Results of the 2012-2013 Illinois Trapper Survey

A random sample of 1,200 persons who purchased a 2012 resident Illinois trapping license was generated from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources licensing database. Licensees were mailed a 4-page questionnaire, and we received 744 (63%) questionnaires. Trapping license sales increased 28% from 2011 (4,944 licenses) to 2012 (6,320). Trappers set an average of 19 traps for an average of 25.6 days or nights during the 2012-2013 season, and they harvested an estimated 195,360 furbearers (down 21% from the 246,287 harvested in 2011-2012). An estimated 104,947 raccoons (Procyon lotor) were trapped by trappers during the 2012-2013 Illinois trapping season, a decrease of 30% from the estimated 149,449 trapped during the 2011-2012 season. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) harvest was the next highest at 33,906 muskrats trapped (8.5% decrease from previous year). Sightings of bobcat (Lynx rufus) by trappers, and harvest of furbearers by hunting, were also documented.