2020-2021 Illinois Trapper Report: Harvest, Effort, and Trapper Opinions

Abstract

We sampled 1,200 of 2020-21 resident Illinois trapping license purchasers from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources licensing database. Licensees were mailed an 8-page questionnaire, and we received 639 (54%) questionnaires. Trapping license sales increased 7.8% from 2019-20 (6,698) to 2020-21 (7,217). Trappers set an average of 14.7 traps for an average of 26.9 days or nights during the 2020-21 season and harvested an estimated 163,292 furbearers (up 25.9% from the 129,689 harvested in 2019-20). An estimated 72,838 raccoons (Procyon lotor) were trapped during the 2020-21 Illinois trapping season, an increase of 7.2% from the estimated 67,915 trapped during the 2019-20 season. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) harvest was the next highest at 31,703 muskrats (96.8% increase from the previous year).

Full text

HumanDimensions
R e s e a r c h P r o g r a m
Illinois Natural History Survey
Prairie Research Institute
University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign
2020-2021
Illinois Trapper Report:
Harvest, Effort, and
Trapper Opinions
Federal Aid Project
Number W-112-R-30
Job Number 101.2
Wildlife Restoration
Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021
Colleen Callahan, Director
Illinois Department of Natural
Resources
Paul Vehlo w,
Federal Aid Coordinator
Mike Wef er,
Chief, Division of Wildlife
Resources
Craig A. Miller, Ph.D.
Program Leader and Principal Investigator
Human Dimensions Research Program
Illinois Natural History Survey
Prepared by
Brent D. Williams, Craig A. Miller,
Lauren J. Stephens, and Eric M. Walberg
INHS Technical Report 2022 (05)
December 22, 2021

Key words: Trappers, harvest, effort, and trapper opinions.
Suggested Citation:
Williams, B.D., C.A. Miller, L.J. Stephens, and E.M. Walberg. 2021. 2020-2021 Illinois Trapper Report: Harvest, Effort,
and Trapper Opinions. Job Completion Report, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration W-112-R-30. Human
Dimensions Research Program Report HR-19-02/INHS Technical Report 2022 (05). Illinois Natural History Survey,
Champaign, IL. 60pp.

2020-21
ILLINOIS TRAPPER REPORT:
Harvest, Effort, and Marketing Practices
JOB COMPLETION REPORT
WILDLIFE HARVEST AND
HUMAN DIMENSIONS RESEARCH PROGRAM
STATE OF ILLINOIS
PROJECT NUMBER: W-112-R-30
STUDY 101
JOB NO. 101.2
Craig A. Miller, Ph.D.
Program Leader and Principal Investigator
Human Dimensions Research Program
Illinois Natural History Survey
Prairie Research Institute
University of Illinois
Prepared by
Brent D. Williams, Craig A. Miller,
Lauren J. Stephens, and Eric M. Walberg
Illinois Natural History Survey
Champaign, IL
December 22, 2021
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration
W-112-R-30
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Colleen Callahan, Director Mike Wefer, 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.

LIST OF TABLES, FIGURES AND APPENDICES
Page
Figure 1 .................... License purchasers that set traps for furbearers in Illinois during the 2020-21 trapping season ............................................................. 2
Figure 2 .................... Distribution of active trappers by zones in Illinois. ...................................................................................................................................... 2
Figure 3 .................... Comparison of trapping activity in 2019-20 to 2020-21 estimates. .............................................................................................................. 3
Figure 4 .................... Distribution of days of trapping by active trappers during 2020-21 trapping season ............................................................................... 3
Figure 5 .................... South Zone trappers’ opinion of the 2020-21 opening date ......................................................................................................................... 4
Figure 6 .................... North Zone trappers’ opinion of the 2020-21 opening date ......................................................................................................................... 4
Figure 7 .................... South Zone trappers’ opinion of the 2020-21 closing date ........................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 8 .................... North Zone trappers’ opinion of the 2020-21 closing date ........................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 9 .................... Distribution of the number of muskrats trapped per successful muskrat trapper in Illinois ................................................................... 6
Figure 10 .................. Distribution of the number of raccoons trapped per successful raccoon trapper in Illinois ..................................................................... 6
Figure 11 .................. Percent change in number of successful trappers and harvest by species from 2019-20 to 2020-21 season ............................................ 7
Figure 12 .................. 2010-2020 change in muskrat harvest ........................................................................................................................................................... 8
Figure 13 .................. 2010-2020 change in mink harvest................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Figure 14 .................. 2010-2020 change in raccoon harvest ............................................................................................................................................................ 9
Figure 15 .................. 2010-2020 change in opossum harvest ........................................................................................................................................................... 9
Figure 16 .................. 2010-2020 change in red fox harvest ............................................................................................................................................................. 10
Figure 17 .................. 2010-2020 change in gray fox harvest ........................................................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 18 .................. 2010-2020 change in beaver harvest .............................................................................................................................................................. 11
Figure 19 .................. 2010-2020 change in striped skunk harvest .................................................................................................................................................. 11
Figure 20 .................. 2010-2020 change in weasel harvest .............................................................................................................................................................. 12
Figure 21 .................. 2010-2020 change in coyote harvest............................................................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 22 .................. 2010-2020 change in badger harvest ............................................................................................................................................................. 13
Figure 23 .................. 2015-2020 change in otter harvest ................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Figure 24 .................. 2017-2020 change in bobcat harvest .............................................................................................................................................................. 14
Figure 25 .................. 2010-2020 change in all species harvest......................................................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 26 .................. Trappers that hunted furbearers with a gun and/or dogs in Illinois during the 2020-21 season ............................................................. 15
Figure 27 .................. Trappers that sighted badgers ....................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 28 .................. Trappers that sighted sign of badgers ........................................................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 29 .................. Trappers that sighted gray fox ...................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 30 .................. Trappers that sighted sign of gray fox .......................................................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 31 .................. Trappers that target muskrats....................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Figure 32 .................. Trappers that target muskrats at the same site each year ........................................................................................................................... 17
Figure 33 .................. Muskrat trappers’ perceptions of population change for the past 10 and 5 years ..................................................................................... 17
Figure 34 .................. Satisfaction with Illinois muskrat trapping by opinion of population change over the past 5 years ........................................................ 18
Figure 35 .................. Trappers that target mink ............................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Figure 36 .................. Trappers that target mink at the same site each year .................................................................................................................................. 19
Figure 37 .................. Mink trappers’ perceptions of population change for the past 10 and 5 years .......................................................................................... 19
Figure 38 .................. Satisfaction with Illinois mink trapping by opinion of population change over the past 5 years.............................................................. 20
Figure 39 .................. Change in the amount of bobcat sign seen over the past 5 years................................................................................................................. 20
Figure 40 .................. Change in the amount of otter sign seen over the past 5 years .................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 41 .................. Gender of respondents ................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Figure 42 .................. Age of trappers when they started trapping ................................................................................................................................................. 22
Figure 43 .................. Percentage of respondents who have mentored a new trapper ................................................................................................................... 22
Figure 44 .................. Percentage of respondents who know someone interested in trapping ....................................................................................................... 22
Figure 45 .................. Description of type of land respondents set traps on most often ................................................................................................................. 23
Table 1 ..................... Participation and harvest by fur trappers in Illinois, 2020-21 season......................................................................................................... 25
Table 2 ..................... Distribution of reported furbearer harvest among successful trappers in Illinois ..................................................................................... 26
Table 3 .................... Summary of statewide data from post-season mail survey of resident trappers in Illinois ....................................................................... 26
Table 4 .................... Muskrat WMUa .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 27
Table 5 .................... Mink WMU .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Table 6 .................... Otter WMU ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Table 7 .................... Raccoon WMU ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 28
Table 8 .................... Opossum WMU .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 29
Table 9 ..................... Red fox WMU ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 29
Table 10 ................... Gray fox WMU ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Table 11 ................... Beaver WMU .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 30
Table 12 ................... Striped skunk WMU....................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Table 13 .................. Weasel WMU .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 31
Table 14 ................... Coyote WMU .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 32
Table 15 ................... Badger WMU .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 32
Table 16 ................... Bobcat WMU .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 33
Table 17 ................... Muskrat FMZb................................................................................................................................................................................................ 33
Table 18 ................... Mink FMZ ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 33
Table 19 ................... Otter FMZ ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Table 20 ................... Raccoon FMZ.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 34

