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Ralph Loos

Outdoor News writer Jeremiah Haas gets Hall-of-Fame nod for work in fish conservation

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

Jeremiah Haas, who has written a popular column for Illinois Outdoor News since 2017, will be inducted into the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame.
But he’s going in for his day job. Haas, who joins six others in the Class of 2025 – including one of the state’s top archery instructors – is deservedly being recognized for his work as an aquatic biologist and his work in fish conservation.

Outdoor News writer Jeremiah Haas gets Hall-of-Fame nod for work in fish conservation Read More »

Ralph Loos: We consider ourselves to be great deer hunters, but . . .

Featured, Hunting, Illinois, National Hunting, Opinion /

We think of ourselves as efficient and effective hunting machines, who if permitted, could set up camp in a local woods and walk back out a week later with 11 deer hides and enough venison to feed the hungriest half of the Chicago Bears roster.
In reality, the average hunter among us is only good for about 1.3 to 1.8 deer per year. That’s it. And it sounds about right.

Ralph Loos: We consider ourselves to be great deer hunters, but . . . Read More »

2024 Illinois Firearms Deer Preview: Will rifle harvest climb this year?

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

Shotguns still dominate the two weekends of Illinois deer hunting that remain aptly labeled “gun season.”
But here’s something to shrug at as you sight-in your 12 gauge for the first weekend of the 2024 firearms effort: One out of five deer taken during last year’s gun hunts was taken with a single-shot, centerfire rifle. This figure is courtesy of DNR’s annual Deer Harvest Report, which for the first time included a nod to rifles.

2024 Illinois Firearms Deer Preview: Will rifle harvest climb this year? Read More »

Pheasant hunt in Illinois has dodged pellets over the years to remain going

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

More than 57% of pheasants released at 16 Illinois DNR controlled hunting sites last season were harvested – one of the top hunter success rates in the program’s history. Most hunters are just happy the program still flies.
A full 15 years after the state’s entire controlled pheasant hunting program was winged and nearly blown out of the sky by an indifferent governor and a wobbly state budget, dogs and their hunter-owners are still able to reserve an opportunity each autumn to hunt and shoot a ringneck.

Pheasant hunt in Illinois has dodged pellets over the years to remain going Read More »

Illinois DNR’s approach to managing CWD will change in 2025

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

The Illinois DNR’s fight against CWD in the state’s deer herd is about to undergo a swift change of direction, just as an annual report on the disease reveals a dramatic spike in positive cases and the addition of two new counties with infected whitetails.
Prevalence rates of the disease in Fiscal Year 2024 – the period between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024 – was the highest observed in the history of DNR’s program.

Illinois DNR’s approach to managing CWD will change in 2025 Read More »

Ralph Loos: Are rifles boosting deer hunting numbers in Illinois? Not so far

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

There were assumptions made that legalizing rifles – albeit the single-shot, centerfire variety – would entice more Illinoisans to try deer hunting for the very first time or return to deer hunting after a hiatus.
In other words, with a lighter, shoulder-friendlier, kinder to the ears sort of weapon in play, many figured deer permit sales in the state would grow like pigweed in pig manure on a pig lot. Lawmakers who helped push the rifle hunting legislation into law two years ago were often heard saying things like, “This’ll put more rear-ends in deer stands.”

Ralph Loos: Are rifles boosting deer hunting numbers in Illinois? Not so far Read More »

Researchers follow wood ducks on Illinois River to better understand fall patterns

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

In summer, wood ducks along the Illinois River make good use of the woods – living up to the name given to one of the state’s most popular species. It’s what they do after July that has long intrigued Illinois Natural History Survey scientists.
So a number of woodies were outfitted with cell phone-like transmitters, as well as more traditional radio-telemetry devices, over the course of three autumns. Tracking movements and meanderings of the ducks provided plenty of insight and plenty of things to consider.

Researchers follow wood ducks on Illinois River to better understand fall patterns Read More »

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