Illinois DNR

Illinois - Ralph Loos

McTaggart to replace Bluett as DNR furbearer manager

Ralph Loos

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…

Former DNR Director Sam Flood dies

Ralph Loos

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…
Asian Carp

Asian carp fish cakes chef’s bid to help control the invasive species

Associated Press

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…
Hunting News, Whitetail Deer

Baiting at center of deer-hunting citations

Associated Press

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…

Chicago suburb hiring trappers to remove coyotes

Associated Press

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…
Hunting News, Whitetail Deer

Illinois gearing up for youth firearms deer hunt

Illinois DNR

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…
CWD, Whitetail Deer

Taking CWD concerns to the people

Illinois DNR

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…