Illinois Department of Natural Resources Newsbits

Grand American:  The World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta is hosting the annual Amateur Trapshooting Association Grand American Trapshooting Championships, Aug. 3-14.  For more information on this premier shooting sports event, go to the web site at www.shootata.com.

New Hunting and Trapping Digest Available:  The Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2010-2011 edition is now available to view online through the IDNR web site at www.dnr.illinois.gov/PDF/HuntTrapDigest.pdf.  You can also pick up a free copy at Conservation World at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Aug. 13-22, and at the Conservation Village area at the Du Quoin State Fair, Aug. 28-Sept. 6.  The booklet will also be available soon at IDNR regional offices.

Non-Resident Archery Deer Permits:  Remaining 2010 Illinois Non-Resident Archery Deer Combination Permits (one either-sex and one antlerless only) will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8 a.m. CDT on Tues., Aug. 3.  Hunters may purchase remaining permits over the counter from an IDNR license and permit agent, through the DNR Direct Online License and Permit system at www.dnr.state.il.us/license.html or by calling toll-free 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648).  All non-resident hunters who applied for a combination archery permit during the June 2010 application period will receive their permit in the mail by mid-August.

Resident Archery Deer Permits:  Illinois resident deer hunters will be able to purchase 2010 Illinois Archery Deer Hunting Permits (combination archery and antlerless-only archery permits) online at www.dnr.state.il.us/license.html or over-the-counter from DNR Direct permit sale locations throughout Illinois beginning Aug. 3.  The archery deer season opens Oct. 1.
 
Firearm Deer Permits:  Deer hunters are reminded that Aug. 16 is the deadline to apply for the second lottery for resident and non-resident Illinois firearm and muzzleloader deer
permits for the 2010 season. To apply online, go to www.dnr.state.il.us/license.html.

Youth Firearm Deer Hunt:  The Illinois Youth Either-Sex Firearm Deer Hunt is Oct. 9-10.  Permits for this season will be available over-the-counter from DNR Direct license and permit vendors beginning Aug. 3.  To link to the website, go to www.dnr.state.il.us/license.html.  For a list of IDNR and public land sites open for hunting during the youth firearm deer hunt in 2010, go to this link:  www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/pdf/YouthDeer2010SitesOpen.pdf.

Free Dove Permit Deadline Aug. 4:  The deadline is Aug. 4 for dove hunters to apply for 2010 free dove hunting permits.  Those Illinois resident hunters who have not applied for this year's hunt or were unsuccessful in daily drawings, along with non-resident hunters, may call-in their application by Aug. 4 at 4:30 p.m.  The number to call to apply for the free dove hunting permit for open areas and dates is (217) 524-6514.  For more details, click on the link to the 2010 Free Dove Hunting information sheet at www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/10/Dove2010.pdf.  Dove hunting at the areas listed is by permit only for the first five days of the season, Sept. 1-5.  (Hunters are reminded that the drawing for permits for the Horseshoe Lake-Chouteau Unit in Madison County was cancelled due to flooding, which prohibited planting of sunflowers and other small grains at that site).

Fall Firearm Turkey:  The deadline to apply for the second lottery for 2010 Illinois fall shotgun turkey permits is Aug. 23.  Hunters can apply online through DNR Direct or with an application form available through the IDNR website at www.dnr.state.il.us.

Free Upland Permits Available Online:  Applications for the 2010 Illinois free upland game hunt permit program are available online through the IDNR website.  The application deadline is Aug. 31.  Links to the online application and a detailed information sheet can be found at www.dnr.state.il.us/UplandGame/Index.htm

Public Hunting Areas Report:  The Illinois Public Hunting Areas Report for the 2009-10 hunting season is now available on the IDNR website at this link:  www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/programs/Hunting/Iphar/index.html.  The report provides Illinois public land hunting effort and harvest data for the 2009-10 hunting season.  The report includes data on trends in wildlife harvest, public land use and sites available for hunting opportunities throughout Illinois.  The IDNR managed 194 public hunting sites during the 2009-10 hunting season.

State Record Fish:  The IDNR Division of Fisheries has announced certification of two new state records for fish caught in Illinois waters.  The new state record pumpkinseed sunfish was caught on Sept. 9, 2009 by Pat Crumrine of Washington, Illinois.  The fish was caught at the Emiquon Preserve in Fulton County.  It was 8.75 inches in length and weighed .64 pounds.  The pumpkinseed was added this year to the published list of state-record fish in Illinois.  The new state-record bighead carp was caught on May 4, 2010 by Jack Bailey of Salem, Illinois.  The fish was caught in the Kaskaskia River in Clinton County.  It measured 51.5 inches in length, had a girth of 33 inches and weighed 69 pounds.  The former record-holding bighead carp weighed 64 pounds and was caught at Horseshoe Lake in Madison County in June of 2008.   For more information on catching fish and fishing opportunities in Illinois, check out www.ifishillinois.org.

Conservation World:  The IDNR invites families, youth and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages to visit Conservation World at the Illinois State Fair Aug. 13-22 in Springfield.  Conservation World features free, family-oriented activities and displays focusing on natural resources and outdoor recreation.  Conservation World is open each day of the state fair from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

BOW Workshop Sept. 24-26:  Registration is open for the next "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" workshop to be held on Sept. 24-26 at Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton.  The cost is $145, which includes four classes, meals, lodging, the use of equipment, giveaways and lots of fun.  Further information and registration packets can be found at www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/bow.

Wildlife Habitat Honors:  The IDNR Division of Wildlife Resources is honoring four landowners as Wildlife Landowners of the Year for their efforts to restore and develop wildlife habitat on their private properties.  The property owners are enrollees in the IDNR Acres for Wildlife program and have developed their properties into showcases of how private property can be managed for the benefit of wildlife.  The award winners (and the IDNR wildlife biologists who nominated them) are:
• Jack and Kate Schroeder, Grundy County, Morris (nominated by Bob Massey)
• Joe and Janice Furlong, Coles County, Charleston (nominated by Paul Brewer)
• Jim Leitner and Lorna Sifford, Greene County, Alhambra (nominated by Jon Handel)
• Jay Lewis, Jefferson County, Mt. Vernon (nominated by John Tippitt)
Utilizing a variety of conservation programs, including Acres for Wildlife, USDA Conservation Reserve Program and assistance from private not-for-profit conservation organizations, these landowners have seen tremendous wildlife response to their efforts on their properties.  Establishment of warm and cool season grasslands, shrub and tree plantings, construction of wetlands, active forest stand management, exotic species control and prescribed burning are examples of habitat practices employed.  The landowners recognized the importance of active and reoccurring maintenance of the habitat practices installed to provide optimum wildlife habitat.  Landowners interested in participating in the IDNR Acres for Wildlife program can find more information at www.dnr.state.il.us/orc/Wildliferesources/AFW/.

ESPB Meeting:  The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board will meet on Fri., Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, 30239 South State Route 53, Wilmington, IL.  The meeting is open to the public.  For more information, call (217) 785-8687.

Sportsman's and Parks Raffle:  Tickets are still available for a chance to win prizes up to $100,000 in the "Illinois Sportsman's and Parks Raffle" sponsored by the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) and Friends of Illinois Parks.  The drawing will be held on Sept. 1, and tickets are available until 5 p.m. on Tues., Aug. 31. Tickets for the raffle are $100 each and are available from both the ICF and the Friends of Illinois Parks. To buy Illinois Sportsman's and Parks raffle tickets, visit www.isp-raffle.com, call (217)523-4554 or contact the ICF by mail at the Illinois Conservation Foundation, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271.

Hall of Fame Nominations:  The Illinois Conservation Foundation invites Illinois residents to nominate individuals with a passion for the outdoors for induction into the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame.  Nominees should be those women or men "who have made significant contributions or exhibited unparalleled dedication in preserving, promoting, enhancing or supporting natural resources or outdoor recreational opportunities in Illinois."  All nominations must be submitted on the official nomination form available on the ICF web site at www.ilcf.org.  Completed nomination forms and accompanying supporting documents should be submitted no later than September 17, 2010.  For a copy of the nomination form and for assistance in submitting a nomination, contact Ron Allen at (217)785-2003.  The inductees selected for the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame will be announced this fall and will be honored at the annual Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet, scheduled for March 26, 2011 at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.