Table 21 ................... Opossum FMZ ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 34
Table 22 ................... Red fox FMZ ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Table 23 ................... Gray fox FMZ ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 35
Table 24 ................... Beaver FMZ .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Table 25 ................... Striped skunk FMZ ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 36
Table 26 ................... Weasel FMZ .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Table 27 ................... Coyote FMZ .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Table 28 ................... Badger FMZ .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 37
Table 29 ................... Bobcat FMZ .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 37
Table 30 ................... Number of pelts sold by successful trappers, 2020-21 season ...................................................................................................................... 38
Table 31 ................... Estimated statewide harvest by resident Illinois trappers ........................................................................................................................... 39
Table 32 ................... Summary of fur hunting activities reported by trappers in Illinois ............................................................................................................ 40
Table 33 ................... Trappers that saw badgers or signs of badgers by the county in Illinois .................................................................................................... 41
Table 34 ................... Trappers that saw gray fox or signs of gray fox by the county in Illinois ................................................................................................... 42
Table 35 ................... Reason for changes in muskrat populations by opinion of population over the past 5 years .................................................................... 43
Table 36 ................... Reason of changes in mink populations by opinion of population over the past 5 years ........................................................................... 44
Table 37 ................... Types of traps owned and used by active Illinois trappers .......................................................................................................................... 45
Table 38 ................... Types of traps owned by an Illinois trapper who did not hunt in 2020-21 ................................................................................................. 45
Table 39 ................... Distribution of active trappers by county trapped most in Illinois ............................................................................................................ 46
Table 40 ................... Distribution of respondents by county of residence ..................................................................................................................................... 47
Appendix A .............. Illinois Trapper Survey: 2020-21 Season ...................................................................................................................................................... 48
Appendix B .............. Cover letter sent with first mailing of the 2020-21 Trapper Survey ........................................................................................................... 56
Appendix C .............. Thank you/reminder postcard sent as follow-up to the mailings ................................................................................................................ 57
Appendix D .............. Cover letter sent with second mailing of the 2020-21 Trapper Survey ....................................................................................................... 58
Appendix E .............. 2020-21 Season dates and limits information ................................................................................................................................................ 59
Appendix F .............. Wildlife management units and furbearer management zones in Illinois .................................................................................................. 60
a WMU = Wildlife Management Unit b FMZ = Furbearer Management Zones

1
ABSTRACT
We sampled 1,200 of 2020-21 resident Illinois trapping license purchasers from the Illinois Department
of Natural Resources licensing database. Licensees were mailed an 8-page questionnaire, and we received 639
(54%) questionnaires. Trapping license sales increased 7.8% from 2019-20 (6,698) to 2020-21 (7,217).
Trappers set an average of 14.7 traps for an average of 26.9 days or nights during the 2020-21 season and
harvested an estimated 163,292 furbearers (up 25.9% from the 129,689 harvested in 2019-20). An estimated
72,838 raccoons (Procyon lotor) were trapped during the 2020-21 Illinois trapping season, an increase of 7.2%
from the estimated 67,915 trapped during the 2019-20 season. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) harvest was the
next highest at 31,703 muskrats (96.8% increase from the previous year).
OBJECTIVE
To survey furbearer (13 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 (2020-21) was
selected from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) license sales database. Each trapper was
mailed an 8-page questionnaire (Appendix A), cover letter (Appendix B), and a postage-paid return envelope on
27 May 2021. The initial sample of 1,200 licenses was reduced to 1,178 due to undeliverable addresses.
Nonrespondents were mailed a thank you/reminder postcard (Appendix C) on 18 June 2021. Remaining non-
respondents were mailed a second questionnaire and cover letter (Appendix D) on 06 July 2021. Trappers who
did not respond to the previous mailings were mailed a second thank you/reminder postcard on 22 July 2021. A
third final questionnaire and cover letter (Appendix D) were sent on 10 August 2021. Season date information
can be found in Appendix E.

2
RESULTS
A total of 639 license purchasers responded with usable questionnaires, resulting in a 54% response rate.
Using procedures adopted by Anderson and Campbell (1992), we calculated trapper participation and harvest
for all furbearer species in Illinois (Tables 1-29). The results were organized by wildlife management units
(WMUs, Appendix F), furbearer management zones, and statewide for presentation.
Trapper Participation
Of the 639 respondents, 378 (59.2%) set traps for furbearers in Illinois during the 2020-21 season
(Figure 1). There were slightly more trappers in the north zone than the south (Figure 2). Active trappers set an
average of 14.7 traps for an average of 26.9 days or nights (Figure 3). Maximum number of days a trapper could
have trapped was 142 (Appendix E); 23.6% set traps for > 30 days and 14.4% of trappers set traps for > 50 days
(Figure 4).
Figure 1. License purchasers who set traps for Figure 2. Distribution of active trappers by zones
furbearers in Illinois during the 2020-21 trapping in Illinois (n = 378).
season (n = 639).
59.2%
40.8%
Yes No
55.6%
44.4%
North South

3
Figure 3. Comparison of trapping activity reported in 2019-20 and 2020-21 Illinois Trapper Survey.
Figure 4. Distribution of days of trapping by active trappers in Illinois, 2020-21 season (n = 378).
Participation during the 2020-21 season was highest among raccoon (Procyon lotor) trappers, estimated at
2,880 successful trappers statewide (Table 3), an increase of 7.5% from the 2019-20 trapping season. Beaver
15.0
27.8
14.7
26.9
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
Mean Traps Set Mean Days Trapped
2019-20
2020-21
13.9%
16.8%
10.6%
9.2%
7.6%
18.2%
1.9%
3.8%
2.4%
1.1%
14.4%
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
Percent
Number of Days

4
(Castor canadensis) trapping was second 1,807 successful trappers, coyote (Canis latrans; 1,615 successful
trappers), opossum (Didelphis virginiana; 1,604 successful trappers), muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus; 1,468
successful trappers), striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis; 768 successful trappers), and otter (Lontra canadensis;
734 successful trappers). Mink (Neovison vison; 700 successful trappers), red fox (Vulpes vulpes; 497
successful trappers), bobcat (Lynx rufus; 294 successful trappers), badger (Taxidea taxus; 56 successful
trappers), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus; 23 successful trappers), and weasel (Mustela frenata and
nivalis; 23 successful trappers) were the least trapped species.
Figure 5. South Zone trappers’ opinion of the Figure 6. North Zone trappers’ opinion of the
2020-21 opening date. *Selected for those who 2020-21 opening date. *Selected for those who
spent at least 1 day trapping (n = 165). spent at least 1 day trapping (n = 202).
Trappers who spent at least one day trapping were asked to give their opinion of the timing of opening and
closing dates in the zone they trapped most often. Seventy percent of trappers in the southern zone said that the
opening date was about right (Figure 5), as compared to 71.8% in the northern zone (Figure 6). Most southern
zone trappers (64.7%) felt the closing dates were about right, and 23.5% indicated it was too early (Figure 7).
Similarly, most northern zone trappers (62.4%) felt the closing dates were about right (Figure 8).
15.2%
70.3%
6.7%
7.3%
Too Early About Right
Too Late Not sure
5.9%
71.8%
13.4%
8.9%
Too Early About Right
Too Late Not sure

5
Figure 7. South Zone trappers’ opinion of the Figure 8. North Zone trappers’ opinion of the
2020-21 closing date. *Selected for those who 2020-21 closing date. *Selected for those who
spent at least 1 day trapping (n = 153). spent at least 1 day trapping (n = 197).
Harvest
An estimated 72,836 raccoons were trapped during the 2020-21 Illinois trapping season (Table 3), an
increase of 7.2% from the estimated 67,915 trapped during the 2019-20 season. Muskrat (31,702; 96.8%
increase from previous year) was next highest, followed by beaver (18,488; 78.5% increase from previous
year), coyote (16,060; 56.6% increase from previous year), opossum (15,202; 6.5% decrease from previous
year), striped skunk (3,241; 21.1% decrease from previous year), and otter (2,202; 9.3% decrease from previous
year). The number of muskrats harvested averaged 21.6 per trapper and ranged from 1-329 (Figure 9), and the
number of raccoons harvested averaged 25.3 per trapper and ranged from 1-654 (Figure 10). Confidence
intervals (95%) for trapper participation and harvest of each species are presented in Table 3.
23.5%
64.7%
3.3% 7.8%
Too Early About Right
Too Late Not sure
25.4%
62.4%
3.0%
9.1%
Too Early About Right
Too Late Not sure

6
Figure 9. Distribution of the number of muskrats trapped per successful muskrat trapper in Illinois, 2020-21
season (n = 130).
Figure 10. Distribution of the number of raccoons trapped per successful raccoon trapper in Illinois, 2020-21
season (n = 255).
37.7%
20.8%
10.8%
6.9%
3.1%
6.2%
0.8% 1.5% 0.0%
3.1% 1.5% 0.0%
7.7%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 >60
Percent
Number of Muskrats
Mean = 21.6
S.D. = 42.5
Range = 1-329
49.4%
19.2%
12.2%
6.7%
2.4% 3.1%
0.0% 1.2% 0.8% 0.4% 0.0% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.4% 0.0% 0.4% 0.4% 0.0% 0.0% 1.2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Percent
Number of Raccoons
Mean = 25.3
S.D. = 53.5
Range = 1-654

7
Harvest and trapping effort for each species are reported for each wildlife management unit and furbearer
management zone (Tables 4-29). Estimated number of pelts sold in 2020-21 is presented by species (Table 30).
Trends in statewide harvests of furbearers for the previous 10 years are listed in Table 31.
Figure 11. Percent change in number of successful trappers and harvest by species between 2019-20 and 2020-
21 license years.
Changes in Trapper Participation and Harvest
The number of Illinois residents participating in trapping increased 7.7% during 2020-21 from 2019-20
(7,217 from 6,698 licenses, respectively). Average season harvest per trapper increased for muskrat, mink, red
fox, gray fox, beaver, coyote. Estimated total harvest increased for everything except bobcat, opossum, otter,
and skunk. The largest increases in total harvest were for gray fox (214.7%) followed by muskrat (96.8%), and
mink (70.9%; Figure 11). Changes in trapper harvest over the past ten years (2010-2020) for each species type
18%
37%
26%
8% 13%
49%
151%
43%
14%
39%
5%
63%
97%
71%
-9%
7%
-6%
61%
214%
79%
-21%
57%
5%
-12%
-50%
-25%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
125%
150%
175%
200%
225%
Muskrat
Mink
Otter
Raccoon
Opossum
Red Fox
Gray Fox
Beaver
Skunk
Coyote
Badger
Bobcat
Percent Change
Species
Successful Trappers
Total Harvest

