I LLINOI S PRODUCTION NOTE. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library Large-scale Digitization Project, 2007.

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1 H LLNO S UNVERSTY OF LLNOS AT URBANA-HAMPAGN PRODUTON NOTE University of llinois at Urbana-hampaign Library Large-scale Digitization Project, 27.

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3 PEROD REPORT NO. 92 5j 6, 6 y- V W, LLNOS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURES ///uts.l. DSON OF WMLDUFE RESOURES._ WATERFOWL PROGRAM WATERFOWL HARVEST AND HUNTER USE N THE REND LAKE QUOTA ZONE DURNG THE 996 WATERFOWL SEASON Richard M. Whitton, Waterfowl Project Manager Abstract: Rend Lake and the surrounding area in Franklin and Jefferson counties comprise the Rend Lake Quota Zone (RLQZ). Hunter use and harvest at Rend Lake are determined from hunter registration sheets. Hunters are required to register before and after each day's hunt. The known goose harvest is then used as a percentage to project total harvest in the two counties. Rend Lake is assigned 5% of the statewide MVP and 5% of the non-mvp anada goose harvest allocation. The statewide anada goose harvest allocation was 72,6 in 995 and decreased 45% to 94,9 in 996. The Rend Lake quota was 7,8 in 995 and decreased 42% to,4 in 996. The anada goose season at Rend Lake opened 9 November and closed 84 days later on January 997. The snow goose hunting season opened concurrently with the anada goose season, however the season was split into 2 segments. The first split was 9 November- January (84 days) and the second split was 8 February - 2 March (2 days). The daily bag limit was decreased from anada geese in 995 to 2 in 996. n 996, the duck season at Rend Lake opened 9 November and closed 5 days later on 28 December. A total of 5,87 ducks (,84 mallards),,25 anada geese, 24 snow geese and 5 white-fronted geese were harvested by waterfowl hunters on the public hunting areas. A projected harvest estimate of 4,4 anada geese or 8% of the assigned quota was harvested in the RLQZ. Waterfowl hunters spent a total of,92 days afield ( 6% less than 995) on the public hunting areas at Rend Lake. The duck harvest decreased % and the goose harvest decreased 44% from 995. Bag limits (5 ducks per day) and season length (5 days) remained unchanged from 995. Shooting hours were extended again during the last days of the anada goose season from p.m. on the state area and p.m. on private land to sunset. Duck hunters reported a success rate of.66 (.77 in 995) ducks per trip while goose hunters reported a.26 (.27 in 995) success rate after the close of the duck season. Access areas which recorded the highest duck harvest included: ottonwood (,5), Dareville (7), asey Fork Dam (725), Waltonville East (55) and Bonnie amp (8). Goose hunters were the most successful at ottonwood (29), Whistling Wings (55), asey Fork Dam (5), Jackie Branch (24) and Lambrusco (7). anada goose numbers peaked at 2,5 on28- January (8, on 2 December 995). :i....

