BOWFISHING 101 – LEARN ABOUT BOWFISHING!

Ever wanted to try bowfishing?  On June 10th from 9:00 am to 12:00 PM you can get the 411 when it comes to this fast growing sport.  

"Misguided Bowfishing in cooperation with The Bowfishing Association of America (BAA) is hosting an educational event, “Bowfishing 101 – Learn About Bowfishing!”  If you've ever wanted to try or are new to bowfishing then this is a must attended event.  Read below for the full description on this truly educational event.

BOWFISHING 101 – LEARN ABOUT BOWFISHING!

Misguided Bowfishing in cooperation with Bowfishing Association of America to present program to the public providing education and hands on opportunities to learn about bowfishing.

Baldwin, IL – Misguided Bowfishing in cooperation with The Bowfishing Association of America (BAA) will behosting an educational event, “Bowfishing 101 – Learn About Bowfishing!” program at Baldwin Lake, Kaskaskia River SFWA in Baldwin, Illinois, Saturday June 10 th from 9AM-12PM.

“Bowfishing is one of the fastest growing outdoor sports right now. Our goal with this program is to give the public an opportunity to learn about bowfishing combined with the opportunity to have a hands on experience using bowfishing equipment. Bowfishing is and excellent family friendly sport that can be enjoyed by all ages and provides a method to remove invasive and injurious fish from our waters in IL” said Dwayne Durr, program coordinator and IL BAA State Representative.

Reminders to Boaters from the IDNR - Wear PFD and Stay Sober

With summer just around the corner the IDNR is reminding boaters to stay sober on the water and wear them life jackets.  Regardless, if you take your buddies out on a bass boat or your family on a pantoon boat, you are a part of the club.  We may not have a special wave like the motorcyclist but we do wave and watch out for each other.  If you're going to be drinking let someone else drive.  It's not worth risking a OUI, or worse.  As for life jackets, I'll let this video do the talking.  Below you'll find a press release from the IDNR with some of the rules and regulations while boating in Illinois.  

Stay Sober, Wear Life Jackets While Boating in Illinois

National Safe Boating Week is May 20-26

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois Conservation Police officers are reminding boaters that safety on the water in Illinois starts with boat operators staying sober and all boaters wearing life jackets. Illinois’ busiest boating season is about to begin, and waterway safety reminders are part of the observance of National Safe Boating Week, May 20-26.

“It takes only a few seconds to fasten a life jacket, and wearing a life jacket can save your life,” said Illinois Conservation Police Chief Rafael Gutierrez. “In addition, just like driving a car or truck, staying sober while operating a boat is the law in Illinois.”

Statistics compiled by the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement show that there were 73 boating-related accidents in Illinois in 2016 resulting in 36 injuries and 11 fatalities. The number of boating-related accidents last year was below the five-year average, and compares with 74 accidents with 49 injuries and 14 fatalities in 2015. (Annual boating accident statistics are compiled based on the Federal Fiscal Year of October 1 through September 30).

In enforcing Illinois boating laws, Conservation Police officers (CPOs) in 2016 issued 1,721 citations and 5,258 warnings. CPOs made 147 arrests for boaters operating under the influence (OUI) in 2016.

IDNR statistics indicate that eight of the 11 people who died in boating accidents last year may have survived if they had worn a life jacket or other personal flotation device (PFD); three of the 11 boating-related fatalities involved alcohol or drug impairment.

Illinois law requires that properly-fitting PFDs – life jackets or life vests – be available for each person aboard a boat or other watercraft. State law also requires that anyone under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket while aboard any watercraft under 26 feet in length at all times the boat is underway, unless they are below deck in an enclosed cabin or operating on private property. Illinois law also requires persons of any age to wear a PFD while operating a personal watercraft or Jet Ski.
The IDNR offers free boating safety courses providing a review of boating laws and regulations and instruction on safe and attentive operation of watercraft. The IDNR encourages boaters of all ages to take a safety course. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1998 must pass a course and have a valid Boating Safety Certificate to operate a motorboat (with over 10 horsepower); and, state law requires boating safety education for persons ages 12 to 17 to operate a motorboat.

