Illinois Mixed Bag: Mentored deer hunts coming up at Fox Ridge, Kickapoo

Charleston, Ill. — Illinois DNR will host mentored archery deer hunting for adults and youth at Fox Ridge State Park in Charleston and Kickapoo State Recreation Area in Vermilion County between Dec. 16 and Jan. 3.

Participating hunters will be provided access to sections of the recreation area otherwise closed to archery deer hunting. Adult and youth hunters with less than three years of deer hunting experience and who have not been successfully drawn into the mentored deer hunt program previously may apply.

Hunters may apply for concurrent mentored hunts but may only participate in one if selected for both. Hunters drawn in the lottery will be assigned a hunting location and allowed to hunt Tuesday through Sunday within an assigned week.

DNR will determine hunt locations, which will be filled equally with adult and youth hunters. Hunters will be limited to taking one deer and must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult mentor who can assist and advise them during the hunt.

All accompanying mentors must be 21 years of age or older and must have a current Illinois hunting license. Hunters must provide their own mentors and hunting equipment. Ground blinds will be provided.

To apply, fill out the application online. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 29. Questions about this mentored hunt may be submitted to dnr.mentoredhunts@illinois.gov.

MORE COVERAGE FROM ILLINOIS OUTDOOR NEWS:

One fatality, several injuries reported so far during the 2024 Illinois deer season

17-year-old Illinois bowhunter gets the buck he’s been after through many zigs and zags

Drone, AI use by hunters addressed in Illinois

ICF 2024 State Park Ornament Available

Springfield — The Illinois Conservation Foundation has introduced its 2024 state park series ornament, showcasing the iconic Devil’s Standtable formation at Giant City State Park.

“These ornaments let people celebrate our state parks in a meaningful way, turning a keepsake into a contribution to preservation,” said ICF acting executive director Jenny Vaughn. We’re excited to continue this series, and we welcome the public’s input on future selections.”

Measuring 3 inches and crafted from high-quality diecast enamel, the 2024 ornament captures the essence of Devil’s Standtable, a geological marvel that has become synonymous with the natural splendor of southern Illinois.

The ornament is available exclusively at ilconservation.org for $15.99, with 100% of proceeds supporting conservation projects that protect and restore Illinois state parks. The price includes shipping and handling.

Horicon Expands Fishing Opportunities up North

Rock Island, Ill. — Expanded fishing on Horicon National Wildlife Refuge is part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s recent efforts to increase recreational access on public lands.

Horicon, which is located in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, is one of 12 national wildlife refuges moving to open more opportunities for hunting and fishing. The same ruled that expanded fishing at Horicon also closed hunting on 111 of the over 44,000 huntable acres at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in southern Illinois. That acreage has been earmarked for other visitor uses, including camping.

At more than 33,000 acres, Horicon Marsh is one of the largest freshwater marshes in the United States and is a critical rest stop for thousands of migrating ducks and Canada geese. It is recognized as a Wetland of International Importance, as both Globally and State Important Bird Areas and is also a unit of the Ice Age Scientific Reserve. Horicon Marsh is fed by the Rock River which flows through the refuge following a course through southern Wisconsin and eventually ending in the Mississippi River at Rock Island, Illinois.

Spring Turkey Permit Applications Accepted

Springfield — Permit applications for the Illinois 2025 spring turkey hunting season are now being accepted, with three separate lotteries scheduled to determine hunter seasons and dates. Lottery 1 is open to Illinois resident hunters and has an application deadline of Dec. 1. Lottery 2 opens to all hunters on Dec. 12 and runs through Jan. 13.

Lottery 3 is open to all hunters beginning Jan. 24 and runs through Feb. 10. The deadline for landowner permit applications is Feb. 9. Permits remaining after the Lottery 3 drawing will be available over the counter from license vendors throughout the state on a first-come, first-served basis beginning March 11.

Minnesota Flying Squirrel Populations Collide

Duluth, Minn. — Natural Resources Research Institute scientists have been studying two distinct flying squirrel populations now colliding in northern Minnesota. Meanwhile, some citizens in the region are surprised to learn that these critters are their neighbors.

Flying squirrels are a native Minnesota species that live mostly north of I-94. Within that northern region, there are southern flying squirrel and northern flying squirrel species, which look and sound slightly different.

“The northerns are about the size of your hand, and the southerns are about the size of your palm,” said Anna Peterson, a University of Minnesota-Duluth graduate student on the project.

Despite the squirrels being a native to Minnesota, basic information such as home ranges is relatively understudied and is getting murkier as southern squirrels move farther north into their cousins’ territory.

“It’s important to know what’s going on with their population so that we can better manage for our forests and our forest health,” said Anna Mangan, project lead and NRRI wildlife ecologist.

After receiving funding last year from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (state lottery proceeds), the team began studying possible effects – such as competing for food or shelter – that southern flying squirrels can have on their northern cousins.