4 NTRODUTON Rend Lake is one of the largest and most diverse waterfowl management areas in llinois, offering excellent hunting opportunities for both ducks and anada geese. Waterfowl harvest at Rend Lake has been monitored annually since 975. n 979, waterfowl hunters using Rend Lake Public Hunting Areas (RLPHA) were required to register and report their daily harvest. The registration system was developed to determine hunter use and harvest at Rend Lake and this technique has proven to be reliable and accurate. n 995, a portion of the asey Fork Subimpoundment was designated as a controlled hunting area. The controlled hunting area consisted of all the acreage from the subimpoundment dam to the power lines between the Silo and Bonnie amp access areas. ommercial goose clubs on private lands in Jefferson and Franklin counties are required to obtain a license and submit daily hunter registration and harvest sheets at the end of the hunting season. Prior to the 982 season, noncommercial goose hunting areas were also required to register hunters and report harvest. Since 982, the anada goose harvest on private land in the surrounding area has been derived from the llinois Waterfowl Hunter Questionnaire Survey, which has been conducted since 98. Rend Lake and the surrounding area in Franklin and Jefferson counties were designated as a Mississippi Valley Population (MVP) anada goose harvest quota zone in 986. Establishment of the Rend Lake Quota Zone (RLQZ) has allowed for liberalization of harvest regulations while preventing overharvest in a high concentration area. The Rend Lake Wildlife Management Area is a cooperative project between the U.S. Army orps of Engineers (OE) and the llinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The project consists of 9, acres of land and water in Jefferson and Franklin counties. mplementation of the waterfowl harvest and hunter use survey was partially funded by Pittman-Robertson Project W-24-D. Employees of the Division of Wildlife Resources and the OE assisted in the distribution, collection and tabulation of hunter registration sheets in 996. METHODS Waterfowl harvest and hunter use at all Rend Lake public access areas (9) were monitored using the mandatory registration system. A registration box was placed at each hunter access area around the lake as well as the Big Muddy (,7 acres) and asey Fork (, acres) Management Areas: Hunters were required to register before hunting and report their daily harvest by number and species following each hunt. Registration sheets and hunter harvest cards were collected daily and the number of hunters and harvest by species were totaled for individual access areas and for each day of the season. Waterfowl hunters hunting in the controlled hunting area were required to register prior to the 4 a.m. daily drawing. Hunters were selected by random lottery which allowed each party to select a staked hunting location. The controlled hunting area was divided into 2 zones which required different drawings at the same time, but different locations each 2

5 morning of the waterfowl season. Waterfowl hunters selecting to hunt north of the Bonnie blacktop to the power lines and east of asey Fork creek were required to register and draw at the ottonwood access area. Waterfowl hunters selecting to hunt south of the Bonnie blacktop and west of asey Fork creek and south to the asey Fork Subimpoundment Dam were required to register and draw at the asey Fork Dam access area. Waterfowl hunters selecting to hunt the 4 pits at the Whistling Wings access area were required to register and draw at ottonwood Access Area. All hunting parties were required to hunt within yards of an assigned, numbered stake. Hunters who wish to hunt together at a staked location must register as a hunting party and be present for the drawing. Hunters who weren't present at the 4 a.m. drawing were not allowed to enter the control area until the 9 a.m. drawing. No hunting party was allowed to enter the control area after 9: a.m.. When a staked location was vacated by a hunting party, any other registered hunting party may claim the vacant stake on a first come first serve basis. When a hunting party harvested their legal daily bag of ducks, they must vacate the hunting site. anada goose harvest and hunter activity on private land surrounding Rend Lake were estimated using three different methods. ommercial licenses were issued for all areas where payment was received for goose hunting privileges. On these commercial clubs, all hunters were required to register before hunting and report their harvest at the end of each hunt. Registration sheets were submitted by club owners at the end of the season to the Union ounty Refuge Office for tabulation of harvest and hunter use. Goose harvest on other private lands surrounding Rend Lake in Franklin and Jefferson counties was determined from the Statewide Waterfowl Hunter Questionnaire Survey, conducted after the 996 waterfowl season (Anderson 997). Finally, the projected total harvest in the quota zone was estimated using the mean reported harvest on the public hunting areas in past years (.2). Analysis of harvest data at Rend Lake over the past five years revealed that hunters on the public hunting areas have consistently reported 2% of the total goose harvest in the RLQZ. This percentage was then used to project total harvest throughout the season in the quota zone. Goose harvest on the public hunting areas was tabulated daily by DNR staff at the Mt. Vernon Game Farm. Projected harvest in the zone was determined and harvest update information was forwarded to the Rend Lake OE office, where it was provided to the public throughout the season by a recorded telephone message. anada goose populations at Rend Lake and other wintering areas in southern llinois were monitored weekly by aerial inventories starting 5 October and continuing to 24 February. DNR biologists conducted the inventories using the state's essna 7. RESULTS anada Geese - Population Status and Migration hronology Population Status The 996 spring population survey conducted by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) revealed an estimated population of 678,85 (± 2,977 at 95% ) Mississippi Valley

