Saturday, August 8th, 2026

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Saturday, August 8th, 2026

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Tim Bunton

Progress on EHD benefits the Illinois deer herd

These days, there’s a bit of apprehension in Tom Collings’ stride when he begins his annual inspection of hunting property along the Illinois River.
His weekly walks begin in August and continue through September, as he prepares locations to place his deer stand for the Oct. 1 archery season opener. Some years he finds dead deer.
“The year 2012 was the worst, by far, but there have been other bad years,” Collings said.

Progress on EHD benefits the Illinois deer herd Read More »

Fox Chain O’Lakes marina in Illinois accused of forged rental boat approvals

A representative of a popular marina on the Fox Chain O’Lakes is in hot water after being accused of submitting paperwork with forged approvals from Illinois DNR.
As a result, the Fox Waterway Agency has suspended commercial use permits for Anchor Pointe Marina – also known as AP Marine – in Antioch. Steven Wooden, 41, the marina’s representative, was arrested on one count of forgery.

Fox Chain O’Lakes marina in Illinois accused of forged rental boat approvals Read More »

Ducks Unlimited partnering with Illinois DNR, USFWS to help expansion of Calhoun Point wetlands

Calhoun Point, the last piece of land separating the Illinois and Mississippi rivers in southwestern Illinois, will expand its wetlands by 154 acres, thanks to Ducks Unlimited and funding from Phillps 66, which has a facility upstream from the project.
The “Calhoun Point Restoration and Enhancement Project” is one of a handful of projects DU and Phillips 66 have targeted in Illinois, Texas, Louisiana and Colorado.

Ducks Unlimited partnering with Illinois DNR, USFWS to help expansion of Calhoun Point wetlands Read More »

Morel hunters, turkey hunters find common (woods) ground

Two very different kinds of Illinois hunters are diverging in the woods right now in nearly every county.

What happens when morel hunters meet turkey hunters? Chaos, DNR warns.
Turkey season opened in early April and wraps up May 9 in the south zone and May 16 in the north zone. Mushroom hunting is ahead of schedule this year, with morels being reported across much of the state by mid-April.

Morel hunters, turkey hunters find common (woods) ground Read More »

Mount Carmel, Ill., rookie bass angler starts strong at Dale Hollow Lake

Another Illinois rookie professional angler is turning heads as the tournament season launches. This time it’s at the Major League Fishing Stage 3 event at Tennessee’s Dale Hollow Lake.
Drew Gill, of Mount Carmel, who went to high school at Abeka Academy before fishing for the Wabash Valley Community College team, caught 26 scorable bass weighing 77 pounds, 15 ounces on Day 1. That put him 16 pounds ahead of Jeff Sprague at the top of Group A in the tournament, which uses a “catch-weigh-immediate release” model.

Mount Carmel, Ill., rookie bass angler starts strong at Dale Hollow Lake Read More »

Despite numbers, advocate from Illinois Bobcat Foundation still pressing DNR on bobcat season

A vocal opponent of bobcat trapping and hunting in Illinois is once again speaking up, accusing DNR of not being transparent about the science it is using to manage the state’s bobcat season.
Jennifer Kuroda, founder of the Lake Forest-based Illinois Bobcat Foundation, was featured in an article shared March 22 by The Center Square, a statewide news service.

Despite numbers, advocate from Illinois Bobcat Foundation still pressing DNR on bobcat season Read More »

Illinois discontinues testing of fish for some pesticide contaminants

Illinois is joining a growing list of states that will no longer test fish in lakes and rivers for DDT and other related pesticides.
Illinois began testing fish for organochlorine pesticides in the 1970s, a few years after the best-known one, DDT, was banned in the U.S. Up until the ban, the chemicals had been widely used in the U.S., dating back to the 1940s. The state Department of Public Health (IDPH) says testing was done for the banned chemicals, because they were “environmentally persistent,” and could build up in the tissue of fish and other animals. But Brian Koch with IDPH says those chemicals are no longer showing up at dangerous levels.

Illinois discontinues testing of fish for some pesticide contaminants Read More »

Dog owners, anglers in Illinois told to watch for algae blooms

Letting your lab or other hunting dog take a dip in the lake after a brisk workout is common during the “dog days” of summer in Illinois.
But DNR and other agencies are warning people – and dog owners – to be mindful of harmful algae blooms on the water. Anglers are being warned, too. Handling fish during an active bloom on a lake or pond increases the risk of skin exposure and “should be limited or avoided.”

Dog owners, anglers in Illinois told to watch for algae blooms Read More »

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