A Comparison of Harvest, Participation and Land Access among Resident and Non-resident Deer Hunters in Illinois

A random sample of 2,945 non-resident and 2,919 resident deer hunting license purchasers were mailed an 11-page questionnaire between January and April 2007. The questionnaire was designed to allow a comparison of deer hunting activities, methods of land access, expenditures on deer hunting and motivations for hunting deer in Illinois between resident and non-resident hunters. We received 1,916 (65%) valid responses from non-resident deer hunters and 1,744 (61%) from resident deer hunters. Both resident and non-resident hunters hunted the most days during the archery season, however, resident hunters harvested more deer during the regular firearm season than other seasons. Resident hunters harvested more does than other classes of deer, whereas non-residents harvested more bucks with ≥4 antler points per side than other classes of deer. Non-resident hunters harvested male deer and antlered deer at a higher rate respective to their harvest of female deer or antlerless deer. Resident deer hunters were more likely to harvest female or antlerless deer than males or antlered deer. Non-resident hunters leased land to hunt deer and hired outfitters more often than resident deer hunters. Resident deer hunters were more willing to harvest doe and buck fawns than were non-residents and faced fewer restrictions on their harvest placed by landowners. Non-resident deer hunters were more satisfied with their ability to access private hunting land, the number of other hunters seen and the quality of the Illinois deer herd than were resident hunters.