Hunter Participation, Harvest, and Hunting Behavior During the 2020 Illinois Conservation Order

Harvest of light geese (Anser caerulescens, Chen rossii) during the 2020 Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order was estimated at 138,954. An estimated 3,272 hunters participated in the 2020 Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order. Hunters spent an estimated 41,621 days afield during 2020, and the majority (61%) of the light 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 2019 Light Goose Conservation Order. About forty-one percent of active light goose hunters indicated an increase in effort over the past five years, and 17.2% of hunters had increased harvest of light goose over the previous 5 years. Approximately fifteen percent of active light goose hunters used a guide or outfitter while hunting light geese during the 2020 order.