Turkey hunt at full bore as north zone hunters enter the fray
Harvest totals as of this morning (April 16) stood at just over 4,900 – a solid start on the way toward the goal of 15,000 once the season wraps up in mid-May.
Ralph Loos
Leftover turkey permits to go on sale Tuesday
A technical problem of some sorts paused the sale of “leftover” turkey permits, which had been scheduled for over-the-counter sales on March 12. The Illinois DNR has announced that those permits will go on sale beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday. “In fairness to all turkey hunters, I decided to delay the start of over-the-counter sales for an additional week,” DNR…
Surprising choice for new DNR director
It’s a bit of a head-scratcher, but Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s choice to run DNR is Colleen Callahan, a 61-year-old Edwards resident who runs her own communications consulting firm, formerly worked as an agriculture broadcaster and has deep roots in Illinois politics. In his announcement, Pritzker did not point out any connections Callahan has with the state’s outdoors.
Proposed legislation calls for DNR to certify, develop distribution program for non-toxic ammunition
SB 201 provides that the “Department shall adopt by rule a public process to certify ammunition as nontoxic ammunition and shall define, by rule, nontoxic ammunition to include only ammunition in which there is no lead content, excluding the presence of trace elements of lead.”It’s early in the spring legislative session, but already an interesting – not to mention confusing – bill…
Is Costello the pick for top DNR job? No word yet, but he’s favored
Many expected an announcement today, but still no word from Gov. JB Pritzker’s office on the fate of DNR Director Wayne Rosenthal – or who his ultimate replacement will be. Pritzker, a Democrat, was sworn into office Jan. 14, replacing Republican Bruce Rauner. The strong bet for the DNR job so far is Jerry Costello, a Democrat from Smithton. An…
Muzzleloader harvest up slightly in 2018
Fifty-six percent of the deer taken in the muzzleloader-only season were does.Hunters harvested 3,863 deer during the 2018 muzzleloader-only season, which took place this past weekend. The harvest tally was up slightly from the 3,765 taken in 2017. According to the Illinois DNR, harvest sex ratios were 56 percent does and 44 percent bucks (2,172 to 1,691). The top five counties for muzzleloader…
Illinois hunter bags 51-point nontypical buck
And at least 30 of the points are scorable, the DNR says.
With help of a bountiful Sunday, archery harvest climbs well ahead of last year’s pace
Harvest at 13,068 deer. At the same point in 2017, the harvest stood at 10,912.
Hunters have strong weekend to eclipse 2017 deer mark
Archery harvest at 7,352 deer through Oct. 14. The number was 7,069 for the same period in 2017.
Legendary Illinois caller, call-maker dies in ATV accident
The founder of Tim Grounds Championship Calls, he won calling World Championships in 1988, 1992 and 1994.
DNR promotes McClelland to lead Division of Fisheries
It appears the Illinois DNR has a new chief of the department that manages the state’s fish. Dan Stephenson, who retired from the position this summer, announced via email Monday that Mike McClelland has accepted the role of leading the Division of Fisheries. McClelland spent 14 years with the Illinois Natural History Survey, mostly as the Long Term Illinois River Fish…
Dove season off to a flying start for some, not so much for others
DNR implements non-toxic shot policies.
ICF to induct five new members to Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame
Five Illinoisans who’ve helped shape and support the state’s wildlife, nature and outdoor recreation will be inducted into the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame this fall. The new class was recognized Saturday in Conservation World at the Illinois State Fair. The Illinois Conservation Foundation, which oversees the Hall of Fame, selected Diane Banta, Jerry Beverlin, David F. Grohne, Sam Oliver,…
Another state record fish for Illinois?
Whitefish will be the fourth state record fish caught in 2018.
Illinois gets $2 million for parks, outdoor rec from offshore oil, gas leases
How Illinois will use the funds, made up of non-taxpayer dollars from Outer Continental Shelf lease revenues, is unclear. There will be limitations because the funds come through federal matching grants that leverage public and private investment.
2018 spring turkey harvest sees steep decline
Hunters took only 13,500 turkeys during the 2018 spring season, well behind the 2017 harvest of 15,720.
Illinois waterfowl hunters voice opinions on zones
Springfield — Five years after Illinois added a fourth waterfowl hunting zone, most hunters in the state remained indifferent to the change – though some in the south and south central zones are still uneasy. This according to the 2016-17 Waterfowl Hunter Report, which was released in March by the Illinois Natural History Survey. A fourth waterfowl zone – the…
Deer feeding bill gets massive makeover, passes Senate
The DNR has been opposed to supplemental feeding but appears to be neutral on a proposed University of Illinois deer study.
Folden named Conservation Police Officer of the Year
A resident of McLeansboro, Folden is a 15-year veteran of DNR.
Opening weekend of youth turkey season produces fewer birds
Illinois youths harvested 664 turkeys, down from last year’s opening weekend total of 776.
McTaggart to replace Bluett as DNR furbearer manager
Stan McTaggart, who has spent more than four years managing upland game as the DNR’s agriculture and grassland wildlife program manager, is replacing Bob Bluett as the agency’s wildlife diversity program manager. Among other things, McTaggart, who also has served the DNR as a district wildlife biologist, will be responsible for the state’s furbearer program. According to Mark Alessi, chief of the DNR’s Division of Wildlife…
Report: Fishing license sales down in Illinois
DNR Fisheries Chief Dan Stephenson blames the decrease on “younger people are not engaging in outdoor activities like
older generations before them.”
Former DNR Director Sam Flood dies
Former Illinois DNR Director Sam Flood has died at age 78. Flood, who was appointed to the job by Gov. Rod Blagojevich on an interim basis following the retirement of Joel Brunsvold in 2005, served the DNR until 2009. Flood had been deputy director at the DNR before taking the top job. His primary duty was described as overseeing construction…
Pheasant Fest coming to Illinois for first time
Schaumburg to host Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic in February 2019.
EHD was moderate in state’s deer herd in 2017
According to the DNR, 66 reports of EHD were received from landowners and hunters totaling 169 deer in 32 counties. By comparison, in 2012, the worst year for EHD in Illinois, a total of 2,968 dead deer were reported in 87 counties.
Public forums offer information about Farm Bill, potential affects on Illinois wildlife
According to the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, if Congress fails to re-authorize important Farm Bill conservation provisions in 2018, Illinois stands to lose up to 900,000 acres of wildlife habitat enrolled in programs like the Conservation Reserve Program.Three public forums on the 2018 Farm Bill and the impact it could have on Illinois wildlife will be held this month in East…
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