Illinois Letters to the Editor: Suspicions about push to thin deer herd get some affirmation
Reader-submitted letters to the editor published in the May 15, 2026 edition of Illinois Outdoor News.
May 12, 2026
Ralph Loos: Only thing harder than catching a fish is producing a fish
Not long ago I found myself across the Illinois state line, sitting at a table with fisheries biologists, hatchery managers and a handful of “specialists” and “technicians” – vague job titles that wildlife agencies give folks who get the dirtiest. Or, in the case of most fisheries staff, including those here in Illinois, the “wettest” and, definitely the “smelliest.”
Discussion was about the cost of hatching and raising fish that would eventually be placed in lakes and rivers.
Ralph Loos: Only thing harder than catching a fish is producing a fish Read More »
Little Conewango Creek: Stocked trout, tight quarters in western New York
On one hand, there is superb access to Little Conewango Creek in the form of eight miles of public fishing rights secured by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation.
But that’s pretty much where the ease of access to the Cattaraugus County stream ends.
Little Conewango Creek: Stocked trout, tight quarters in western New York Read More »
New York’s Outdoor Calendar
A look at upcoming outdoors-related events from across New York published in the May 15, 2026 edition of Outdoor News.
New York’s Outdoor Calendar Read More »
New York Cuffs & Collars: Search conducted for hunter missing since 2015
New York cuffs and collars are field reports from DEC Officers. These reports are from the May 15, 2026 edition of Outdoor News.
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New York Outdoor News’ Great Lakes preview: Amazing fisheries continue to produce
When it comes to freshwater fishing in New York State, the best one-two combination in the Empire State, as well as the Great Lakes, if not the country, is the dynamic duo of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. While they both share many kinds of fish species, the headline acts are quite different.
On Lake Ontario, the “king” is the Chinook salmon.
New York Outdoor News’ Great Lakes preview: Amazing fisheries continue to produce Read More »
Mastering muskie fishing’s art of the figure eight
Ask someone why they fish muskies, and the big esox’s willingness to follow lures and hit at boatside comes up almost immediately. With good reason.
Seeing a muskie suddenly materialize behind a lure as it nears the boat, having them chase it at boatside as you move it through a maneuver known as the figure-eight, and then hit – there’s nothing else like it in fresh water. Follows, as exciting as they are, can also be claw-your-face-off frustrating.
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New York DEC’s Young Forest Initiative becomes Forest Management
It has a new name but the same mission – improving both the quantity and quality of young forest growth across the majority of New York’s wildlife management areas to boost wildlife, both game and non-game species.
DEC officials are touting success that’s been achieved toward the project’s goals in the last decade. At the same time, some observers believe in certain situations, the program may be doing more harm than good.
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Five big-bass sweetspots in the Great Lakes
It’s no secret that the Great Lakes have produced a lot of big smallmouth bass in recent years.
The smallmouth always have been there, but the influx of protein heavy, non-native gobies as a forage and clearer water seems to be creating more and bigger smallmouth. Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario, and Superior total 60.3 million acres of water, so finding those isolated Great Lakes bass sweet spots isn’t easy.
Five big-bass sweetspots in the Great Lakes Read More »
