Illinois’ statewide fishing report on Jan. 16, 2026
Staff Report
January 16, 2026
Mid-winter bites depend on ice, temps, brush cover. Here’s a look at the Illinois fishing report across the state on Jan. 16, 2026.
Illinois
Whitetail harvest of antlerless deer, mature bucks both jump in latest national deer report
Eric Morken
January 16, 2026
The National Deer Association released its annual deer report on Jan. 15 that takes a close look at nearly everything pertaining to whitetails, including detailed harvest and hunter information, from across the country.
Repower your outboard or trolling motor: Here are top options for 2026
Dan Durbin
January 16, 2026
If an angler wants a new motor, there are more options than ever, with more colors to match your gelcoat, and lower heartaches at the gas pump. These things sip fuel, don’t require ear plugs
Interior issues major public lands access order
Staff Report
January 13, 2026
Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced Tuesday morning, Jan. 13, that he had signed Secretary’s Order 3447, which will require that most public lands managed by Interior are open to hunting and fishing access
Star Watch: How big is the universe?
Bob Drieslein
January 12, 2026
Our universe is a big place and it keeps getting bigger. Why is that?
For one thing, we keep building new and better telescopes that help us see farther into space.
Nature Smart: A memorable experience in this year’s Christmas Bird Count
Stan Tekiela
January 11, 2026
Every year, around the holidays, I participate in a long-time traditional bird count, called the Christmas Bird Count or (CBC). This is a world-wide effort by volunteers to take a day to go and count
Latitude’s Method III or Lonestar saddle? My pick after a full season of hunting in them
Eric Morken
January 10, 2026
I wasn’t necessarily close to giving up saddle hunting after my first year trying it in 2018, but I left that season hoping I was missing something in terms of how to hunt comfortably.
Steve Sarley: Connections to fishing, hunting provides fond memories of former Chicago Bears’ players
Steve Sarley
January 9, 2026
I talked hunting with the late Doug Buffone, who was a star linebacker who had a passion for deer hunting. It was on my radio show and his passion for deer hunting was almost as
Commentary: Another farm bill extension and what it means for conservation
Andrew Schmidt / Pheasants Forever
January 9, 2026
The year 2025 was busy in Washington, D.C.
From a transition to a new presidential administration last January to a wide-ranging reconciliation package to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, there has been