8
and all species are shown in Figures 12-23. Ten-year trends for otter and bobcat harvest data have not yet been
established and therefore are not included in the figures provided below.
Figure 12. Muskrat harvest 2010 to 2020.
Figure 13. Mink harvest 2010 to 2020.
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
Muskrat
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
Mink

9
Figure 14. Raccoon harvest 2010 to 2020.
Figure 15. Opossum harvest 2010 to 2020.
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
Raccoon
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
Opossum

10
Figure 16. Red fox harvest 2010 to 2020.
Figure 17. Gray fox harvest 2010 to 2020.
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
2,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
Red Fox
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
Gray Fox

11
Figure 18. Beaver harvest 2010 to 2020.
Figure 19. Striped skunk harvest 2010 to 2020.
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
Beaver
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
Striped Skunk

12
Figure 20. Weasel harvest 2010 to 2020.
Figure 21. Coyote harvest 2010 to 2020.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
Weasel
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
Coyote

13
Figure 22. Badger harvest 2010 to 2020.
Figure 23. Otter harvest 2015 to 2020.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
Badger
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
Otter

14
Figure 24. Bobcat harvest 2017 to 2020.
Figure 25. All species’ harvest 2010 to 2020. *Years 2014 and prior do not include otter harvest and
years prior to 2017 do not include bobcat.
0
100
200
300
400
500
2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
Bobcat
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Nmber Harvested
Year
All Species

15
Fur Hunting by Trappers
A total of 155 trappers, 24.3% of respondents, reported hunting furbearers with a gun and/or dogs in
2020-21 (Figure 26), and 17.4% of those who hunted furbearers used a dog. There were an estimated 1,750
trapper license purchasers who hunted furbearers during 2020-21. Their total harvest was estimated to be
15,473 furbearers or an average of 8.8 furbearers per hunter (Table 32). Trappers hunted coyotes and raccoons
more than any other species.
Figure 26. Trappers who hunted furbearers with a gun
and/or dogs in Illinois during the 2019-20 season
(n = 627).
Badger and Gray Fox Sightings
Figure 27. Trappers who sighted badgers in Illinois Figure 28. Trappers who sighted sign of badgers in
during 2020-21 trapping season (n = 620). Illinois during 2020-21 trapping season (n = 590).
24.7%
75.3%
Yes No
9.7%
87.3%
Yes No
15.3%
84.7%
Yes No

16
Trappers were asked to identify if they observed any badgers or signs of badgers in Illinois during the
2020-21 trapping season. One in 10 (9.7%) license purchasers reported they sighted a badger (Figure 27), and
15.3% of trappers claimed to see signs of badgers (Figure 28). Bureau, Knox, Livingston, Stephenson,
Henderson, and Pike were the counties in which sightings of badgers were reported most often. Signs of
badgers were reported most often from Bureau, Knox, Mason, Livingston, Stephenson, and Whiteside counties
(Table 33). Gray fox sightings were rarer than badger sightings; ninety-three percent of trappers did not see a
gray fox (Figure 29) and less than 1 in 20 trappers saw sign of gray fox (Figure 30). The counties where gray
fox was sighted most often were DuPage Jefferson, Johnson, Randolph, Schuyler, Alexander, and Madison
(Table 34). Likewise, sightings of gray fox sign were most prevalent in those counties.
Figure 29. Trappers who sighted gray fox in Illinois Figure 30. Trappers who sighted sign of gray fox
during 2020-21 trapping season (n = 618). in Illinois during 2020-21 trapping season (n = 576).
Muskrat and Mink trapping
Trappers were asked a series of questions about their habits and opinions regarding muskrat and mink
trapping. Among those who purchased a trapping license for 2020-21, almost 1 in 3 (29.1%) target muskrats
(Figure 31). Trappers who target muskrats had trapped them for an average 23.7 years (± 18.6, n=177) and
almost two-thirds (63.6%) trap the same sites annually (Figure 32). Most trappers (60.8%) feel muskrat
6.8%
93.2%
Yes No
4.5%
95.3%
Yes No

17
populations have been declining for the last 10 years. Similarly, 1 in 2 muskrat trappers (54%) feel muskrat
populations have been declining for the last 5 years (Figure 33). When asked about reasons for the changes in
populations those who felt populations were declining over the last 5 years were more likely to choose degraded
habitat, increase in predation, and land use practices (Table 35). Those who felt populations had increased felt it
was due to decrease in trapping pressure, improved habitat, decreased predation (Table 35).
Figure 31. Percentage of trappers who target Figure 32. Trappers who trap for muskrats at the
muskrats (n = 616). same site each year (n = 176).
Figure 33. Muskrat trappers’ perceptions of population change for the past 10 and 5 years (n = 176).
29.1%
70.9%
Yes No
63.6%
36.4%
Yes No
25.3%
35.5%
17.5% 15.7%
5.4%
20.1%
33.9%
25.9%
13.2%
6.9%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Decreased
considerably
Decreased Stayed the same Increased Increased
considerably
Last 10 Years
Last 5 Years

18
Satisfaction with trapping muskrat in Illinois was correlated with trappers’ opinions of population change
(Figure 34). Trappers who felt that populations were declining were more likely to be dissatisfied with muskrat
trapping. Whereas those who felt populations were increasing were more likely to be satisfied. Those who felt it
had stayed the same were more likely to be unsure or satisfied.
Figure 34. Satisfaction with Illinois muskrat trapping by opinion of population change over the past 5 years
(n = 170).
Among those who purchased a trapping license for 2020-21, almost 1 in 5 (18.8%) targeted mink
(Figure 35). Trappers who targeted mink had trapped them for an average 25.1 years (± 19.2, n=109) and over
two-thirds (70.3%) trap the same sites annually (Figure 36). Most trappers (46.7%) felt mink
populations have stayed the same over the past 10 years. Similarly, 47% felt mink populations have stayed the
same for the past 5 years (Figure 37). When asked about reasons for the changes in mink populations, those
who felt numbers were declining over the last 5 years were more likely to choose an increase in predators,
degraded habitat, and land use practices (Table 36). Write in responses for those who felt they saw declines
were due to increases in otters and a lack of muskrats. Those who felt populations had increased thought it was
47.3%
13.6%
8.6%
30.6%
37.4% 40.9%
31.4%
37.1%
15.4%
45.5%
60.0%
32.4%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Decreased Stayed the same Increased Total
Dissatisfied
Not Sure
Satisfied

19
due to decreases in trapping pressure and improved habitat; open-ended responses suggested low hide prices
and increased mouse populations were the cause.
Figure 35. Percentage of trappers who target Figure 36. Trappers who trap for mink at the
mink (n = 602). same site each year (n = 111).
Figure 37. Mink trappers’ perceptions of population change for the past 10 and 5 years (n = 109).
Satisfaction with trapping mink in Illinois was correlated with trappers’ opinions of population change (Table
36). Trappers who felt that mink populations were declining were much more likely to be dissatisfied with mink
18.8%
81.2%
Yes No
70.3%
29.7%
Yes No
7.6%
18.1%
46.7%
24.8%
2.9%
7.3%
13.8%
47.7%
29.4%
1.8%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Decreased
considerably
Decreased Stayed the same Increased Increased
considerably
Last 10 Years
Last 5 Years

20
trapping. Whereas those who felt populations had stayed the same or were increasing were more likely to be
satisfied or not sure (Figure 38).
Figure 38. Satisfaction with Illinois mink trapping by opinion of population change over the past 5 years
(n = 109).
Bobcat incidental take
Figure 39. Change in the of amount of bobcat Figure 40. Change in the of amount of otter
sign seen over the past 5 years (n = 82). sign seen over the past 5 years (n = 78).
78.3%
3.9% 6.1%
20.6%
13.0%
45.1%
33.3% 34.6%
8.7%
51.0%
60.6%
44.9%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Decreased Stayed the same Increased Total
Perception of mink population change for past 5 years
Dissatisfied
Not Sure
Satisfied
4.9%
20.7%
74.4%
Decreased Stayed the same
Increased
6.4%
34.2%
59.4%
Decreased Stayed the same
Increased

21
One in ten trappers (11.2%) accidentally caught a bobcat while trapping for a different species. A total
of 124 bobcats were accidentally caught, a 17% increase over the previous year. The majority (96%) of
incidentally caught bobcats were released. Most trappers who incidentally caught a bobcat trapped a single
bobcat over the season and 3 trappers (6.9% of incidental trappers) caught 9 or more. When bobcats were
incidentally caught the targeted species were most often coyote, raccoon, and red fox. Most trappers felt that
within the past 5 years there had been an increase in bobcat sign (Figure 39) and otter sign (Figure 40) around
the areas they trap.
Trap use and ownership
When asked about the traps currently owned and used, 67.4% trappers owned conibear traps, 65.3%
steel leg hold traps, 38.1% cage style live traps, 19.8% owned dog proof, 11.4% owned snares, and 11.4%
owned soft catch. During the 2020-21 trapping season conibear, steel jaw leg hold, and cage type live traps
were the used the most (Table 37). Trappers were most likely to set 1-10 traps of any given type. Trappers who
did not set traps during 2020-21 owned fewer traps than those who trapped (Table 38). Types of traps reported
owned most often followed the same trend as those who had set traps during 2020-21 (leg hold traps, conibear,
and cage type).
General Information
During the 2020-21 season, Illinois trappers were predominantly male (Figure 41), averaged 52.0 years
(± 15.2, n = 590) of age and had been trapping in Illinois for an average of 20.3 years (± 19.2, n = 639). The
average age to start trapping was 25.0 (± 16.0, n = 584) and half (46.9%) began trapping between 10 and 19
years old (Figure 42). Forty-seven percent of trappers (active and inactive) have ever mentored someone new to
trapping (Figure 43). Twenty percent of trappers (active and inactive) know someone who does not currently
trap but is interested in learning to do so (Figure 44). They knew of 194 people interested in learning to trap

