| Summary: | A total of 2,503 (52%) Illinois waterfowl hunters responded to the 2011-2012Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Survey. Hunters reported spending 1,147,037 days afield, an increase of 16% from the 985,075days devoted during the 2010-2011license year. Waterfowl harvest increased 12% from 513,882 during 2010-2011 to 577,654 during 2011-2012. Duck harvest estimates for the regular duck season were as follows: 222,405mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), 54,294wood ducks (Aix sponsa), and 150,786 other ducks. A total of 21,227 teal (Anas spp.) were harvested during the September teal season.Goose hunters harvested 75,061Canada geese (Branta canadensis) during the regular Canada goose season, a 25% decrease from the 99,422Canadageese harvested during the 2010-2011regular goose season. Hunters harvested 18,790Canada geese during the September Canada goose season, a 10% increase from the previous year. During the YouthWaterfowl Hunting Season, 6,325 adults took 8,642youths waterfowl hunting, a 16%increase from the 7,452youths that participated in the 2010-2011Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season. We discuss the use of public duck permits, hunter satisfaction with the waterfowl seasons, and hunter viewing habits regardingwaterfowl hunting videos. IDNR Division of Wildlife W-112-R-21 unpublished not peer reviewed
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