2023-2024 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Report: Harvest, Youth Hunts, and Season Preferences

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

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129074 Copy

Description

Title

2023-2024 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Report: Harvest, Youth Hunts, and Season Preferences

Author(s)

• Miller, Craig A.
• Walberg, Eric M.
• Stephens, Lauren J.
• Williams, Brent D.
• Pallazza, Samantha

Issue Date

2024-11-13

Keyword(s)

• Waterfowl
• Harvest
• Youth hunters
• Satisfaction
• Season preferences
• Attitudes
• Opinions
• Hunters
• Questionnaire
• Bag limits
• Land use
• Season timing

Date of Ingest

2025-09-17T16:22:59-05:00

Geographic Coverage

Illinois

Abstract

A total of 1,521 (31% response rate) Illinois waterfowl hunters returned usable questionnaires to the 2023-24 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Survey. An estimated 33,592 adult waterfowl hunters spent ≥1 day afield during 2023-24, a decrease of 7.8% from 36,419 hunters during the 2022-23 seasons. Waterfowl hunters spent 715,627 days afield, a decrease of 8.1% from the 778,576 days devoted during the 2022-23 license year. Total estimated waterfowl harvest decreased 19.8%, from 489,094 during 2022-23 seasons to 392,232 during 2023-24. Duck harvest estimates for the regular duck season were as follows: 106,892 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), 29,698 wood ducks (Aix sponsa), and 117,449 other ducks. A total of 20,522 teal (Spatula discors and Anas crecca) were harvested during the September teal season. Goose hunters harvested 71,923 Canada geese (Branta canadensis) during the regular Canada goose season, a 23.6% decrease from the 94,139 Canada geese harvested during the 2022-23 regular goose season. Hunters harvested 13,201 Canada geese during the September Canada goose season, a 20.5% decrease from the previous year. During the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season, 3,899 adults took 5,438 youths waterfowl hunting, a 13.8% decrease in adult participation and a 17.5% decrease in youth participation from the 2022-23 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season. Hunter preferences for seasons and satisfaction with the waterfowl seasons are also discussed.

Publisher

Illinois Natural History Survey

Series/Report Name or Number

INHS Technical Report 2024 (30)

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.

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