Illinois Mixed Bag: Forest Preserve acreage pushes past 24,000 acres

Joliet, Ill — The Forest Preserve District of Will County’s first acquisition of 2026 not only expands the District’s oldest preserve, it also pushes total acreage past the 24,000 mark. On March 27, the Forest Preserve acquired almost 106 acres on the southwest side of Messenger Woods Nature Preserve in Homer Glen. The acquisition is north of Bruce Road and east of Cedar Road.

“We’re very excited about this new addition to Messenger Woods,” said Juli Mason, the Forest Preserve’s director of conservation programs. “The property includes remnant woodlands that will expand the protected area of high-quality woodland habitat. As the existing agricultural fields are restored to native plant communities, we’ll be able to create a larger, more resilient buffer to protect the nature preserve.”

The acquisition will allow the Forest Preserve to eventually extend the Spring Creek Greenway Trail, connecting Hadley Valley Preserve and Messenger Marsh Preserve.

The District was created by referendum in 1926 and organized in 1927. The first land purchase by the Forest Preserve Board in January 1930 was 124 acres at Messenger Woods.

The recent acquisition cost $4.2 million and is part of the Forest Preserve’s 2025–2030 Capital Improvement Program, which set aside $25 million for land acquisition.

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DNR Placed Boating Restrictions on Fox River

Oglesby, Ill. — Due to high water levels and hazardous river conditions, DNR implemented a restriction on recreational boating along the Fox River. The restrictions were put in place on April 7, and included stretches from Stratton Lock and Dam in McHenry County to the Bridge Street Bridge in Millington in Kendall and La Salle counties.

DNR put said restriction would remain in effect, “until such time water levels and navigation conditions return to a safe and manageable state.”

“The conditions are also treacherous for emergency service personnel called upon to rescue persons involved in boating mishaps,” DNR said.

Counties across northern Illinois have been hit with several rounds of heavy rains over the past week, leading to rising creeks, streams and rivers.

Man Wanted by Immigration Officials Found Fishing Without License, Flees by Jumping into River

Algonquin, Ill. — A man wanted by federal immigration authorities on a warrant fled from Illinois Conservation Police Officers and jumped into the Fox River in an unsuccessful attempt to elude them.

A spokesperson for DNR said conservation police officers were conducting enforcement operations around the Algonquin Dam. Officers made contact with an individual who was fishing without a valid fishing license.

It was discovered that the individual had an active warrant during the investigation, the spokesperson said. Police radio traffic indicated the man provided identification and a records check showed he had a failure to appear administrative warrant in an immigration violation case. The suspect fled from the conservation police officers during the stop. The Algonquin Police Department and other state officers responded to assist.

He “voluntarily” jumped into the Fox River while attempting to evade the officers, the DNR spokesperson said.

The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District was dispatched to the area for a water rescue response, according to Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District Chief John Knebl. The subject made it across the river and got out of the water where he continued fleeing. Officers eventually took him into custody a short time later.

Missouri Officials Approve Waterfowl Seasons

Jefferson City, Mo. — The Missouri Conservation Commission approved recommendations from the Missouri Department of Conservation at its monthly open meeting in Jefferson City for upcoming 2026 migratory-game-bird-hunting seasons and 2026-2027 waterfowl-hunting seasons, pending final federal approval.

Missouri’s teal season will run Sept. 12-20, with a daily limit of six ducks and a possession limit of 18.

The duck season will be broken down into three zones:

• North Zone – Oct. 31 through Dec. 29

• Middle Zone – Nov. 7 though Dec. 13 and Dec. 19 through Jan. 10, 2027

• South Zone – Nov. 26 – 29 and Dec. 7 through Jan. 31, 2027

Bag limits for ducks is 6 daily, with species restrictions of 4 mallards (no more than 2 females) and 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 American black ducks, 3 northern pintail, 2 scaup for first 45 days and 1 scaup for last 15 days, and 1 mottled duck.

Wisconsin Alters Muskie, Sturgeon Seasons

Moline, Ill. — Wisconsin DNR has announced changes to this year’s fishing season, including a unified muskie opener and a new sturgeon catch-and-release season. This year will feature only one muskie season opener instead of a split season. Muskie general inland fishing will begin with the regular fishing season opener on May 2.

Experts said the change to a single muskie opener reflects a shift toward catch-and-release muskie fishing.

“So there’s been a very big change in how anglers view muskie, how they fish for muskie, the safe handling of muskie when they’re caught,” Justine Hasz, DNR fisheries management bureau director, said. “There’s a very large catch-and-release ethic with muskie fishing.”

The new sturgeon catch-and-release season runs from June through March of next year.