2019-2020 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Report: Harvest, Youth Hunts, and Season Preferences

• Main Authors: Walberg, Eric M., Stephens, Lauren J., Pallazza, Samantha G., Miller, Craig A.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Illinois Natural History Survey 2020
• Subjects: waterfowl; wildlife harvest; youth hunts; hunter satisfaction; hunt season preferences; Canada; Branta canadensis; Canada Goose
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109650

A total of 2,125 (44% response rate) Illinois waterfowl hunters returned usable questionnaires to the 2019-20 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Survey. An estimated 35,185 adult waterfowl hunters spent 1 day or more afield during 2019-20, a decrease of 12.1% from the 40,047 hunters in 2018-19. Waterfowl hunters spent 841,828 days afield, an increase of 1.3 % from the 831,043 days devoted during the 2018-19 license year. Total waterfowl harvest increased 14.4%, from 412,402 during 2018-19 to 471,872 during 2019-20. Duck harvest estimates for the regular duck season were as follows: 164,043 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), 51,564 wood ducks (Aix sponsa), and 108,340 other ducks. A total of 19,268 teal (Anas spp.) were harvested during the September teal season. Goose hunters harvested 85,188 Canada geese (Branta canadensis) during the regular Canada goose season, a 19.9% increase from the 71,035 Canada geese harvested during the 2018-19 regular goose season. Hunters harvested 15,429 Canada geese during the September Canada goose season, an 17.2% increase from the previous year. During the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season, 4,039 adults took 4,528 youths waterfowl hunting, a 16.2% decrease in adult participation and a 21.6% decrease in youth participation from the 2018-19 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season. Hunter preferences for seasons and satisfaction with the waterfowl seasons are also discussed. Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife unpublished not peer reviewed Open