IMPROVEMENT MEASURES FOR PUBLIC SHOOTING 



Although complaint Is heard about poor duck hunting on the public shooting areas of 

 Illinois, rated by the quality of these lands for waterfowl shooting In 1940, 1941 and 1942, 

 two of the four were average or better than average hunting grounds. As stated previously, 

 the total bag on these better public areas compared favorably with the total bag made on areas 

 of equal size controlled by duck clubs. But we find 

 that the bag was divided among an average of over six 

 times as many hunter-days; consequently, the bag per 

 hunter per day was much lower than at private clubs 

 or at day-shooting clubs, fig. 17. On public shoot- 

 ing areas the total duck bag Increased as the number 

 of hunters Increased until a saturation point was 

 reached. Even on those days when few public shooters 

 were out, their average bag was below that made for 

 the same hunter density at clubs. Some of the blame 

 for the public hunter's low bag must be attributed to 

 a general lack of shooting and hunting technique, al- 

 though there were a few free-lance hunters who con- 

 sistently bagged near-limits. 



>- 

 < 



IT 

 UJ 

 Q. 



H 

 Z 

 D 



r 

 cr 



UJ 

 CL 



(O 



o 

 cr 



FIG. 17. — Comparison of duck kill per 

 hunter per day at public 

 shooting grounds, day shoot- 

 ing clubs and private clubs 

 In Illinois, 1940 and 1941. 



Factors such as Improper concealment and 



lack of blocks and retrievers also tended to lower 



the public hunter's bag. However, because of the 194 1941 



added fire power, the total bag rose until a point 

 was reached at which hunting Interference was a 

 greater factor than fire power. Beyond that point 

 the total bag declined. Hunting Interference was the result of competition among a large 

 number of hunters after a limited number of ducks. Free-lance hunters were themselves direct- 

 ly responsible for some of the Influences reducing their success. These Influences were 

 operative most noticeably on mallard and pintail shooting grounds and least on lesser scaup 

 and ruddy duck lakes. Measures for Improving public shooting are discussed below. 



Blinds 



Blinds and the attendeint problems were found to be very Important on most public 

 shooting grounds. The general feeling among free-lance waterfowlers was that It did not pay 

 any one Individual to put much effort Into the building of a blind because he might use It 

 only a day or two, or someone else might appropriate It. If a hunter can remain still In the 

 proper natural surroundings, blinds are not necessary, but few hunters are adept at self- 

 concealment. The top-ranking hunting places In the Illinois River valley are those areas with 

 well-constructed blinds or good cover. 



29 



