2018-2019 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Report: Harvest, Youth Hunts, and Zone Option Preferences

A total of 3,123 (36% response rate) Illinois waterfowl hunters returned usable questionnaires to the 2018-19 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Survey. An estimated 40,047 adult waterfowl hunters spent 1 day or more afield during 2018-19, an increase of 7.6% from the 37,215 hunters in 2017-18. Waterfowl hunters spent 831,043 days afield, an increase of 13.5 % from the 732,166 days devoted during the 2017-18 license year. Total waterfowl harvest decreased 2.1 %, from 421,384 during 2017-18 to 412,402 during 2018-19. Duck harvest estimates for the regular duck season were as follows: 147,733 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), 29,003 wood ducks (Aix sponsa), and 96,087 other ducks. A total of 23,326 teal (Anas spp.) were harvested during the September teal season. Goose hunters harvested 71,035 Canada geese (Branta canadensis) during the regular Canada goose season, a 9.9% decrease from the 78,850 Canada geese harvested during the 2017-18 regular goose season. Hunters harvested 13,165 Canada geese during the September Canada goose season, an 18.5% decrease from the previous year. During the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season, 4,822 adults took 5,775 youths waterfowl hunting, a 0.9% increase in adult participation and a 10.6% decrease in youth participation from the 2017-18 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season. Hunter preferences for season and zones, and satisfaction with the waterfowl seasons are also discussed.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration W-112-R-28unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe