humandimensions results of the 2010-2011 r e s e a r c h p r o g … · the 2010-2011 illinois...

Federal Aid ProjectNumber W-112-R-20Job Number 101.2Wildlife Restoration

Oct. 1, 2010-Sept. 30, 2011

Marc Miller, DirectorIllinois Department of Natural

Resources

Paul VehlowFederal Aid Coordinator

John E. BuhnerkempeChief, Division of Wildlife

Resources

Craig A. Miller, Ph.D.Program Leader and Principal InvestigatorHuman Dimensions Research ProgramIllinois Natural History Survey

Prepared byMark G. Alessi,

Linda K. Campbell, and Craig A. Miller, Ph.D.

Results of the 2010-2011 Illinois Trapper Survey

INHS Technical Report 2011 (33)September 9, 2011

HumanDimensionsR e s e a r c h P r o g r a m

Illinois Natural History SurveyPrairie Research InstituteUniversity of Illinois at

Urbana-Champaign

Suggested Citation:

Alessi, M.G., L.K. Campbell, and C.A. Miller. 2011. Results of the 2010-2011 Illinois Trapper Survey. Job Completion

Report, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration W-112-R-20. Human Dimensions Research Program Report HR-11-02/INHS

Technical Report 2011 (33). Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, IL. 57pp.

TABLES, FIGURES AND APPENDICES

Page

Table 1 ...................... Participation and harvest by fur trappers in Illinois, 2010-2011 season .......................................................................... 8

Table 2 ...................... Distribution of reported furbearer harvest among successful trappers in Illinois .......................................................... 9

Table 3 ..................... Summary of statewide data from post-season mail survey of resident trappers in Illinois ............................................ 10

Table 4 ..................... Muskrat WMUa ................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Table 5 ..................... Mink WMU ......................................................................................................................................................................... 12

Table 6 ..................... Raccoon WMU .................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Table 7 ..................... Opossum WMU ................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Table 8 ...................... Red fox WMU ...................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Table 9 ...................... Gray fox WMU .................................................................................................................................................................... 16

Table 10 .................... Beaver WMU ....................................................................................................................................................................... 17

Table 11 .................... Skunk WMU ........................................................................................................................................................................ 18

Table 12 ................... Weasel WMU ....................................................................................................................................................................... 19

Table 13 .................... Coyote WMU ....................................................................................................................................................................... 20

Table 14 .................... Badger WMU ...................................................................................................................................................................... 21

Table 15 .................... Muskrat FMZb .................................................................................................................................................................... 22

Table 16 .................... Mink FMZ ........................................................................................................................................................................... 23

Table 17 .................... Raccoon FMZ ...................................................................................................................................................................... 24

Table 18 .................... Opossum FMZ ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25

Table 19 .................... Red fox FMZ ....................................................................................................................................................................... 26

Table 20 .................... Gray fox FMZ ..................................................................................................................................................................... 27

Table 21 .................... Beaver FMZ ......................................................................................................................................................................... 28

Table 22 .................... Skunk FMZ .......................................................................................................................................................................... 29

Table 23 .................... Weasel FMZ ........................................................................................................................................................................ 30

Table 24 .................... Coyote FMZ......................................................................................................................................................................... 31

Table 25 .................... Badger FMZ ........................................................................................................................................................................ 32

Table 26 .................... Number of pelts sold by successful trappers, 2010-2011 season ....................................................................................... 33

Table 27 .................... Estimated statewide harvest by resident Illinois trappers ................................................................................................ 34

Table 28 .................... Summary of fur hunting activities reported by trappers in Illinois ................................................................................. 35

Table 29 .................... Reported sightings and sign of river otter and bobcat during the 2010-2011 season ...................................................... 36

Table 30 .................... Distribution of active trappers by county trapped most in Illinois, 2010-2011 .............................................................. 37

Figure 1 .................... Trapping activity reported by respondents to the 2010-2011 Illinois Trapper Survey ................................................... 38

Figure 2 .................... Distribution of days of trapping by active trappers in Illinois ......................................................................................... 39

Figure 3 .................... Distribution of the number of muskrats trapped per successful muskrat trapper in Illinois ......................................... 40

Figure 4 .................... Distribution of the number of raccoons trapped per successful raccoon trapper in Illinois ........................................... 41

Figure 5 .................... Percent change in number of successful trappers and harvest by species ....................................................................... 42

Figure 6 .................... Illinois counties in which trappers reported observing otters or their sign .................................................................... 43

Figure 7 .................... Illinois counties in which trappers reported observing bobcats or their sign ................................................................. 44

Figure 8 .................... Age distribution of Illinois trappers ................................................................................................................................... 45

Appendix A .............. Illinois Trapper Survey: 2010 - 2011 Season ..................................................................................................................... 46

Appendix B .............. Cover letter sent with first mailing of the 2010-2011 Trapper Survey ............................................................................. 53

Appendix C .............. Thank you/reminder postcard sent as follow-up to the mailings ...................................................................................... 54

Appendix D .............. Cover letter sent with second mailing of the 2010-2011 Trapper Survey ........................................................................ 55

Appendix E .............. 2010-2011 Furbearer season dates and limits information ............................................................................................. 56

Appendix F ............... Wildlife management units and furbearer management zones in Illinois ........................................................................ 57

a WMU = Wildlife Management Unit b FMZ = Furbearer Management Zones

RESULTS OF THE

2010-2011 ILLINOIS TRAPPER SURVEY

JOB COMPLETION REPORT

WILDLIFE HARVEST AND

HUMAN DIMENSIONS RESEARCH PROGRAM

STATE OF ILLINOIS

PROJECT NUMBER: W-112-R-20

STUDY 101

JOB NO. 101.2

Prepared by

Mark G. Alessi, Linda K. Campbell, and Craig A. Miller, Ph.D.

Illinois Natural History Survey

Champaign, IL

September 9, 2011

Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration

W-112-R-20

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Marc Miller, Director John E. Buhnerkempe, Chief

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife Resources

Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources

(IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies is available to

all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion, or other non-merit

factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source’s civil

rights office and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, IDNR, One Natural Resources

Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271; 217/785-0067; TTY 217/782-9175.

2

ABSTRACT

A random sample of 1,200 persons who purchased a 2010 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 767 (66%) questionnaires.

Trapping license sales increased 12% from 2009 (3,751 licenses) to 2010 (4,202 licenses).

Trappers set an average of 23 traps for an average of 27.8 days or nights during the 2010-2011

season, and they harvested an estimated 198,653 furbearers (up 69% from the 117,597 harvested

in 2009-2010). An estimated 88,233 raccoons (Procyon lotor) were trapped by trappers during

the 2010-2011 Illinois trapping season, an increase of 68% from the estimated 52,431 trapped

during the 2009-2010 season. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) harvest was the next highest at

63,257 muskrats trapped (98% increase from previous year). Twenty-one percent of trappers

had taken the trapper’s education course, and 53% of trappers introduced at least one person to

trapping in the past five years. Sightings of North American river otter (Lontra Canadensis) and

bobcat (Lynx rufus) by trappers, and harvest of furbearers by hunting, were also documented.

OBJECTIVE

To survey furbearer (11 species of mammals) trappers annually to determine their

activities, harvests, characteristics, and opinions in Illinois.

METHODS

A random sample of 1,200 resident Illinois trappers who purchased a trapper license

(2010-2011) was selected from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) license

sales database. Each trapper was mailed a 4-page questionnaire (Appendix A), cover letter

3

(Appendix B), and a postage-paid return envelope on 28 March 2011. Nonrespondents were

mailed a thank you/reminder postcard (Appendix C) on 13 April 2011. Remaining

nonrespondents were mailed a second questionnaire and cover letter (Appendix D) on 4 May

2011. Trappers who did not respond to the previous mailings were mailed a second thank

you/reminder postcard on 23 May 2011. The initial sample of 1,200 licenses was reduced to

1,163 due to undeliverable addresses. Season date information can be located in Appendix E.

RESULTS

A total of 767 (66%) license purchasers responded to the survey. Of these, 758 were

considered usable samples. Using procedures adopted by Anderson and Campbell (1992), we

calculated trapper participation and harvest for all furbearer species in Illinois (Tables 1-28).

The results were organized by wildlife management units (WMUs, Appendix F), furbearer

management zones, and statewide for presentation.

Trapper Participation

Of the 758 license purchasers in our sample, 570 (75%) set traps for furbearers in Illinois

during the 2010-2011 season. Active trappers set an average of 23 traps for an average of 27.8

days or nights (Fig. 1). The maximum number of days a trapper could have trapped was 147;

only 25% set traps for > 30 days and 14% of trappers set traps for > 45 days (Fig. 2)

Participation during the 2010-2011 season was highest among raccoon (Procyon lotor)

trappers, estimated at 2,705 trappers statewide (Table 3); an increase of 34% from the 2009-2010

trapping season (Lischka et al. 2011). Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) trapping was second in

participation with 1,796 trappers, followed by opossum (Didelphis virginiana; 1,586 trappers),

4

beaver (Castor canadensis; 1,314 trappers), and mink (Neovison vison; 1,114 trappers). Badger

(Taxidea taxus; 44 trappers), gray fox (Urocyon cineroargenteus; 39 trappers), and weasel

(Mustela frenata and nivalis; 28 trappers) were the least often targeted species by trappers.

Harvest

An estimated 88,233 raccoons were trapped by trappers during the 2010-2011 Illinois

trapping season, which was an increase of 68% from the estimated 52,431 trapped during the

2009-2010 season (Table 3). Muskrat harvest was the next highest at 63,257 muskrats trapped

(98% increase from previous year), followed by opossum (20,213; 42% increase from previous

year), beaver (11,238; 46% increase from previous year), coyote (6,193; 35% increase from

previous year), mink (155% increase from previous year), and striped skunk (3,981; 5% increase

from previous year). The number of muskrats harvested averaged 35.2 per trapper and ranged

from 1-539 (Fig. 3), and the number of raccoons harvested averaged 32.6 per trapper and ranged

from 1-331 (Fig. 4). Confidence intervals (95%) for trapper participation and harvest of each

species are presented in Table 3.

The total trapper harvest increased from 117,597 in 2009-2010 to 198,653 (Fig. 5).

Harvest and trapping effort for each species are reported by wildlife management unit and

furbearer management zones in Tables 4-25. The estimated number of pelts sold in 2010-2011 is

presented by species in Table 26. The trends in statewide harvests of furbearers for the previous

10 years can be located in Table 27.

5

Changes in Trapper Participation and Harvest

The number of Illinois residents participating in trapping increased 12% from 2009

(3,751 licenses) to 2010 (4,202 licenses). Average harvest per trapper increased for all species

except fox (red and gray), striped skunk, coyote, and badger. There were large increases in

season harvests for mink (155%), muskrat (98%), and raccoon (68%) from the previous year.

Total trapper harvest for all species combined increased 69% from 117,597 furbearers in 2009 to

198,653 furbearers in 2010.

Fur Hunting by Trappers

A total of 241 trappers (32% of licensees sampled) reported hunting furbearers with a gun

and/or dogs in 2010-2011 (Table 28), which equals an estimated 1,336 trappers who hunted

furbearers in 2010-2011. Their total harvest was estimated to be 27,720 furbearers or an average

of 20.7 furbearers per hunter. More trappers hunted raccoon and coyotes more than any other

species.

Observation of River Otters and Bobcats

North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) or their sign were reported by 203

trappers in 83 counties and 219 trappers in 87 counties, respectively (Table 29, Fig. 6). Bobcats

(Lynx rufus) or their sign were reported by 137 trappers in 63 counties and 144 trappers in 69

counties, respectively (Table 29, Fig. 7).

6

Trapper’s Course Information and Trapper Recruitment

Trappers were asked whether they have participated in the trapper’s education course;

21% of the trappers have taken the course. Thirty-nine percent (39%) of trappers took the course

because they were required to take it, 39% wanted to take the course, and 15% took the course

with someone less than 18 years of age. Fifty-three percent (53%) of trappers indicated that

within the past five years they have introduced an average of 3.3 (range: 1-200) people to

trapping. Trappers most often introduced a family member to trapping (34%), a friend (29%), or

a friend of a friend (6%).

General Information

During the 2010-2011 season, Illinois trappers averaged 45 years of age. The age

distribution of trappers is shown in Figure 8. The counties which reported the most active

trappers were LaSalle, Bureau, and Whiteside (Table 30). Only 13% of licensees have visited

the online trapper education course website at www.trappered.com.

7

REFERENCES

Anderson, W.L., and L.K. Campbell. 1992. Fur hunter/trapper survey, 1990-91. Illinois

Department of Conservation, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Projects W-99-R-3 and

W-112-R-1, Study 1, Job 2, Job Completion Report, 71 pp.

Lischka, S.A., L.K. Campbell, and M.R. Spacapan. 2011. Results of the 2009-2010 Illinois

Trapper Survey. Job Completion Report, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration W-112-R-

19. Wildlife Harvest and Human Dimensions Research Program Report HR-10-02/INHS

Technical Report 2011 (04). Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, IL. 37pp.

8

Table 1. Participation and harvest by fur trappers in Illinois, 2010-2011 season (n = 758).

Species

Number of

Reported

Successful Trappers

%

(total respondents)

Reported Harvest

by Successful

Trappers

Muskrat 324 42.7 11,410

Mink 201 26.5 825

Raccoon 488 64.4 15,915

Opossum 286 37.7 3,646

Red fox 72 9.5 153

Gray fox 7 0.9 7

Beaver 237 31.3 2,027

Striped skunk 150 19.8 718

Weasel 5 0.7 6

Coyote 156 20.6 1,117

Badger 8 1.1 8

Table 2. Distribution of reported furbearer harvest among successful trappers in Illinois based on responses to the 2010-2011 Illinois

Trapper Survey.

Percentage of Trappers

Total

Season

Catch Muskrat Mink Raccoon Opossum

Red

Fox

Gray

fox Beaver

Striped

Skunk Weasel Coyote Badger

n= 324 201 488 286 72 7 237 150 5 156 8

1-5 25.0% 83.1% 26.6% 46.9% 94.4%

100.0%

59.1% 78.0%

100.0% 64.7% 100.0%

6-10 16.4 9.4 16.6 22.7 4.2 0.0 18.1 10.7 0.0 16.7 0.0

11-15 11.1 2.0 9.3 8.7 1.4 0.0 8.5 6.6 0.0 7.7 0.0

16-20 7.4 3.5 9.6 8.8 0.0 0.0 4.6 2.0 0.0 4.5 0.0

21-25 6.1 0.5 3.5 2.1 0.0 0.0 2.5 0.7 0.0 3.2 0.0

>25 34.0 1.5 34.4 10.8 0.0 0.0 7.2 2.0 0.0 3.2 0.0

9

10

Table 3. Summary of statewide data from post-season mail survey of resident trappers in Illinois, 2010-

2011 (n = 758), along with confidence intervals (95%) for estimated number of trappers, average season

harvest, and total trapper harvest.

Species

Estimated

Number of

Trappers

Percent of

Licensed

Trappers

Average

Season Catch

Estimated Total

Trapper Harvest

Estimated

Percent Sold

Estimated

Total Sold

Muskrat 1,796 ± 151 42.74 35.22 ± 6.27 63,257 ± 10,373 91.32 57,768

Mink 1,114 ± 135 26.51 4.10 ± 0.92 4,574 ± 966 89.94 4,114

Raccoon 2,705 ± 146 64.37 32.61 ± 4.52 88,233 ± 10,948 90.60 79,939

Opossum 1,586 ± 148 37.74 12.75 ± 2.43 20,213 ± 3,568 46.08 9,314

Red fox 399 ± 89 9.50 2.13 ± 0.44 848 ± 215 76.53 649

Gray fox 39 ± 29 0.93 1.00 ± 0.00 39 ± 25 100 39

Beaver 1,314 ± 142 31.27 8.55 ± 1.59 11,238 ± 2,011 83.23 9,353

Skunk 832 ± 122 19.80 4.79 ± 0.95 3,981 ± 816 38.43 1,530

Weasel 28 ± 25 0.67 1.20 ± 0.39 33 ± 25 33.33 11

Coyote 865 ± 123 20.59 7.16 ± 1.78 6,193 ± 1,474 66.79 4,136

Badger 44 ± 31 1.05 1.00 ± 0.00 44 ± 25 63.64 28

Table 4. Summary of 2010 MUSKRAT trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 324).

Wildlife Management

Unit

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Total

Trapper

Harvest

Estimated

Trapper

Harvest/

100km2

Northwest Hills 255 14.2 2.7 60.7 15,490 164.8

Northeast Moraine 133 7.4 1.6 32.3 4,297 51.9

Mississippi Border-North 94 5.2 1.2 26.8 2,528 32.2

Mississippi Border-South 150 8.3 1.1 37.9 5,672 41.5

Western Prairie/Forest 216 12.0 1.5 23.8 5,156 35.8

Central Sand Prairie 50 2.8 1.2 53.0 2,644 63.8

Grand Prairie 621 34.6 1.2 36.5 22,681 43.1

Southern Plain 216 12.0 0.9 19.2 4,147 17.5

Wabash Border 50 2.8 0.7 12.4 621 9.2

Shawnee Hills 11 0.6 0.2 2.0 22 0.4

Statewide 1,796 100.0 1.2 35.2 63,257 43.3

11

Table 5. Summary of 2010 MINK trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 201).

Wildlife Management

Unit

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Total

Trapper

Harvest

Estimated

Trapper

Harvest/

100km2

Northwest Hills 183 16.4 1.9 3.5 632 6.7

Northeast Moraine 78 7.0 0.9 3.4 261 3.2

Mississippi Border-North 61 5.5 0.8 2.6 161 2.0

Mississippi Border-South 67 6.0 0.5 6.7 444 3.2

Western Prairie/Forest 111 10.0 0.8 3.2 349 2.4

Central Sand Prairie 28 2.5 0.7 4.8 133 3.2

Grand Prairie 399 35.8 0.8 5.7 2,256 4.3

Southern Plain 155 13.9 0.7 2.1 322 1.4

Wabash Border 28 2.5 0.4 4.6 128 1.9

Shawnee Hills 6 0.5 0.1 1.0 6 0.1

Statewide 1,114 100.0 0.8 4.1 4,574 3.1

12

Table 6. Summary of 2010 RACCOON trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois

(n = 488).

Wildlife Management

Unit

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Total

Trapper

Harvest

Estimated

Trapper

Harvest/

100km2

Northwest Hills 344 12.7 3.7 37.4 12,845 136.7





Central Sand Prairie 83 3.1 2.0 29.2 2,428 58.6

Grand Prairie 887 32.8 1.7 27.8 24,632 46.8

Southern Plain 344 12.7 1.4 35.9 12,330 52.0

Wabash Border 94 3.5 1.4 28.1 2,644 39.2

Shawnee Hills 44 1.6 0.9 36.0 1,597 30.6

Statewide 2,705 100.0 1.9 32.6 88,233 60.4

13

Table 7. Summary of 2010 OPOSSUM trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 286).

Wildlife Management

Unit

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Total

Trapper

Harvest

Estimated

Trapper

Harvest/

100km2

Northwest Hills 205 12.9 2.2 13.6 2,800 29.8






Grand Prairie 499 31.5 0.9 8.5 4,236 8.0

Southern Plain 238 15.0 1.0 16.2 3,864 16.3

Wabash Border 22 1.4 0.3 16.3 360 5.3

Shawnee Hills 33 2.1 0.6 12.7 421 8.1

Statewide 1,586 100.0 1.1 12.7 20,213 13.8

14

Table 8. Summary of 2010 RED FOX trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois

(n = 72).

Wildlife Management

Unit

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Total

Trapper

Harvest

Estimated

Trapper

Harvest/

100km2

Northwest Hills 28 6.9 0.3 2.2 61 0.6






Grand Prairie 100 25.0 0.2 2.5 249 0.5

Southern Plain 100 25.0 0.4 1.9 194 0.8

Wabash Border 11 2.8 0.2 1.5 17 0.2

Shawnee Hills 6 1.4 0.1 1.0 6 0.1

Statewide 399 100.0 0.3 2.1 848 0.6

15

Table 9. Summary of 2010 GRAY FOX trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois

(n = 7).

Wildlife Management

Unit

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Total

Trapper

Harvest

Estimated

Trapper

Harvest/

100km2

Northwest Hills - - - - - -


Mississippi Border-North - - - - - -


Western Prairie/Forest - - - - - -

Central Sand Prairie - - - - - -

Grand Prairie 11 28.6 0.0 1.0 11 0.0

Southern Plain 11 28.6 0.0 1.0 11 0.0

Wabash Border - - - - - -

Shawnee Hills - - - - - -

Statewide 39 100.0 0.0 1.0 39 0.0

16

Table 10. Summary of 2010 BEAVER trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois

(n = 237).

Wildlife Management

Unit

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Total

Trapper

Harvest

Estimated

Trapper

Harvest/

100km2

Northwest Hills 172 13.1 1.8 7.9 1,358 14.5






Grand Prairie 527 40.1 1.0 8.9 4,663 8.9

Southern Plain 122 9.3 0.5 6.1 743 3.1

Wabash Border 33 2.5 0.5 5.7 188 2.8

Shawnee Hills 33 2.5 0.6 9.2 305 5.8

Statewide 1,314 100.0 0.9 8.6 11,238 7.7

17

Table 11. Summary of 2010 SKUNK trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois

(n = 150).

Wildlife Management

Unit

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Total

Trapper

Harvest

Estimated

Trapper

Harvest/

100km2

Northwest Hills 139 16.7 1.5 4.3 599 6.4






Grand Prairie 233 28.0 0.4 4.6 1,070 2.0

Southern Plain 139 16.7 0.6 7.2 1,003 4.2

Wabash Border 17 2.0 0.2 3.0 50 0.7

Shawnee Hills 17 2.0 0.3 2.0 33 0.6

Statewide 832 100.0 0.6 4.8 3,981 2.7

18

Table 12. Summary of 2010 WEASEL trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois

(n = 5).

Wildlife Management

Unit

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Total

Trapper

Harvest

Estimated

Trapper

Harvest/

100km2

Northwest Hills 6 20.0 0.1 1.0 6 0.1

Northeast Moraine - - - - - -

Mississippi Border-North - - - - - -

Mississippi Border-South - - - - - -



Grand Prairie 17 60.0 0.0 1.3 22 0.0

Southern Plain - - - - - -



Statewide 28 100.0 0.0 1.2 33 0.0

19

Table 13. Summary of 2010 COYOTE trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois

(n = 156).

Wildlife Management

Unit

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Total

Trapper

Harvest

Estimated

Trapper

Harvest/

100km2

Northwest Hills 100 11.5 1.1 3.5 349 3.7






Grand Prairie 305 35.3 0.6 8.6 2,628 5.0

Southern Plain 94 10.9 0.4 7.1 671 2.8

Wabash Border 28 3.2 0.4 5.0 139 2.1

Shawnee Hills 6 0.6 0.1 3.0 17 0.3

Statewide 865 100.0 0.6 7.2 6,193 4.2

20

Table 14. Summary of 2010 BADGER trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois

(n = 8).

Wildlife Management

Unit

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Total

Trapper

Harvest

Estimated

Trapper

Harvest/

100km2

Northwest Hills 11 25.0 0.1 1.0 11 0.1




Western Prairie/Forest - - - - - -


Grand Prairie 17 37.5 0.0 1.0 17 0.0

Southern Plain - - - - - -



Statewide 44 100.0 0.0 1.0 44 0.0

21

Table 15. Summary of 2010 MUSKRAT trapper and harvest data in Furbearer Management Zones in

Illinois (n = 324).

Trapping

Zone

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Harvest

% of

Harvest

Estimated

Harvest/

100km2

North 1,242 69.1 1.5 40.6 50,367 79.6 61.5

South 554 30.9 0.9 23.3 12,890 20.4 20.1

Statewide 1,796 100.0 1.2 35.2 63,257 100.0 43.3

22

Table 16. Summary of 2010 MINK trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois

(n = 201).

Trapping

Zone

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Harvest

% of

Harvest

Estimated

Harvest/

100km2

North 782 70.1 1.0 4.6 3,631 79.4 4.4

South 333 29.9 0.5 2.8 942 20.6 1.5

Statewide 1,114 100.0 0.8 4.1 4,574 100.0 3.1

23

Table 17. Summary of 2010 RACCOON trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in

Illinois (n = 488).

Trapping

Zone

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Harvest

% of

Harvest

Estimated

Harvest/

100km2

North 1,796 66.4 2.2 32.6 58,550 66.4 71.5

South 909 33.6 1.4 32.6 29,683 33.6 46.2

Statewide 2,705 100.0 1.9 32.6 88,233 100.0 60.4

24

Table 18. Summary of 2010 OPOSSUM trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in

Illinois (n = 286).

Trapping

Zone

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Harvest

% of

Harvest

Estimated

Harvest/

100km2

North 1,048 61.4 1.3 11.3 11,870 58.7 14.5

South 538 33.9 0.8 15.5 8,344 41.3 13.0

Statewide 1,586 100.0 1.1 12.7 20,213 100.0 13.8

25

Table 19. Summary of 2010 RED FOX trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in

Illinois (n = 72).

Trapping

Zone

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Harvest

% of

Harvest

Estimated

Harvest/

100km2

North 172 43.1 0.2 2.1 366 43.1 0.4

South 227 56.9 0.4 2.1 482 56.9 0.8

Statewide 399 100.0 0.3 2.1 848 100.0 0.6

26

Table 20. Summary of 2010 GRAY FOX trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in

Illinois (n = 7).

Trapping

Zone

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Harvest

% of

Harvest

Estimated

Harvest/

100km2

North 11 28.6 0.0 1.0 11 28.6 0.0

South 28 71.4 0.0 1.0 28 71.4 0.0

Statewide 39 100.0 0.0 1.0 39 100.0 0.0

27

Table 21. Summary of 2010 BEAVER trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois

(n = 237).

Trapping

Zone

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Harvest

% of

Harvest

Estimated

Harvest/

100km2

North 965 73.4 1.2 9.0 8,638 76.9 10.6

South 349 26.6 0.5 7.4 2,600 23.1 4.0

Statewide 1,314 100.0 0.9 8.6 11,238 100.0 7.7

28

Table 22. Summary of 2010 SKUNK trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois

(n = 150).

Trapping

Zone

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Harvest

% of

Harvest

Estimated

Harvest/

100km2

North 577 69.3 0.7 4.5 2,572 64.6 3.1

South 255 30.7 0.4 5.5 1,408 35.4 2.2

Statewide 832 100.0 0.6 4.8 3,981 100.0 2.7

29

Table 23. Summary of 2010 WEASEL trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois

(n = 5).

Trapping

Zone

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Harvest

% of

Harvest

Estimated

Harvest/

100km2

North 28 100.0 0.0 1.2 33 100.0 0.0

South 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0

Statewide 28 100.0 0.0 1.2 33 100.0 0.0

30

Table 24. Summary of 2010 COYOTE trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois

(n = 156).

Trapping

Zone

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Harvest

% of

Harvest

Estimated

Harvest/

100km2

North 582 67.3 0.7 7.2 4,197 67.8 5.1

South 283 32.7 0.4 7.1 1,996 32.2 3.1

Statewide 865 100.0 0.6 7.2 6,193 100.0 4.2

31

Table 25. Summary of 2010 BADGER trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois

(n = 8).