The free safety courses taught by volunteer instructors are available throughout Illinois, and schedules are available by checking the IDNR website’s boating information page at

https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/safety/Pages/BoatingSafety.aspx

For a fee, online boating safety courses are also available.

There were 248,948 registered boats in Illinois in 2016, and the IDNR issued 58,067 annual Water Usage Stamps, which are required for non-powered watercraft.

To review a copy of the latest edition of the Illinois DNR Boating Report, compiled by the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement, go to the IDNR website.

https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/safety/Documents/BoatingAccidentReport2016.pdf

National Safe Boating Week is observed each year during the week prior to the Memorial Day holiday weekend. For more information on the national safe boating campaign, go to the website at www.safeboatingcampaign.com.

https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/safety/Documents/BoatingAccidentReport2016.pdf

Remember Enjoy the Outdoors, Good Luck and Stay Safe

                       

Preliminary Turkey Numbers Show Increase in Harvest

Gobble, Gobble, preliminary numbers are in from Illinois' turkey season and the numbers show an increase from last year.  However, if you read below you'll see the southern zone actually harvest less turkeys this year compared to last. It's because of the youngesters who are included in these numbers why we see an increase in harvest numbers this year.  Check out this years youngsters numbers.   Below you'll see the press release from the IDNR.  If you're interested in just you're county harvest numbers.

Hunters in Illinois Harvested 15,719 Birds During 2017 Spring Turkey Season

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary statewide total of 15,719 wild turkeys during the 2017 Spring Turkey Season, including the youth season. The 2017 total compares with the statewide turkey harvest of 15,484 in 2016. The statewide preliminary total includes the record Youth Turkey Season harvest of 1,541 birds, compared with youth season harvest of 1,045 turkeys in 2016. 

Spring turkey hunting was open in 100 of Illinois’ 102 counties. The 2017 seasons were April 3-May 4 in the South Zone and April 10-May 11 in the North Zone. The Youth Spring Turkey Season was March 25-26 and April 1-2. This was the first year the youth turkey season was open for two weekends statewide, rather than one weekend for the South Zone and one for the North Zone.

Turkey hunters this spring took a preliminary total of 6,842 wild turkeys during all season segments in the South Zone, compared with 6,694 last year in the south. The North Zone preliminary harvest total this year was 8,877 wild turkeys, compared with 8,790 in the north in 2016.

“Weather always plays a big role in harvest numbers and 2017 was no different,” said Luke Garver, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wild Turkey Project Manager. “For the first two-thirds of the season, harvest trends were well above average. The significant rain events we experienced across much of the state slowed harvest considerably. Despite a rainy end to the spring season, this year marked the third consecutive season of an increased harvest total. Additionally, we were encouraged to see the youth season being the success it was.”

The top counties for spring wild turkey harvest in the South Zone in 2017 were Jefferson (412), Jackson (359), Union (359), Randolph (349), and Pope (348). The top five North Zone counties for spring turkey harvest this year were Jo Daviess (610), Pike (404), Adams (395), Fulton (378), and Hancock (325).

The table below includes the preliminary 2017 county-by-county spring turkey harvest results with comparable totals for 2016:

Illinois Spring Turkey Season Harvest County Totals
County 2017 2016
Adams 395 389
Alexander 156 134
Bond 142 135
Boone 74 76
Brown 298 357
Bureau 163 157
Calhoun 239 210
Carroll 213 195
Cass 210 213
Champaign 26 22
Christian 51 41
Clark 181 158
Clay 219 210
Clinton 82 86
Coles 45 39
Crawford 210 166
Cumberland 48 54
DeKalb 16 21
DeWitt 54 45
Douglas 2 6
Edgar 80 85
Edwards 85 96
Effingham 117 86
Fayette 276 233
Ford 10 10
Franklin 166 152
Fulton 378 446
Gallatin 112 129
Greene 147 157
Grundy 56 56
Hamilton 252 234
Hancock 325 325
Hardin 134 145
Henderson 135 139
Henry 75 82
Iroquois 75 60
Jackson 359 313
Jasper 140 131
Jefferson 412 420
Jersey 187 187
JoDaviess 610 568
Johnson 264 278
Kane 5 2
Kankakee 35 34
Kendall 18 15
Knox 274 267
Lake 1 1
LaSalle 117 137
Lawrence 141 117
Lee 116 100
Livingston 26 19
Logan 43 37
Macon 26 27
Macoupin 275 303
Madison 213 241
Marion 337 380
Marshall 82 69
Mason 154 141
Massac 104 103
McDonough 140 137
McHenry 83 62
McLean 68 63
Menard 101 105
Mercer 203 192
Monroe 157 169
Montgomery 188 175
Morgan 126 147
Moultrie 29 24
Ogle 214 189
Peoria 153 153
Perry 252 233
Piatt 8 10
Pike 404 393
Pope 348 356
Pulaski 114 95
Putnam 45 37
Randolph 349 372
Richland 113 106
Rock Island 202 191
Saline 123 125
Sangamon 133 110
Schuyler 277 360
Scott 98 73
Shelby 120 117
St. Clair 126 140
Stark 13 6
Stephenson 248 231
Tazewell 57 65
Union 359 354
Vermilion 133 136
Wabash 56 48
Warren 68 75
Washington 131 149
Wayne 317 297
White 169 153
Whiteside 162 160
Will 73 51
Williamson 309 308
Winnebago 185 175
Woodford 79 103

Total: 15719 15484

https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Documents/IllinoisSpringTurkeyHarvestByCounty2017.pdf

Remember Enjoy the Outdoors, Good Luck and Stay Safe

                       

Wingshooting Clinic for Youth and Women at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA on June 10-11

Capitol Outdoors covered this event last year.  Kids and adults had a great time learning about gun safety, hunting techniques and much more.  If you've been pondering taking this class. DON"T!  You'll learn a great deal and be ready for the upland game or waterfowl season.  Read about the Jim Edgar Panther Creek Wingshooting Clinic 2016.  If you're interested read the post below from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Press Office

Wingshooting Clinic for Youth and Women at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA on June 10-11

Opportunity to Learn Shotgun Shooting Safety and Skills

CHANDLERVILLE, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Foundation are sponsoring a wingshooting clinic for youth, young adults, and women on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (JEPC) near Chandlerville, IL in Cass County.

The JEPC Youth/Women’s Wingshooting Clinic is an introductory clinic designed for boys and girls ages 10-15, young adults ages 16-18 and women of all ages interested in learning to shoot or improving their ability to shoot a shotgun at moving targets. The youth/women’s clinic is provided at no cost to participants.

Youth/Women’s wingshooting clinics are about learning to safely shoot a shotgun at moving targets with reasonable reliability. The clinic starts with a shotgun safety presentation at 10:00 a.m., followed by a short small group hands-on shotgun orientation session with each group’s wingshooting instructor. The afternoon is spent in the field shooting clay targets. Shotguns and shotshells are provided. Not only do the participants learn to safely handle and shoot a shotgun, but they learn that being skilled at shooting clay targets is a lot of fun.

This clinic is taught by instructors certified by the IDNR and the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA). The participant-to-instructor ratio is four to one. Typically, participants are grouped with others of similar shooting skill ability.

Advanced registration is required. Registration forms for the JEPC Wingshooting Clinic can be accessed at https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/wingshooting/Pages/default.aspx. Once the Wingshooting Website is accessed, click on the “Calendar” button; then click on the date to access the registration forms. Follow the instructions on the forms.

Remember Enjoy the Outdoors, Good Luck and Stay Safe