Monday, January 16, 2017

Memories Afield Don't have to Include a Kill or Catch



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Memories Afield Don't have to Include a Kill or Catch


Like so many of you, once Wednesday approaches I start planning my weekend.  This past weekend was no exception.  I planned on going ice fishing, I didn't know where, or when but I was going.  As Sunday approached i decided to hit Jim Edgar Panther Creek but since I've hit Gridley Lake already a few times and the ice conditions have been iffy at Prairie I decided to do a quick ice check and go.

I started by hitting deep water, then shallow, then deep then shallow and nothing.  Finally spotted a fish on the vexilar and just as soon as he was there it was gone.  Ding, my phone goes off.  It's an old college buddy that I've stayed in contact with over the past few years.  As I mentioned, Adam is an old college buddy who loves the outdoors just as much as the rest of us. 

Meeting up with an old buddy to do some ice fishing sounds good to me.  We got to the lake walked out on the ice drilled a hole nothing, moved to another, nothing after about 20 holes we decided to call it a day.  Check out those big ones :)

It didn't matter whether we caught any or not, for me it was about getting outside to enjoy some fishing with a college buddy.

Remember Enjoy the Outdoors, Good Luck and Stay Safe

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Saturday, January 14, 2017

$3.6 Million in Grants Received for Illinois

Conservation comes in all forms, from hunting and harvesting of deer to reducing over-population, to land acquisition and so much more.  On January 12, 2017 the Illinois Department of Natural Resources released news that $3.6 million in federal grants from the National Park Service's Land & Water Conservation Fund was distributed to six different projects.  Capitol Outdoors agrees with Director Rosenthal when he said this a "win-win for our local governments and the people living in those communities".    While these projects may seem small these are all steps in the right direction.  Below you will see the press release from the IDNR with the information of which communities and projects the monies are being awarded too.

IDNR announces $3.6 Million in Land and Water Conservation Grants


Federal funding helps local communities purchase public access and recreation spaces



SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced today that more than $3.6 million in federal grant funding has been approved for local governments to purchase land to be used for public access and recreation. Funding for the program is made available through the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

“Providing federal grants for local governments to purchase land for more public access for enjoyment and exposure to the Illinois outdoors is a win-win for our local governments, and the people living in those communities,” said IDNR director Wayne Rosenthal.

The LWCF grant program, which is administered in Illinois by the IDNR, provides up to 50 percent of the cost of projects to help purchase land to be used for public access, with the local governments matching the value of the grants awarded.

The LWCF grant projects are:

Chicago Park District – 129th & Eggleston

Purchase 2.48 acres of property at 129th & Eggleston along the Little Calumet River. This site will be developed into a passive park with access to the river, and will include green space, native plantings and recreational programming. The park will also connect to the Major Taylor Bike Trail. Grant amount: $375,000.00

Forest Preserve District of Cook County – Horizon Farms/Spring Creek Greenway

Purchase approximately 23 acres of property on Algonquin Road to be a connection between the Spring Creek Preserve and Horizon Farm. The residential landscape will be transformed into a natural setting to provide a wildlife corridor and greenway connection between the existing
Forest Preserve holdings. Grant amount: $1,042,700.00

Des Plaines Park District – Oakwood Land

Purchase .69 acres of property for the development of a neighborhood park in the most densely populated area of the district. The land will be developed to include a playground, gazebo, fitness station and a basketball half-court. Grant amount: $331,700.00

Forest Preserve District of Kane County – Mill Creek Greenway Forest Preserve Addition

Purchase of 62.5 acres of property to be used as an extension of the Mill Creek Greenway. The project will involve a prairie and woodland restoration, trail and trail head additions, parking and signage. Grant amount: $750,000.00

Kendall County Forest Preserve District – Little Rock Creek Acquisition/Maramech Forest Preserve Addition

Purchase 135 acres of property along the Little Rock Creek adjacent to the Maramech Forest Preserve. The site will be developed to include parking, a shelter, interpretive trails with overlooks, and signs. Grant amount: $750,000.00

Wauconda Park District – Phil’s Beach Acquisition Project

Purchase of 3.5 acres of beachfront property on Bangs Lake. The site will be redeveloped and opened as a public beach area including parking, picnic areas, a splash pad, playground, bathhouse, and a beach area with amenities. Grant amount: $386,500.00

The LWCF grant program has been in existence since 1965. Prior to this year, more than $123 million has been awarded for 727 park projects in Illinois.

