Impacts of Feeding Fields and Shooting Hours on Mourning Doves and Dove Hunting211 in Illinois

摘要

Hunters using Illinois public shooting fields harvest approximately 1.5 million211u001emourning doves annually. In 1993, hunting hours for doves were extended to 211u001einclude mornings for the first time in Illinois since 1958. To evaluate the 211u001eimpact of this regulatory change on hunters and doves, 2 basic questions need to 211u001ebe addressed: (1) Has daily hunter success and enjoyment (e.g., the number of 211u001equality hunting days) changed as a result of the new hunting hours; and (2) How 211u001ehave the new hunting hours affected the behavior and physiology of mourning 211u001edoves.