Sunday, February 16th, 2025

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Sunday, February 16th, 2025

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Les Winkeler

Illinois Outdoor News columnist Gretchen Steele reflects on receiving outdoor hall of fame honor

When Coulterville’s Gretchen Steele ventured into the field of outdoor writing in the early 2000s, she felt a bit out of her element.
Not just a fish out of water, but “a carp in a bird bath,” as she eloquently stated.
“I didn’t go to journalism school,” Steele said. “It’s not something I set out as a career path. I didn’t have the same educational background. I always just felt like I was some batty old lady that ran around the woods and did strange stuff.”
Well, Steele can make more room in that bird bath now. She was recently named as part of the 2023 induction class of the Illinois Outdoors Hall of Fame.

Illinois Outdoor News columnist Gretchen Steele reflects on receiving outdoor hall of fame honor Read More »

Commentary: Illinois’ DNR needs more of everything – including funding

Periodically, it’s important to sit back and reassess. A couple of conversations during the last few weeks got me thinking about the current state of affairs of the Illinois DNR.
As a young adult, I was vaguely aware of what was then the Illinois Department of Conservation. I knew the agency had game wardens to enforce hunting and fishing regulations. I knew the department was responsible for the operation of state parks.

Commentary: Illinois’ DNR needs more of everything – including funding Read More »

Even with state mallard numbers down, duck hunters remain eager

Technically, the 2023-24 waterfowl hunting season is already under way in Illinois.
The early Canada goose season and the September teal season have already passed, but the seasons begin in earnest when goose and duck seasons open in the North Zone Oct. 21, the Central Zone Oct. 28, the South Central Zone Nov. 11, and the South Zone Dec. 2. Since Illinois is in the third year of the five-year cycle, there were no major changes in regulations. While Illinois maintains liberal hunting regulations, this could be a difficult season based on overall duck numbers.

Even with state mallard numbers down, duck hunters remain eager Read More »

Southern Illinois University research investigates presence of destructive nutria in state

No nutria is good news – at least in southern Illinois. A large South American rodent, the nutria was introduced to the United States in the 1940s to augment the trapping industry.
Derek Whipkey, a graduate student in zoology at Southern Illinois University, recently conducted a study through SIU’s Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory that found no evidence of nutria in southern Illinois at this time. However, nutria have been found as close as Ballard County, Kentucky.

Southern Illinois University research investigates presence of destructive nutria in state Read More »

Illinois mink population appears to be mending – in places

No one is certain exactly how many mink there are in Illinois. No one is certain if the population is declining or expanding.
One thing that is a certainty, at least anecdotally, is that the small mammal is thriving at Mermet Lake, located on Route 45 between Vienna and Metropolis.
“We see mink quite a bit down here,” said Chris McGinness, DNR’s site superintendent at Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area. “I have seen mink out here for many years, and seen several of them.”

Illinois mink population appears to be mending – in places Read More »

Commentary: Southern Illinois schools set standard at bass tournaments

Since the inception of the Illinois High School Association’s state bass fishing tournament in 2009, southern Illinois schools have been proving it is the size of the fish, not the size of the school that counts.
Schools in the Deep South have been major players in the state series since Dylan Vaughn, Kaleb Gardner, and Lane Murphy of West Frankfort brought home the state championship trophy in 2009. In addition to West Frankfort, Elverado (2016) and Pinckneyville (2018) have won state titles.

Commentary: Southern Illinois schools set standard at bass tournaments Read More »

Chris Hespen picked to manage Illinois DNR’s largest site at Pyramid State Park

Chris Hespen has built an impressive resume with DNR.

The Peotone native was recently named the site superintendent at Pyramid State Park. Hespen is just the fourth site super in Pyramid’s 55-year history, following Bob Shaw, Dave Phillips and the recently retired Cha Hill. Today, Pyramid is the largest state park in Illinois and is a mecca for fishing and field trial events.

Chris Hespen picked to manage Illinois DNR’s largest site at Pyramid State Park Read More »

At 18, Illinois’ Trey McKinney hoping to be among youngest on Bassmaster Elite tour

Trey McKinney, an 18-year-old from Marion, is so close to achieving his dream of qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite circuit.
If McKinney moves up to the Elite series, he will be one of the youngest anglers in history to qualify for the circuit.
The dream is there in plain sight. McKinney is currently fishing the Bassmaster Open circuit, attempting to amass enough points to qualify for the Elites.

At 18, Illinois’ Trey McKinney hoping to be among youngest on Bassmaster Elite tour Read More »

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