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Gretchen Steele

Gretchen Steele: Passing on hunting and fishing stories keeps traditions alive

Blogs, Featured, Fishing, Hunting, Illinois, Opinion /

Inspiration comes at funny times and often in odd places.
I recently attended a banquet for the Heartland Chapter of VDD-GNA in Illinois. The club chairman, Jim Halleran, gave a moving and inspiring close of banquet speech that focused on the importance of storytelling and story sharing as hunters and anglers. I looked around the room and realized this was a room full of great stories.

Gretchen Steele: Passing on hunting and fishing stories keeps traditions alive Read More »

Gretchen Steele: Several Illinois bills could affect hunters, gun owners

Featured, Hunting, Illinois, National Hunting, Opinion /

As promised in my last column, I’m going to provide a list of some of the more pertinent firearm-related proposed legislation in Illinois. Once again, I urge readers to visit the Illinois Federation of Outdoor Resources’ legislative web page. IFOR is providing a great service for sportsmen and women with this comprehensive legislative guide.
It’s no surprise that this year, like many in the past, there’s a flurry of FOID card-related bills.

Gretchen Steele: Several Illinois bills could affect hunters, gun owners Read More »

Youth snow goose hunt in Illinois filled with huge flocks and lessons learned

Featured, Hunting, Illinois, National Hunting, National News, News /

Despite less-than-ideal conditions for snow goose hunting, six hunters ranging in age from 12 to 17 displayed remarkable perseverance at the 2025 Youth Snow Goose Hunt sponsored by the Kaskaskia River Delta Waterfowl Chapter (KRDW) in Illinois.
Held at Willow Creek Waterfowl near Carlyle, the event provided an invaluable opportunity for young sportsmen and women to develop their hunting skills under the guidance of experienced mentors.

Youth snow goose hunt in Illinois filled with huge flocks and lessons learned Read More »

Gretchen Steele: It’s time for all outdoor groups to work together

Blogs, Featured, Fishing, Hunting, Illinois, National Fishing, National Hunting, Nature Page & Night Sky, Opinion /

I’ve been dismayed for some time about how divided outdoor lovers and recreationists have become. It’s done nothing but get worse. Social media has failed us in this arena; instead of being used to bring all outdoor enthusiasts together, it seems as if it just makes the division, the hatefulness, the name calling, and truth spinning worse.
Hunters blame non-consumptive users for everything that doesn’t suit them as hunters. Non-consumptive users roll out pretty vile name calling, threats, etc. against hunters. Nobody in this mess right now is blameless.

Gretchen Steele: It’s time for all outdoor groups to work together Read More »

Gretchen Steele: Illinois legislation that hunters, anglers should know about

Featured, Fishing, Hunting, Illinois, National Fishing, National Hunting, Opinion /

One thing we can always count on this time of year is a flurry of introduced bills in Springfield that affect outdoor enthusiasts in Illinois. This year is no exception.
We’ll look at the standard bunch of firearm-related bills in my next column, but otherwise there are bills for a little bit of everything. I’ve pulled the ones that I think folks would be most interested in.

Gretchen Steele: Illinois legislation that hunters, anglers should know about Read More »

Gretchen Steele: Southern Illinois natural events calendar from 1995 still holds meaning

Blogs, Featured, Illinois, Nature Page & Night Sky, Opinion /

Here we are at the beginning of February, and just like I’ve done since 1995, I’m taking a long look at one of my perpetual calendars. Unfortunately, that hard-worn and long-lived calendar is no longer printed.
One of the very first things that adorned the wall in my new office, in my new house in 1995, was the “Southern Illinois Natural Events Calendar.” This third edition, a cherished relic from 1995, not only holds a special place in my heart but also connects me to a shared experience with you, the reader.

Gretchen Steele: Southern Illinois natural events calendar from 1995 still holds meaning Read More »

Gretchen Steele: For outdoor folk, winter mayhem creates opportunity

Featured, Illinois, Nature Page & Night Sky, Opinion /

It’s been a short bit since the great winter storm of 2025 hit southern Illinois, and frankly, we are still digging things out and dealing with its by-products.
As is typical down here in the hills and hollers, we ended up dealing with our usual “winter mix.” Roads, yards, fields, and trees were all covered in a delightful layer cake of ice, sleet, and snow on top, just for good measure.

Gretchen Steele: For outdoor folk, winter mayhem creates opportunity Read More »

Gretchen Steele: Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary a winter cure for ‘big white bird’ fever

Blogs, Featured, Illinois, Nature Page & Night Sky, Opinion /

While many think only of a warm fire and hot toddy during the dark cold months of winter, I think of big white birds. Trumpeter and tundra swans, pelicans and of course snow geese. Big white birds, and lots of them!
Perhaps one of my favorite places in winter is across the river at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton. Riverlands is just a quick trip across the Lewis and Clark Bridge from historic Alton, Ill.

Gretchen Steele: Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary a winter cure for ‘big white bird’ fever Read More »

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