of furbearers by hunting trappers, were also documented.