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Ralph Loos

Illinois’ Rock River produces another state-record shovelnose sturgeon

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

The Rock River’s “shovelnose shuffle” in Illinois took a break in 2023, but has started 2024 with a new step: Steve Pohlmeier’s 12.95-pound catch.
Three state record shovelnose were caught on the river in 2021 and 2022, each by members of the Gustafson family. Pohlmeier, incidentally, happens to be friends with Troy Gustafson, who broke the shovelnose record in November 2021. Troy’s uncle, Marty Gustafson, broke the record in December 2021. Troy’s son, Kashten Gustafson, smashed the shovelnose record again in October 2022. Troy Gustafson was fishing with Pohlmeier when the latest record was broken on Jan. 4.

Illinois’ Rock River produces another state-record shovelnose sturgeon Read More »

Illinois returns to National Deer Association’s Top 5 list for ‘deer harvest with a bow’

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

Illinois regained its Top 5 ranking as a bowhunting harvesting state, at least according the National Deer Association’s annual Deer Report.

In the 2024 report, the NDA looked at the 2020, 2021 and 2022 deer seasons to rank states based on the highest percentage of deer harvested with archery equipment. New Jersey was tops at 65%, with Connecticut (47%), Ohio (47%) and Massachusetts (46%) following behind.

Illinois returns to National Deer Association’s Top 5 list for ‘deer harvest with a bow’ Read More »

Fishing team from southern Illinois pulls injured anglers out of water during college tournament

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

A pair of anglers from McKendree University in southern Illinois paused their competitive spirit during a practice round at the recent Bassmaster College Series tournament at Lake Murray to help pull fellow fishermen out of the water after a boat accident.
On Jan. 25, Bearcats junior Lane Stephens and sophomore Ethan Fields found anglers in the water and realized that two boats had just collided in what were foggy conditions on the lake.

Fishing team from southern Illinois pulls injured anglers out of water during college tournament Read More »

Brent Manning, the man behind Illinois DNR’s ‘glory days,’ dies at age 70

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

The Illinois DNR director position has been open more than a half-dozen times over the past two decades – and each time one name was instantly and automatically floated by hunters and anglers from one end of the state to the other.
Manning.
A one-time regional director for Ducks Unlimited, Brent Manning in 1991 was appointed by Gov. Jim Edgar to lead what was then the Illinois Department of Conservation. Manning died Jan. 26 at age 70.

Brent Manning, the man behind Illinois DNR’s ‘glory days,’ dies at age 70 Read More »

Why are gray fox numbers dwindling in states like Illinois, Iowa? Studies aim to find out

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

How rare is it to see a gray fox in Illinois these days? The statewide survey that asks archery deer hunters to report sightings of bobcats, coyotes, red foxes and gray foxes during the bow season offers a surprising, yet not so surprising, answer.
Which is: very rare.

Why are gray fox numbers dwindling in states like Illinois, Iowa? Studies aim to find out Read More »

Ralph Loos: Anti-bobcat season arguments ignore what bowhunters see in Illinois

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

Shooting the bull with hunters and anglers at the Schaumburg show this time last year, I grew slightly suspicious about the number of times the word “bobcat” was inserted into what were otherwise predator-free conversations.
“What’s up with all the bobcat sightings up here?” was the general tone, with “up here” referring to northern Illinois.

Ralph Loos: Anti-bobcat season arguments ignore what bowhunters see in Illinois Read More »

Plan drafted in Missouri to save hellbender — North America’s largest salamander

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

Any fisherman who says he can’t remember if he or she has ever seen an Eastern hellbender is certainly telling a fish story, because it’s a specimen impossible to forget.
“Not pretty” is how the hellbender is typically described. There are only a few records of the amphibian species ever being present in Illinois – the last verified hellbender was caught by a commercial angler on Wabash River in White County in 1989.

Plan drafted in Missouri to save hellbender — North America’s largest salamander Read More »

Illinois called out for impeding project designed to keep invasive carp out of Lake Michigan

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

The State of Illinois has not yet signed a necessary agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward on a major project designed to keep invasive carp out of Lake Michigan.
And now a Great Lakes policy advocate appears to be calling out the state, saying Illinois “is single-handedly delaying the project” and suggesting “Illinois will be responsible if invasive carp make it into the Great Lakes.”

Illinois called out for impeding project designed to keep invasive carp out of Lake Michigan Read More »

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