6 Population (MVP) anada geese on the breeding grounds. This represents a 26% decrease from the 995 spring estimate of 95,764 and is 25% below the MVP Management Plan goal of 9, anada geese (adults and non-breeders). Habitat Aerial surveys yielded estimates of 88,59 active nests (± 27,675 at 95% ) in 996 compared to 2,596 in 995 (6% less). The number of nests has steadily declined since 99. Production surveys yielded estimates of 8,42 anada geese in 996 compared to 47,22 in 995 (6% less). The projected fall flight for MVP anada geese in 996 was.6 million (Leafloor 996). As a result of the MVP below the spring population (9,) and fall flight goals (.2 million) in 996, harvest strategies were adopted which decreased bag limits and harvest allocations. Migration hronology anada geese began arriving at southern llinois wintering refuges during the week of 6-22 September. The first aerial inventory was conducted on 5 October and revealed that 6 anada geese (9 in 995) were present in the RLQZ. anada goose numbers at Rend Lake gradually increased from 6 in late October to, by opening day (9 November). The first major migration of geese from Wisconsin occurred between November, when the population at Rend Lake increased from 5, to 7, (Table ). A north bound migration occurred between January when the population increased from,5 to 2,5. The goose population peaked at 2,5 (8, in 995) on 28 January (Figure, Table 2). The anada goose population in southern llinois and western Kentucky also peaked (,) on 2 January (2,2 in 996). Large numbers of anada geese remained on wintering refuges through 7 February when warm weather patterns initiated northward migrations to spring staging areas. A. small number (5,) of snow geese wintered in southern llinois and western Kentucky, however a major migration occurred on 28 January and 8 February when the population increased from 9, to 5,. Snow geese departed for spring staging areas in spectacular numbers on 22 February. The following survey. (24 February) revealed only 4,5 in southern llinois and western Kentucky. Goose use-days (GUD) at Rend Lake decreased from.9 million in to.2 million in (Table ). n , Rend Lake accounted for.2 million GUD (% of the total), Union ounty Refuge 2.6 million GUD (22% of the total), Horseshoe Lake Refuge.6 million GUD (% of the total), rab Orchard NWR. million GUD (25% of the total), and Ballard ounty, Kentucky.5 million GUD (% of the total). Goose use-days in southern llinois and western Kentucky decreased 7% from 9. million in to 2. million in

7 Ducks - Population Status. Habitat and Migration hronology Population Status The breeding population of all species of ducks increased 5% from 5.9 million in 995 to 7.5 million in 996 and 6% greater than (P<.) the long-term average. The mallard breeding population decreased 4% from 8.2 million in 995 to 7.9 million in 996. The 996 mallard breeding estimate was % above (P<.) the long-term average (7.2 million). The breedingpopulation in 996 increased for 5 of the principal species ( gadwall, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, canvasback and shoveler) and decreased for 5 other species (scaup, mallard, redhead, wigeon and pintail) from 995. Habitat Abundant snowfall and unseasonably wet conditions throughout the north central U.S. and a large portion of southern anada resulted in excellent habitat conditions. Habitat conditions remained favorable throughout the spring and into early June. The May (996) pond index in Prairie anada increased 29% from,892, ponds in 995 to 5,, in 996 and was 48% above-the long-term average (96-95) of,75, ponds.. The number of May ponds in the northcentral United States increased 8% from 2,44, ponds in 995 to 2,48, in 996, and was 84% above the long-term average (974-95) of,49, ponds. ollectively, the number of May ponds increased 8% from 6,5, ponds in 995 to 7,482, in 996, and was 6% above the long-term average (974-95) of 4,66, ponds. The July (996) pond index in Prairie anada increased 49% from,77, ponds in 995 to 2,648, in 996 and was 62% above the long-term average (96-95) of,64, ponds. The number of July ponds in the northcentral United States decreased 2% from,576, ponds in 995 to,28, ponds in 996, and was 46% above the long-term average (974-95) of 82, ponds. ollectively, the number of July ponds increased 5% from,5, in 995 to,866, in 996 and was 54% above the long-term average (974-95) of 2,58,. Abundant wetlands combined with high quality nesting cover as a result of the onservation Reserve Program provided the impetus for the largest production year and fall flight since calculations were initiated in 97. The fall flight estimate for ducks from survey areas has ranged from million since 97. The mallard fall flight estimate increased % from. million in 995 to.4 million in 996. The fall flight estimate for total ducks increased 6% from 8 million in 995 to 89.5 million in 996. Migration hronology The timing and distribution of the duck migration through llinois were earlier than average

