Hunter Participation, Harvest, and Hunting Behavior During the 2017 Illinois Conservation Order Season

Sears, Daniel T.; Williams, Brent D.; Miller, Craig A.; Conat, Ryan J.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/106953 Copy

Description

Title

Hunter Participation, Harvest, and Hunting Behavior During the 2017 Illinois Conservation Order Season

Author(s)

• Sears, Daniel T.
• Williams, Brent D.
• Miller, Craig A.
• Conat, Ryan J.

Issue Date

2018-02-12

Keyword(s)

• Conservation Order
• light goose
• hunters
• harvest
• days afield

Geographic Coverage

Illinois

Abstract

Harvest of light geese (Chen caerulescens, Chen rossii) during the 2017 Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order season was estimated at 133,629. An estimated 2,459 hunters participated in the 2017 Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order season. Hunters spent an estimated 32,931 days afield during 2017, and the majority (63%) 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 prior to 2014. Hunters were sampled from Harvest Information Program (HIP) registrants who reported they hunted snow and other light geese (including Ross’ and Blue geese) during the 2016 Light Goose Conservation Order seasons. Electronic calls were used by 89.5% of hunters, 82.5% used unplugged shotguns, and 68.3% reported hunting between sunset and ½ hour after sunset. About fifty-two percent of snow goose hunters indicated an increase in effort over the past five years, and 40.2% of hunters perceived an increase in snow goose abundance during the regular goose seasons. About twenty-eight percent of snow goose hunters used a guide or outfitter while hunting snow geese during the 2017 season, for an estimated 864 days total.

Publisher

Illinois Natural History Survey

Series/Report Name or Number

• Technical Report INHS 2018 (09)
• Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration W-112-R-26

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/106953

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, W-112-R-26

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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