The Electronic Documents of Illinois provides permanent public access to official publications of the State of Illinois which have been deposited in electronic form.
Harvest of light geese during the 2003 Illinois Conservation Action was estimated at 30,564 geese, an increase of 12,689 (71%) from the 2002 harvest of 17,875. Participation decreased to 3,111 hunters during 2003 compared to 5,107 hunters during 2002. Hunters spent an estimated 27,177 days afield during 2003, a decrease of 4,027 from the 31,204 days hunted during 2002. Unplugged shotguns were the method used most often (72%); however hunting after sunset and electronic calls were also used by more than 50% of hunters (65% and 63%, respectively). As with hunters responding to the 2002 survey, hunters who did not participate in the conservation action reported no geese in the area and no place to hunt as well as did not have the proper equipment as the main reasons they did not hunt light geese.
A survey of residents of Illinois and county policy-makers in east-central Illinois was conducted during spring 2003. Illinois residents were stratified by those residing in counties served by the Lumpkin Family Foundation and the remainder of the state. Response rates were 49% for residents of counties in the Lumpkin Foundation area of focus, 43% from residents of the remaining counties in Illinois, and 44% from county policymakers. In general, members of the public are more concerned about water quality than county decision-makers. The results of these surveys are the basis of this report.