Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area WIngshooting Clinic Sept. 22 - 23

Hunters Wingshooting Clinic at the Des Plaines SFWA
Sept. 22-23


WILMINGTON, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the IllinoisConservation Foundation are sponsoring a Hunters Wingshooting Clinic on Saturday and Sunday, September 22-23 at the Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area near Wilmington.


The Hunters Wingshooting Clinic at the Des Plaines SFWA in Will County consists of two 4- hour wingshooting sessions each day. Morning sessions run from 8 a.m. until 12 noon, and afternoon sessions run from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The clinic sessions are taught by instructors certified by both the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) and the IDNR. The clinics are designed primarily to improve the wingshooting skills of hunters. Hunters interested in improving their ability to hit moving targets with a shotgun are encouraged to attend. However, these wingshooting clinics are not limited only to hunters. Adults who want to learn to shoot a shotgun, or who want to improve their shotgun shooting ability, can attend. Young hunters and young clay target shooters that are at least at the novice shotgun shooting skill level will benefit by attending as well. Shotgun shooters who just want to experience shooting an interesting sporting clays course can also attend. In addition, participants will have a fun time shooting with friends or new acquaintances with similar shooting abilities.


Hunters Wingshooting Clinics are hands-on and include extensive live fire at a variety of clay target presentations on a specially-designed sporting clays course. For the two-day clinic, the sporting clays course will be set up on that part of the Des Plaines SFWA east of Interstate 55. The clay target presentations represent typical hunting scenarios. From ducks and doves to pheasants, quail and rabbits, hunters will find clay target presentations that resemble their favorite, as well as their most troublesome, shots. Since upland game, woodcock and waterfowl seasons will be right around the corner, there will be presentations typical of upland game and waterfowl hunting, as well as the elusive woodcock, to provide an opportunity for hunters to tune-up their shooting skills.

The participant-to-instructor ratio is four to one. Typically, participants are matched with others of similar shooting ability. There will be a short (approximately 10-15 minute) briefing about shotgun safety, shotgun handling and on-range safety protocols at the start of each session. Advanced registration is required, and the fee for a session is $30 per person. Registration forms for the IDNR/Des Plaines SFWA Hunters Wingshooting Clinic can be accessed at: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/wingshooting/Pages/default.aspx . Click on the dates for the clinic to access the appropriate forms. Follow the instructions on the forms.

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Illinois Fall Trout Season Opens October 20

Update:  Capitol Outdoors was just informed that several lakes were not included in this list for Dupage County:  Silver Lake at Blackwell, Pickerel Lake at Pratt’s Wayne Woods in Wayne and Grove Lake at Wood Dale Grove in Wood Dale.
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If you've been following Capitol Outdoors for a while, you've seen we're big fans of the Spring and Fall Inland Trout Season.  It's a great time to introduce new people to fishing and just a good time to be outside.  This season, however, is going to be a little different for me when it comes to the opener.  You see, some of my very first fishing memories were of me inland trout fishing and now I get to share those moments with my daughter Autumn. It has been fun watching her as she experiences the outdoors.

This year, 57 (four new fall sites added) sites will be stocked prior to opening day, which is October 20th.  Remember to buy that trout stamp, because without it the program would not exist.  

Read some of our other articles "Capitol Outdoors' Tips and Tricks for Inland Trout Fishing" watch our youtube video from a few years back - Trout Fishing at Southwind Park Springfield.

Illinois Fall Trout Season Opens October 20

The Fall Catch-and-Release Fly Fishing Season Opens October 6 at select sites*

2017 fall opener at Gridley Lake

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The 2018 Illinois Fall Trout Fishing Season opens on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 57 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state.

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area Trapping Allocation Permit Drawing 2018

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife area will be having their trapping permit allocation on October 6th at 1:30 pm.  Registration for the drawing will begin at 1:00 pm.  Trapping is a vital part of conservation and helps keep wildlife population in check.  If you've been to Gridley Lake lately, you'll see the beavers have gone to town on the trees.   Below you'll see all the information you'll need if you are interested.   Good luck. 




Trapping Demonstration at 2017 National Convention  in Winnebago County

IDNR to Allocate Trapping Permits for Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA


CHANDLERVILLE, IL – A public drawing for the allocation of trapping permits for Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area will be held on Sat., Oct. 6, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. Registration will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the site headquarters, located approximately five miles southeast of Chandlerville.