8 as a result of the first major storm in the upper Mississippi Flyway. Total ducks in the llinois River Valley peaked at 29,92 on 4 November (48%.less than 995). Total ducks in the Mississippi River Valley peaked on 26 November at 89,7 (27% less than 995 and 22% less than the 5-year average). The peak number of ducks for the two river systems combined (97,7) was 2% less than 995 (66,545) and was 7% less than the 5-year average. Mallard numbers peaked in the llinois River Valley at 59,2 on 26 November (48% less than 995) and in the Mississippi River Valley at 4,225 on 26 November (% less than 995). The peak number of mallards on the two systems combined (27,545) was % less than 995 and 4% less than the 5-year average. Six waterfowl surveys were conducted by the llinois Natural History Survey (NHS) at Rend Lake between October and December. Total duck numbers increased from 25 on October to a peak of 4,625 on October. Mallard numbers also peaked on October at 8,8 (9, on November 995). The peak number of mallards was reported on October (8,8) compared to November 995 (9,) and November 994 (2,4). Mallard numbers totaled 28,5 during surveys conducted in the fall (November) of 996 compared to 7, in 995 and 48,4 for the same survey period in 994. Hunter Participation. Waterfowl Harvest and Hunter Success Hunter Participation The 996 RLQZ anada goose hunting season opened 9 November and closed 84 days later on January. The snow goose hunting season opened concurrently with the anada goose season, however the season was split into 2 segments. The first split was 9 November - January (84 days) and the second split was 8 February - 2 March (2 days). The anada goose harvest allocation for llinois decreased 45 % from 72,6 in 995 to 94,9 in 996. The RLQZ annually receives 5% of the statewide MVP and 5% of the non-mvp anada goose harvest allocation. The harvest quota assigned to Rend Lake decreased 42% from 7,8 in 995 to,4 in 996. The anada goose season length in the RLQZ decreased from 89 days in 995 to 84 days in 996. The daily bag limit for anada geese decreased from in 995 to 2 in 996. Shooting hours were extended again during the last days of the anada goose hunting season from p.m. on the state area and p.m. on private land to sunset. Duck season length (5 days) and bag limits (5 ducks per day - conventional) remained unchanged from 995. llinois selected one-half hour before sunrise shooting hours option. The duck season at Rend Lake opened 9 November and closed 28 December. Waterfowl hunters reported a total of,92 days afield in 996 (6% less than 995) (Table 4). The asey Fork Subimpoundment recorded 5,24 days afield or 69% and the Big

