2019 Illinois Turkey Hunter And Landowner Report

Walberg, Eric M.; Miller, Craig A.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/106522 Copy

Description

Title

2019 Illinois Turkey Hunter And Landowner Report

Author(s)

• Walberg, Eric M.
• Miller, Craig A.

Issue Date

2019-11-27

Keyword(s)

• Turkey hunters
• attitudes
• preferences
• hunter behavior

Geographic Coverage

Illinois

Abstract

A random sample was drawn of 5,000 Illinois residents with a 2019 Illinois spring turkey hunting permit. The sample included 3,000 turkey hunters with a spring turkey shotgun/archery permit (general hunters) and 2,000 hunters with a landowner spring turkey shotgun/archery permit (landowner hunters). Selected individuals were mailed an 8-page self-administered questionnaire designed to understand attitudes, preferences, and behaviors of turkey hunters in Illinois. We received 2,932 questionnaires, 2,733 of which were usable, for a 57% response rate. Turkey hunters on average hunted 4.5 days during the 2019 spring turkey season and harvested an average of .4 turkeys per hunter. Most turkey hunters were satisfied with their overall turkey hunting experience (76%). Fifty percent of respondents believed that the turkey population in the areas that they hunted most often for turkey was too low. Most hunters only hunted on private land during the 2019 spring turkey season (82%). On average, turkey hunters encountered 1.0 other hunters (that were not part of their party) on their most crowded day in the field during the 2019 spring turkey season. Most hunters indicated there was not too much competition from other hunters where they hunted (70%). Enjoying nature and the outdoors, being out in the woods, and experiencing the challenge of the hunt were the most important factors for respondents during the spring turkey season. Only 1% of respondents (n = 30) hunted turkeys on an Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP) property during the 2019 spring turkey season. Sixteen percent of respondents indicated that they took a youth (17 years old or younger) hunting during the 2019 spring turkey season.

Publisher

Illinois Natural History Survey

Series/Report Name or Number

• Technical Report INHS 2019 (38)
• Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration W-112-R-28

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/106522

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

Federal Aid Project Number W-112-R-28

Copyright and License Information

This document is a product of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and has been selected and made available by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is requested.

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