22
with an average age of 22.3 (± 14.5, n = 194). When asked about hunting license purchases, 94.6% of trappers
had purchased one for the 2020-21 hunting season. There was no statistical difference in purchasing between
those who had set traps in 2020-21 and those who had not.
Figure 41. Gender of respondents (n = 639). Figure 42. Age of trappers when they started trapping
(n = 584).
Figure 43. Percentage of respondents who have Figure 44. Percentage of respondents who know of
mentored a new trapper (n = 618). someone who doesn’t trap but is interested (n = 601).
Eighty-five percent of trappers (n = 624) indicated they had Internet access in their homes and 4 out of 5
(79.4%) with internet access had highspeed Internet. One in 4 trappers (24.5%) currently receive email
97.3%
2.7%
Male Female
5.5%
46.9%
16.1%
12.2%
8.2%
11.1%
0% 20% 40% 60%
<10
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50+
Age
47.1%
52.9%
Yes No
20.5%
79.5%
Yes No

23
announcements from IDNR, and 12.3% used to receive announcements but no longer do. Thirty percent have
signed up for email announcements, and 42.0% have missed a permit deadline because they did not know it was
due. Two thirds (65.6%) would use a website that shows the number of permits allocated by species for each
IDNR site per year. Similarly, 62.3% would use a website that allows users to search the number of animals
harvested by species and number of hunters for each IDNR site by year and season.
Trappers set traps most often (95.3%) on private property (Figure 45). Private property not owned by the
respondent (48.0%), their own private property (34.9%), and private property owned by family (12.2%) were
where trappers set traps most often. The counties which reported the greatest number of active trappers were
McHenry, Pike, Randolph, and Whiteside (Table 39). The highest densities of trapper residences were in
Randolph, Cook, LaSalle, Whiteside, Winnebago, and Woodford counties (Table 40).
Figure 45. Description of type of land respondents set traps on most often in Illinois (n = 377).
34.9%
4.7%
0.3%
12.2%
48.0%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
My own private
property
Public property Private outfitter
property
Private property
owned by family
Private property
not owned by me

24
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.

25
Table 1. Participation and harvest by fur trappers in Illinois, 2020-21 season (n = 639).
Species
Number of Reported
Successful Trappers
%
(Total Respondents)
Reported Harvest by
Successful Trappers
Muskrat
130
20.3
2,807
Mink
62
9.7
166
Otter
65
10.2
195
Raccoon
255
39.9
6,449
Opossum
142
22.2
1,346
Red Fox
44
6.9
105
Gray Fox
2
0.3
10
Beaver
160
25.0
1,637
Striped Skunk
68
10.6
287
Weasel
2
0.3
3
Coyote
143
22.4
1,422
Badger
5
0.8
5
Bobcat
26
4.1
26

26
Table 2. Distribution of reported furbearer harvest* among successful trappers in Illinois based on responses to the 2020-21 Illinois
Trapper Survey.
Total
Season
Catch
Percentage of Trappers
Muskrat
Mink
Otter
Raccoon
Opossum
Red
Fox
Gray
Fox
Beaver
Striped
Skunk
Weasel
Coyote
Badger
Bobcat
(n = 130)
(n = 62)
(n = 65)
(n = 255)
(n = 142)
(n = 44)
(n = 2)
(n = 160)
(n = 68)
(n = 2)
(n = 143)
(n = 5)
(n = 26)
1-5
37.7%
88.7%
98.5%
31.0%
58.5%
93.2%
50.0%
53.8%
80.9%
100.0%
56.6%
100.0%
100.0%
6-10
20.8%
6.5%
0.0%
18.4%
19.0%
4.5%
50.0%
21.3%
10.3%
0.0%
18.9%
0.0%
0.0%
11-15
10.8%
4.8%
0.0%
13.7%
8.5%
0.0%
0.0%
8.1%
5.9%
0.0%
9.1%
0.0%
0.0%
16-20
6.9%
0.0%
0.0%
5.5%
4.9%
2.3%
0.0%
4.4%
0.0%
0.0%
2.1%
0.0%
0.0%
21-25
3.1%
0.0%
0.0%
6.7%
2.1%
0.0%
0.0%
3.8%
0.0%
0.0%
3.5%
0.0%
0.0%
>25
20.8%
0.0%
1.5%
24.7%
7.0%
0.0%
0.0%
8.8%
2.9%
0.0%
9.8%
0.0%
0.0%
* Includes does not include animals that caught and released.
Table 3. Summary of statewide data from post-season mail survey of resident trappers in Illinois, 2020-21 (n = 639), 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
1,468
+
230
20.3%
21.59
+
7.31
31,703
+
14,007
80.4%
25,480
Mink
700
+
169
9.7%
2.68
+
0.73
1,875
+
805
63.3%
1,186
Otter
734
+
173
10.2%
3.00
+
1.54
2,202
+
1,477
64.1%
1,412
Raccoon
2,880
+
280
39.9%
25.29
+
6.56
72,836
+
23,663
63.1%
45,945
Opossum
1,604
+
237
22.2%
9.48
+
2.44
15,202
+
5,298
36.5%
5,545
Red Fox
497
+
145
6.9%
2.39
+
0.86
1,186
+
649
56.2%
666
Gray Fox
23
+
32
0.3%
5.00
+
7.84
113
+
242
90.0%
102
Beaver
1,807
+
247
25.0%
10.23
+
2.20
18,489
+
5,482
57.6%
10,650
Striped Skunk
768
+
176
10.6%
4.22
+
1.32
3,241
+
1,483
18.1%
587
Weasel
23
+
32
0.3%
1.50
+
0.98
34
+
60
33.3%
11
Coyote
1,615
+
238
22.4%
9.94
+
2.75
16,060
+
5,921
65.1%
10,458
Badger
56
+
50
0.8%
1.00
+
0.00
56
+
60
20.0%
11
Bobcat
294
+
113
4.1%
1.00
+
0.00
294
+
132
3.8%
11

27
Table 4. Summary of 2020 MUSKRAT trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 130).
Wildlife Management
Unit
Estimated
Trappers %
Estimated
Trappers/100km2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated Total
Trapper Harvest
Estimated Trapper
Harvest/100km2
Northwest Hills
147
10.0
1.6
13.8
2,022
21.5
Northeast Moraine
68
4.6
0.8
38.5
2,609
31.5
Mississippi Border-North
56
3.8
0.7
13.2
745
9.5
Mississippi Border-South
158
10.8
1.2
34.0
5,376
39.3
Western Prairie/Forest
147
10.0
1.0
14.9
2,191
15.2
Central Sand Prairie
45
3.1
1.1
14.0
632
15.3
Grand Prairie
463
31.5
0.9
24.7
11,418
21.7
Southern Plain
271
18.5
1.1
22.5
6,099
25.7
Wabash Border
34
2.3
0.5
3.0
102
1.5
Shawnee Hills
79
5.4
1.5
6.4
508
9.7
Unknown
-
0.0
-
-
-
-
Statewide
1,468
100.0
1.0
21.6
31,703
21.7
Table 5. Summary of 2020 MINK trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 62).
Wildlife Management
Unit
Estimated
Trappers %
Estimated
Trappers/100km2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated Total
Trapper Harvest
Estimated Trapper
Harvest/100km2
Northwest Hills
90
12.9
1.0
2.6
237
2.5
Northeast Moraine
34
4.8
0.4
2.3
79
1.0
Mississippi Border-North
23
3.2
0.3
6.0
136
1.7
Mississippi Border-South
113
16.1
0.8
1.9
215
1.6
Western Prairie/Forest
102
14.5
0.7
1.8
181
1.3
Central Sand Prairie
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Grand Prairie
237
33.9
0.5
3.2
768
1.5
Southern Plain
79
11.3
0.3
3.0
237
1.0
Wabash Border
11
1.6
0.2
1.0
11
0.2
Shawnee Hills
11
1.6
0.2
1.0
11
0.2
Unknown
-
0.0
-
-
-
-
Statewide
700
100.0
0.5
2.7
1,875
1.3

