It’s time again to solicit your nominations for the Illinois Outdoor News “Person of the Year.” Each year, we ask you to submit the name of someone in the state who has made a difference in hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife, nature or outdoor recreation.
A lot of attention has been paid to the largemouth bass and muskie populations in Lake McMaster, but it appears walleyes deserve the spotlight – even if briefly.
During DNR’s most recent survey of the Knox County lake – a spring trap net survey in 2022 – 44 walleyes were captured. DNR reported that the walleye population is rated as good, with the larger fish sampled measuring up to 27.3 inches in length.
Walleyes get spotlight at deep, diverse Lake McMaster in Knox County, Illinois Read More »
A wild cat misidentified as a bobcat by a Vernon Hills, Ill., resident has led to new legislation that would make it illegal to possess kangaroos, wallabies, caracals or “any hybrid, intergrade, or cross of a listed “dangerous animal” in the State of Illinois.
That includes serval, a medium-sized wild cat species native to Africa.
Thinking of housing a kangaroo? New legislation would make that illegal in Illinois Read More »
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 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 »
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.
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 »
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.
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 »
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