Fishing enthusiasts, from the worm-and-bobber crowd to those on the tournament circuit, have a field day when the waters warm and the fish begin to feed actively. The fun for many continues throughout the warm months and into mild southern Illinois winters.
Dutchman Lake in southern Illinois continues channel cat stockings Read More »
Few things in life have been as fun as tracking deer and rabbits after a light snow – or even a winter rain that leaves a healthy helping of mud. We’ve all done it, and we all begin the process the same way: by identifying the tracks as specifically as we possibly can so we know what we’re tracking.
Ralph Loos: Most bucks and does have same size feet – that tracks Read More »
At 4:54 a.m. on opening day of the 2025 bowhunting season, a curious Illinois hunter took one last sip of coffee and paused before shutting down his laptop to head out his back door toward the woods.
“I wondered to myself if ChatGPT knew where I could find a deer?” Matt Carlson said, recalling that awkward thought. “So I typed in that exact question.”
Carlson laughs out loud when he describes the answer the Artificial Intelligence (AI) website offered. AI wasn’t much help to Carlson. but it is on the list of technologies being closely eyed by DNR’s Office of Law Enforcement.
Artificial intelligence won’t find you a deer, but may find you trouble as a hunter Read More »
Four counties have been added to the list of those open for the 2026 late-winter deer season, which will be held over two weekends (Jan. 1-4 and Jan. 16-18) in Illinois.
One county that was on the late-winter list last season – Putnam County – will be open for the CWD season instead. As of Dec. 5, DNR had not made a public announcement about the upcoming late-winter and special CWD seasons, but permits for the two seasons were set to go on sale Dec. 10.
Late winter deer hunt to open in 30 Illinois counties Read More »
A growing saugeye population in Argyle Lake was confirmed in the best way possible in June 2024. That’s when a new state record 10.85-pounder was caught by Michael Farniok, who was fishing a small crankbait near the dam.
Saugeyes, bass and channel cats thrive in Argyle Lake in Illinois’ McDonough County Read More »
The Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail closed its 2025 season with a State Championship Tournament on Kinkaid Lake earlier this month, following up on its annual Fall Classic held in mid-October on Prairie Lake.
Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail wraps season with State Championship at Kinkaid Lake Read More »
Now and then we stumble upon something that makes us recall something else that reminds us of another thing that brings to mind Brent Manning, the former Illinois DNR director who passed away last year.
This time, it was a social media post about the 2025 “Director’s Hunt.”
Coyotes are expertly adapting to areas where humans live and recreate, leading researchers in Chicago to offer what not many years ago would’ve been surprising advice.
Get used to it. Focused on 54 coyotes – 44 males and 10 females – the Urban Coyote Research Project tracked predators for an average of 221 days in the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
Chicago study shows coyotes prefer golf courses – just like humans Read More »
Diving ducks finally showed up, but mallards remain somewhat shy. That’s basically how Josh Osborn summed up his recent waterfowl aerial census report on the Illinois River.
The stretch drive of the Illinois duck hunting season is in full swing, with the North Zone set to close Dec. 16 and the Central Zone shutting down Dec. 23. South Central Zone hunters will be in blinds until Jan. 13, while South Zone hunters can shoot until Jan. 27.
Patience pays off for Illinois hunters as overdue ducks answer the call Read More »
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