University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

2023-2024 Illinois Trapper Report: Harvest, Effort, and Trapper Opinions

Miller, Craig A.; Williams, Brent D.; Stephens, Lauren J.; Walberg, Eric M.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129073

Description

Title
2023-2024 Illinois Trapper Report: Harvest, Effort, and Trapper Opinions
Author(s)
  • Miller, Craig A.
  • Williams, Brent D.
  • Stephens, Lauren J.
  • Walberg, Eric M.
Issue Date
2024-11-28
Keyword(s)
  • Trappers
  • Harvest
  • Effort
  • Opinions
  • Illinois Department of Natural Resources
  • Questionnaire
  • Trapping license
  • Furbearers
  • Fur trade
  • Attitudes
Date of Ingest
2025-09-17T14:54:34-05:00
Geographic Coverage
Illinois
Abstract
We sampled 2,000 of 2023-24 resident Illinois trapping license purchasers from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources licensing database. License purchasers were mailed an 8-page questionnaire, and we received 872 (44%) questionnaires. Trapping license sales decreased by 0.2% from 2022-23 (6,868) to 2023-24 (6,850). Trappers set an average of 13.1 traps for an average of 26.8 days or nights during the 2023-24 season and harvested an estimated 153,471 furbearers (up 20% from the 127,756 harvested in 2022-23). An estimated 80,073 raccoons (Procyon lotor) were trapped during the 2023-24 Illinois trapping season, an increase of 18% from the estimated 67,892 trapped during the 2022-23 season. Beaver (Castor canadensis) harvest was next highest at 21,830 animals, followed by 16,959 opossums (Didelphis virginiana).
Publisher
Illinois Natural History Survey
Series/Report Name or Number
INHS Technical Report 2024 (29)
Type of Resource
text
Genre of Resource
technical report
Language
eng
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration W-112-R-33
Copyright and License Information
This document is a product of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and has been 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 required.

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Illinois Natural History Survey PRIMARY
Reports produced by INHS staff, usually as deliverables for assessment projects funded by federal or state agencies or non-governmental organizations.