Internet Use Among Illinois Hunters: A Ten Year Comparison

Technological advances have permitted outdoor enthusiasts the ability to use the internetto access information provided by state wildlife agencies.Using the 2010-2011 Illinois Hunter Harvest Survey, we investigated age distributionand incomesof hunters purchasing licenseson the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) website, differences inmean age and age distribution compared to a 2001dataset,and hunters’ attitudes towardvarious methods of receivinghunting information. Mean hunteragein 2010-2011was 49 years old, significantly higher thanthe mean age ofhunters(46 years old)reported in the 2000-2001Illinois Hunter HarvestSurvey. A minority (18%)of 2010 hunters purchased their license through the IDNR website, and the majority(72%)ofthose hunterswere 32-66 years of age. Younger (≤ 31 years of age) hunters were more likely to support receiving information from IDNR via technological means(e.g., text or email messages) than older hunters.A significant, positive relationship did existbetween household incomesand purchasing licenses through the Internet.Comparative data suggest themean age andage distribution of hunters is becoming skewed towards older hunters at a faster rate than young hunters are entering the population in Illinois, and the proportion of the hunting population that utilizes the internet to purchase their license remains small.Thus, it is important to continue to allow hunters the option of purchasing their licenses through traditional methods.