Not only have vast Inland marshes been drained, but, as reported by Mulvlhlll & 

 Cornish (1929), almost 200,000 acres of the Illinois River bottomland subject to overflow have 

 been leveed and drained. A similar condition exists along the Mississippi River where drain- 

 age districts extend almost continuously from Rock Island to Cairo. 



We find today only approximately 250,000 acres of waterfowl habitat — open water, 

 marshes and swamps — In Illinois, where about 77,000 waterfowlers must seek their sport. In 

 contrast, there are more than 30,000,000 acres of upland hunting territory for the 300,000 

 upland game hunters. Whereas the upland game hunter has an average of 100 acres on which to 

 roam, the duck hunter has little more than 3. 



It Is well known that the high density of upland hunters In some parts of Illinois, 

 especially near large centers of population, has caused the closing of many farm lands to 

 hunting. Less widely known Is the fact that, because two-thirds or more of the waterfowl 

 habitat In the state Is under private control, three out of five waterfowlers have difficulty 

 In locating a favorable hunting place. 



TYPES OF AREAS 



An Illlnolsan wishing to hunt ducks today has four alternatives. He can (1) Join a 

 private club or be a guest at one, (2) pay by the day at some commercial dally fee club 

 (3) take "potluck" on some of the "open" areas not under private ownership, (4) purchase duck 

 land and hunt on his own property. 



Private Hunting Grounds 



About 10 per cent of the Illinois waterfowlers belong to private duck clubs, or hunt 

 at dally fee clubs. An additional 2 per cent, composed of guides and caretakers, hvint on 

 private duck club grounds during the course of the season. Membership fees at private duck 

 clubs range from $35 to over $1,000 each, depending on the number of acres owned by the club, 

 the value of the grounds and clubhouse, and other sundry facts. In addition, each member must 

 pay a yearly maintenance fee, and, at many clubs, lodging, food and guide or "pusher" fees. 

 There are about 700 waterfowl clubs registered In Illinois each year; club licenses issued by 

 the State Department of Conservation In recent years were as follows: 644 In 1940, 792 in 

 1941 and 700 in 1942. There are 2 to 50 members per club, with an average of 10 per club. 

 There are only about 50 large clubs in Illinois. 



In addition to the 12 per cent of the Illinois waterfowlers hunting at duck clubs, 

 about 3 per cent (2,000) primarily pursue Canada geese at the 42 to 77 clubs (1940 through 

 1942) In the Horse Shoe Lake region of Alexander County. The dally fee goose clubs in this 

 region have furnished annually (1940 through 1942) about 4,000 man-days of hunting. From 

 cursory inspection of the records, it Is apparent that the average goose hunter shoots 2 days 

 per season. The area is estimated to have provided about 10,000 man-days of hunting in 1943. 



Clubs offering dally fee shooting privileges, as listed by the State Department of 

 Conservation In 1940, numbered 76. The writer knew of 15 additional day-shooting places not 

 listed. Prices for day waterfowl shooting range from $3 to $20 per person per day, $10 being 

 the usual charge. Most, If not all, day-shooting places limit the number of hunters on their 

 premises, and, consequently, reservations are generally made in advance. 



