| | Description: | A random sample of 3,000 potential hunters was selected from the 2004 Illinois Habitat Stamp stubs and license sales. An eight page questionnaire was mailed to 2,910 of the 3,000 individuals. We received 1,938 (67%) returned questionnaires, 1,911 of which were usable. License sales increased 2.4% from 293,000 sold for the 2003 season to 300,000 sold for the 2004 season. Comparisons of harvest estimates from 2003-2004 season to 2004-2005 season suggest harvest estimates increased for 10 game animal categories (rabbit, quail, pheasant, dove, woodcock, fox squirrel, gray squirrel, raccoon, gray fox, and opossum), decreased for 2 categories (red fox and coyote), and could not be calculated for 1 category (gray partridge). We examined hunter activities, attitudes, and preferences related to dove hunting, upland game hunting within and outside Illinois, and personal characteristics. | |
