Eagle Day Gives Bird's Eye View of American Icon; Live Demo of Birds of Prey

The Nature Conservancy sent a press release and asked Capitol Outdoors to share this opportunity with all of you.  While we have never partaken in this event, ere's nothing quite like watching a Bald Eagle sore through the sky.  

Eagle Day Gives Bird's Eye View of American Icon; Live Demo of Birds of Prey

Communities, conservation, research and animal groups plan day-long festivities

LEWISTOWN, Ill. -- Family-friendly Eagle Day events will be held at The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve and other locations on February 6, 2016. Admission is free at all of the events.

Illinois Deer Hunters Harvest Preliminary Total of 155,131 Deer During 2015-2016 Seasons Deer Hunting Seasons Closed January 17

Illinois Deer Hunters Harvest Preliminary Total of 155,131 Deer During 2015-2016 Seasons

Deer Hunting Seasons Closed January 17

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources released their preliminary totals for the 2015 - 2016 season.  Those participating in deer harvest took a total of 155,131 compared to the 145,720 in 2014 -2015 season.  This is an increase of about 6.5%.  The Missouri Department of Conservation also released their totals. 

ATA Grand American will Stay in Illinois

ATA Grand American will Stay in Illinois

From Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Wayne Rosenthal

STATEMENT: “Today’s announcement ensures the 2016 ATA Grand American will take place at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex despite the Democratic Legislature’s failure to pass a balanced budget. The Rauner Administration is protecting this significant economic engine for Southern Illinois by ensuring this premier event will take place at the WSRC.”

BACKGROUND: IDNR is signed a MOU with ATA to ensure the largest trap shooting event in the country remains in Southern Illinois, and to give members of the ATA confidence they will have a location for their shoot. The MOU allows IDNR to negotiate with the ATA allowing them to operate the complex should the state not be able to open the facility by April 15. Governor Rauner’s proposed budget included full funding for the WSRC. We are only in this position because the legislature failed to pass a balanced budget.

A reminder for late-winter/CWD hunters that would like to have their deer tested:

Watching this deer at Banner Marsh in Fulton County. 

A reminder for late-winter/CWD hunters that would like to have their deer tested:

Capitol Outdoors received the information below from Chris Young, the Communicatigon Director at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  

Late-Winter/CWD Deer Season Reminder: Hunters are reminded that the Late-Winter Antlerless-only and Special CWD deer hunting seasons conclude on Jan. 15-17. There will be 27 counties open for Late-Winter season and 14 counties open for the Special CWD season. Hunters should check the information page on the IDNR website to make sure the county they intend to hunt is open for the Late-Winter or Special CWD season: http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Documents/Late-WinterSHAHuntingPermitInformation.pdf

Late season deer hunters are encouraged to have adult animals sampled for Chronic Wasting Disease at the nearest available facility. Each hunter-killed animal sampled from CWD zones contributes to the removal goal established for each. A list of cooperating vendors and voluntary drop-off points can be found at this location on our website:

http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/programs/CWD/Documents/CWDSamplingLocations.pdf