Remember Enjoy the Outdoors, Good Luck and Stay Safe

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Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Illinois DNR Releases 2017 Action Plan to Manage Asian Carp

We've all seen it, those Youtube videos of that guy on skis catching Asian Carp in a net, or how about the redneck fishing tournament.  Regardless, anglers, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts can agree that the spread of Asian Carp needs to stop.  At this point it will be nearly impossible to eradicate this invasive species that has spread throughout the Mississippi River Tributaries.  We may not be able to catch them all but we can manage them and stop new lakes, rivers, etc from being invaded.  The Illinois Department of Natural Resources released their 2017 Action plan which details their strategy to manage the threat of Asian Carp into the great lakes.  With federal, state, local, and non-profit agencies in the mix let's all pray that 2017 Asian Carp Action Plan is the start of something great.


2017 Action Plan Details Strategy to Manage Threat of Asian Carp in Great Lakes



The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) announced the release of its Fiscal Year 2017 Action Plan today. The Action Plan document details 60 high-priority strategic measures designed to manage the threat of four species of invasive Asian carp in the Great Lakes.


The Plan serves as a foundation for the work of the ACRCC partnership — a collaboration of 27 U.S. and Canadian federal, state, provincial, and local agencies and organizations. The 2017 Plan builds on prior strategies by applying lessons learned through research and additions of new technologies and control measures. The Plan also carries forward a new interagency contingency response plan developed for potential rapid-response to detections of Asian carp at all life stages in unexpected areas of the upper Illinois River and Chicago Area Waterway System.


“This Action Plan continues to show our unified resolve to keep Asian Carp from invading the Great Lakes,” said Bill Bolen, USEPA Senior Advisor and co-chair of the ACRCC. “We intend to employ every effort necessary to protect this precious resource.
“The Great Lakes are an amazing resource that face numerous and evolving threats,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Regional Director Charlie Wooley. “These threats require a constant, coordinated and creative effort to keep at bay. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proud to be part of this Action Plan and to help protect the Great Lakes.”
“Keeping Asian carp from establishing a population in the Great Lakes is a shared effort. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is pleased to be among the agencies contributing to the 2017 ACRCC Action Plan, with efforts focusing on operating and maintaining the electric barrier system, continued monitoring efforts and the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study,” said Col. Christopher Drew, Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District.

This year $17 million of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding, in addition to more than $25 million of federal agency base funding, will be used by partners to implement key projects and initiatives to safeguard the Great Lakes from invasive bighead, silver, grass and black carps.

“USGS Asian carp science is focused on early detection, risk assessment and development of control tools and strategies,” said Leon Carl, USGS Midwest Regional Director. “The tools and technologies we have developed are aimed at effectively informing and supporting Asian carp management strategies for preventing the spread of Asian carp in the nation’s waterways.” 
“Each member of the ACRCC plays an important role in keeping Asian carp from becoming established in the Great Lakes, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources was proud to lead efforts to remove over one million pounds of Asian carp from the upper Illinois River in 2016,” said Illinois DNR Asian carp biologist Kevin Irons. “Working together, we are keeping them away from the electric barrier system and out of Lake Michigan.”

Read the 2017 Asian Carp Action Plan.

Remember Enjoy the Outdoors, Good Luck and Stay Safe

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Controlled Pheasant Hunting Season Extended at Four IDNR Sites

Controlled Pheasant Hunting Season Extended at Four IDNR Sites




SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced that the controlled pheasant hunting season has been extended at four IDNR sites, and hunters can make reservations now for additional hunting opportunities this month. 

See below for more information from the DNR press release:
The four sites with extended controlled pheasant seasons are Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area in Clinton County, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in Cass County, Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area in Henry County, and the Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area in Franklin and Jefferson Counties. Ten hunting days - Wednesday, January 11 through Sunday, January 22 – have been added to the seasons at Eldon Hazlet SRA and Wayne Fitzgerrell SRA. Five days – Wednesday, January 11 through Sunday, January 15 – have been added to the season at Johnson-Sauk Trail SRA. Ten days – Wednesday, January 18 through Sunday, January 29 – have been added to the season at Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA.