It’s early in the spring legislative session, but already an interesting – not to mention confusing – bill has been filed that could create headaches for the state’s hunters. Senate Bill 202, filed Jan. 30 by Sen. Iris Martinez, D-Chicago, calls for “nontoxic ammunition to be required when taking all wildlife, including game mammals, game birds, non-game birds, and non-game…
Northwest Zone – Captain Laura Petreikis In Henry County, CPO Posateri responded to a complaint of another hunter using the owner’s tree stand. She met with the hunters, and the man occupying the tree stand had permission from the landowner to hunt. The owner of the tree stand thought he was the only hunter allowed there. After some discussion, both…
Many expected an announcement today, but still no word from Gov. JB Pritzker’s office on the fate of DNR Director Wayne Rosenthal – or who his ultimate replacement will be. Pritzker, a Democrat, was sworn into office Jan. 14, replacing Republican Bruce Rauner. The strong bet for the DNR job so far is Jerry Costello, a Democrat from Smithton. An…
Official entry score of 320-5/8 makes it only the fifth hunter-taken nontypical whitetail to exceed 300 inches in history.
Northwest Zone – Captain Laura Petreikis In Henry County, CPO Posateri responded to a complaint of an unauthorized pop-up deer blind too close to a residence. A hunter from Kewanee was cited for the violation since he was less than 300 yards as required. In Henry County, while conducing deer enforcement during firearm deer season, CPOs Wagner and Finn found…
Northwest Zone – Captain Laura Petreikis In Henry County, CPO Palumbo issued multiple citations and written warnings to two raccoon hunters. He observed their vehicle coming out of a field and conducted a stop. The violations included transporting a loaded/uncased .22 pistol, an open canister containing an alcoholic beverage, FOID card status, hunting license, habitat stamp, and hunting without permission….
Northwest Zone– Captain Laura Petreikis In Stephenson County, CPO Beltran investigated a deer hunting violation at Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area. It was discovered that a local hunter failed to report his harvest for CWD testing. The hunter was issued citations and warnings for several violations. In Stephenson County, CPO Beltran investigated a Freeport man for hunting over bait. It…
A preliminary total of 80,896 deer were taken by hunters during the seven-day Illinois firearms season compared to 80,117 in 2017.
The Corps’ new plan is similar to a draft from August 2017, but the estimated price tag has jumped from $275 million to nearly $778 million.
Northwest Zone– Captain Laura Petreikis In Ogle County, CPO Beltran spoke to a Byron man regarding his deer harvest posted on his social media page. The man had time to post on the date of harvest, but he failed to check in the deer harvest in the legal timeframe. Appropriate enforcement action was taken In Ogle County, CPO Beltran investigated…
And at least 30 of the points are scorable, the DNR says.
Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 58,836, up from 51,450 in 2017.
Northwest Zone – Captain Laura Petreikis An Andover man, who used his wife’s landowner deer permits to fulfill the deer he killed, appeared in court and pled guilty to the unlawful taking of a deer. The falsification of DNR records charge was dismissed. He was fined a total of $359. While conducting surveillance on an unlawful trap line, CPO Palumbo…
The worst year for the disease in Illinois was 2012, when 2,968 cases were reported from 87 counties. In 2013, the IDNR received reports of 1,224 cases from 64 counties. EHD was virtually absent in 2014 and at low levels in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Northwest Zone– Captain Laura Petreikis In JoDaviess County, CPO Jones cited a Lake in the Hills man and an Elgin man for hunting squirrels with unplugged shotguns. One was issued a written warning for no habitat stamp, and both were given verbal warnings for no windshield cards. CPO Jones cited an Arizona man and a Joliet man for not wearing…
Northwest Zone– Captain Laura Petreikis In Lee County, CPOs Francisko and Posateri, along with Sgt. Petreikis, conducted snowmobile enforcement. The detail resulted in the issuance of numerous citations and written warnings. The following violations were detected: failure to transfer snowmobile registration to new owner within 15 days of purchase; operation of snowmobile without Illinois snowmobile registration; operation of snowmobile without…
More than 5,000 hunters/trappers applied for bobcat permits, and 1,000 permits will be issued.
Archery harvest at 7,352 deer through Oct. 14. The number was 7,069 for the same period in 2017.
Northwest Zone – Captain Laura Petreikis In Mercer County, CPO Francisko brought an extensive hunting investigative case involving an Iowa resident to a close. The man was buying Illinois resident permits and licenses when he should have been buying nonresident permits and licenses. The man was charged with multiple counts of fraudulently obtaining licenses, permits, or tags and multiple counts…
Northwest Zone– Captain Laura Petreikis In Carroll County, while on a boat patrol on Pool 13 of the Mississippi River, CPO Palumbo issued a Downers Grove man a citation and multiple written warnings for not having a sufficient number of wearable PFDs of appropriate size, no type IV onboard, and for being in possession of several live threeridge mussels in…
55 EHD-reported cases from 17 counties so far in 2018.
It appears the Illinois DNR has a new chief of the department that manages the state’s fish. Dan Stephenson, who retired from the position this summer, announced via email Monday that Mike McClelland has accepted the role of leading the Division of Fisheries. McClelland spent 14 years with the Illinois Natural History Survey, mostly as the Long Term Illinois River Fish…
That makes for 57 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state, and raises the stocking of rainbow trout to 67,000 fish in the fall season.
Just like last year in the days leading up to the Oct. 1 bowhunting opener, the Illinois DNR has scheduled a series of public meetings to provide information about CWD, its effect on future deer populations, and the state’s efforts to control the disease.
Northwest Zone– Captain Laura Petreikis Cn Henry County, While on patrol at the Hennepin Canal, CPO Posateri approached a fisherman who said, “Well you caught me.” The Colona man did not have a valid fishing license, and a further check showed he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was placed in handcuffs and transported to the Henry County…
And there’s “a good possibility that we will see more cougar sightings going forward.”
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