Results of the 2007-2008 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Survey

A total of 2,366 potential Illinois waterfowl hunters returned usable questionnaires for the 2007-2008 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Survey (50.6% response rate). A total of 1,807 respondents reported purchasing a 2007-2008 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp, of which 1,496 (82.8%) hunted waterfowl in Illinois in 2007-2008. Based on waterfowl hunting licenses and stamps sold, we estimated 57,454 Illinois waterfowl hunters spent an estimated 1,150,304 days hunting during the 2007-2008 season, and harvested an estimated 678,623 waterfowl. There were an estimated 13,478 September teal hunters; they spent 48,115 days hunting, and they harvested 29,800 teal. Harvest during the regular duck season included an estimated 265,369 mallards, 34,628 wood ducks, and 164,369 other ducks, for a total of 464,366 ducks. Goose hunters harvested an estimated 16,207 Canada geese during the 2007 September season. During the regular goose season, an estimated 43,046 hunters spent 445,670 days hunting and harvested 141,205 Canada geese and 11,582 other geese. Most teal hunters were satisfied with the September teal season dates, most duck hunters were satisfied with the regular duck season dates, and most goose hunters were satisfied with the regular goose season dates. Illinois hunters overwhelmingly (95.0%) chose steel shot as their nontoxic shot for waterfowl hunting in 2007-2008.