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Ralph Loos

Expected 8-pound bass hit scales at Newton Lake in Jasper County, Ill.

Illinois, Lake Profile, Lake Profile /

It was only a matter of time before an 8-pound bass showed up at a tournament weigh-in at Newton Lake.
Three years ago, DNR’s annual report on the Jasper County water included a note that the top five bass brought to the scale in 2021 were “all over 7 1 ⁄4 pounds.” That was also true for tournaments held in 2023 – with one exception. The biggest bass came in at 8.3 pounds.

Expected 8-pound bass hit scales at Newton Lake in Jasper County, Ill. Read More »

Decatur ‘Early Birds’ hook youngsters on fishing’s joy in Illinois

Featured, Fishing, Illinois, National Fishing, National News, News /

The statewide effort in Illinois to get more young people fishing is a task Herb Dreier initially tackled many years ago.
So it’s no surprise the former program manager for DNR’s Urban Fishing Program is quick with a reply when asked about the key to recruiting new anglers.
“It’s important they catch a fish – any fish, it can be a tiny fish, but catching a fish is vital,” said Dreier, who retired from DNR in 2012 but eventually found himself doing what he did in his working days.

Decatur ‘Early Birds’ hook youngsters on fishing’s joy in Illinois Read More »

Lake Sara’s 7-pound bass confirms slot limit progress for Effingham County water in Illinois

Illinois, Lake Profile, Lake Profile /

DNR’s efforts to improve the size of largemouth bass in Lake Sara have apparently paid off – biologists sampling the lake last year found bigger bass in good condition.
More telling, tournament weigh-ins on the lake in 2023 featured several bass that topped the magical 6-pound mark. One lunker brought to the scale by an angler was more than 7 pounds.

Lake Sara’s 7-pound bass confirms slot limit progress for Effingham County water in Illinois Read More »

Ralph Loos: Significant wild turkey research makes its way to states that include Illinois, Iowa

Featured, Featured, Hunting, Hunting, Illinois, Iowa, National Hunting, Opinion, Opinion /

There are plenty of good reasons I became a journalist instead of a biologist, engineer or chemist – and I am reminded of those reasons each time I stumble across a phrase like, “spatiotemporal variation in wild turkey exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides.

Ralph Loos: Significant wild turkey research makes its way to states that include Illinois, Iowa Read More »

Illinois squirrel hunters remain positive with season opener near

Featured, Hunting, Illinois, National Hunting, National News, News /

Days leading up to the much-anticipated Aug. 1 opening of the Illinois squirrel season often get dampened by depressing numbers depicting declines in participation and harvest.
So let’s start with this: Hunters harvested 265,000 squirrels during 2022-23, the most recent season documented by the Illinois Natural History Survey. If those numbers brighten your outlook, maybe skip the next lines, because a decade prior –  during the 2012-23 season – the harvest was 475,000.

Illinois squirrel hunters remain positive with season opener near Read More »

Ralph Loos: Dogs finding turtles to help with science provide proof of best friends’ talents

Featured, Illinois, Nature Page & Night Sky, Opinion /

“Find turtle! Find turtle!” is how the amazing scene is described.
We’re all aware how the talents and skills of hunting dogs consistently cover up and make up for bumbling mistakes of hunters. But if you’re like me, you never really thought about the depths of those talents and skills.
That’s why I can’t wait to provide you an example shared by The Nature Conservancy on July 2, just as this issue of Illinois Outdoor News was being put to bed, so to speak.

Ralph Loos: Dogs finding turtles to help with science provide proof of best friends’ talents Read More »

Illinois high school bass fishing finals moving to Lake Shelbyville

Featured, Fishing, Illinois, National Fishing, National News, News /

Not only will next spring’s high school bass fishing Illinois state championship series feature a new regional round and a new structure, it also will crown a new champion on a new lake.
Lake Shelbyville is about to step into the spotlight.
After years of discussion by the Illinois High School Association’s Bass Fishing Advisory Committee, the IHSA Board of Directors signed off on moving the finals from Carlyle Lake, where it has been held since the ground breaking series launched in 2009.

Illinois high school bass fishing finals moving to Lake Shelbyville Read More »

Illinois turkey hunts can now feature .410 shotguns

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

Illinois turkey hunters will be able to use .410 shotguns next year, the result of an ongoing effort by lawmakers to help DNR attract new participants to the sport.
Senate Bill 2767, which wound its way through the Senate and House during the spring session before being signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker on July 1, takes effect Jan. 1. Specifically, the law “Provides that it is unlawful to take wild turkey except by use of a bow and arrow or a shotgun of not larger than 10 gauge nor smaller than .410 bore.” As defined, the new law also allows 28 gauge shotguns during the turkey season.

Illinois turkey hunts can now feature .410 shotguns Read More »

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