Human Dimensions Research Program Fact Sheet: Illinois Light Goose Hunter Survey: 2007 Season

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Human Dimensions Research Program Fact Sheet
FACT SHEET
Illinois Light Goose Hunter Survey: 2007 Season
Objective: To annually determine activities, harvest, and attitudes/opinions of hunters
participating in the Light Goose Conservation Action.
Methods: 1,903 potential goose hunters who registered with the National Migratory Bird
Harvest Information Program (HIP) were sent mail-back questionnaires in April – July 2007.
We received 1,052 useable responses for a 55% return rate.
Highlights of results: Key findings of this survey were as follows:
• Nine percent of respondents, or an estimated 5,962 total hunters, participated in the
Conservation Order light goose season in Illinois in 2007, up from an estimated 5,543
hunters in 2006.
• Hunters expended an estimated 58,219 days hunting and harvested an estimated 52,314
snow geese in 2007. In 2006, hunters expended an estimated 39,170 days and harvested
an estimated 47,514 snow geese.
• The South Waterfowl Zone accounted for 46% of the total days and 61% of the total
harvest in 2007. 73% of the statewide harvest occurred during February.
• Conservation Order snow geese hunters harvested <5 geese on 84% of their days.
• Of respondents who did not hunt during the 2007 Conservation Order season, 39%
indicated they had no place to hunt.
• Snow goose hunters commonly used electronic calls (47%), unplugged shotguns (48%),
and decoys over land (65%) to hunt snow geese in 2007.
• Most (79%) hunters reported that an unlimited bag limit for light geese was important to
them. Hunters also felt hunting light geese and other species of geese (Canada and/or
white-fronted) at the same time was important.
• For white-fronted geese in 2007-2008, hunters prefer a 72-day season with 2 geese per
day limit (49%) over an 85-day season with 1 goose per day limit (35%).
• Although large acreages of land are potentially available to snow goose hunters, survey
responses indicate that interested parties may have difficulty accessing this land.
For more information:
For full text of this and other Human Dimensions reports and surveys, please go to
www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cwpe/hd/