Waterfowl Regulations Planning – How to Comment · Illinois Natural History Survey – Waterfowl...

Waterfowl Regulations Planning –

How to Comment

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) allows states to change duck season structure every five years. In 2020,

Illinois must inform FWS if the number and location of zones and split seasons established for 2016 through 2020

duck hunting seasons will remain the same or change for 2021 through 2025. As part of this 5-year regulation set-

ting process for establishing duck season structure, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources also determines wa-

terfowl season dates for 2021 through 2025 hunting seasons. Illinois waterfowl hunters provide important input on

preferred season structure and dates through statewide random mail surveys, waterfowl open house meetings, and

comments submitted to [email protected]. Comments will be accepted until November 7, 2019.

Please review the following descriptions and posters that were originally presented at waterfowl planning open

houses in September and October 2019.

To provide feedback to DNR regarding season dates, proposed or existing zone lines or other waterfowl issues, please email [email protected].

Your email should include specifics such as:

• The zone you hunt

• The regulations preferred, including:

- Season timing (specific desired dates or “maintain current dates”, “earlier dates”, “later dates”, etc.).

- Support for or against Option 1 and Option 2 zone line changes and/or any specific changes to the location

of these proposed zone lines.

- Support for or against “Military Days” and when they should occur.

- Other pertinent issues.

Please note that no response will be generated from your submission other than a confirmation of receipt.

Please refer to the poster displaying duck season timing preferences for additional details on providing feedback on

season dates or timing. Be sure to include which zone your preferred season timing is for.

New zone structures are proposed. Proposed changes would not start until 2021-22, and these changes are cur-

rently exploratory. Please refer to the PROPOSED Zone Maps when providing input on zones.

These options are independent of one another and one, both or neither could be adopted.

Option 1 – This proposed change would expand the South Central Zone by combining the eastern half of the Central

Zone with the South Central Zone. This new zone would be Zone 3, and the remainder of the Central Zone would be-

come Zone 2. The boundary between Zones 2 and 3 follows Interstate 39 to Interstate 55 to Route 4 to Route 161 to

Route 158 to Route 159 to Route 3. (West of line is Zone 2 and East of line is Zone 3).

Option 2 – This proposed change would expand the South Zone by combining it with part of the South Central Zone.

This expanded zone would be Zone 4, and the remainder of the South Central Zone would be Zone 3. The boundary

between Zones 3 and 4 follows Interstate 70 to Route 45 to Route 14 to Route 148 to Route 154 to Route 4 to Route

150. (North or West of line is Zone 3 and South or East of line is Zone 4).

“Military Days” refers to two special hunting days for veterans and active duty military that could be instituted by states. The days would function similar to current youth hunting days, occurring outside of the regular hunting season but within two weeks of the start or end of the regular season. The “Military Days” could occur before the season and overlap with youth seasons, occur before the season but not overlap with youth seasons, occur after the close of the regular duck season, or Illinois could choose not to institute these days.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Welcome

2019 Waterfowl Zone Line & Season

Date Public Meetings

Expected Outcomes:

•Standardize waterfowl hunting season dates and zone lines for the next five years (2021-2025 seasons). •Maintain support of waterfowl constituency groups for the selected regulations. •Gain support of Illinois waterfowl hunters for the selected regulations as measured by the Illinois Waterfowl Hunter

Survey (IWHS).

Goals:

•Select waterfowl hunting season dates and zone lines that maximize hunter satisfaction by: •Maximizing days afield. •Maximizing waterfowl available to hunters. •Providing opportunities for hunters to pursue a range of waterfowl species and use diverse hunting methods.

•Recruit and retain waterfowl hunters by selecting season dates and zone lines that are as simple and easy to understand as practical. •Understand the needs and desired outcomes of waterfowl hunters. •Increase transparency and support for the process of setting waterfowl regulations.

Process and Timeline:

•Winter 2019 – Determine waterfowl constituent group needs, initiatives, desired changes and incorporate into IWHS. •Spring & Summer 2019 – Administer and summarize results of IWHS. •Fall 2019 – Develop options and present at Open Houses and online.

•Gather additional data from attendees and commenters. •Present results to Natural Resources Advisory Board and Director.

•Winter 2020 – Finalize proposal based on all feedback and Director approval. •Spring 2020 – Submit proposal to US Fish and Wildlife Service establishing hunting zones and dates for 2021–2025

seasons.

N

Current Zone Lines And Season Dates

2016-2020

Canada Goose Season Dates

North Zone

15 October – 12 January 2016





Central Zone

22 October - 30 October, 12 November – 31 January 2016

28 October - 5 November, 12 November – 31 January 2017




South Central Zone

12 November – 31 January 2016





South Zone






Duck Season Dates

North Zone

15 October – 13 December 2016





Central Zone





24 October – 22 December2020

South Central Zone





14 November – 12 January2020

South Zone






N

Zone 3—Approximate Duck Season

Dates: Nov 10 to Jan 10

Zone 2—Approximate Duck Season Dates: Oct 25 to Dec 25

Zone 4—Approximate Duck

Season Dates: Nov 25 to Jan 25


OPTION 1: Change to Central Zone

and South Central Zone

Zone 2

Zone 1

Zone 4

Zone 3

Proposed Zone Line

Current Zone Line

N

OPTION 2: Change to South Central Zone

and South Zone



Dates: Oct 15 to Dec 15

Zone 4—

Approximate Duck Season




Zone 2

Zone 1

Zone 4

Zone 3

Proposed Zone Line

Current Zone Line

Results based on three years of

Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Survey responses

(2016-17 – 2018-19)

Central Zone

Harvest Results

Central Zone (Eastern Counties)

Central Zone (Western Counties)

Central Zone (All Counties)

Dates that correspond

to 5-day periods displayed on

harvest graphs.

Month 5-Day Period

Dates

October 1 Oct 1-Oct 5 2 Oct 6-Oct 10 3 Oct 11-Oct 15 4 Oct 16-Oct 20 5 Oct 21-Oct 25 6 Oct 26-Oct 30

November 1 Oct 31-Nov 04 2 Nov 05-Nov 09 3 Nov 10-Nov 14 4 Nov 15-Nov 19 5 Nov 20-Nov 24 6 Nov 25-Nov 29

December 1 Nov 30-Dec 04 2 Dec 05-Dec 09 3 Dec 10-Dec 14 4 Dec 15-Dec 19 5 Dec 20-Dec 24 6 Dec 25-Dec 29

January 1 Dec 30-Jan 03 2 Jan 04-Jan 08 3 Jan 09-Jan 13 4 Jan 14-Jan 18 5 Jan 19-Jan 23 6 Jan 24-Jan 28

Estimates of average mallard, non-mallard and wood duck harvest per day of hunting by 5-day period, 2011–2017.

North, South Central and

South Zone

Harvest Results

North Zone

South Central Zone

South Zone

Dates that correspond

to 5-day periods displayed on

harvest graphs.

Month 5-Day Period

Dates

October 1 Oct 1-Oct 5 2 Oct 6-Oct 10 3 Oct 11-Oct 15 4 Oct 16-Oct 20 5 Oct 21-Oct 25 6 Oct 26-Oct 30

November 1 Oct 31-Nov 04 2 Nov 05-Nov 09 3 Nov 10-Nov 14 4 Nov 15-Nov 19 5 Nov 20-Nov 24 6 Nov 25-Nov 29

December 1 Nov 30-Dec 04 2 Dec 05-Dec 09 3 Dec 10-Dec 14 4 Dec 15-Dec 19 5 Dec 20-Dec 24 6 Dec 25-Dec 29

January 1 Dec 30-Jan 03 2 Jan 04-Jan 08 3 Jan 09-Jan 13 4 Jan 14-Jan 18 5 Jan 19-Jan 23 6 Jan 24-Jan 28

Estimates of average mallard, non-mallard and wood duck harvest per day of hunting by 5-day period, 2011–2017.

Aerial Survey Data Southern Illinois

Percentage Difference from Peak Duck Abundance

Survey Period South Central Zone South Zone

Oct. 18 -Dec. 10 -15% -47%

Oct. 26 –Dec. 18 -6% -34%

Nov. 4 -Dec. 25 -1% -23%

Nov. 11 -Jan. 4 Peak -12%

Nov. 18 -Jan. 11 -11% -6%

Nov. 25 – Jan. 18 -17% -3%

Dec. 4 -Jan. 26 -22% Peak

Data collected during aerial waterfowl surveys provide biologists with a useful index of duck abundance. Shaded percentages represent duck population estimates of similar value because they are within the range of error associated with this sampling technique (±10%).

(Carlyle Lake, Keck’s Marsh, Rend Lake, Pyramid SRA) (Crab Orchard, Union County,

Horseshoe Lake, Cache River, Mermet Lake)

10-Year mean number of ducks aerial inventoried per week, 2009-10 through 2018-19.

IDNR, Division of Wildlife Resources – Waterfowl Aerial Inventory Data

Sum of the 10-Year Mean Number of Ducks Observed per Weekly survey –

2009-10 through 2018-19

Aerial Survey Data

Northeast Illinois

10-year mean per bi-weekly survey 2008-09 through 2014-15 and 2016-17 through 2018-19.

