Why is hunting upland birds and small game in Illinois crashing?

A scene that has become increasingly uncommon in Illinois, pheasant hunters working quality habitat such as these hunters in 2018. (Dale Bowman)

Social media and hunters illustrate one aspect of the rapid decline of hunting upland birds and small game in Illinois.

“Younger hunters want to have species that are social media worthy, nobody wants to post on Instagram or Facebook with four rabbits or four squirrels,” said Craig Miller, leader of the Human Dimensions Research Program for the Illinois Natural History Survey. “They want big bucks, a pile of ducks or geese, or a turkey.”