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Ralph Loos

Right on schedule, black bear wanders in – then out of Illinois

Featured, Illinois, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News /

Illinois DNR made an educated guess about a guest, and that guess turned to reality when the guest did what the guess said it would do.
DNR did not predict the part about the bee hive, though. A black bear was confirmed in southern Illinois in late May, months after DNR had warned state residents that visits by black bears should be treated with diligence and safety.

Right on schedule, black bear wanders in – then out of Illinois Read More »

Illinois turkey hunter joins elite company in accomplishing Super Slam

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

As he was telling the story of how he managed to accomplish one of hunting’s most impressive and impractical feats, Jack Robertson was quietly sweating out the task of helping a fellow hunter reach a goal of his own.
There was a tiny wince in his voice. Keep in mind that Robertson, a “mostly retired” business owner and still-emerging hunting legend in central Illinois, is now one of only 20 people to officially complete the National Wild Turkey Federation’s “Super Slam” – a task that requires a turkey harvest in each of the 49 states that has a turkey season.

Illinois turkey hunter joins elite company in accomplishing Super Slam Read More »

Peculiar ‘fish’ in spotlight, but pike still rule Wolf Lake in Cook County, Ill.

Illinois, Lake Profile, Lake Profile /

The fish in Wolf Lake that got the most attention this winter was not one of the northern pike, walleyes or largemouth bass ice anglers flock to the awkwardly-presented Cook County lake to (hopefully) catch.
It was actually a jellyfish. A February article published in the Post-Tribune explained that Nadine Folino-Rorem, professor of biology at Wheaton College, had been investigating freshwater jellyfish – Craspedacusta – living in Wolf Lake, which is located on the Indiana-Illinois border.

Peculiar ‘fish’ in spotlight, but pike still rule Wolf Lake in Cook County, Ill. Read More »

Ralph Loos: Biologists play important role in Illinois fish sampling, but it’s the fish that steal the show

Featured, Fishing, Illinois, Opinion /

Our printing press had barely spit out the May 2 front page of Illinois Outdoor News that included a story about biologists unrolling nets and charging up electrofishing gear when a news tip came crashing down on my desk.
And by “crashing down,” I mean I dropped an entire mug of coffee over my keyboard trying to read a curious email that began, “Dear Editor, since it’s obvious you are enamored with fish sampling . . .”
Uh, enamored seems a bit exaggerated.

Ralph Loos: Biologists play important role in Illinois fish sampling, but it’s the fish that steal the show Read More »

Illinois bills involving deer sharpshooting program, landowner permits expected to be signed into law

1 Comment / Discussions, Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Illinois, National Hunting, National News, News /

Measures designed to give hunters a bigger role in managing the state’s deer herd passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly by unanimous votes.
House Bill 2339, which requires DNR to end its sharpshooting program used to manage CWD if no cases have been found in the previous three calendar years, and House Bill 2340, which makes landowner deer permits more accessible in counties where CWD has been found, both passed on May 21.

Illinois bills involving deer sharpshooting program, landowner permits expected to be signed into law Read More »

Bill giving Illinois DNR control over gray fox seasons advances

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

Lawmakers passed the measure allowing Illinois DNR to make timely adjustments to gray fox trapping and hunting. House Bill 3760 is expected to be signed into law by the governor this summer.
It could set a precedent for wildlife legislation in Illinois, even though it merely involves the changing of a few words. The primary provision permits the DNR director to set the open season for gray fox hunting annually, shifting language from “will” to “may.”

Bill giving Illinois DNR control over gray fox seasons advances Read More »

Spring turkey harvest in Illinois hits record levels for second straight year

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

Illinois DNR Wild Turkey Project Manager Luke Garver gave himself plenty of wiggle room this winter when sharing his vague forecast for the spring hunting season.
“Being an optimist, I’m predicting the 2025 season to be close to the record harvest of 2024,” Garver wrote back in February.
Well, he wasn’t wrong.

Spring turkey harvest in Illinois hits record levels for second straight year Read More »

Tammy Miller earns Illinois Outdoor News’ Person of the Year honor after pushing for public lands

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

All the twists and turns and trips and tricks navigated by Tammy Miller over her nearly three decades with the DNR were the result of a particular skill learned by rural small-town farm kids across Illinois unafraid to change gears – even if some grinding is involved.
That skill: “Figuring things out.”
In fact, that’s exactly how one Outdoor News reader described Miller while nominating her for the Illinois Outdoor News “Person of the Year.”

Tammy Miller earns Illinois Outdoor News’ Person of the Year honor after pushing for public lands Read More »

Muskies, saugeyes keep steady in Lake Carlton in Illinois’ Whiteside County

Illinois, Lake Profile, Lake Profile /

The catch rate for muskies during DNR’s 2024 netting survey of Lake Carlton was down compared to previous years, as was the average size of the fish – 35 inches in 2023 to 32 inches last year.
But a consistent stocking program and an overall healthy population has DNR confident the small 77-acre lake will continue to develop as a muskie hotspot in Whiteside County.

Muskies, saugeyes keep steady in Lake Carlton in Illinois’ Whiteside County Read More »

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