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Ralph Loos

Illinois bill updating trapping language awaits a signature

Featured, Hunting, Illinois, News /

Illinois lawmakers have approved legislation that would modernize portions of the state’s trapping regulations, bringing Illinois more in line with current national trapping standards.
Senate Bill 3152, sponsored by Sen. Patrick Joyce and approved by both chambers of the General Assembly on May 21, was sent to Gov. JB Pritzker on June 18. As of July 15, the governor had not yet signed the measure into law.

Illinois bill updating trapping language awaits a signature Read More »

Ralph Loos: Illinois has gradually shifted toward an older buck population

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

As you probably realize, I typically refuse to let numbers tell a story, because that’s why William Shakespeare and Dr. Seuss – and before them cavemen, though more likely cavewomen – invented words.
So it’s with admitted contradiction that I share the story of the most recent Illinois deer season by becoming a numerical nerd. In other words, data provided in DNR’s Deer Report formed the facts and figures into painful and head-splitting charts and scales. I broke them down to build a narrative – and ease my headaches.

Ralph Loos: Illinois has gradually shifted toward an older buck population Read More »

New hunting season in Illinois opens at tree level on Aug. 1

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

Illinois lost an estimated 20,000 squirrel hunters between 2012 and 2022 – part of an ongoing decline in overall hunter participation that had begun three decades prior.
But something – no one is quite sure what – happened to cause lines on charts that had been drifting downward to suddenly reverse course. The state regained nearly 10,000 squirrel hunters by the time the 2025 season came around. Was it a data glitch? Or had interest in one of Illinois’ most traditional hunting seasons been sparked in a new generation or sportsmen and women?

New hunting season in Illinois opens at tree level on Aug. 1 Read More »

Bill expanding deer rifle capacity in Illinois needs signature

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

Illinois deer hunters are one step away from seeing another significant firearms regulation change, as Senate Bill 2756 awaits action by Gov. JB Pritzker.
Meanwhile, the coming deer season will include a potential caveat: Hunters could see effects of a new law allowing more nuisance deer permits to be issued up and down the state. Questions remain about how boosting those permits will affect the deer population.

Bill expanding deer rifle capacity in Illinois needs signature Read More »

Five Channels Lake remains a solid walleye option in Michigan’s Iosco County

Lake Profile, Lake Profile, Michigan /

It’s been four years since DNR wrapped up its walleye “experiment” at Five Channels Lake, which is officially named Five Channels Impoundment.
Lake or impoundment, the 237-acre body of water appears to have benefited from the regular walleye stockings that were conducted between 2017 and 2022. And so have anglers.

Five Channels Lake remains a solid walleye option in Michigan’s Iosco County Read More »

Ralph Loos: Michigan DNR asks for public’s help finding the state’s elusive gray fox

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, Michigan, National Fishing, National Hunting, Nature Page & Night Sky, Opinion /

Some take issue with the state asking folks who see a turkey or a bat while out on adventure to set aside time to report the sighting in their uncompensated role as a “community scientist.”
Others relish the chance to see wildlife and report the sighting, as well as the benefit their donated 10 minutes brings. With that in mind, those against the effort to use Michigan’s hunters, anglers, and an assortment of outdoors people to help monitor wildlife likely will read the three stories on our front page and conclude there is some sort of conspiracy afoot.

Ralph Loos: Michigan DNR asks for public’s help finding the state’s elusive gray fox Read More »

Final budget spares Michigan DNR staff, programs

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

The Michigan DNR avoided many of the deep reductions proposed earlier this year as lawmakers approved a Fiscal Year 2026-27 state budget that largely preserves the agency’s core conservation, recreation, and law enforcement programs while modestly increasing its overall spending authority.
The Legislature sent the budget package to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on July 3.

Final budget spares Michigan DNR staff, programs Read More »

Bass, channel cat stockings elevate Illinois’ Washington County Lake

Illinois, Lake Profile, Lake Profile /

More thav 5,400 largemouth bass fingerlings have been stocked so far in 2026 at Washington County Lake, part of an ongoing effort by DNR to return the southern Illinois water to its once-prominent status as a bass angler’s treat.
Last year, DNR stocked nearly 6,000 largemouths – more than 1,000 of them in the larger 4- to 7-inch range.

Bass, channel cat stockings elevate Illinois’ Washington County Lake Read More »

Ralph Loos: Tis’ the time of year in Illinois to see a turkey, report a turkey

Featured, Hunting, Illinois, National Hunting, Opinion /

People labeled by DNR as “citizen volunteers” reported spotting 794 adult wild turkey hens, 877 young turkeys, and 452 adult male turkeys in Illinois’ woods and fields last month. Those same folks got off to a fast start this month, reporting 19 young birds and 18 hens on July 1.

Ralph Loos: Tis’ the time of year in Illinois to see a turkey, report a turkey Read More »

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