9 Muddy Subimpoundment recorded 2, days afield or %, combined both subimpoundments totaled 7,55 days afield or 6%. The lake and other access areas recorded 4,77 days afield or 7%. The 5-year (99-95) average was 5,48 days afield, with a minimum of 6,428 in 975 and a maximum of 8,55 in 99. Daily registration forms revealed that waterfowl hunters (% greater than 995) spent 8,88 days afield during the duck season. An additional,74 days afield were expended during 4 days after the closure of duck season by goose hunters (27% less than 995). During the duck season, the mean number of hunters per day was 76 (7 in 995) and an average of 9 (6 in 995) goose hunters per day were active on Rend Lake after the close of the duck season. Public access areas receiving the highest hunter use-days included: ottonwood (2,2), asey Fork Dam (,6), Dareville (964), Waltonville East (657), Silo (65) and Whistling Wings (6) (Figure 2). Ten commercial goose clubs in the RLQZ reported a total of,5 days afield in 996 (44% less than 995). The Statewide Waterfowl Hunter Questionnaire Survey indicated that a total of, hunters (27% less than 995 4,) spent 7, days afield (8% less than ,7) in the RLQZ (Anderson 997). Waterfowl Harvest A total of,25 anada geese (44% less than 995) was harvested on the public hunting areas at Rend Lake in 996 (Table 5). The goose harvest is often incidental to duck hunting during the duck season. Hunters reported a harvest of 52 geese, or 8% of the total, during the 996 duck season. The majority of the harvest (62%) occurred in late December and January after the close of the duck season when,74 hunters harvested 79 anada geese. Public access areas with the highest goose harvest included: ottonwood (29), Whistling Wings (55), asey Fork Dam (5), Jackie Branch (24) and Lambrusco (7) (Figure ). The goose harvest in the asey Fork Subimpoundment totaled 56 or 4% and the Big Muddy Subimpoundment reported a harvest of 77 or 8% of the total. ombined the subimpoundments harvested 74 anada geese or 56% of the total. The lake and other access areas reported a harvest of 585 anada geese or 44% of the total. The anada goose harvest on the public hunting areas totaled,25. The projected RLQZ harvest estimate of 4,4 anada geese was determined by dividing the reported harvest on the public hunting areas by 2%. This was 6,86 geese less than the assigned quota of,4. The harvest estimate derived from the Statewide Hunter Questionnaire Survey after the season revealed a harvest estimate of 5,28 anada geese (4% less than in 995 5,877) in the RLQZ (Anderson 997). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) estimated a harvest of,72 anada geese in the RLQZ. Ten commercial goose hunting clubs reported a total harvest of 569 anada geese for the season (58% less than 995), 8 snow geese (2% greater than 995), 5 white-fronted geese and 62 ducks (2 mallards) (Whitton 996). The final harvest of 5,28 anada geese represented 46% of the assigned quota of,4.

10 Duck hunters reported a total harvest of 5,87 ducks (% less than 995) at Rend Lake during the 996 season (Table 5). Mallards comprised 58% of the harvest, wood ducks %, green-winged teal 8%, gadwall 4% and ring-necked duck 4%. The 996 mallard harvest of,84 was 9% less than the 995 harvest (4,6) and % greater than the 5-year (99-95) average of,28 (Table 6). Percent harvest for dabbling ducks and diving ducks from are shown in Figures 4 and 5. The duck harvest in the asey Fork Subimpoundment totaled,262 or 62% of the total compared to,75 or % of the total in the Big Muddy Subimpoundment. Together, the two subimpoundments harvested 5,5 or 86% of the ducks compared to 822 or 4% of the total on the main lake and other access areas. During the National Youth Duck Hunt, 82 youths harvested 42 ducks (6 mallards) on 2 November. Access areas with the highest total duck and mallard harvest included: ottonwood (,5,,27), Dareville (7, 498), asey Fork Dam (725, 456), Waltonville East (55,224) and Bonnie amp (8, 85) (Figure 6). Hunter Success Goose hunter success on the public hunting areas is influenced by cropping patterns, weather, migration chronology and the current age structure of the population. After the close of the duck season, goose hunters reported a success rate of.26 in 996 compared to.27 in 995. The success rate in the RLQZ as determined by the Statewide Hunter Questionnaire Survey, was.2 goose per hunter in 995 compared to.29 in 996. Goose hunters on commercial clubs in the RLQZ reported a success rate of.4 geese per hunter-trip in 996 (.59 in 995). 4). Duck hunter success at Rend Lake decreased from (.77) in 995 to (.66) in 996 (Table DSUSSON For the second consecutive year, cool wet planting conditions occurred throughout the spring and into the early summer resulting in reduced crop acreages in southern llinois. Normal weather patterns returned throughout the remainder of the growing season. However, below average temperatures with above average precipitation delayed crop harvest throughout southern llinois. Rend Lake has been designated as a quota zone since its inception in 986 ( years). During this period, the anada goose harvest has not exceeded the harvest allocation nor has the season been closed prior to the season length expiring. The -year average ( ) anada goose harvest in the Rend Lake Quota Zone totals 7,489 while being allocated an average of,26 anada geese. Reallocation of a proportion of the annual percentage assigned to the Rend Lake Quota Zone should be assigned to other zones which can harvest more geese than is currently being allocated. 8

