Hunter Participation, Harvest, and Hunting Behavior During the 2015 Illinois Conservation Order Season

Harvest of light geese(Chen caerulescens, Chen rossii)during the 2015Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order season was estimated at 123,944. An estimated 2,599 hunters participated in the 2015 Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order season. Hunters spent an estimated 30,360days afield during 2015, and the majority (53%) of the snow goose harvest occurred during the month of February. Due to changes in sampling of addresses and calculation of estimates,comparisons should not be made to years2013 and before in figures and tables. Addresses were sampled from Harvest Information Program (HIP)registrants who reported they hunted snow and other light geese (including Ross’ and Blue geese) during the 2014Light Goose Conservation Order seasons. Electronic calls were used by 78% of hunters, 77% used unplugged shotguns, and 60% reported hunting between sunset and ½ hour after sunset. Forty-five percent of snow goose hunters indicated an increase in effort over the past five years, and 39% of hunters perceived an increase in snow goose abundance during the regular goose seasons. A majority of the hunters(80%) were interested in snow goose hunting to extend their hunting season.