528 



Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin Vol. 23, Art. 5 



Table 28. — Recommended squirrel hunting seasons in Illinois. 



making for minimum losses due to starva- 

 tion of immature squirrels are desirable 

 from the humane standpoint. 



The proposed seasons are further justi- 

 fied by the current reduction and deple- 

 tion of Illinois squirrel habitats, especially 

 in the southern zone, by very extensive 

 lumbering. Military requirements for 

 walnut, oak and other hardwood timber, 

 in addition to domestic requirements, are 

 unavoidably resulting in grave acreage 

 and quality losses in the range. Intelli- 

 gent laws require that these conditions be 

 taken into consideration. 



Our recommendations are based in part 

 on Illinois hunters' opinions, table 29. 



Opinions as indicated in table 29 reflect 



no marked preference for either of the 

 two seasons, the second of which begar 

 14 to 31 days later than the first. This i^ 

 not surprising when it is known that botl 

 the 1940 and 1941 dates made possible 

 hunting during the mast season. Most o\ 

 the hunters desiring an earlier season! 

 somewhat less than one-fourth of the total] 

 like to hunt during the mulberry season! 

 when squirrels are concentrated in th{ 

 vicinity of mulberry trees. More than 1[ 

 per cent of the hunters were satisfied wit! 

 the present season or desired a later one. 



Illinois hunters were so obviously satis! 

 fied with kill limits, which were the samd 

 in all years of the present study, that this 

 item was not included in the 1941 quesi 



Table 29. — Opinions of 236 hunters on the 1940 and 1941 squirrel hunting seasons in Illinois.* 



*Seasons : 1940 — northern and central zones, August 1 — October 15, southern zone,- July IS — September 10^: 

 1941 — northern zone, September 1 — November 15. central zone, August 15 — October 30, southern zone, Augusl 

 1— October 15; limits — both years, all zones, 5 daily, 10 in possession; no season limit. 



fAll hunters reporting did not express an opinion on all items of questionnaire. 



