2021-2022 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Report: Harvest, Youth Hunts, and Season Preferences

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

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/118116 Copy

Description

Title

2021-2022 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Report: Harvest, Youth Hunts, and Season Preferences

Author(s)

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

Issue Date

2022-11-28

Keyword(s)

Waterfowl, harvest, youth hunts, satisfaction, season preferences

Geographic Coverage

Illinois

Abstract

A total of 1,880 (38% response rate) Illinois waterfowl hunters returned usable questionnaires to the 2021-22 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Survey. An estimated 42,839 adult waterfowl hunters spent ≥1 day afield during 2021-22, an increase of 8.4% from 39,525 hunters during the 2020-21 seasons. Waterfowl hunters spent 1,000,494 days afield, an increase of 19.4% from the 837,609 days devoted during the 2020-21 license year. Total estimated waterfowl harvest increased 33.9%, from 406,259 during 2020-21 seasons to 543,858 during 2021-22. Duck harvest estimates for the regular duck season were as follows: 175,565 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), 42,851 wood ducks (Aix sponsa), and 138,017 other ducks. A total of 28,913 teal (Spatula discors and Anas crecca) were harvested during the September teal season. Goose hunters harvested 99,276 Canada geese (Branta canadensis) during the regular Canada goose season, a 5.0% increase from the 94,510 Canada geese harvested during the 2020-21 regular goose season. Hunters harvested 22,258 Canada geese during the September Canada goose season, a 32.4% increase from the previous year. During the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season, 5,410 adults took 6,859 youths waterfowl hunting, a 7.6% increase in adult participation and a 1.3% decrease in youth participation from the 2020-21 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 2023 (33)

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration W-112-R-31

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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