Keeping you informed from the Legislative Floors to the Great Outdoors means taking advantage of opportunities like this in order to better educate oneself. Sportsmen and women have been invited to attend a forum on the Farm Bill. Many of you may know how the Farm Bill plays an important role in conservation here in Illinois. These forums are being held by the Theodore Reosevelt Conservation Partners and the Illinois Conservation Foundation which they've entitled "Illinois Sportsmen's Guide to the 2018 Farm Bill".
Outdoor news and information focusing on Legislation, Conservation and Education regarding hunting and fishing.
Showing posts with label Hunting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hunting. Show all posts
Friday, January 5, 2018
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Deer Harvest Totals Continue into 2018
While many of us were thinking ice fishing, there were those that use the Late Winter and Special CWD Deer Season to harvest one more buck or doe, or in some cases maybe just get one for the season.
In the grand scheme of things total numbers are up for the season but the Late & CWD Season numbers are down. Most likely due to the frigid temperatures.
What die-hards put their thermal underwear to a test in the tree stand this past week? Comment below.
Below you'll see the updated 2017 - 2018 Illinois Archery Deer Season and 17/18 Illinois Late Winter Anterless-Only and Special CWD deer season.
Friday, December 29, 2017
Making Memories- A Family Pheasant Hunt at Jim Edgar Panther Creek
The first hunt I ever went on was with my dad, brother and my first black lab, Bud. It was a pheasant hunt I will never forget, Bud flushed his first bird and I was able to shoot it. This was a huge moment for me, not just because I harvested my first pheasant, but because I trained my dog Bud all by myself. Granted he was no grand champion, but he was my champion.
This was such a memorable hunt to my dad that he wrote a story about it and sent it to Midwest Outdoors Magazine's Hunt Contest and won. Today you'll find the prize knife and that story safe in my closet. During that time and to this day, I've shared great moments and stories with both my dad and brother but as you grow older, life gets in the way and the idea of hunting and fishing together takes on a new meaning. It's not just saying, let's go hunting, there's traveling involved and family obligations that seem to hinder us making more of these memories.
Monday, December 18, 2017
Same Ole Same Ole for Round 9 - That's a Good Thing
Round 9 of the Illinois archery harvest numbers show more of the same. For pretty much the entire deer season, excluding firearm and muzzleloader, the harvest has been up compared to 2016. The question is, why this year? Could it be the lack of blue tongue this year, which had more deer in the field? Could it be the crossbows? Or could it be a rebound of the deer herd or just the weather in general? It's hard to say what played a part in the increase, but by the end of the late winter season we'll sure find out.
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Illinois CPOs Hard at Work Issuing Over 1,800 Citations and Warnings
While we're out in the field waterfowl hunting, deer hunting or just doing a little fishing, Illinois CPOs are hard at work enforcing Illinois wildlife laws. It's easy to forget about law enforcement officers when you obey the law. However, just because you and I are responsible doesn't mean accidents or negligence in the field doesn't happen. Below you'll read about how our CPOs issued over 1,800 citations and warnings in less than a month. While reading this don't forget about the last big bust in regards to fishing, CPOs cited a father and son who were in possession of over 115 perch!
IDNR Conservation Police Issue More Than 1,800 Citations and Warnings to Violators During Illinois’ Busiest Hunting Season
SPRINGFIELD, IL – While firearm deer hunters in Illinois took more than 80,000 deer during the state’s busiest hunting season, Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Conservation Police report just four hunting-related accidents were reported, three of them involving injuries resulting from tree stand falls.
Monday, December 11, 2017
Muzzleloader and Archery Deer Harvest Numbers up for Round 8
The recent cold snap had some of us heading to Milwaukee for the Ice Show or just talking about ice fishing. However, deer season is still going strong here in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Divison of Wildlife released last weekends muzzleloader and archery numbers and they are up.
Interested in comparing County by County?
Up-to-date archery harvest figures (for either deer or turkey) by county/state sites can be tracked on the web athttp://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/IDNRHarvestQuery.aspx
Our pro-staffer Rick working on his euro-mount from a buck he harvested this year.