IDNR, Division of Wildlife Resources – Waterfowl Aerial Inventory Data

Sum of the 10-Year Mean Number of Ducks Observed per Bi-Weekly survey –

2008-09 through 2014-15 and 2016-17 through 2018-19

Data collected during aerial waterfowl surveys provide biologists with a useful index of duck

abundance. Percentages shaded represent duck population estimates of similar value

because they are within the range of error associated with this sampling technique (±10%).

Aerial surveys were discontinued in 2015-16 due to a budget shortfall.


Survey Period Northeast Illinois Braidwood Lake Goose Lake Prairie

Oct. 8 -Dec. 8 -54% -69% Peak

Oct. 23 -Dec. 22 -22% -21% -2%

Nov. 8 -Jan. 8 -11% -10% -12%

Nov. 23 -Jan. 23 Peak Peak -43%

Northeast Illinois

Survey Area

(Kankakee River, Braidwood

Lake, Mazonia, Dresden Lake,

Goose Lake Prairie,

DesPlaines River, Heidecke Lake,

Illinois River Quarries, LaSalle

Lake, and Lake Renwick)

Aerial Survey Data

Mississippi River Area (MRA) and

Upper Mississippi River

10-year mean number of ducks aerially inventoried per week, 2009-10 through 2018-19.

Illinois Natural History Survey – Waterfowl Aerial Inventory Data

Sum of the 10-Year Mean Number of Ducks Observed per Week – 2009-10 through 2018-19


Survey Period MRA Mississippi River – North of the MRA

Oct. 9 -Dec. 4 -22% -32%

Oct. 16 -Dec. 11 -12% -20%

Oct. 23 -Dec. 18 -6% -9%

Oct. 30 -Dec. 26 -2% -2%

Nov. 6 -Jan. 3 Peak Peak

Nov. 13 -Jan. 10 -6% -2%

Data collected during aerial waterfowl surveys provide biologists with a useful index of duck abundance. Shaded percentages represent duck population estimates of similar value


Mississippi River Area (MRA)

(Swan Lake, Gilbert Lake, Long Lake, Dardenne Club,

Cuivre Club and Batchtown Refuge)

Mississippi River – North of the MRA

(Cannon Refuge to Louisa Refuge)

Aerial Survey Data

Illinois and Mississippi Rivers

10-year mean number of ducks aerially inventoried per week, 2009-10 through 2018-19.

Illinois Natural History Survey – Waterfowl Aerial Inventory Data

Swan Lake to Louisa Refuge

Hennepin/Hopper to

Meredosia Lake

Sum of the 10-Year Mean Number of Ducks Observed per Week – 2009-10 through 2018-19.


Survey Period IL & MS Rivers Combined Mississippi River Illinois River

Oct. 9 -Dec. 4 -18% -27% -7%

Oct. 16 -Dec. 11 -8% -15% -1%

Oct. 23 -Dec. 18 -2% -6% Peak

Oct. 30 -Dec. 26 Peak -3% -5%

Nov. 6 -Jan. 3 -2% Peak -13%

Nov. 13 -Jan. 10 -7% -4% -26%

Data collected during aerial waterfowl surveys provide biologists with a useful index of duck abundance. Percentages shaded represent duck population estimates of similar value


Southern Zone Timing, Youth Hunt Timing,

and Military Days

*Restricted to those who intended to hunt at least one day in the South Zone

Average Freeze Dates:

1995—2018

Freeze Dates (2014 - 2018)

for Selected Cities:

Year Rockford Peoria Springfield Mt. Vernon Carbondale

2014 15-Nov 15-Nov 15-Nov 15-Nov 15-Nov

2015 22-Nov 30-Dec 31-Dec 1-Jan 11-Jan

2016 19-Nov 8-Dec 8-Dec 8-Dec 8-Dec

2017 6-Dec 7-Dec 8-Dec 9-Dec 23-Dec

2018 13-Nov 13-Nov 13-Nov 27-Nov 27-Nov

Freeze Dates (2010 - 2014)

for Selected Cities:

Year Rockford Peoria Springfield Mt. Vernon Carbondale

2010 25 Nov 27 Nov 3 Dec 3 Dec 10 Dec

2011 9 Dec 7 Dec 10 Dec 10 Dec 12 Dec

2012 23 Dec 23 Dec 23 Dec Missing 28 Dec

2013 25 Nov 23 Dec 25 Dec 26 Nov 26 Nov

2014 15 Nov 15 Nov 15 Nov 15 Nov 15 Nov

Average date when temperature drops to 32 degrees or colder for 3 days in a row, based on stations with data from1995-2014 (20 years)

Freeze Contour Lines developed through ARC GIS using Kriging Interpolation based on average freeze dates.

Data Provided by: Illinois State Water Survey

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