Illinois duck, goose hunting seasons set to open [video]
Action kicks off Saturday, Oct. 21 in the North Zone, and a week later in the Central Zone.
Stan McTaggart, who has spent more than four years managing upland game as the DNR’s agriculture and grassland wildlife program manager, is replacing Bob Bluett as the agency’s wildlife diversity program manager. Among other things, McTaggart, who also has served the DNR as a district wildlife biologist, will be responsible for the state’s furbearer program. According to Mark Alessi, chief of the DNR’s Division of Wildlife…
Permit holders salvaged another 40 roadkill bobcats during the season.
DNR Fisheries Chief Dan Stephenson blames the decrease on “younger people are not engaging in outdoor activities like
older generations before them.”
Former Illinois DNR Director Sam Flood has died at age 78. Flood, who was appointed to the job by Gov. Rod Blagojevich on an interim basis following the retirement of Joel Brunsvold in 2005, served the DNR until 2009. Flood had been deputy director at the DNR before taking the top job. His primary duty was described as overseeing construction…
According to the DNR, 66 reports of EHD were received from landowners and hunters totaling 169 deer in 32 counties. By comparison, in 2012, the worst year for EHD in Illinois, a total of 2,968 dead deer were reported in 87 counties.
BATON ROUGE, La. — A Louisiana chef hopes to control invasive Asian carp by marketing them as Silverfin fish cakes. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says in a news release late last week that Chef Philippe Parola’s Silverfin Group Inc. will sell the fish cakes nationally to restaurants, caterers and schools, primarily through SYSCO food distributors. Parola has…
Biggest increase seen in archery harvest.
The sites where the extension applies are the Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area in Clinton County, the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in Cass County and the Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area in Franklin and Jefferson Counties.
More than 1,800 citations and warnings issued to violators during firearms deer hunt – Illinois’ busiest hunting season.
The preliminary harvest for the second segment of the firearms season, Nov. 30 through Dec. 3, was 28,656.
(Photo by Bob Drieslein)Through Dec. 4, Illinois archery turkey hunters harvested a preliminary total of 604 turkeys, compared to 435 during the same period in 2016. The top county harvest totals through Dec. 4 were Jefferson (22), Fulton (20), Cass (19), Rock Island (17), and Jo Daviess/Knox (14). The season opened Oct. 1 and concludes Jan. 14, 2018. Up-to-date archery…
BARRY, Ill. — Illinois conservation police issued more than 50 citations and warnings for illegal deer hunting this month. The state DNR says a major focus of the Nov. 8-9 detail was on unlawful feeding of white-tailed deer and hunting in baited areas. Enforcement in Adams and Pike counties focused on property managed by Barry-based Hadley Creek Outfitters. Conservation police say that 6,400 acres…
That’s down from 54,452 deer taken during the first firearms weekend in 2016.
GRAYSLAKE, Ill. — Police in a Chicago suburb are hiring trappers to remove coyotes after receiving a surge of reports about the animals roaming through neighborhoods and attacking small dogs. The Daily Herald reports the Grayslake police department is asking residents to alert them of coyote sightings to help the trappers find the coyotes’ dens. Village Manager Kevin Timony says…
Deer populations reportedly improving in a lot of areas.
Action kicks off Saturday, Oct. 21 in the North Zone, and a week later in the Central Zone.
Could be the last weekend to see the last of the peak fall colors in many areas.
With the fall rut and deer hunting season looming, it’s a busy time on and around Illinois roadways.
Hunters and trappers may apply for 2017-18 bobcat permits through Sept. 30.
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law House Bill 2893, which amended the Illinois Wildlife Code to repeal restrictions on the use of crossbows during archery hunting seasons in Illinois.
Two weeks prior to the fall trout opener, the fall catch-and-release fly-fishing season will open at nine sites on Saturday, Oct. 7.
The one-year-old doe was harvested in Greenwood township and is the first confirmed positive in Vernon County.SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The 2017 Illinois youth firearm deer hunt is Oct. 7-9 for hunters with a valid youth deer permit who have not reached their 18th birthday by the first day of the hunt. Youth deer permits are available over-the-counter at license vendors…
Illinois counties with chronic wasting disease now stands at 17.
LENA, Ill. — The Illinois DNR has scheduled a series of public meetings to provide information about chronic wasting disease (CWD), its effect on future deer populations, and IDNR’s efforts to control the disease. IDNR staff will also be available to answer questions about this disease. Landowners, hunters, and concerned citizens are encouraged to attend. CWD is an important issue…
This year, Illinois will open the regular duck, Canada goose, and snow goose seasons on Oct. 21.
Online application period for IDNR-managed sites begins Aug. 7.