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Ralph Loos

Treestand falls, fatalities in 2023 on pace to top recent deer seasons in Illinois

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

Illinois CPOs have already reported two hunting-related fatalities related to treestands during the 2023 deer season.
One fatality occurred when a hunter fell 15 feet from a ladder stand. The second involved a hunter who was found deceased at the base of his stand. The cause of death has not been reported, but the hunter had been reported missing for several hours.

Treestand falls, fatalities in 2023 on pace to top recent deer seasons in Illinois Read More »

8-pounder proof of largemouth growth in Illinois’ Dutchman Lake

Illinois, Lake Profile, Lake Profile /

Largemouth bass and sunfish were the start of DNR’s 2022 sampling of Dutchman Lake, as bluegills and channel catfish appear to continue struggling in the fishing spot in deep southern Illinois.
Largemouth bass abundance in Dutchman Lake in spring of 2022 increased compared to the previous year, with a catch rate of 182 fish per hour during the electrofishing effort.

8-pounder proof of largemouth growth in Illinois’ Dutchman Lake Read More »

Illinois fishing organization in limbo after decades of good work

Featured, Fishing, Illinois, National Fishing, Opinion /

In an example of Illinois getting in the way of Illinois, one of the state’s most effective and productive fishing organizations may disband in the coming year. This after it spent 40 years helping DNR’s Division of Fisheries with fish stocking needs, equipment purchases and other valuable odds and ends.
The Illini Muskie Alliance could very well be a victim of the times.

Illinois fishing organization in limbo after decades of good work Read More »

Sharpshooting may need ‘retooling’ to fight CWD in Illinois

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

They are the kind of numbers that have long made the state’s hunters bristle: 220 in Jo Daviess County, 174 in Carroll County, 171 in Grundy County, and 166 in Stephenson County.
Those are how many deer were removed from 18 northern Illinois counties by DNR-trained sharpshooters between Jan. 23 and March 31 of this year.

Sharpshooting may need ‘retooling’ to fight CWD in Illinois Read More »

Illinois again on top among percentage of deer hunters who use archery equipment

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

If you somehow lured 100 Illinois deer hunters into a room, it’s a pretty safe bet to assume 74 of them hunt with some kind of bow – for at least part of the season.
That’s what we learn from the National Deer Association, which again has shared an analysis of hunters, deer and the types of weapons hunters use to kill deer. According to NDA’s 2023 Whitetail Report, Illinois had the highest percentage of archery hunters on its roster of resident deer hunters.

Illinois again on top among percentage of deer hunters who use archery equipment Read More »

Illinois loses biologist who had big impact, bigger laugh in Bob Bluett

Featured, Illinois, Opinion /

Three decades ago, before DNR was gathered and grouped in a glass headquarters on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, biologists and other staff worked in random offices scattered around Springfield.
Let’s say you were a newspaper reporter in the Capital City and you wanted to talk to someone about a squirrel problem. There as no Internet to speak of, so you needed a map and library card just to figure out who was doing what, and where.

Illinois loses biologist who had big impact, bigger laugh in Bob Bluett Read More »

Upland hunters in Illinois setting bar low, but open to surprises

Featured, Hunting, Illinois, National Hunting, News /

Bird hunters in Illinois rarely hear the words “up and coming” in reference to areas that show promise for upland game species.
But this year, the west-central part of the state is being branded as such for pheasants, of all things. It’s certainly a breath of fresh air for a hunting endeavor that has gotten stale. Upland game hunting continues to wane up and down the state, as do populations of rabbits, quail, and pheasants. So any good news is widely accepted by the dedicated group of hunters.

Upland hunters in Illinois setting bar low, but open to surprises Read More »

How much will use of rifles during Illinois’ deer season impact participation, harvest?

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

How use of single-shot rifles will affect harvest during this year’s Illinois firearms deer season remains the big unknown, as does how it impacted harvest numbers during the October statewide youth hunt.
A month later, DNR has yet to report on the youth harvest. This was the first year rifles were allowed. The regular firearms season, which runs Nov. 17-19, also will allow rifles, the result of a new state law that went into effect Jan. 1. 

How much will use of rifles during Illinois’ deer season impact participation, harvest? Read More »

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