28
Table 6. Summary of 2020 OTTER trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 65).
Wildlife Management
Unit
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated Total
Trapper Harvest
Estimated Trapper
Harvest/100km
2
Northwest Hills
68
2.4
0.7
1.3
90
1.0
Northeast Moraine
23
0.8
0.3
1.5
34
0.4
Mississippi Border-North
56
2.0
0.7
2.0
113
1.4
Mississippi Border-South
169
5.9
1.2
2.3
384
2.8
Western Prairie/Forest
56
2.0
0.4
2.6
147
1.0
Central Sand Prairie
23
0.8
0.5
3.5
79
1.9
Grand Prairie
113
3.9
0.2
7.2
813
1.5
Southern Plain
124
4.3
0.5
2.7
339
1.4
Wabash Border
68
2.4
1.0
2.2
147
2.2
Shawnee Hills
34
1.2
0.6
1.7
56
1.1
Unknown
-
0.0
-
-
-
-
Statewide
734
25.5
0.5
3.0
2,202
1.5
Table 7. Summary of 2020 RACCOON trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 255).
Wildlife Management
Unit
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated Total
Trapper Harvest
Estimated Trapper
Harvest/100km
2
Northwest Hills
339
11.8
3.6
16.3
5,534
58.9
Northeast Moraine
113
3.9
1.4
3.2
361
4.4
Mississippi Border-North
215
7.5
2.7
59.7
12,819
163.3
Mississippi Border-South
384
13.3
2.8
26.9
10,334
75.6
Western Prairie/Forest
316
11.0
2.2
35.0
11,057
76.7
Central Sand Prairie
79
2.7
1.9
18.6
1,468
35.4
Grand Prairie
723
25.1
1.4
21.9
15,857
30.1
Southern Plain
587
20.4
2.5
24.0
14,073
59.3
Wabash Border
90
3.1
1.3
6.8
610
9.0
Shawnee Hills
34
1.2
0.6
21.3
723
13.9
Unknown
-
0.0
-
-
-
-
Statewide
2,880
100.0
2.0
25.3
72,836
49.9

29
Table 8. Summary of 2020 OPOSSUM trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 142).
Wildlife Management
Unit
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated Total
Trapper Harvest
Estimated Trapper
Harvest/100km
2
Northwest Hills
181
11.3
1.9
8.7
1,570
16.7
Northeast Moraine
79
4.9
1.0
1.7
136
1.6
Mississippi Border-North
113
7.0
1.4
14.3
1,615
20.6
Mississippi Border-South
215
13.4
1.6
10.5
2,248
16.4
Western Prairie/Forest
203
12.7
1.4
14.8
3,016
20.9
Central Sand Prairie
45
2.8
1.1
19.0
858
20.7
Grand Prairie
418
26.1
0.8
8.6
3,592
6.8
Southern Plain
294
18.3
1.2
7.0
2,044
8.6
Wabash Border
34
2.1
0.5
1.3
45
0.7
Shawnee Hills
23
1.4
0.4
3.5
79
1.5
Unknown
-
0.0
-
-
-
-
Statewide
1,604
100.0
1.1
9.5
15,202
10.4
Table 9. Summary of 2020 RED FOX trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 44).
Wildlife Management
Unit
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated Total
Trapper Harvest
Estimated Trapper
Harvest/100km
2
Northwest Hills
45
9.1
0.5
1.8
79
0.8
Northeast Moraine
11
2.3
0.1
4.0
45
0.5
Mississippi Border-North
56
11.4
0.7
1.8
102
1.3
Mississippi Border-South
56
11.4
0.4
1.2
68
0.5
Western Prairie/Forest
45
9.1
0.3
4.3
192
1.3
Central Sand Prairie
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Grand Prairie
181
36.4
0.3
3.0
542
1.0
Southern Plain
56
11.4
0.2
1.8
102
0.4
Wabash Border
45
9.1
0.7
1.3
56
0.8
Shawnee Hills
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Unknown
-
0.0
-
-
-
-
Statewide
497
100.0
0.3
2.4
1,186
0.8

30
Table 10. Summary of 2020 GRAY FOX trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 2).
Wildlife Management
Unit
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated Total
Trapper Harvest
Estimated Trapper
Harvest/100km
2
Northwest Hills
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Northeast Moraine
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Mississippi Border-North
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Mississippi Border-South
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Western Prairie/Forest
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Central Sand Prairie
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Grand Prairie
11
50.0
0.0
9.0
102
0.2
Southern Plain
11
50
0.0
1.0
11
0.0
Wabash Border
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Shawnee Hills
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Unknown
-
0.0
-
-
-
-
Statewide
23
100.0
0.0
5.0
113
0.1
Table 11. Summary of 2020 BEAVER trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 160).
Wildlife Management
Unit
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated Total
Trapper Harvest
Estimated Trapper
Harvest/100km
2
Northwest Hills
158
8.8
1.7
6.1
960
10.2
Northeast Moraine
124
6.9
1.5
8.0
994
12.0
Mississippi Border-North
113
6.3
1.4
6.3
712
9.1
Mississippi Border-South
237
13.1
1.7
7.8
1,852
13.5
Western Prairie/Forest
102
5.6
0.7
10.8
1,096
7.6
Central Sand Prairie
56
3.1
1.4
5.0
282
6.8
Grand Prairie
587
32.5
1.1
10.1
5,929
11.3
Southern Plain
294
16.3
1.2
18.6
5,466
23.0
Wabash Border
56
3.1
0.8
8.6
486
7.2
Shawnee Hills
79
4.4
1.5
9.0
712
13.6
Unknown
-
0.0
-
-
-
-
Statewide
1,807
100.0
1.2
10.2
18,489
12.7

31
Table 12. Summary of 2020 STRIPED SKUNK trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 68).
Wildlife Management
Unit
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated Total
Trapper Harvest
Estimated Trapper
Harvest/100km
2
Northwest Hills
79
10.3
0.8
4.3
339
3.6
Northeast Moraine
23
2.9
0.3
2.5
56
0.7
Mississippi Border-North
56
7.4
0.7
2.2
124
1.6
Mississippi Border-South
124
16.2
0.9
7.2
892
6.5
Western Prairie/Forest
79
10.3
0.5
5.7
452
3.1
Central Sand Prairie
34
4.4
0.8
2.3
79
1.9
Grand Prairie
203
26.5
0.4
4.0
813
1.5
Southern Plain
147
19.1
0.6
3.1
452
1.9
Wabash Border
11
1.5
0.2
1.0
11
0.2
Shawnee Hills
11
1.5
0.2
2.0
23
0.4
Unknown
-
0.0
-
-
-
-
Statewide
768
100.0
0.5
4.2
3,241
2.2
Table 13. Summary of 2020 WEASEL trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 2).
Wildlife Management
Unit
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated Total
Trapper Harvest
Estimated Trapper
Harvest/100km
2
Northwest Hills
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Northeast Moraine
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Mississippi Border-North
11
50.0
0.1
1.0
11
0.1
Mississippi Border-South
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Western Prairie/Forest
11
50.0
0.1
2.0
23
0.2
Central Sand Prairie
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Grand Prairie
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Southern Plain
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Wabash Border
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Shawnee Hills
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
0.0
Unknown
-
0.0
-
-
-
-
Statewide
23
100.0
0.0
1.5
34
0.0

32
Table 14. Summary of 2020 COYOTE trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 143).
Wildlife Management
Unit
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated Total
Trapper Harvest
Estimated Trapper
Harvest/100km
2
Northwest Hills
102
6.3
1.1
4.8
486
5.2
Northeast Moraine
56
3.5
0.7
2.8
158
1.9
Mississippi Border-North
102
6.3
1.3
11.8
1,197
15.3
Mississippi Border-South
271
16.8
2.0
6.2
1,683
12.3
Western Prairie/Forest
136
8.4
0.9
14.9
2,022
14.0
Central Sand Prairie
23
1.4
0.5
2.0
45
1.1
Grand Prairie
497
30.8
0.9
13.4
6,641
12.6
Southern Plain
305
18.9
1.3
8.9
2,711
11.4
Wabash Border
79
4.9
1.2
9.3
734
10.9
Shawnee Hills
45
2.8
0.9
8.5
384
7.4
Unknown
-
0.0
-
-
-
-
Statewide
1,615
100.0
1.1
9.9
16,060
11.0
Table 15. Summary of 2020 BADGER trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 5).
Wildlife Management
Unit
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated Total
Trapper Harvest
Estimated Trapper
Harvest/100km
2
Northwest Hills
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Northeast Moraine
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Mississippi Border-North
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Mississippi Border-South
11
20.0
0.1
1.0
11
0.1
Western Prairie/Forest
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Central Sand Prairie
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Grand Prairie
45
80.0
0.1
1.0
45
0.1
Southern Plain
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Wabash Border
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Shawnee Hills
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Unknown
-
0.0
-
-
-
-
Statewide
56
100.0
0.0
1.0
56
0.0

33
Table 16. Summary of 2020 BOBCAT trapper and harvest data in Wildlife Management Units in Illinois (n = 26).
Wildlife Management
Unit
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated Total
Trapper Harvest
Estimated Trapper
Harvest/100km
2
Northwest Hills
34
60.0
0.4
1.0
34
0.4
Northeast Moraine
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Mississippi Border-North
45
80.0
0.6
1.0
45
0.6
Mississippi Border-South
56
100.0
0.4
1.0
56
0.4
Western Prairie/Forest
23
40.0
0.2
1.0
23
0.2
Central Sand Prairie
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Grand Prairie
45
80.0
0.1
1.0
45
0.1
Southern Plain
79
140.0
0.3
1.0
79
0.3
Wabash Border
-
0.0
0.0
-
-
-
Shawnee Hills
11
20.0
0.2
1.0
11
0.2
Unknown
-
0.0
-
-
-
-
Statewide
294
520.0
0.2
1.0
294
0.2
Table 17. Summary of 2020 MUSKRAT trapper and harvest data in Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois (n = 130).
Trapping
Zone
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated
Harvest
% of Harvest
Estimated
Harvest/100km
2
North
847
57.7
1.0
21.3
18,003
56.8
22.0
South
621
42.3
1.0
22.1
13,700
43.2
21.3
Statewide
1,468
100.0
1.0
21.6
31,703
100.0
21.7
Table 18. Summary of 2020 MINK trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois (n = 62).
Trapping
Zone
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated
Harvest
% of Harvest
Estimated
Harvest/100km
2
North
429
61.3
0.5
2.8
1,186
63.3
1.4
South
271
38.7
0.4
2.5
689
36.7
1.1
Statewide
700
100.0
0.5
2.7
1,875
100.0
1.3

