Illinois Spring Snow Goose Hunting

My brother Rick with his first snow!

Illinois Spring Snow Goose Hunting

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago there wasn't much talk about hunting snow geese. Every now and then we would see a small flock while in the blind but, that's it.  It wasn't until I moved to Central Illinois that I began hearing, learning and seeing snow geese.

IDNR Delivers Rules to Implement Regulated Harvest of Bobcats

IDNR Delivers Rules to Implement Regulated Harvest of Bobcats 

Below is a press releases from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources regarding the harvesting of bobcats in Illinois.  The Bobcat Bill was approved by Governor Rauner on July 15, 2015. Read about the Illinois Bobcat Hunting Bill Clears House Hurdle history.

A League of Their Own - Archery Enthusiasts head Indoors

A League of Their Own - Archery Enthusiasts head Indoors

Heather shooting at some targets down range.

On these cold winter days, there is only so much hunting shows and Youtube that you can watch and after scrolling through a social media platform for the 100th time, you start to get the itch to go outside or just leave the house.   Old man winter has a grip on Illinois, this is when boredom and "cabin fever" get the best of us.  Especially those deer hunters.  Why them?

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

Illinois National Wild Turkey Federation Banquets 2016

Illinois National Wild Turkey Federation Banquets 2016

Gobble, Gobble,  Turkey season is always around the corner.  Fall or Spring there's nothing like a turkey strutting into range.  The NWTF has a great program called "Save the Habitat Save the Hunt".  Go to a banquet and support conservation efforts here in Illinois and other parts of the country.  

Make sure to check out the Illinois National Wild Turkey Federation website.

Gobblers At Mcgraw 

1-14-2014

Contact: Brent & Cathy Manning
brent1722@yahoo.com
(217) 720-3683

Location: Max Mcgraw Wildlife Foundation
14 N 322 Route 25, 60118

__________________________________________

Bureau Creek Gobblers
1-22-2016

Contact: Kurt Freeberg
kurt.freeberg@yahoo.com
(815) 875-4089

Location: Bureau County Metro Center
837 Park Avenue West
Princeton, IL 61356

__________________________________________

Illinois Ducks Unlimited Events/Banquets 2016

Illinois Ducks Unlimited Events/Banquets 2016

Take a night out to enjoy some food and talk waterfowl hunting.  DU Banquets are full of fun and action for the whole family.  Remember that the money raised at these banquets helps conservation efforts and programs in Illinois and across the country. 

Quincy Waterfowler Party & Firearms Frenzy

Quincy, Illinois

Friday, January 22, 2016

Horseshoe Lake Dinner

Miller City, Illinois

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Beardstown Chili Night

Beardstown, Illinois

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Illinois Pheasants Forever Events 2016

Illinois Pheasants Forever Events 2016

Reagan after his first pheasant hunt

There's nothing quite like a dog being on point and rushing a covey of Quail or flushing a Pheasant.  However, habitat loss in Illinois and across the country have the location of wild pheasant dwindling.  Attend a Pheasants Forever Banquet and support the Illinois Pheasants forever.   

IL River Valley (IL)-PF: 28th Annual Banquet 

Washington, Illinois
February 20, 2016

Tallgrass (IL)-PF: Tallgrass Chapter Banquet 

Orland Park, Illinois

March 4, 2016

Otter Creek (IL)-QF: Otter Creek QF Annual Banquet

Virden, Illinois

March 5, 2016

Illinois Gun Shows 2016

Illinois Gun Shows 2016

Looking for a gun show in Illinois?  Here is your chance to check out a show near you.

Kankakee Gun & Sportsman
Kankakee, IL

Jan 16th - 17th

Springfield Gun Show
Springfield, IL

Jan 16th - 17th

McHenry County Gun Show
Crystal Lake, IL

Jan 17th

(HB 4428) Bow Hunting on Private Property during Shotgun Season for Deer in Illinois

Bow Hunting on Private Property during Shotgun Season for Deer in Illinois

That's right.  A new bill was introduced by Brandon Phelps, Chairman of the Illinois Sportsmen's Caucus.  The bill was filed with the clerk on January 11, 2016.  We'll continue to monitor this bill, check back frequently for more information.

 HB 4428 WILDLIFE-BOW HUNTING

"Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that a person may hunt with a bow and arrow on private property during a shotgun hunting season if he or she has the consent of the owner and any tenant of the premises."  

If passed by the senate and signed by the Governor this bill will become effective immediately.

Continue to check back with Capitol Outdoors as we monitor this and other bills for you.

The One Thing Every Hunter and Angler Needs!

The One Thing Every Hunter and Angler Needs! 

Every hunter and angler has one, regardless if they are a novice or have been at it for 50 years.  It has become such a part of our successes, we often forget how instrumental it is for our successful days.  It takes hours to prepare but it never seems to add up.  We're talking about "the system."

Hunting and Fishing Expos Starts this Weekend

Hunting and Fishing Shows Start this Weekend

By this point in January some of us are experiencing some degree of cabin fever.  This restlessness drives hunters, anglers and those who just enjoy the outdoors to attend  hunting and fishing shows across Illinois.  This weekend starts that show season.

LATE WINTER DEER SEASON/SPECIAL CWD DEER SEASON – PRELIMINARY HARVEST RESULTS

LATE WINTER DEER SEASON/SPECIAL CWD DEER SEASON – PRELIMINARY HARVEST RESULTS

 

For the first four-day period (December 31, 2015-January 3, 2016) of the Late Winter Antlerless Deer Season and the Special CWD Deer Season, Illinois deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 3,939 deer, compared to 2,981 for the same period in 2014-2015.  The number of counties open to the Late Winter Season was 27 (down from 35 in 2014-2015), while 14 northern Illinois counties were open to the Special CWD Season (compared to 12 in 2014-2015). 

Top five counties (including both Late Winter and CWD seasons) were JoDaviess (306), Fulton (294), Pike (233), Schuyler (188), and Brown (186).  A table of county results is attached.

ARCHERY DEER PRELIMINARY HARVEST RESULTS

Through Sunday, January 3, 2016, Illinois archery deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 53,373deer, compared to 53,188 for the same period in 2014-2015. 

Harvest  to date has consisted of 47% does and 53% males (25,181:28,192), while 45% percent of the harvest has been antlered bucks (23,841).   Top five counties are currently Pike (1,995), Fulton (1,526), Jefferson (1,190),  Adams (1,135), and JoDaviess (1,051).   A table of county results is attached.

Up-to-date archery harvest figures (for either deer or turkey) by county/state sites can be tracked on the web at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/IDNRHarvestQuery.aspx

Information provided by Paul Shelton, Manager of Forest Wildlife Program and The Illinois Department of Natural Resources