Monday, August 10th, 2026

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Monday, August 10th, 2026

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Ralph Loos

Challenges facing lesser scaup show restoration needs in Pool 19 of the Mississippi River

Pool 19 of the Mississippi River has long been a refueling stop for diving ducks migrating up and down the portion of the Flyway that touches Illinois and neighboring states.
It’s also an ongoing focal point for Illinois Natural History Survey ecologists, biologists and waterfowl scientists from universities and other agencies who’ve been working on improving food sources and habitats in the pool, a 46-mile stretch of the river between Gladstone, Illinois, and Lock and Dam 19 at Keokuk, Iowa.

Challenges facing lesser scaup show restoration needs in Pool 19 of the Mississippi River Read More »

Illinois DNR sets 10 CWD meetings to share updates with the public

Hunters killed 18,309 deer in the state’s 21 CWD counties during the 2023-24 season, lending creed to the Illinois DNR’s contention that harvests in affected areas have remained consistent – the 5-year average harvest for the same counties stands at just below 18,000.
But now there is new math to consider. Because there are now 25 CWD counties.

Illinois DNR sets 10 CWD meetings to share updates with the public Read More »

Ralph Loos: Will disappearing gray foxes be next success story in Illinois? Trapping, hunting seasons officially close

It can hardly be called a secret, because intentions of wildlife managers have been clear for some time now – in fact, these very pages in recent months have reported multiple times on what was sure to happen in regards to the gray fox.
Things are now official: Trapping and hunting seasons for the predator have officially been taken off the books in Illinois.

Ralph Loos: Will disappearing gray foxes be next success story in Illinois? Trapping, hunting seasons officially close Read More »

Mill Creek boosted by channel cat, muskie stockings in eastern Illinois

The effort to thin out Mill Creek Lake’s bass population in order to boost size structure in the species appears to be working – even if gradually so.
There have been no recent sampling reports on the lake, but late-summer fishing tournaments held on Mill Creek in 2024 revealed a number of larger bass being boated.

Mill Creek boosted by channel cat, muskie stockings in eastern Illinois Read More »

Ralph Loos: Program encouraging Illinois youth to explore beyond hunting and fishing

Around here, we dedicate a lot of our time and space to youth hunting and fishing – hardly an issue flies off our press without a few photos of an Illinois kid holding a bass or kneeling over a wild turkey.
It’s an unspoken strategy: these youngsters are future readers of this publication. If we want Illinois Outdoor News to survive and thrive, we will need these kids. And don’t think we are alone in this forward-thinking approach.

Ralph Loos: Program encouraging Illinois youth to explore beyond hunting and fishing Read More »

Research shows squirrels in Illinois have preferences

An important analysis for hunters who plan to hit the woods for the Aug. 1 Illinois squirrel opener: According to University of Illinois research, fox squirrel activity peaks at mid-day, while gray squirrel activity peaks at dawn and dusk.
One more important tip is for squirrel hunters to steer clear of roadways. At least, these are things a study of the two primary species of squirrels in Illinois found after analyzing hours and hours of camera trap surveys.

Research shows squirrels in Illinois have preferences Read More »

Ralph Loos: Catfish getting due spotlight on Wabash River from Illinois, Indiana researchers

A lot of attention given to catfish in Illinois is focused inland – on the hundreds of lakes and farm ponds that hold channel cats, blue cats, and flatheads.
The Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio rivers, which stand long and wide on each side, also attract plenty of fanfare, especially from anglers with special river skills required to locate and hook each of those species. But often overlooked in the catfish conversation is the Wabash River, its Illinois portion covering a 200-mile long stretch from just above Darwin to the Ohio River down near Old Shawneetown.

Ralph Loos: Catfish getting due spotlight on Wabash River from Illinois, Indiana researchers Read More »

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