Trapping

Zone

Estimated

Trappers %

Estimated

Trappers/

100km2

Average

Season

Catch

Estimated

Harvest

% of

Harvest

Estimated

Harvest/

100km2

North 39 87.5 0.0 1.0 39 87.5 0.0

South 5 12.5 0.0 1.0 5 12.5 0.0

Statewide 44 100.0 0.0 1.0 44 100.0 0.0

32

33

Table 26. The number of pelts sold by successful trappers (i.e., caught ≥ 1 animal) for 11 species

of furbearers in Illinois, 2010-2011 season (n = 758).

Pelts Sold in Illinois Pelts Sold Outside Illinois

Species

Number of

Pelts Sold Number Percentage Number Percentage

Muskrat 57,768 45,211 78.3 12,557 21.7

Mink 4,114 2,850 69.3 1,264 30.7

Raccoon 79,939 54,392 68.0 25,547 32.0

Opossum 9,314 6,630 71.2 2,683 28.8

Red fox 649 488 75.2 161 24.8

Gray fox 39 33 84.6 6 15.4

Beaver 9,353 6,409 68.5 2,944 31.5

Striped

skunk 1,530 1,059 69.2 471 30.8

Weasel 11 6 54.5 6 54.5

Coyote 4,136 2,805 67.8 1,331 32.2

Badger 28 22 78.6 6 21.4

Total 166,881 119,905 71.9

46,976 28.1

34

Table 27. Estimated statewide harvest by resident Illinois trappers, 2000-2010.

Season Muskrat Mink Raccoon Opossum Red Fox Gray Fox

2000 22,677 2,205 49,076 10,847 890 72

2001 54,017 4,375 92,596 13,684 1,741 121

2002 50,895 5,189 90,909 23,140 1,641 206

2003 32,767 3,857 66,783 17,771 1,421 211

2004 41,790 3,737 79,616 24,441 913 84

2005 25,766 2,065 41,125 8,722 705 77

2006 66,297 3,784 93,819 22,617 1,219 102

2007 35,461 3,563 88,784 27,011 1,316 191

2008 32,480 2,764 77,310 22,839 783 86

2009 31,942 1,792 52,431 14,203 1,001 71

2010 63,257 4,574 88,233 20,213 848 39

Season Beaver Skunk Weasel Coyote Badger All Species

2000 7,026 1,116 7 2,523 41 96,480

2001 11,490 2,177 47 4,258 56 184,562

2002 9,983 3,281 61 7,678 89 193,072

2003 6,987 2,531 44 6,360 111 138,843

2004 9,415 3,821 96 4,388 66 168,367

2005 9,132 2,085 19 3,089 50 92,835

2006 11,104 4,768 47 6,553 85 210,395

2007 9,394 6,558 53 9,216 84 181,631

2008 9,997 4,745 22 4,405 65 155,496

2009 7,697 3,784 29 4,585 62 117,597

2010 11,238 3,981 33 6,193 44 198,653

35

Table 28. Summary of fur hunting activities reported by trappersa in Illinois, 2010-2011.

Species

Number of

Trappers

Hunting

Reported

Furbearers

Harvested

by Hunting

Average

Reported

Harvest Per

Hunter

% of

Trappers

Hunting Each

Species

Estimated Total

Harvest By

Hunting

Raccoon 151 3,525 23.3 19.9 19,543

Opossum 64 421 6.6 8.4 2,334

Red fox 21 43 2.0 2.8 238

Gray fox 4 13 3.3 0.5 72

Striped

skunk 40 134 3.4 5.3 743

Coyote 142 864 6.1 18.7 4,790

All species 241b,c

5,000 20.7 31.8 27,720 a Active and inactive trappers.

b Successful and unsuccessful hunters.

c Total for all species is less than the sum of the above values because some trappers hunted >1 species.

36

Table 29. Reported sightings and sign of river otter and bobcat sightings during the 2010-2011

hunting seasons in Illinois.

n %

Saw river otter 203 27

Saw river otter sign 219 30

Saw bobcat 137 18

Saw bobcat sign 144 20

37

Table 30. Distribution of active trappers by county trapped most in Illinois based on

responses to the 2010-2011 Illinois Trapper Survey (n = 572). County n County n County n Adams 6 Hardin 0 Morgan 3

Alexander 1 Henderson 11 Moultrie 1

Bond 3 Henry 15 Ogle 8

Boone 5 Iroquois 7 Peoria 8

Brown 0 Jackson 9 Perry 6

Bureau 20 Jasper 3 Piatt 3

Calhoun 2 Jefferson 7 Pike 10

Carroll 11 Jersey 3 Pope 1

Cass 6 JoDaviess 13 Pulaski 1

Champaign 4 Johnson 2 Putnam 1

Christian 7 Kane 9 Randolph 8

Clark 2 Kankakee 5 Richland 3

Clay 5 Kendall 2 Rock Island 6

Clinton 8 Knox 15 St. Clair 8

Coles 3 Lake 7 Saline 2

Cook 2 LaSalle 26 Sangamon 4

Crawford 6 Lawrence 3 Schuyler 1

Cumberland 5 Lee 11 Scott 2

DeKalb 7 Livingston 5 Shelby 7

DeWitt 1 Logan 4 Stark 2

Douglas 0 McDonough 3 Stephenson 13

DuPage 1 McHenry 14 Tazewell 8

Edgar 1 McLean 7 Union 1

Edwards 3 Macon 5 Vermilion 7

Effingham 8 Macoupin 8 Wabash 3

Fayette 4 Madison 6 Warren 3

Ford 3 Marion 3 Washington 5

Franklin 3 Marshall 1 Wayne 4

Fulton 14 Mason 4 White 0

Gallatin 1 Massac 3 Whiteside 20

Greene 4 Menard 2 Will 14

Grundy 6 Mercer 12 Williamson 1

Hamilton 2 Monroe 4 Winnebago 6

Hancock 5 Montgomery 2 Woodford 12

38

Figure 1. Trapping activity reported by respondents to the 2010-2011 Illinois Trapper Survey,

and a comparison to the previous year’s (2009-2010) estimates.

