Of Interest Is the effect of the opening of the upland game season on the number of 

 waterfowlers frequenting the public shooting grounds. In 1940, the number of duck shooters on 

 Sunday, the first day of the upland game season, dropped to about half that of the previous 

 Sunday. In 1941 and 1942, hunting pressure on the first week-end after the opening of the 

 upland game season was about half that of the preceding week-end. With very unpleasant 

 weather approaching zero temperatures, duck hunting declined, as evinced by the decrease In 

 the number of hunters out during the last few weeks of the season. 



A comparison of the waterfowl take of the duck clubs with that at various public 

 shooting grounds In the Illinois River region will aid In an evaluation of the success of 

 hunters at the various areas. Club hunters shot over four times as many ducks per hunter-day 

 as public shooting grounds hunters. As tables 3, 4 and 5 Indicate, at public shooting grounds 

 as the number of hunters Increased — within certain limits — so did the average kill per 

 acre. For example. In 1940, 1.44 hunter-days per acre resulted In 1.76 ducks per acre; in 

 1941, 1.45 hunter-days per acre resulted In 1.87 ducks per acre; and, In 1942, 1.70 hunter- 

 days per acre resulted In 3.08 ducks per acre. While there was bound to be some variation 

 from year to year with changes In environment, weather, waterfowl populations and hunting 

 regulations. In most cases the general trend was too consistent up to a certain point to be 

 Ignored. Usually, with an Increase In the number of hunters per acre or per square mile, the 

 total dally bag Increased until It reached a point at which a greater number of hunters 



260 



_!_ 



.1. 



10 20 30 40 50 60 70 

 SHOOTERS PER DAY 



80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 

 PER SQUARE MILE 



FIG. 14. — Influence of hunting Intensity on the total ninnber of ducks 

 killed on four Illinois River valley public shooting areas. 



21 