11 Reallocation of a proportion of this quota may likely increase llinois' statewide anada goose harvest. Snow goose hunting continued after the close of the 84 day anada goose and 7 day white-fronted goose hunting season. Snow goose hunters were given an opportunity to hunt an additional 2 days in February to fulfill the 7 day maximum allowable hunting framework. Southern llinois experienced temperatures below average with above average snowfall accumulations throughout December and January. Extended periods of below zero temperatures reduced hunter activity and harvest. Major anada goose migrations occurred between November and 6-8 January. ncreasingly larger numbers of anada geese are spending greater amounts of time and perhaps even wintering in central and northern latitudes of llinois. Major snow goose arrivals and departures occurred on 28 January and 8 February (arrival) and 22 February (departure), respectively. For the third consecutive year, increasingly larger numbers of snow geese are staging at southern llinois refuges. A record number of snow geese (5,) were surveyed on 8 February. GUD decreased at all wintering refuges except Ballard ounty, KY. The results of the 996 MVP anada goose spring population and production surveys did not meet MVP management plan goals. Despite reductions in harvest allocation, llinois was able to maintain liberal season lengths (84-94 days) due to approximately 75% of the state utilizing a telephone or quota zone monitoring system. Even more conservative seasons may be necessary in 997 if recruitment is average or below in order to achieve MVP plan goals. As a result of outstanding forecast for ducks, the number of state duck stamps increased 2% from 6,564 to 62,, days afield spent duck hunting decreased 6% from 884,28 to 827,28 and the duck harvest decreased 25% from 77,292 to 282,6 between 995 and 996 (Anderson 997). The duck harvest (5,87) decreased % at Rend Lake in 996, which is slightly below the 2 year average ( ) of 6,49. Extremely cold temperatures in January resulted in almost % ice coverage in the subimpoundments and a large portion of the lake. The effects of the ice significantly reduced hunter activity and harvest during January. 9

12 LTERATURE TED Anderson, W.L Preliminary results of the 996 llinois waterfowl hunting questionnaire. llinois Dept. of onservation, Waterfowl Program, Unpublished Adm. Rpt. pp. aithamer, D.F., J.A. Dubovsky, F.A. Johnson, J.R. Kelley Jr. and G.W. Smith Status of waterfowl and fall flight forecast. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Ser. 9 pp. Leafloor, J.O MVP fall flight forecast. Ontario Ministry. of Nat. Res. Unpublished Rpt. Whitton, R.M Waterfowl harvest and hunter use in the Rend Lake Quota Zone during the 995 waterfowl season. llinois Dept. of Natural Resources, Waterfowl Program Periodic Rpt. No pp.

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14 Table 2. Peak numbers of anada geese at Rend Lake, llinois Year Number of Geese Date 97-72a , 2,, 2, 5, 42,, 62, 9, 88, 2, 4, 44, 72, 7, 65,, 5, 7, 6, 65, 8, 8, 8, 8, 2,5 Dec. 22 Dec. Jan. 4 Dec. 8 Jan. 22 Dec. 4 Jan. 2 Jan. 4 Jan. 4 Jan. 27 Jan. 8 Feb. Feb. 7 Jan. 5 Dec. 9 Jan. Jan. 25 Jan. 2 Jan. 6 Jan. 4 Dec. Jan. 9 Feb. 7 Jan. 9 Dec. 2 Jan. 28 a First year that anada geese started using Rend Lake.

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17 Table 5. Waterfowl harvest and hunter use on public access areas at Rend Lake during the 996 season. Access Area Hunter Use-Days Mallards Ducks Atchison reek Bluegill Hole Bonnie amp Bonnie South Buck reek Button Bush Bay &E asey Fork Dam asey Fork West ottonwood ounty Line ypress View Dam West Dareville Elk Prairie Gun reek West Honkers Point na Boat Ramp na Parking Lot Jackie Branch Ken Gray Lambrusco Mine 2 Nason North Nason South Pin Oak Resort Ramp River Road RL Boat Ramp RL Maintenance Ryder Bottoms Sailboat Harbor Silo Turnip Patch Waltonville Dam Waltonville East Ward Branch Whistling Wings Woodcock Ridge ,6 6 2, , , anada Geese Snow Geese White-fronted Geese ' 2 Total,92,84 5,87, Total,92,84 5,87,25 24

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