Illinois DNR News Updates
DNR Notes
DNR Notes
ThisIsFun.Com is always in pursuit of any information that can help your explorations while in Southern Ilinois. Every month, the Illinois DNR has a little overview of the upcoming weeks. In this month's version, get news, special events and other recreational information..
One very important fact about recreation in Southern Illinois is that April means it is time for you new fishing license. A summary of the posting on the IL DNR site relevant to Southern Illinois is include below in quotations
"Illinois Department of Natural Resources
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2009
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
April Newsbits
New License Year Has Begun: Anglers and hunters are reminded that the new
license year for Illinois fishing, hunting, and sportsman combination licenses
began April 1. Those licenses are available from DNR Direct license and permit
vendors, online through the IDNR web site (www.dnr.state.il.us), or by calling
1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648). By going online, license buyers can use American
Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or E-Check and print their own license or
receipt – and the system is available 24 hours a day. The 2009 annual licenses
are valid through Mar. 31, 2010 unless otherwise noted.
South Zone Youth Turkey Hunt Results: The 2009 Illinois Spring Youth Wild Turkey
Season closed with a preliminary harvest total of 617, down slightly from 638 in
2008. The number of birds taken during the youth hunt this spring was an
increase over the harvests seen in 2006 (525) and 2007 (579). The South Zone
harvest this spring was 254 compared with 244 last year. The North Zone harvest
declined somewhat from 394 last year to 363 this season. The top five counties
for youth turkey harvest in the South Zone this spring were: Jefferson (21),
Wayne (21), Williamson (19), Randolph (17), and Johnson (12). The top five
counties for youth turkey harvest this year in the North Zone were: Calhoun
(23), Fulton (21), Cass (19), Pike (19), and Adams (17). The 2009 Spring Youth
Wild Turkey Hunt was conducted on Mar. 28-29 in the South Zone and April 4-5 in
the North Zone.
Resident Firearm/Muzzleloader Deer Applications: Resident Illinois deer hunters
can apply for the first lottery drawings for 2009 Illinois firearm and
muzzleloader-only deer season permits through the IDNR web site at
http://dnr.state.il.us. Click on the DNR Direct button on the home page to apply
using a credit card. Application forms in PDF format are also available on the
IDNR web site. The first lottery drawings for firearm deer permits and
muzzleloader-only season deer permits are for Illinois residents only. The
deadline to apply for the first lottery drawing for 2009 firearm deer permits
and muzzleloader-only deer permits is April 30. Resident hunters can apply in
both the firearm and muzzleloader-only lotteries. The 2009 firearm seasons are
Nov. 20-22 (first season) and Dec. 3-6 (second season). The 2009
muzzleloader-only season is Dec. 11-13.
Trout Season: A reminder that the 2009 Illinois spring trout season opened on
Sat., April 4. To legally take trout, anglers must have a valid fishing license
and inland trout stamp. For a list of sites stocked for the spring trout season,
go to the web site at www.ifishillinois.org and click on the Spring Trout Season
link.
ENTICE Workshops: Illinois educators can encourage and promote stewardship of
our natural resources by participating in ENTICE workshops available this spring
and summer. ENTICE is the IDNR Environment and Nature Training Institute for
Conservation Education, providing teachers with natural resources information,
instructional methods, and supplemental educational materials. ENTICE also
offers participants the opportunity to network with other educators in a
friendly, cooperative learning environment. Upcoming workshops include:
* Illinois’ Woodland Ecology, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, May 16
* Illinois Amphibians, Illinois State Museum, Springfield, June 17
* Celebrating the Burnham Plan in Chicago, Field Museum of Natural History, June
19
* Illinois Bats, Cache River Wetlands Center, Belknap, July 9
* Online Lake Michigan Fishes Workshop, July 13-26
To register or for more information, click on the ENTICE web site at
https://www.enticeworkshops.com/
Cache River Wonders of Wetlands: Teachers are encouraged to participate in an
educator workshop scheduled for the Cache River State Natural Area in southern
Illinois on June 2. The program will be presented at the Barkhausen Cache River
Wetlands Center at the Cache River State Natural Area, Belknap, on Tues., June
2, from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Continuing Professional Development Units are
available. The workshop is sponsored by the Friends of the Cache River Watershed
and the Environmental Education Association of Illinois. Cost is $20.00 per
person. To register, contact Molie Oliver at
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or
618/657-2064.
OutdoorIllinois: Springtime in Illinois means dusting off the garden implements,
tuning up the tiller and getting serious about your landscaping project. The
cover of the April 2009 issue of the IDNR monthly magazine OutdoorIllinois
features a variety of native plant seedlings, and foretells of an issue packed
with informative articles on how to create and maintain native habitats,
including prairies, wetlands and shrub lands. This expanded issue also features
a story highlighting one of the Illinois' newest state sites, Copperhead Hollow
State Wildlife Area in Jersey County, Arbor Day celebrations around the state,
the Wildlife Landowners of the Year, upcoming tours of the Chicago lakefront
sponsored by the Illinois state Geological Survey and more. 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
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.
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
throughout the spring, summer and early fall. For a complete schedule, check the
IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us.
Upcoming Southern Illinois Clinic:
June 20-21 – Youth/Women Clinic – World Shooting and Recreational Complex,
Sparta (618/295-2700)
Free Fishing Days: Mark your calendar for the 2009 Illinois Free Fishing Days,
scheduled for June 5-8. Free Fishing Days allows anyone to fish without a
fishing license, inland trout stamp, or salmon stamp during the four-day event
each June. Groups planning Free Fishing Days events can contact Terry Beard at
217/785-5822 or e-mail
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."