Wingshooting Clinics:  The IDNR and participating partners sponsor wingshooting clinics at sites throughout Illinois to help improve the shooting skills of participants. Youth/Women's clinics are designed to teach participants basic firearm and hunter safety and the fundamentals of wingshooting.  Hunter clinics are designed to enhance the wingshooting skills of hunters and provide sound wingshooting practice techniques.  The clinics are conducted on weekends through the early fall.  For a complete schedule, check the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us.  Upcoming clinics include:

* August 21-22 - Youth/Women Clinic - Shabbona Lake State Park, DeKalb Co. (815/758-2773)
* August 21-22 - Youth/Women Clinic - Raycraft Farm, Piatt Co. (217/935-6860)
* August 28-29 - Hunter Clinic - Raycraft Farm, Piatt Co. (217/935-6860)
* September 11-12 - Youth/Women Clinic - Stephen A. Forbes State Park, Kinmundy (618/547-3381)
* September 11-12 - Youth/Women Clinic - Johnson-Sauk Trail State Park, Kewanee (309/853-5589)
* September 18-19 - Hunter Clinic - Des Plaines Conservation Area, Wilmington (815/785-8129)
* September 25-26 - Youth/Women Clinic - South Fork Dirt Riders Park, Kincaid (217/496-3113)
* September 26 - Youth Clinic - Decatur Gun Club, Decatur (217/521-9469)

OutdoorIllinois:  One of the few places where visitors can view remnants of an ancient sand dune deposited by the last glacial ice covering what is now Illinois, Iroquois County State Wildlife Area is this month's feature story and depicted on the cover of the August 2010 OutdoorIllinois magazine the official publication of the IDNR.  Other articles include an update on the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, the 125th anniversary of Illinois' Conservation Police and an Illinois fishing lure manufacturer.  This expanded issue also contains a 12-page insert on Illinois Wildlife Action Plan success stories. Implemented in 2005, the Action Plan is a strategic assessment and plan for wildlife in greatest need of conservation that links the assets and resources of diverse partner agencies and organizations.  For a summary of feature magazine articles, listen in on monthly podcasts at www.dnr.state.il.us/OI.  OutdoorIllinois is a great tool for learning about Illinois' natural, cultural and recreational resources and a bargain at only $15 for a one-year, 12-issue magazine subscription that includes an information-packed annual calendar in the December issue. Visit www.dnr.state.il.us/OI or call 1-800-720-3249 to subscribe.  VISA and MasterCard are accepted.  For information on advertising in OutdoorIllinois, call (217) 785-8610 or e-mail michelle.silver@illinois.gov.

ISM Science Series:  The Illinois State Museum's monthly science series program for August is "Searching for Meaning in Native American Burial Practices" on Wed., Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. at the ISM Research and Collections Center, 1011 East Ash, Springfield.   Presented by Dr. Michael Wiant of the Dickson Mounds Museum, the program will focus on a study of Native American graves in Illinois between 8,500 and 2,500 years ago which reveals substantial changes.  For more information on the free program, call (217) 782-0061.

Bodacious Bugs:  The Illinois State Museum in Springfield invites children and families to get up close with bugs.  The ISM "Super Saturdays" program on Sat., Aug., 14 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. is all about bugs.  Beautiful butterflies and lovely ladybugs surround us today, but what about yesterday's bugs?  From creepy cockroaches to daring dragonflies, children can compare prehistoric bugs with the bodacious bugs that they see every day.  The program is especially geared toward children ages 4-8 and parents and families are encouraged to participate.  The "Super Saturdays" programs at the museum are free.  For more information, call (217) 782-6044.  The Illinois State Museum is located at 502 S. Spring St. in the State Capitol Complex in Springfield.