20.1%

25.5%

23.0%

27.8%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Mean traps set Mean days trapped

Pe

rce

nt

2009-2010

2010-2011

39

Figure 2. Distribution of days of trapping by active trappers in Illinois, 2010-2011 season (n =

570)

8.9%

13.0%

14.7%

11.2%

9.5%

17.2%

2.5%

4.2% 4.6%

1.6%

12.6%

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 > 50

Pe

rce

nt

Number of Days

40

Figure 3. Distribution of the number of muskrats trapped per successful muskrat trapper in Illinois,

2010-2011 season (n = 324).

41.4%

18.5%

10.2%

4.0%

6.8%

3.1% 3.1% 2.5% 0.6% 0.9% 0.6%

1.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.6% 0.6% 0.3% 0.3% 0% 0%

2.8%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1-1

0

11

-20

21

-30

31

-40

41

-50

51

-60

61

-70

71

-80

81

-90

91

-10

0

10

1-1

10

11

1-1

20

12

1-1

30

13

1-1

40

14

1-1

50

15

1-1

60

16

1-1

70

17

1-1

80

18

1-1

90

19

1-2

00

>2

00

Pe

rce

nt

Number of Muskrats

41

Figure 4. Distribution of the number of raccoons trapped per successful raccoon trapper in Illinois,

2010-2011 (n = 488).

26.6%

16.6%

9.2% 9.6%

3.5%

5.3%

3.5% 3.1% 3.1% 3.1%

1.4% 1.4%

13.5%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1-5

6-1

0

11

-15

16

-20

21

-25

26

-30

31

-35

36

-40

41

-45

46

-50

51

-55

56

-60

> 6

0

Pe

rce

nt

Number of Raccoons

42

Figure 5. Percent change in number of successful trappers and harvest by species

between 2009-2010 license years.

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

200

Mu

skra

t

Min

k

Rac

coo

n

Op

oss

um

Re

d F

ox

Gra

y Fo

x

Be

ave

r

Sku

nk

We

ase

l

Co

yote

Bad

ger

Pe

rce

nt

Ch

ange

Species

Successful Trappers

Total Harvest

43

Figure 6. Illinois counties in which trappers reported observing otters or their sign during the

past year, 2010-2011 season. The number of reports (sign/observation) is listed for each county.

44

Figure 7. Illinois counties in which trappers reported observing bobcats or their sign during the

past year, 2010-2011 season. The number of reports (sign/observation) is listed for each county.

45

Figure 8. Age distribution of Illinois trappers (n = 566).

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

11

-20

21

-30

31

-40

41

-50

51

-60

61

-70

71

-80

81

-90

Pe

rce

nt

Age of Trappers

46

Appendix A

Illinois Trapper Survey:

2010 - 2011 Season

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!

All of your responses will be kept confidential.

Please return this survey in the postage-paid return envelope provided.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Division of Wildlife Resources

and


The Department of Natural Resources is requesting disclosure of information that is necessary to accomplish the

statutory purpose as outlined under the Illinois Compiled Statutes, The Wildlife Code, Chapter 520. This study is

funded by the federal Wildlife Restoration Fund through your purchase of hunting arms and ammunition.

Your comments are welcome! Please write them on a

separate sheet of paper to receive proper attention.

47

Effort and Harvest. Please answer the following questions about your furbearer hunting and

trapping activities during the 2010-2011 trapping season in Illinois.

1. Did you hunt furbearers with a gun and/or dogs in Illinois during the 2010-2011 season?

(Please check one.)

[ ]1 Yes

[ ]0 No (Please skip to question 3.)

2. If you did hunt furbearers in 2010-2011, please give the number taken by hunting.

Species

Number Harvested

by Hunting

Raccoon

Red Fox

Gray Fox

Opossum

Coyote

Skunk

3. Did you set any traps for furbearers in Illinois during the 2010-2011 trapping season? (Please

check one.)

[ ]1 Yes


48

4. Complete each blank for all species trapped in Illinois during the 2010-2011 season. Report

only your personal catch. If you trapped with a partner, list only your half of the catch.

Species

Number

Trapped

Number Sold

in

Illinois

Number Sold or

Shipped

Out of State

Number Not

Sold

Muskrat

Mink

Raccoon

Opossum

Red Fox

Gray Fox

Beaver

Skunk

Weasel

Coyote

Badger

5. In which county did you set traps most often during the 2010-2011 trapping season? (Please

indicate.)

_____________________ County

6. For how many days (or nights) did you set traps, in total, during the 2010-2011 trapping

season? (Please indicate.)

______ days (or nights)

49

7. What was the average number of traps you set on your trapline during the 2010-2011 trapping

season? (Please indicate.)

______ traps

8. Have you ever taken a formal trapper’s education course? (Please check one.)

[ ]1 Yes


9. Why did you take the trapper’s education course? (Please check one.)

[ ]1 I was required to take the course

[ ]2 I wanted to take the course, and it was not required.

[ ]3 I took the course with someone younger than 18 years old.