MUZZLELOADER DEER SEASON
During the 3-day Muzzleloader Deer Season (Dec. 8-10), Illinois deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 3,700 deer, compared to 3,308 in 2016.
Harvest sex ratios were 55% does and 45% males (2040:1660).
Top five counties were Pike (168), Adams (120), Jefferson (112), Randolph (103), and Fulton (102).
ARCHERY DEER SEASON
Through Sunday, Dec.10, Illinois archery deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 52,650 deer, compared to 48,228 for the same period in 2016.
Top five counties were Pike (1852), Fulton (1474), Jefferson (1236), Adams (1155), and Williamson (1040).
Total harvest to date has consisted of 44% does and 56% males (23322:29328). During the past 7 days, harvest sex ratios have been 54% female and 46% male.
Interested in comparing County by County?
Up-to-date archery harvest figures (for either deer or turkey) by county/state sites can be tracked on the web athttp://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/IDNRHarvestQuery.aspx
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Second Firearm Season see Increase in Harvest Numbers
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources released their second round of preliminary firearm deer season numbers. It seems as though the bowhunters took the rut this year since in most years it's the other way around. With the first round suffering from a day of intense rain throughout most of the state., the second season found themselves with great weather with some wind on Sunday.
Combined the two seasons took a total of just over 80,000 deer this year and an increase of 462 over the 2016 season. As for the second firearm season it saw an increase of 3,679 deer.
Combined the two seasons took a total of just over 80,000 deer this year and an increase of 462 over the 2016 season. As for the second firearm season it saw an increase of 3,679 deer.
As some of you may of heard, Michigan expects more cases of CWD this year and sampling this year was held throughout Illinois. If you're interested in learning what the sample entails click here for a video.
If you are interested in the county by county ratio, they are listed below along with the DNR press release.
If you are interested in the county by county ratio, they are listed below along with the DNR press release.
Ca |
Illinois Firearm Season Preliminary Harvest Totals 80,021 Deer
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Hunters harvested a preliminary total of 80,021 deer during the seven-day Illinois Firearm Deer Season that concluded on Sunday, Dec. 3. The 2017 preliminary harvest total compares to the final total of 79,559 deer harvested during the firearm season in 2016.
The preliminary harvest for the second segment of the firearm season on Nov. 30 through Dec. 3 was 28,656, compared with 24,977 during the second season in 2016. The preliminary harvest for the first segment of firearm season on Nov. 17-19 was 51,365 deer.
Deer hunting opportunities remain available in Illinois during the remainder of the 2017-18 season:
• The Illinois Muzzleloader-only Season is this weekend, Dec. 8-10.
• The Late-Winter Antlerless-Only Season and CWD Deer Season first segments (in designated counties only) will be Dec. 28-31.
• The second segments of the Late-Winter Antlerless-Only and CWD Deer Seasons (in designated counties only) will be Jan. 12-14, 2018.
• Archery Deer Season continues through Jan. 14, 2018.
Details on the Late-Winter and CWD seasons are available on the IDNR website at: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Documents/LateWinterDeerCWDHuntingPermitInformation2017-2018.pdf
A map showing the counties open to the Late-Winter and CWD seasons can be found at: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/conservation/wildlife/Documents/IllinoisLateWinterDeerSeasonsMap2017_2018.pdf
For more deer hunting information, visit: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/DeerHunting.aspx
A table of preliminary Firearm Deer Season harvest totals for 2017 by county, and comparable totals for 2016, is below.
The preliminary harvest for the second segment of the firearm season on Nov. 30 through Dec. 3 was 28,656, compared with 24,977 during the second season in 2016. The preliminary harvest for the first segment of firearm season on Nov. 17-19 was 51,365 deer.
Deer hunting opportunities remain available in Illinois during the remainder of the 2017-18 season:
• The Illinois Muzzleloader-only Season is this weekend, Dec. 8-10.
• The Late-Winter Antlerless-Only Season and CWD Deer Season first segments (in designated counties only) will be Dec. 28-31.
• The second segments of the Late-Winter Antlerless-Only and CWD Deer Seasons (in designated counties only) will be Jan. 12-14, 2018.
• Archery Deer Season continues through Jan. 14, 2018.
Details on the Late-Winter and CWD seasons are available on the IDNR website at: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Documents/LateWinterDeerCWDHuntingPermitInformation2017-2018.pdf
A map showing the counties open to the Late-Winter and CWD seasons can be found at: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/conservation/wildlife/Documents/IllinoisLateWinterDeerSeasonsMap2017_2018.pdf
For more deer hunting information, visit: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/DeerHunting.aspx
A table of preliminary Firearm Deer Season harvest totals for 2017 by county, and comparable totals for 2016, is below.
County
|
2017 1st Season
|
2017 2nd Season
|
2017 Total
|
2016 Total
|
ADAMS
|
1408
|
771
|
2179
|
2362
|
ALEXANDER
|
291
|
197
|
488
|
424
|
BOND
|
441
|
217
|
658
|
579
|
BOONE
|
82
|
47
|
129
|
121
|
BROWN
|
663
|
355
|
1018
|
967
|
BUREAU
|
632
|
373
|
1005
|
1001
|
CALHOUN
|
505
|
308
|
813
|
793
|
CARROLL
|
425
|
260
|
685
|
750
|
CASS
|
429
|
223
|
652
|
684
|
CHAMPAIGN
|
133
|
66
|
199
|
227
|
CHRISTIAN
|
360
|
191
|
551
|
608
|
CLARK
|
775
|
370
|
1145
|
998
|
CLAY
|
760
|
352
|
1112
|
1091
|
CLINTON
|
495
|
199
|
694
|
627
|
COLES
|
382
|
210
|
592
|
550
|
CRAWFORD
|
673
|
343
|
1016
|
949
|
CUMBERLAND
|
478
|
297
|
775
|
708
|
DEKALB
|
67
|
40
|
107
|
139
|
DEWITT
|
180
|
136
|
316
|
356
|
DOUGLAS
|
96
|
36
|
132
|
138
|
EDGAR
|
365
|
197
|
562
|
566
|
EDWARDS
|
273
|
142
|
415
|
412
|
EFFINGHAM
|
580
|
292
|
872
|
807
|
FAYETTE
|
1008
|
536
|
1544
|
1501
|
FORD
|
64
|
48
|
112
|
124
|
FRANKLIN
|
854
|
496
|
1350
|
1297
|
FULTON
|
1270
|
727
|
1997
|
2013
|
GALLATIN
|
282
|
166
|
448
|
470
|
GREENE
|
641
|
418
|
1059
|
1055
|
GRUNDY
|
157
|
124
|
281
|
296
|
HAMILTON
|
779
|
396
|
1175
|
1167
|
HANCOCK
|
1082
|
737
|
1819
|
1639
|
HARDIN
|
646
|
317
|
963
|
890
|
HENDERSON
|
319
|
175
|
494
|
522
|
HENRY
|
356
|
178
|
534
|
592
|
IROQUOIS
|
297
|
220
|
517
|
518
|
JACKSON
|
1487
|
816
|
2303
|
2247
|
JASPER
|
663
|
321
|
984
|
973
|
JEFFERSON
|
1328
|
755
|
2083
|
1878
|
JERSEY
|
410
|
231
|
641
|
674
|
JODAVIESS
|
1155
|
704
|
1859
|
1859
|
JOHNSON
|
1091
|
496
|
1587
|
1640
|
KANE
|
19
|
10
|
29
|
29
|
KANKAKEE
|
118
|
75
|
193
|
186
|
KENDALL
|
52
|
30
|
82
|
98
|
KNOX
|
697
|
448
|
1145
|
1200
|
LAKE
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
4
|
LASALLE
|
431
|
260
|
691
|
745
|
LAWRENCE
|
394
|
219
|
613
|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)