34
Table 19. Summary of 2020 OTTER trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois (n = 65).
Trapping
Zone
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated
Harvest
% of Harvest
Estimated
Harvest/100km
2
North 294 10.2 0.4 4.0 1,175 1.6 1.4
South 440 15.3 0.7 2.3 1,028 1.4 1.6
Statewide 734 25.5 0.5 3.0 2,202 3.0 1.5
Table 20. Summary of 2020 RACCOON trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois (n = 255).
Trapping
Zone
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated
Harvest
% of Harvest
Estimated
Harvest/100km
2
North 1,547 53.7 1.9 28.5 44,149 60.6 53.9
South 1,333 46.3 2.1 21.5 28,687 39.4 44.7
Statewide 2,880 100.0 2.0 25.3 72,836 100.0 49.9
Table 21. Summary of 2020 OPOSSUM trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois (n = 142).
Trapping
Zone
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated
Harvest
% of Harvest
Estimated
Harvest/100km
2
North 926 57.7 1.1 11.0 10,165 66.9 12.4
South 678 42.3 1.1 7.4 5,037 33.1 7.8
Statewide 1,604 100.0 1.1 9.5 15,202 100.0 10.4

35
Table 22. Summary of 2020 RED FOX trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois (n = 44).
Trapping
Zone
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/ 100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated
Harvest
% of Harvest
Estimated
Harvest/ 100km
2
North 282 56.8 0.3 2.6 745 62.9 0.9
South 215 43.2 0.3 2.1 440 37.1 0.7
Statewide 497 100.0 0.3 2.4 1,186 100.0 0.8
Table 23. Summary of 2020 GRAY FOX trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois (n = 2).
Trapping
Zone
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/ 100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated
Harvest
% of Harvest
Estimated
Harvest/ 100km
2
North 11 50.0 0.0 9.0 102 90.0 0.1
South 11 50.0 0.0 1.0 11 10.0 0.0
Statewide 23 100.0 0.0 5.0 113 100.0 0.1
Table 24. Summary of 2020 BEAVER trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois (n = 160).
Trapping
Zone
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/ 100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated
Harvest
% of Harvest
Estimated
Harvest/ 100km
2
North 1,050 58.1 1.3 8.7 9,160 49.5 11.2
South 757 41.9 1.2 12.3 9,329 50.5 14.5
Statewide 1,807 100.0 1.2 10.2 18,489 100.0 12.7

36
Table 25. Summary of 2020 STRIPED SKUNK trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois (n = 68).
Trapping
Zone
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/ 100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated
Harvest
% of Harvest
Estimated
Harvest/ 100km
2
North 418 54.4 0.5 4.0 1,683 51.9 2.1
South 350 45.6 0.5 4.5 1,559 48.1 2.4
Statewide 768 100.0 0.5 4.2 3,241 100.0 2.2
Table 26. Summary of 2020 WEASEL trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois (n = 2).
Trapping
Zone
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/ 100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated
Harvest
% of Harvest
Estimated
Harvest/ 100km
2
North 23 100.0 0.0 1.5 34 100.0 0.0
South 0 0.0 0.0 ###### 0 0.0 0.0
Statewide 23 100.0 0.0 1.5 34 100.0 0.0
Table 27. Summary of 2020 COYOTE trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois (n = 143).
Trapping
Zone
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/ 100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated
Harvest
% of Harvest
Estimated
Harvest/ 100km
2
North 768 47.6 0.9 12.3 9,431 58.7 11.5
South 847 52.4 1.3 7.8 6,630 41.3 10.3
Statewide 1615 100.0 1.1 9.9 16,060 100.0 11.0

37
Table 28. Summary of 2020 BADGER trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois (n = 5).
Trapping
Zone
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/ 100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated
Harvest
% of Harvest
Estimated
Harvest/ 100km
2
North 45 80.0 0.1 1.0 45 80.0 0.1
South 11 20.0 0.0 1.0 11 20.0 0.0
Statewide 56 100.0 0.0 1.0 56 100.0 0.0
Table 29. Summary of 2020 BOBCAT trapper and harvest data by Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois (n = 26).
Trapping
Zone
Estimated
Trappers
%
Estimated
Trappers/ 100km
2
Average
Season Catch
Estimated
Harvest
% of Harvest
Estimated
Harvest/ 100km
2
North 124 42.3 0.2 1.0 124 42.3 0.2
South 169 57.7 0.3 1.0 169 57.7 0.3
Statewide 294 100.0 0.2 1.0 294 100.0 0.2

38
Table 30. The number of pelts sold by successful trappers (i.e., caught ≥ 1 animal) for 13 species of furbearers in
Illinois, 2020-21 season (n = 639).
Pelts Sold in Illinois Pelts Sold Outside Illinois
Species
Number of Pelts
Sold
Number
Percentage
Number
Percentage
Muskrat
25,480
20,962
82.3
4,518
17.7
Mink 1,186 847 71.4 339 28.6
Otter 1,412 1,208 85.6 203 14.4
Raccoon 45,945 35,746 77.8 10,199 22.2
Opossum 5,545 3,930 70.9 1,615 29.1
Red Fox
666
531
79.7
136
20.3
Gray Fox
102
102
100.0
-
0.0
Beaver 10,650 8,143 76.5 2,507 23.5
Striped Skunk 587 316 53.8 271 46.2
Weasel 11 - 0.0 11 100.0
Coyote
10,458
7,217
69.0
3,241
31.0
Badger 11 - 0.0 11 100.0
Bobcat 11 11 100.0 - 0.0
Total 102,066 79,014 77.4 23,051 22.6

39
Table 31. Estimated statewide harvest by resident Illinois trappers, 2007-2020.
Season
Muskrat
Mink
Otter
Raccoon
Opossum
Red
Fox
Gray
Fox
Beaver
Striped
Skunk
Weasel
Coyote
Badger
Bobcat
All
Species
2007
35,461
3,563
-
88,784
27,011
1,316
191
9,394
6,558 53 9,216 84
181,631
2008
32,480
2,764
-
77,310
22,839
783
86
9,997
4,745 22 4,405 65
155,496
2009
31,942
1,792
-
52,431
14,203
1,001
71
7,697
3,784 29 4,585 62
117,597
2010
63,257
4,574
-
88,233
20,213
848
39
11,238
3,981 33 6,193 44
198,653
2011
37,068
3,828
-
149,449
27,983
1,294
135
13,397
6,214 55 6,766 98
246,286
2012
33,906
2,678
-
104,947
23,264
1,412
69
12,898
5,140
26
10,874
146
195,360
2013
32,467
3,005
-
151,367
34,208
1,624
85
9,874
5,022 53 13,314 159
251,178
2014
33,860
2,895
-
101,035
17,152
1,739
89
7,249
4,621
76
11,096
165
179,978
2015
32,038
1,641
1,198
55,390
12,829
932
0
10,514
3,123
35
7,488
124
125,314
2016
24,217
1,982
1,388
57,324
14,695
948
20
10,050
2,349
47
12,532
53
125,605
2017
18,795 1,969
1,627
64,025 16,753 862 16 11,179
2,539 41 16,525 81 146 134,560
2018
16,079 1,502
1,493
63,179 17,815 894 35 10,358
4,141 96 11,781 156 460 127,990
2019
16,111 1,097
2,427
67,915 16,255 737 36 10,357
4,109 0 10,258 54 333 129,689
2020
31,703
1,875
2,202
72,836
15,202
1,186
112
18,489
3,241
33
16,060
56
293
163,292

40
Table 32. Summary of fur hunting activities reported by trappersa in Illinois, 2020-21.
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
56
492
8.8
8.8%
5,557
Opossum 11 21 1.9 1.7% 237
Red Fox 9 23 2.6 1.4% 260
Gray Fox
-
-
-
-
-
Striped Skunk
6
14
2.3
0.9%
158
Coyote 83 820 9.9 13.0% 9,261
All Species 155 b c
1,370
8.8
24.3%
15,473
a Active and inactive trappers.
b Successful and unsuccessful hunters.
c Total for hunters of all species may be less than the sum of values because some trappers hunted >1 species.

41
Table 33. Number of trappers who saw badgers or signs of badgers by the county in Illinois.
County
Saw
Badger
n
Saw
Sign
n
County
Saw
Badger
n
Saw
Sign
n
County
Saw
Badger
n
Saw
Sign
n
Adams
1
1
Hardin
0
0
Morgan
0
2
Alexander
0
0
Henderson
4
4
Moultrie
1
1
Bond
0
0
Henry
0
3
Ogle
1
3
Boone
2
4
Iroquois
1
1
Peoria
0
1
Brown
1
2
Jackson
0
0
Perry
0
0
Bureau
5
8
Jasper
0
0
Piatt
2
2
Calhoun
1
1
Jefferson
0
0
Pike
4
4
Carroll
2
2
Jersey
0
0
Pope
0
0
Cass
1
4
Jo Daviess
1
3
Pulaski
0
0
Champaign
1
2
Johnson
0
0
Putnam
0
0
Christian
0
0
Kane
0
1
Randolph
1
1
Clark
0
0
Kankakee
0
0
Richland
0
0
Clay
0
0
Kendall
1
2
Rock Island
2
2
Clinton
0
0
Knox
5
6
St. Clair
0
0
Coles
0
0
Lake
0
0
Saline
0
0
Cook
0
0
LaSalle
1
3
Sangamon
0
1
Crawford
0
0
Lawrence
0
0
Schuyler
0
0
Cumberland
0
1
Lee
3
1
Scott
0
1
DeKalb
0
0
Livingston
5
5
Shelby
1
1
DeWitt
1
1
Logan
2
2
Stark
1
1
Douglas
1
1
McDonough
0
2
Stephenson
4
5
DuPage
0
0
McHenry
1
2
Tazewell
0
0
Edgar
2
2
McLean
1
1
Union
0
0
Edwards
1
1
Macon
1
1
Vermilion
2
2
Effingham
0
0
Macoupin
0
0
Wabash
0
0
Fayette
0
0
Madison
0
0
Warren
0
0
Ford
0
1
Marion
0
0
Washington
0
0
Franklin
0
0
Marshall
0
0
Wayne
1
1
Fulton
2
5
Mason
2
6
White
0
0
Gallatin
0
0
Massac
0
0
Whiteside
3
5
Greene
2
2
Menard
3
3
Will
0
0
Grundy
1
2
Mercer
0
1
Williamson
0
0
Hamilton
0
0
Monroe
0
0
Winnebago
0
2
Hancock
1
3
Montgomery
1
3
Woodford
1
1

42
Table 34. Number of trappers who saw gray fox or signs of gray fox by the county in Illinois.
County
Saw
Gray Fox
n
Saw Sign
n
County
Saw
Gray Fox
n
Saw Sign
n
County
Saw
Gray Fox
n
Saw Sign
n
Adams
0
0
Hardin
1
0
Morgan
1
0
Alexander
2
1
Henderson
0
0
Moultrie
0
0
Bond
0
0
Henry
0
0
Ogle
0
0
Boone
0
0
Iroquois
0
0
Peoria
1
1
Brown
1
0
Jackson
1
1
Perry
2
1
Bureau
0
0
Jasper
1
0
Piatt
0
0
Calhoun
0
0
Jefferson
2
2
Pike
0
0
Carroll
0
0
Jersey
0
1
Pope
2
1
Cass
0
0
Jo Daviess
1
0
Pulaski
1
0
Champaign
1
0
Johnson
2
2
Putnam
0
0
Christian
0
0
Kane
0
0
Randolph
2
2
Clark
0
0
Kankakee
1
1
Richland
0
0
Clay
0
0
Kendall
0
0
Rock Island
0
0
Clinton
0
1
Knox
0
0
St. Clair
0
0
Coles
0
0
Lake
1
1
Saline
1
1
Cook
1
1
LaSalle
1
1
Sangamon
1
0
Crawford
0
0
Lawrence
0
0
Schuyler
2
2
Cumberland
0
0
Lee
0
0
Scott
1
1
DeKalb
0
0
Livingston
0
0
Shelby
0
0
DeWitt
0
0
Logan
0
0
Stark
0
0
Douglas
0
0
McDonough
1
1
Stephenson
0
0
DuPage
3
1
McHenry
0
2
Tazewell
1
1
Edgar
0
0
McLean
0
0
Union
1
1
Edwards
0
0
Macon
0
0
Vermilion
1
0
Effingham
0
0
Macoupin
0
0
Wabash
2
0
Fayette
0
0
Madison
2
1
Warren
0
0
Ford
0
0
Marion
1
1
Washington
0
0
Franklin
1
1
Marshall
0
0
Wayne
0
0
Fulton
0
0
Mason
1
1
White
0
0
Gallatin
1
0
Massac
0
0
Whiteside
0
0
Greene
0
0
Menard
0
0
Will
0
0
Grundy
1
0
Mercer
0
0
Williamson
1
1
Hamilton
0
0
Monroe
1
1
Winnebago
1
1
Hancock
0
0
Montgomery
0
0
Woodford
0
0

43
Table 35. Reason for changes in muskrat populations by opinion of population over the past 5 years
Population decreased
(n = 84)
%
Stayed the same
(n = 45)
%
Populations increased
(n = 35)
%
Total
(n = 179)
%
Improved Habitat
3.4
4.0
5.7
13.1
Degraded Habitat
30.1
4.0
1.1
35.2
Less Trapping Pressure
2.3
11.4
17.0
30.7
More Trapping Pressure
4.5
0.6
-
5.1
Improved Water Quality
0.6
1.1
4.0
5.7
Worsening Water Quality
11.9
1.1
-
13.1
Better Land Use Practices
1.7
2.3
1.7
5.7
Worsening Land Use Practices
20.5
2.3
1.1
23.9
Decrease In Predators
2.3
1.1
5.1
8.5
Increase In Predators
27.8
5.7
0.6
34.1
Fewer Mink
4.0
2.8
4.5
11.4
More Mink
9.7
4.0
-
13.6
Other
9.1
0.6
1.7
11.4

44
Table 36. Reason for changes in mink populations by opinion of population over the past 5 years
Population decreased
(n = 23)
%
Stayed the same
(n = 52)
%
Populations increased
(n = 34)
%
Total
(n = 109)
%
Improved Habitat
4.3
11.5
28.6
15.6
Degraded Habitat
39.1
25.0
5.7
22.0
Less Trapping Pressure
4.3
25.0
71.4
35.8
More Trapping Pressure
13.0
-
-
2.8
Improved Water Quality
-
3.8
8.6
4.6
Worsening Water Quality
21.7
9.6
-
9.2
Better Land Use Practices
-
5.8
8.6
5.5
Worsening Land Use Practices
34.8
19.2
2.9
17.4
Decrease In Predators
-
5.8
5.7
4.6
Increase In Predators
47.8
13.5
11.4
20.2
Other
30.4
1.9
11.4
11.0

45
Table 37. Types of traps owned and used by active Illinois trappers.
Table 38. Types of traps owned by an Illinois trapper who did not trap in 2020-21.
# of
traps
Conibear traps
(n = 255)
Steel jaw leg hold traps
(n = 247)
Soft catch/padded leg
(n = 43)
Cage type live traps
(n = 144)
Snares
(n = 43)
Other
(n = 78)
Owned
%
Set
%
Owned
%
Set
%
Owned
%
Set
%
Owned
%
Set
%
Owned
%
Set
%
Owned
%
Set
%
0
-
12.50
-
12.69
-
22.73
-
37.67
-
53.49
-
10.26
1-10
34.12
63.26
23.08
50.77
51.16
54.55
89.58
58.22
30.23
32.56
32.05
44.87
11-20
21.57
16.29
17.81
21.92
20.93
15.91
7.64
3.42
34.88
11.63
21.79
19.23
21-30
12.94
3.03
15.79
8.46
16.28
2.27
0.69
-
13.95
2.33
15.38
15.38
31-40
5.10
1.14
6.07
5.00
-
-
-
-
6.98
-
7.69
5.13
41-50
6.67
2.27
11.34
0.38
6.98
-
1.39
-
6.98
-
5.13
1.28
51-100
12.16
1.14
13.77
0.38
4.65
4.55
-
0.68
6.98
-
15.38
2.56
>100
7.45
0.38
12.15
0.38
-
-
0.69
-
-
-
2.56
1.28
# of traps
Conibear traps
(n = 61)
Steel jaw leg hold traps
(n = 64)
Soft catch/padded leg
(n = 9)
Cage type live traps
(n = 53)
Snares
(n = 9)
Other
(n = 5)
%
%
%
%
%
%
1-10
47.5
37.5
44.4
94.3
20.0
60.0
11-20
19.7
21.9
33.3
-
20.0
-
21-30
8.2
7.8
11.1
3.8
20.0
-
31-40
4.9
3.1
11.1
-
40.0
-
41-50
1.6
4.7
-
-
-
20.0
51-100
11.5
14.1
-
-
-
-
>100
6.6
10.9
-
1.9
-
20.0

46
Table 39. Distribution of active trappers by county trapped most in Illinois based on responses to the 2020-21
Illinois Trapper Survey (n = 369).
County
n
County
n
County
n
Adams 6 Hardin 2 Morgan 4
Alexander 1 Henderson 3 Moultrie 0
Bond 2 Henry 6 Ogle 7
Boone 3 Iroquois 8 Peoria 1
Brown 6 Jackson 5 Perry 4
Bureau 6 Jasper 6 Piatt 2
Calhoun 2 Jefferson 7 Pike 11
Carroll 4 Jersey 2 Pope 0
Cass
1
Jo Daviess
4
Pulaski
2
Champaign 1 Johnson 3 Putnam 0
Christian 4 Kane 3 Randolph 11
Clark 2 Kankakee 5 Richland 1
Clay
5
Kendall
3
Rock Island
4
Clinton 5 Knox 8 St. Clair 4
Coles 1 Lake 3 Saline 1
Cook 1 LaSalle 8 Sangamon 6
Crawford 5 Lawrence 3 Schuyler 5
Cumberland 2 Lee 3 Scott 2
De Kalb 0 Livingston 8 Shelby 3
DeWitt 0 Logan 3 Stark 0
Douglas
2
McDonough
0
Stephenson
7
Du Page 4 McHenry 11 Tazewell 5
Edgar 3 McLean 7 Union 0
Edwards 0 Macon 2 Vermillion 4
Effingham
3
Macoupin
5
Wabash
3
Fayette 4 Madison 3 Warren 1
Ford 3 Marion 4 Washington 1
Franklin 4 Marshall 2 Wayne 6
Fulton 4 Mason 5 White 1
Gallatin 0 Massac 0 Whiteside 9
Greene 6 Menard 5 Will 3
Grundy 3 Mercer 5 Williamson 5
Hamilton
2
Monroe
3
Winnebago
5
Hancock 7 Montgomery 7 Woodford 6

47
Table 40. Distribution of respondents by county of residence (n = 639).
County
n
County
n
County
n
Adams 12 Hardin 2 Morgan 9
Alexander 3 Henderson 5 Moultrie 0
Bond 2 Henry 7 Ogle 11
Boone 4 Iroquois 8 Peoria 8
Brown 7 Jackson 5 Perry 4
Bureau 12 Jasper 8 Piatt 3
Calhoun 2 Jefferson 8 Pike 11
Carroll 3 Jersey 3 Pope 2
Cass 5 Jo Daviess 9 Pulaski 2
Champaign 11 Johnson 2 Putnam 0
Christian 6 Kane 9 Randolph 19
Clark 4 Kankakee 12 Richland 5
Clay 7 Kendall 3 Rock Island 7
Clinton 9 Knox 7 St. Clair 8
Coles 2 Lake 7 Saline 0
Cook 17 LaSalle 15 Sangamon 13
Crawford 7 Lawrence 4 Schuyler 6
Cumberland 5 Lee 1 Scott 3
De Kalb 3 Livingston 9 Shelby 4
DeWitt 1 Logan 3 Stark 0
Douglas 3 McDonough 6 Stephenson 10
Du Page 12 McHenry 12 Tazewell 8
Edgar 3 McLean 14 Union 5
Edwards 1 Macon 4 Vermillion 6
Effingham 5 Macoupin 7 Wabash 4
Fayette 8 Madison 10 Warren 0
Ford 4 Marion 8 Washington 2
Franklin 6 Marshall 1 Wayne 5
Fulton 11 Mason 8 White 2
Gallatin 1 Massac 0 Whiteside 15
Greene 7 Menard 6 Will 9
Grundy 7 Mercer 8 Williamson 5
Hamilton 2 Monroe 5 Winnebago 15
Hancock 7 Montgomery 8 Woodford 15

48
Appendix A
Illinois Trapper Survey:
2020-21 Season
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Division of Wildlife Resources
&
Illinois Natural History Survey
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.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!
All of your responses will be kept confidential.
Please return this survey in the postage-paid return envelope provided.

49
Wildlife Management Units and Furbearer Management Zones in Illinois

50
Section 1. Effort and Harvest. Please answer the following questions about your furbearer trapping and
hunting activities during the 2019-20 trapping season in Illinois.
1. Did you set any traps for furbearers in Illinois during the 2020-21 trapping season? (Please select one)
_____ Yes _____ No (If “No,” please go to Question 8)
2. Complete each blank for all species trapped in Illinois during the 2020-21 season. Report only your personal
catch. If you trapped with a partner, list only your half of the catch. DO NOT include animals taken by
hunting.
Species
Number Trapped
Number Sold
in Illinois
Number Sold or
Shipped Out of State
Number Not Sold
Muskrat
Mink
Otter
Raccoon
Opossum
Red Fox
Gray Fox
Beaver
Skunk
Weasel
Coyote
Badger
Bobcat
3. In which county did you set traps most often during the 2020-21 trapping season? (Please indicate):
_____________________County
4. In which zone do you do most of your trapping? ______ North Zone ______ South Zone
5. How many days (or nights) did you set traps during the 2020-21 trapping season? _____Days (or Nights)
6. What was the average number of traps you set on your trapline during the 2020-21 season? _____Traps
7. On which type of land do you set traps most often? (Please select one)
_____My own private property _____Public property (State, Federal, and other public lands)
_____Private outfitter property _____Private property owned by my family
_____Private property not owned by me
If needed, please refer to the map on the opposite page to answer questions 3 & 4.

51
8. What is your opinion of the opening and closing dates for the 2020-21 trapping season? Please circle one
number for each date.
Too early
About right
Too late
I am not sure
Opening date 1 2 3 4
Closing date 1 2 3 4
9. Did you hunt furbearers with a gun and/or dogs in Illinois during the 2020-21 season? _____Yes _____No
9a. If “Yes,” please give the number of each species taken by hunting:
_____Raccoon _____Red Fox _____Gray Fox
_____Coyote _____Skunk _____Opossum
9b. If “Yes,” did you hunt furbearers with dogs in Illinois during the 2020-21 season? _____Yes _____No
10. How many of the following types of traps did you use on your trap line during the 2020-21 season?
Type of trap
Number owned
Number set
Conibear or body-gripping traps
______
______
Steel jaw leg-hold traps
______
______
Soft-catch or padded leg-hold traps
______
______
Cage-type live traps
______
______
Snares (Restricted to water use only)
______
______
Other type (Please identify): ________________
______
______
Other type (Please identify): ________________
______
______
11. Did you incidentally catch any bobcats during 2020-21 season? ____Yes ____No (If “No”, go to Section 2)
11a. How many bobcats did you catch? ___________ caught
11b. How many did you release? ___________ released
11c. For which species were you trapping? ___________ ___________ ___________
12. Which of the following best describes the amount of bobcat sign in the past 5 years in the area where you
trap? Please circle the number that best describes your response.
Decreased
Considerably
Decreased
Stayed the Same
Increased
Increased
Considerably
1 2 3 4 5
13. Which of the following best describes the amount of otter sign in the past 5 years in the area where you
trap? Please circle the number that best describes your response.
Decreased
Considerably
Decreased
Stayed the Same
Increased
Increased
Considerably
1 2 3 4 5

52
Section 2. Muskrat and Mink Trapping. Please answer the following questions about muskrats/muskrat
trapping and mink/mink trapping in Illinois.
1. Do you target muskrats? _____ Yes _____ No (If “No,” please go to Question 6)
1a. How many years have you been trapping muskrats? _______ Years
2. Do you trap muskrats at the same sites each year? _____ Yes _____ No
3. In your opinion, how have muskrat populations changed:
3a. During the past 5 years? Please circle the number that best matches your response.
Decreased
Considerably
Decreased
Stayed the Same
Increased
Increased
Considerably
1 2 3 4 5
3b. During the past 10 years? Please circle the number that best matches your response.
Decreased
Considerably
Decreased
Stayed the Same
Increased
Increased
Considerably
1 2 3 4 5
4. Which of the following best describe your opinion for the changes in muskrat populations? (Please check all
that apply)
____ Improved habitat ____ Degraded habitat
____ Less trapping pressure ____ More trapping pressure
____ Improved water quality ____ Worsening water quality
____ Better landuse practices ____ Worse landuse practices
____ Decrease in predators ____ Increase in predators
____ Fewer mink ____ More mink
____ Other: ___________________________ ____ Other: ___________________________
5. Which of the following best describes your satisfaction with muskrat trapping in Illinois? Please circle the
number that best matches your response.
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Not Sure
Satisfied
Very Satisfied
1 2 3 4 5
6. Do you target mink? _____ Yes _____ No (If “No,” please go to Section 3)
6a. How many years have you been trapping mink? _______ Years
7. Do you trap mink at the same sites each year? _____ Yes _____ No

53
8. In your opinion, how have mink populations changed:
8a. During the past 5 years? Please circle the number that best matches your response.
Decreased
Considerably
Decreased
Stayed the Same
Increased
Increased
Considerably
1 2 3 4 5
8b. During the past 10 years? Please circle the number that best matches your response.
Decreased
Considerably
Decreased
Stayed the Same
Increased
Increased
Considerably
1 2 3 4 5
9. Which of the following best describe your opinion for the changes in mink populations? (Please check all
that apply)
____ Improved habitat ____ Degraded habitat
____ Less trapping pressure ____ More trapping pressure
____ Improved water quality ____ Worsening water quality
____ Better landuse practices ____ Worse landuse practices
____ Decrease in predators ____ Increase in predators
____ Other: ___________________________ ____ Other: ___________________________
10. Which of the following best describes your satisfaction with mink trapping in Illinois? Please circle the
number that best matches your response.
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Not Sure
Satisfied
Very Satisfied
1 2 3 4 5
Section 3. Wildlife Sightings. The furbearer species addressed in the following questions are of special
conservation concern to Illinois wildlife biologists. Information you provide will help IDNR manage Illinois
wildlife to ensure healthy, sustainable populations.
1. Did you see any badger(s) in Illinois during the 2020-21 trapping season? (Please select one)
_____Yes _____No (If “No,” please go to Question 2)
1a. In which county(ies) did you see badger(s)?
____________________County ____________________County
2. Did you see any badger sign in Illinois during the 2020-21 trapping season? (Please select one)
_____Yes _____No (If “No,” please go to Question 3)
2a. In which county(ies) did you see badger sign?
____________________County ____________________County

54
3. Did you see any gray fox(es) in Illinois during the 2020-21 trapping season? (Please select one)
_____Yes _____No (If “No,” please go to Question 4)
3a. In which county(ies) did you see gray fox(es)?
____________________County ____________________County
4. Did you see any gray fox sign in Illinois during the 2020-21 trapping season? (Please select one)
_____Yes _____No (If “No,” please go to Section 4)
4a. In which county(ies) did you see gray fox sign?
____________________County