What is typically is a month of furious crappie and bass fishing for southern Illinois’s largest lake got off to a slow start due to early April rains.
Rend Lake officially crested at 413.67, only slightly below the highest recorded lake elevation of 413.83 way back in 1995.
High water in southern Illinois doesn’t stall Rend Lake spring fishing for long Read More »
Measures to significantly change the way deer are hunted in Illinois aren’t getting much traction at the Capitol this session, as pieces of legislation aimed to expand firearms season, open hunting to a wider variety of rifles and direct DNR to distribute more nuisance permits wane.
The most likely change is the addition of more Restricted Archery Zones like the one that was implemented in Champaign, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, and Piatt counties back in 2018.
Ralph Loos: DNR deer managers still mulling more Restricted Archery Zones in Illinois Read More »
Hunting-related legislation shifted into overdrive this past winter in Illinois, but little has moved so far in the spring.
There is still time for action on some of the bills to move forward before the session ends in late May. Following is synopsis of some of the more interesting measures.
Illinois bill would alter landowner permit structure, sharpshooting program Read More »
An incredible 30% of deer harvested during 2024-25 firearms seasons were taken with rifles, a 10% increase over 2023-24 – the first season rifle hunting was legal in Illinois.
Meanwhile, crossbows again grabbed a majority of the archery harvest by claiming a 54% share, a slight increase over last year’s 53.5% share. And a fun fact from DNR’s “Summary of the Illinois Deer Season”: Just over 11% of bucks taken this season had antlers 11 points or larger.
Illinois DNR’s Deer Report gives insight into 2024-25 season Read More »
Tilly Jack Cuzzort harvested her first turkey – it most certainly will be the first of many for the 7-year-old Springfield girl.
And that’s exactly what DNR and the state’s hunting community are hoping for. Taken March 31 on Menard County property in DNR’s IRAP program, Cuzzort’s accomplishment is a prime example of Illinois hunting tradition combined with generational change.
Youth turkey hunters break Illinois harvest record Read More »
The former cooling lake located between Illinois Route 47 and Interstate 55 on Lorenzo/Pine Bluff Road certainly has more than muskies to attract anglers, as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappies, walleyes, and hybrid striped bass continue to thrive.
Heidecke Lake in Grundy County remains most likely to hold record muskie in Illinois Read More »
People in Illinois who don’t fish or hunt aren’t likely to be as disturbed as the rest of us about the state handing over Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area.
That’s because they haven’t invested the time and money we have. Time is emotional and personal, be is somewhat superficial. Thousands of Illinois anglers spend, and have spent, hours on Shabbona Lake. Same goes for hunters who walk, and have walked, the acreage open to deer, duck, and dove hunting.
Trey McKinney, of Carbondale, Ill., nearly made history while competing in the world’s most-celebrated fishing tournament for the first time. His catch of 26 pounds, 9 ounces put him atop the field after the first day of the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic.
Had he held on, McKinney would have been the youngest angler ever to win the Classic.
Starting April 1, anglers at Sangchris Lake in Illinois will have a pass to keep smaller crappies, while bass fishermen at Heidecke Lake will face a new 15-inch minimum length limit and a daily limit of three.
Bowfishermen, meanwhile, are subject to a host of regulation changes. DNR’s release of the 2025 Fishing Regulation Information Guide annually signals the start of fishing season in the state. The guide is currently available for download, with printed versions due out in coming weeks.
Sangchris Lake crappies, Heidecke Lake bass included in regulation changes in Illinois Read More »
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