Showing posts with label Illinois Hunting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Illinois Hunting. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

2020 Illinois Fishing, Hunting and Outdoors Shows


Expo season is right around the corner and this year's list has some changes to it.  The Pantagraph's Fish and Feather expo will not being happening this year, along with the Elmwood All Outdoors Show.  You can read the Elmwood All Outdoors Show statement here.  

And The Outdoor Sports Group has an inaugural show at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake. 


Here is a list of some of the expos we know that are coming up. Send us information for your expo. 

Each show has a clickable link which will take you to their website for more information.


Jan. 3 - 5th 2020
Gateway Center
Collinsville, IL

Jan. 8 - 12th 2020
McCormick Place -South
Chicago, IL


Jan. 12th 2020
Kane County Fairgrounds
St. Charles, IL

Jan. 9 - 12th 2020
Pheasant Run Mega Center
St. Charles, Illinois

Jan. 16 - 19th 2020
Lake County Fairgrounds

Grayslake, IL

Jan. 17 - 19th 2020
Pheasant Run Resort

St Charles, IL

January 23 -26th 2020
Schaumburg Convention Center
Schaumburg, Illinois

February 7 -9th 2020
Marion, Illinois

February 8-9th 2020
Tinley Park High School
Tinley Park,Illinois

Feb. 7 -9th 2020
Indoor Sports Center
Loves Park, Illinois

Feb. 13 - 16th 2020
QCCA Expo Center
Rock Island, Illinois 

Feb. 28 - March 1st 2020
Illinois State Fairgrounds
Springfield, Illinois

-Illinois Deer Classic
March 27 - 29, 2020
Peoria Civic Center


Scheels Fish Fest
March 2020
Springfield

March 5 - 8th 2020
New Lake County Fairgrounds
Grayslake, Illinois

March 14th 2020
VFW 5788
Lockport, Illinois


August 29 -30th
Interstate Center
Bloomington, Illinois

September 2020
BOS Center
Springfield, IL



More shows and dates will be added as they become available. 

Thursday, September 5, 2019

THE ONE - A Story of a Life-changing Hunt

Opening the door to my truck, I stepped outside, and took a deep breath of cold air as I walked toward my tailgate.  Smelling the air has become a tradition, there is something about it that awakens you on those early hunting mornings.   Frozen corn stalks and grass crunched under my boots as I made my way through the forest.  I climbed up into my tree stand, watching my step, as the frost made them slippery.  It's amazing how ice crystals form on metal and in the peace and serenity of this morning a glistening crystal caught my eye.

As I got into my stand I put my bow and my bags in their proper places, took out some 'hot hands' and busted out my afternoon snack.  As I sat there relaxing, the forest came alive.  Birds flew right past me, turkey gobbled in the distance, squirrels sounded like a ten pointer walking through the woods.  It helped keep my blood pumping and my mind on alert.  The morning was picture perfect with an amazing sunrise full of all the colors people dream about.



About an hour into the morning I saw something off in the distance, 'The One!'  That's right, I named this buck 'The One'.  I've been watching it grow for over two seasons and each year I'm more pumped to check my trail cam to make sure he was still around.  'The One', was no world record buck but, for a public land deer, it was a giant.  There he was, walking the edge of the field, sniffing the air, taking his sweet time.  Every minute and every step he came a little closer until he was about 44 yards out.  I wasn't quite comfortable with that shot, so I continued to wait. I'm already shaking and freaking out because I'm within minutes of taking the biggest deer of my life.  I thought to myself, man, that thing is going to look great on my wall.

I stood up, drew back, got the pin sights on the kill shot and released.  Thwap!

"Michael, Michael, it's time to wake up."  As I open my eyes, my beautiful wife looks at me.  I have a big smile on my face and knew it was a dream, because we all have had that one before.  But,  'The One' was still out there waiting for me.

"How are you feeling"?  said the Doctor.  I looked back at my wife with confusion and tried to sit up.  I can't!  I can't move! Not my toes, fingers or legs.  I start to freak out.

"Michael, calm down.  I'm going to give you a sedative to help you relax." the doctor said as she left the room.  I turn and look at my wife who is now crying.  "Sweetie, we have to talk." she said.  "You broke your back and you're paralyzed from the neck down."


The pain and exhaustion had set over my body and I could barely get the words out.  "How, how did this happen?" I asked.

 "You fell out of your tree stand" she said.

Things didn't make sense at first, but then it all became clear.  It wasn't a dream, 'The One' was right there in my sights, but my foot slipped on the frost and I fell twenty feet onto my back.  The only reason I'm alive today is because another hunter happened to be walking by and saw me on the ground.

As reality set in, thoughts started racing through my head. I'm never going hunting again and never going to flip a jig during a bass tournament.  And I can honestly say that's OK. I have a lifetime of memories!  The hardest part is that I won't be able to walk my daughter down the aisle or dip her at the father-daughter dance.  I won't be able to coach her softball team, go sledding down our hill, or just jump in the car on those hot summer months to grab an ice cream.  All because of 'The One'.

After months in the hospital, the doctor cleared me to go home.  Our whole world was turned upside down and it was difficult to get me situated.  My man cave where I once watched endless hours of fishing and hunting videos, got my gear ready and relived fun memories was now my make-shift bedroom.   As my wife was fluffing my pillows and making me comfortable, I looked around the room in disbelief.  And then something caught my attention.  In the cold, dark corner of the room sat a present my wife had gotten me a year earlier.   It was my Hunter Safety System harness.  I just stared at it and cried for what seemed like forever.  Life as I knew it was over.

You see, 'The One' wasn't about harvesting my personal best buck, it was about 'THE ONE MISTAKE' I made by not wearing my safety harness.  If you think you can't afford one, imagine the hospital bills your family will have when this happens to you.  And if you think that it can't happen to you, call me when it does.  I have nothing but time!  You think wearing them makes you uncomfortable, try only being able to lay in a bed with the endless pain of bed sores all over your body.

As hunters so much time is spent taking care of our equipment and buying the newest gadget in hopes of harvesting that trophy.  But, so little time is discussed about the safety harness and being safe in a tree stand.  Do yourself a favor this season- buy yourself one and wear it.  Your life depends on it.

September is Tree Stand Safety Awareness Month and it’s also the month that most hunters head back to the woods to hang stands in preparation for the upcoming hunting season.

Did you know?
In 2018, the DNR reported thirteen hunting accidents related to falls and eleven of those were either not using a harness system or using it improperly.

Still need a harness?

Check these out:
Muddy® MagnumTM Pro Harness - $39.99
Hunter Safety System Treestalker II Harness - $99.99


Monday, December 24, 2018

New Hunting Regulations Become Law On January 1st 2019

On January 1st the following hunting related bills will become law.  Many of you have seen the Blaze Pink Bill being discussed, however there are two more pieces of legislation that you will see become effective in the new year.

Did you know that the following happened during the 100th General Assembly?

  • 1,268 pieces of legislation passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly

  • 1,044 bills were approved by the Governor.

  • 135 initiatives were vetoed by the Governor.

  • 50 vetoed items were overridden by lawmakers, rejecting the Governor's objection. (source)


New Hunting Laws

HB 4231
Allows both firearms deer hunters and upland game hunters to wear blaze pink in addition to blaze orange during their hunting season.

HB 4783
Combines the Youth Hunting License and the Youth Trapping License to create a Youth Hunting and Trapping License for a fee of $7. Provides that a Youth Hunting and Trapping License shall entitle the licensee to hunt while supervised by an adult who is 21 years of age or older and who has a valid Illinois hunting license. Provides that if a youth has a valid certificate of competency for hunting or trapping from a hunter safety course or a trapper safety course approved by the Department of Natural Resources, he or she is exempt from the supervision requirements for youth hunters or youth trappers under the provision.

HB 5440
Provides that the fees for a youth resident and non-resident archery deer permit shall be the same. Provides that a resident or non-resident youth under age 18 (rather than only resident youth) may apply to the Department of Natural Resources for a Youth Hunting License and Youth Trapping License.

101st General Assembly To Be Sworn In


Members of the 101st General Assembly will be sworn in on January 9th at noon.  The Illinois House will hold their inauguration at UIS and the Illinois Senate will hold their inauguration in the Senate Chambers at the Illinois Capitol Building.  Both ceremonies will be broadcast here.

The 101st GA is sure to be an action packed one, especially during the first year.  Stay tuned and be sure to follow us on FB for continuous updates from the Capitol.