Hunter Participation, Harvest, and Hunting Behavior During the 2019 Illinois Conservation Order

Harvest of light geese (Chen caerulescens, Chen rossii) during the 2019 Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order was estimated at 86,683. An estimated 2,694 hunters participated in the 2019 Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order. Hunters spent an estimated 30,206 days afield during 2019, and the majority (64%) 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 years prior to 2014. Hunters were sampled from Harvest Information Program (HIP) registrants who reported they hunted snow and other light geese (including Ross’ and Blue geese) during the 2018 Light Goose Conservation Order. Electronic calls were used by 83.8% of hunters, 80.2% used unplugged shotguns, and 59.5% reported hunting between sunset and ½ hour after sunset. About forty-four percent of active snow goose hunters indicated an increase in effort over the past five years, and 7.2% of hunters had increased harvest of snow goose over the previous 5 years. Approximately fifty-three percent of active snow goose hunters used a guide or outfitter while hunting snow geese during the 2019 order.