[ ]4 Other reason. (Please indicate.) ______________________________

10. Within the past 5 years, have you introduced another person to trapping? (Please check one.)

[ ]1 Yes


11. How many people have you introduced to trapping in the past 5 years? (Please indicate.)

_____ people

12. Who were the people you introduced to trapping? (Please check all that apply.)

[ ]1 a family member

[ ]2 a friend of yours

[ ]3 a friend of a friend

[ ]4 other (Please indicate.) ___________________________

13. Have you ever visited the IDNRs’ online trapper education course at www.trappered.com?

(Please check one.)

[ ]1 Yes

[ ]0 No

50

Wildlife Sightings. The furbearer species addressed in the following questions are of special

conservation concern to Illinois wildlife biologists. Information you provide in the following

questions will help us to manage Illinois wildlife to ensure healthy, sustainable populations.

14. Did you see any river otters in Illinois during the 2010-2011 trapping season? (Please check

one.)

[ ]1 Yes


15. If you did see river otters in Illinois during the 2010-2011 trapping season, in which

county(ies) were they seen? (Please indicate.)

___________________ County(ies)

16. Did you see river otter sign in Illinois during the 2010-2011 trapping season? (Please check

one.)

[ ]1 Yes


17. If you did see river otter sign in Illinois during the 2010-2011 trapping season, in which

county(ies) was it seen? (Please indicate.)

___________________ County(ies)

18. Did you see any bobcats in Illinois during the 2010-2011 trapping season? (Please check

one.)

[ ]1 Yes


19. If you did see bobcats in Illinois during the 2010-2011 trapping season, in which county(ies)

were they seen? (Please indicate.)

___________________ County(ies)

51

20. Did you see bobcat sign in Illinois during the 2010-2011 trapping season? (Please check

one.)

[ ]1 Yes


21. If you did see bobcat sign in Illinois during the 2010-2011 trapping season, in which

county(ies) was it seen? (Please indicate.)

___________________ County(ies)

Information about you. The following questions provide important information to help us

understand more about the people who trap in Illinois. Please tell us about yourself by

completing the following questions. All responses will be kept confidential.

22. In what year were you born? (Please indicate.)

19 ____

23. What is your county of residence? (Please indicate.)

____________________________ County

52

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE!

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources receives federal assistance and therefore must comply with federal anti-discrimination laws. In compliance with the

Illinois Human Rights Act, the Illinois Constitution, Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as amended, and the U.S.

Constitution, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability. If you believe you

have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, please contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Department of Natural Resources,

One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, (217) 782-2662 or the Officer of Human Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.

20240

53

Appendix B

April 1, 2011

Dear Illinois Trapper,

I am writing to ask for your help in a study of trapping activity in our state. This study, jointly

conducted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Natural History

Survey, will assist in management and conservation efforts for furbearing species.

You are part of a random sample of resident trappers selected to provide information about

trapping activities during the 2010-2011 trapping season in Illinois. Please take a few minutes to

complete the enclosed questionnaire, even if you did not trap in Illinois during the 2010-2011

season.

Your responses are confidential and will not be associated with your name or address in

published reports. While your response to this questionnaire and any of the questions is

completely voluntary, you can help us effectively manage wildlife and trapping in Illinois by

sharing your experiences and views. You may skip any questions you don’t feel comfortable

answering. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Please return the questionnaire in the

postage-paid envelope provided.

If you have any questions or comments about this study, please contact Linda Campbell, Survey

Administrator, at (217) 244-5121 or write her at the address listed below. If you have any

questions about your rights as a participant in this study, please contact the University of Illinois

Institutional Review Board at (217) 333-2670 (collect calls accepted if you identify yourself as a

research participant) or via email at [email protected].

You may access the results of this and other studies of wildlife use in Illinois at

http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/programs/hd/. Information about fur hunting and trapping can be

found at http://dnr.state.il.us/orc/wildliferesources/. Part of Illinois’ Trapper Education Course

can now be completed online at www.trappered.com.

Thank you very much for helping with this important study.

Sincerely,

Mark G. Alessi

Human Dimensions Specialist


ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

54

Appendix C

55

Appendix D

May 1, 2011

Dear Illinois Trapper,

A few weeks ago, we sent you a questionnaire asking about your trapping activities in Illinois

during 2010-2011. To the best of our knowledge, the questionnaire has not yet been returned. If

this letter and your completed questionnaire have crossed in the mail, please accept our sincere

thanks for your participation in this study!

Your views are crucially important, even if you did not trap in Illinois during 2010-2011. The

results of this study will help Illinois Department of Natural Resources biologists make informed

decisions about how to manage wildlife and trapping in Illinois.

If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to complete the enclosed

questionnaire. The enclosed questionnaire is a duplicate copy of the one you received earlier.

Your responses are confidential and will not be associated with your name or address in

published reports. While your response to this questionnaire and any of the questions is

completely voluntary, you can help us effectively manage wildlife and trapping in Illinois by

sharing your experiences and views. You may skip any questions you don’t feel comfortable

answering. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Please return the questionnaire in the

postage-paid envelope provided.

If you have any questions or comments about this study, please contact Linda Campbell, Survey

Administrator, at (217) 244-5121 or write her at the address listed below. If you have any

questions about your rights as a participant in this study, please contact the University of Illinois

Institutional Review Board at (217) 333-2670 (collect calls accepted if you identify yourself as a

research participant) or via email at [email protected].

You may access the results of this and other studies of wildlife use in Illinois at

http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/programs/hd/. Information about fur hunting and trapping can be

found at http://dnr.state.il.us/orc/wildliferesources/. Part of Illinois’ Trapper Education Course

can now be completed online at www.trappered.com.

Thank you very much for helping with this important study.

Sincerely,

Mark G. Alessi

Human Dimensions Specialist


ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

56

Appendix E

57

Appendix F

humandimensions results of the 2010-2011 r e s e a r c h p r o g … · the 2010-2011 illinois...

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