Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Emiquon Preserve Waterfowl Blind Drawing Applications Due October 3rd

Emiquon Nature Preserve - Photo by: Capitol Outdoors

This is a great opportunity for you to hunt Emiquon Nature Preserve.  We have taken the opportunity and have had the luck of hunting at this preserve.  Application Date is fast approaching!  It may be hot outside right now, but hunting season is just around the corner.  The cool mornings and crisp air with be here before you know it.  You'll be watching your dog retrieve those downed birds before you know it.


Public Waterfowl Hunt Rules and Information (Revised 13 September 2018)

nature.org
The Emiquon Preserve is private property owned and managed by the Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservancy for ecological purposes. Waterfowl hunting is being offered as a public service. For this hunting program at the Preserve, any and all decisions of Conservancy staff or designees are final, and anyone failing to abide by written rules or instructions from Conservancy staff or designees may have hunting privileges at this Preserve revoked. The Conservancy retains the right to modify these rules and to terminate this program at any time without prior notice.

Drawing Application Process

1. To apply for any Advanced Drawing, email or mail the following:

-Name

-Address

-Phone Number

-Email Address

-Advanced drawing(s) you are applying for: Public, Disabled or Youth
-Date(s) (See Below)

Applicants do not choose their hunting site, instead The Nature Conservancy will assign hunting sites and provide a map to those who are successfully selected.

2. Email above to csmith@tnc.org or mail to Illinois Rivers Program Office, 11304 N. Prairie Road, Lewistown, IL 61542.

3. Applications must be received by October 3. Drawings will be on October 4. Notification by October 12.

4. Individuals should only apply once listing all dates they want to hunt.

5. Registering by phone is not permitted.

6. Failure to include all information may disqualify you from the drawing.

Public waterfowl hunting dates:

October: 27, 30. November: 1,3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29. December: 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25.

Youth Date: October 20 and 21.

Disabled Individuals Dates: November 2, 16 and 30 December 14.

2018 Rules:

1. All hunters must have a “Waterfowl Hunting Liability Waiver for 2018” to access the hunting area (signed by a parent, guardian or adult designee of parent or guardian for hunters under 18 years of age). All Waterfowl Hunting Liability Waivers must be deposited in the black lock box prior to hunting. The black lock box is located at a small shed in the Visitor Use Area just east of state Routes 78/97 and about one-half mile north of Dickson Mounds Museum Road

2. Each hunter must individually sign in on the “2018 Daily Hunter Harvest Register” located at a small shed in the Visitor Use Area just east of state Routes 78/97 and about one-half mile north of Dickson Mounds Museum Road prior to hunting. After hunting each person must individually sign out and record their harvest in the “2018 Daily Hunter Harvest Register”. Failure to sign in and out could make you ineligible for future hunts.

3. Hunting will be allowed only in areas designated by Conservancy staff. Hunters must stay within their pre-assigned hunting areas and within 166 yards of their stake and must remain a minimum of 200 yards from any other group.

4. Parking is allowed only at designated areas on the Preserve. Participants may drive only on established/marked roadways. Parking is allowed only on the east side of Clark Road. Note: Parking for each site is limited to a maximum of 4 vehicles.

5. If unable to make your hunting date that you were drawn for, you must notify us within 48 hours so we can fill your site. Failure to notify us could make you ineligible for future hunts.

6. Currently the Conservancy does not charge a fee for public waterfowl hunting at this Preserve. Becoming a member of the Conservancy is encouraged.

7. Any hunter under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult. The responsible adult assumes liability for all actions of the minor and must accompany said minor at all times while on the Preserve.

8. This Preserve has drainage ditches that may be hidden from view under the water. Always keep in mind the location of ditches. Observe extreme caution when wading in any waters.

9. Only artificial blind materials such as lay outs or camouflage netting are allowed. No person may bring natural blind materials onto the Preserve. There shall be no cutting, breaking or clearing of vegetation.

10. The use of Other Power Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs) (utility vehicles, ATVs, Segways, golf carts, etc.) on this property has been assessed in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. OPDMDs are prohibited except on disabled individual hunting dates.

11. Hunters must observe all State and Federal waterfowl regulations. Conservancy staff or designees may be present and violations will be reported to the Conservation Police.

12. The following are prohibited: Gas-powered motors (not even on the boat); unnecessary shooting or shooting at targets; possession of alcohol; dumping of ashes, trash, garbage, chemical waste or other materials; camping; fishing; and open fires.

13. Collecting and/or removing the following are prohibited: rocks, plants, fossils, plant materials, animals (other than legally taken waterfowl), and artifacts.

14. Law Violations or failing to abide by written rules or instructions from Conservancy staff or designees constitutes trespassing and may cause hunting privileges to be revoked.

15. These rules and regulations are subject to change without notice.

16. Only registered watercraft allowed on the lake.

17. Respect the privilege of hunting on this private property and the rights and safety of fellow hunters. Remove all spent shotgun casings and litter from your hunting site.

18. All gear must be removed from the Preserve each day.

19. Hunting ends promptly at 12:00 noon and hunters must vacate the Preserve by 1:00 PM.

· It is approximately 6 miles to the nearest hospital—Mason District Hospital in Havana (309.543.4431 or dial 911).

· To contact Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police call Fulton County Sheriff at 309.547.2277.

· For additional information, contact the Illinois Rivers Program Office at Emiquon 309.547.2730 during office hours (Monday through Thursday).

Press Release from:
Cammy Smith
Operations Administrator

csmith@tnc.org
(309) 547-2730 (Phone)

nature.org

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Pittman-Robertson Fund Modernization Bill Passes U.S. House



Since 1937 an excise tax has been placed on outdoor related products in regards to hunting.  Hunters may know it as the Pittman-Robertson Act and this program was so successful in the 1950s Congress enacted the Dingell–Johnson Act.  Regardless of what you call it now, this is hunting and fishing conservation at it's best.  Money collected is given to the Secretary of the Interior and then divided among the states using a formula that takes into account both a state's size and number of licensed hunters. In 2018, Illinois received over $22.9 million from these funds. 

United States Capitol Building
United States Capitol Building 
Photo Credit: Capitol Outdoors

On September 12, 2018 the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2591, the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act of 2017, on a voice vote.

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.