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Ralph Loos

Illinois DNR’s approach to managing CWD will change in 2025

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Illinois, National Hunting, National News, News /

The Illinois DNR’s fight against CWD in the state’s deer herd is about to undergo a swift change of direction, just as an annual report on the disease reveals a dramatic spike in positive cases and the addition of two new counties with infected whitetails.
Prevalence rates of the disease in Fiscal Year 2024 – the period between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024 – was the highest observed in the history of DNR’s program.

Illinois DNR’s approach to managing CWD will change in 2025 Read More »

Ralph Loos: Are rifles boosting deer hunting numbers in Illinois? Not so far

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Illinois, National Hunting, Opinion /

There were assumptions made that legalizing rifles – albeit the single-shot, centerfire variety – would entice more Illinoisans to try deer hunting for the very first time or return to deer hunting after a hiatus.
In other words, with a lighter, shoulder-friendlier, kinder to the ears sort of weapon in play, many figured deer permit sales in the state would grow like pigweed in pig manure on a pig lot. Lawmakers who helped push the rifle hunting legislation into law two years ago were often heard saying things like, “This’ll put more rear-ends in deer stands.”

Ralph Loos: Are rifles boosting deer hunting numbers in Illinois? Not so far Read More »

Researchers follow wood ducks on Illinois River to better understand fall patterns

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Illinois, National Fishing, National News, News /

In summer, wood ducks along the Illinois River make good use of the woods – living up to the name given to one of the state’s most popular species. It’s what they do after July that has long intrigued Illinois Natural History Survey scientists.
So a number of woodies were outfitted with cell phone-like transmitters, as well as more traditional radio-telemetry devices, over the course of three autumns. Tracking movements and meanderings of the ducks provided plenty of insight and plenty of things to consider.

Researchers follow wood ducks on Illinois River to better understand fall patterns Read More »

Illinois deer harvest report released, crossbow kill freezes for first time

Home Page News, Hunting, Illinois, National Hunting, National News, News /

We now know Illinois bowhunters took 71,226 deer last season – a few clicks short of the state record 75,106 taken in 2020-21 but a tick above the 68,625 harvested in 2022-23.
Of greater interest is the fact that two-thirds of antlered deer taken during the 2023-24 archery season had between 7 and 10 points, while 1.3% had 14 points or more. And the hunters? For the first time since 2017 legislation removed restrictions on crossbows, the proportion of Illinois deer harvested with crossbows (53.4%) versus those harvested with compound bows (45.5%) leveled off.

Illinois deer harvest report released, crossbow kill freezes for first time Read More »

Will Illinois CWD meetings set tone for DNR’s report on disease?

Featured, Hunting, Illinois, News /

The invitation could be seen as cryptic. Or it could be considered proactive. One thing it isn’t is new.
Illinois DNR has, over the years, called a handful of public meetings to discuss CWD in the state’s deer herd. So the eight such meetings recently scheduled in northern Illinois counties between Sept. 23 and Oct. 9 are not unusual. The timing, however, is curious.

Will Illinois CWD meetings set tone for DNR’s report on disease? Read More »

Ralph Loos: Illinois deer hunters still waiting for last year’s harvest report with new season looming

Featured, Hunting, Illinois, National Hunting, Opinion /

Illinois bowhunters are only a couple weeks away from beginning a brand new deer season with absolutely no idea how last season turned out, even though it’s been 249 days – roughly 5,976 hours, give or take – since the last arrow was knocked and released.
It doesn’t get any more Illinois than that. Nobody has ever fully explained how DNR’s system of tracking the state’s deer harvest went awry, but as recently as a few years ago, anyone with a hankering for a hunk of harvest could go to the DNR website and learn exactly how many deer had been taken at any point in the season.

Ralph Loos: Illinois deer hunters still waiting for last year’s harvest report with new season looming Read More »

Another 100-pounder hits the scales at Alton Catfish Classic in Illinois

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Illinois, National Fishing, National News, News /

The roster of 100-pound fish pulled from the Mississippi River at Alton, Ill., continues to grow, much like the massive blue catfish that attract anglers from across the country.
A team competing in the annual Alton Catfish Classic on Sept. 7 joined the list, catching a blue cat that weighed in at 100.03 pounds to win first place. Much of the credit for the area’s monster fish is given to geography – the Mississippi confluences with the Missouri River at Alton, and the confluence of the Mississippi and the Illinois River sits just 20 miles to the north.

Another 100-pounder hits the scales at Alton Catfish Classic in Illinois Read More »

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