Human Dimensions Research Program Fact Sheet: 2006-2007 Illinois Non-resident Hunter Harvest Survey

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Human Dimensions Research Program Fact Sheet
2006-2007 Illinois Non-resident Hunter Harvest Survey
Purpose of the study: To survey non-resident hunters (18-24 game animal categories) to determine their activities and harvests in Illinois, as well as their characteristics, attitudes and opinions toward specific wildlife issues.
Methods: 1,960 purchasers of 2006-2007 non-resident hunting licenses were sent a mail-back questionnaire in February - April 2007. 50% of the individuals had purchased hunting licenses and 50% had purchased habitat stamps. We received 1,249 useable responses for a 64% response rate.
Highlights of results: Key findings of this survey were as follows:
• Non-resident hunters purchased 38,900 hunting licenses in Illinois in 2006-2007.
• Harvest by non-resident hunters was highest for doves, deer and gray squirrels.
• Non-residents participated most frequently in archery deer hunting, firearm deer hunting and muzzleloader deer hunting.
• 29 non-resident hunters hunted on controlled hunting areas or shooting preserves in Illinois. Most hunted for pheasants, quail or Chuckar partridge.
• Most non-resident hunters (65% of deer hunters, 63% of small game hunters. 71% of upland game hunters, 55% of turkey hunters, 55% of dove hunters, 62% of waterfowl hunters, and 70% of furbearer hunters) reported no difficulty finding access to hunting lands in Illinois.
• 20% of non-resident hunters leased land to hunt in Illinois. Lessees spent an average of $1,341 per person and $5,583 per party to lease land and most commonly leased land to hunt deer (60%), turkeys (13%) or small game (6%).
• 37% of non-resident hunters hired an outfitter to hunt in Illinois. Hunters who hired outfitters paid an average of $2,098 for services and most (90%) hired the outfitter to hunt deer.
• 20% of non-resident hunters hunted upland game in a state other than Illinois. The states most frequently hunted were: Pennsylvania, Michigan and Missouri. Non-residents most commonly hunted doves, rabbits and pheasants in these states. They reported hunting in other states because they had access to private hunting lands and had friends and family who also hunted upland game there.
For more information:
For full text of this and other Human Dimensions reports and surveys, please go to www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cwpe/hd/