2013
Illinois Licenses Available Jan. 21: Illinois fishing, hunting and sportsman’s combination licenses
for 2013 will be available starting Jan. 21 from DNR Direct license and permit
vendors, online through the IDNR website www.dnr.illinois.gov/online/Pages/default.aspx or
by calling 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648). The system is available 24 hours a
day. The 2013 licenses purchased beginning Jan. 21 will be valid through Mar.
31, 2014 unless otherwise noted.
Late-Winter/CWD Deer Seasons:
Deer hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 7,749 deer
during the first segment of the 2012-13 Late-Winter/CWD Deer Seasons on Dec.
27-30, 2012. The harvest total
represented an 18.3 percent increase over the same portion of the season in
2011-12, despite nine fewer counties being open to those seasons this
year. During the 2011-12 Late-Winter/CWD
seasons, hunters harvested 6,550 deer from open counties. The final segment of
the Late-Winter/CWD seasons will be conducted on Jan. 18-20, 2013. Unfilled firearm, muzzleloader, and youth
deer permits issued for an open county are valid during that period, provided
they were issued for an open county. For
those without those valid unfilled deer permits, permits for the Late-Winter
Deer Season and the Special CWD Deer Season are available over-the-counter at
DNR Direct license vendors (see below). The top five counties’ harvest for the
first segment of the Late-Winter/CWD seasons:
Pike (411), Fulton (389), Jo Daviess (351), Adams and Jefferson (tie -
256). For a list of all participating
county harvest totals, go to the IDNR website at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Documents/deer-LW-CWD-firstsegment-Jan2013.pdf
Spring Youth Turkey: Spring Youth Turkey Special Hunt Area online permit applications will
be accepted online from Jan. 15-Feb. 18.
For more information on 2013 spring turkey hunting, check the IDNR
website at this link: http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/turkey/Pages/SpringTurkeyHunting.aspx
Spring Youth
Turkey Season County Permits will be available over-the-counter from IDNR
license/permit vendors beginning on March 5.
Apply Now for
Outdoors Access for Youth Turkey Hunting: The Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP)
is now taking applications from young hunters for 2013 spring turkey
hunting. Youth hunters will be assigned a hunt site in one of the 23
counties in which private property has been leased by IDNR. Most assigned
hunting areas are at least 40 acres in size and all have been evaluated for
turkey activity and the high possibility of a good hunting experience for the
youth. Eligible youth hunters must be under the age of 16 at the time of the
hunt and must have completed a hunter safety education course. Applicants
can apply for two of the three turkey seasons for which IRAP has leased sites
for the spring of 2013 – Youth Season, 3rd Season and 4th
Season. For more information, go to www.dnr.illinois.gov/conservation/irap. Youth are encouraged not to miss out and
apply early.
Pere Marquette Bald Eagle Programs:
Enjoy watching bald eagles on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers near
Pere Marquette State Park this winter by participating in one of the park’s
popular Bald Eagle Days tours. The site
interpreter at Pere Marquette presents informative programs about bald eagles
with all programs beginning at the Pere Marquette Visitor Center at 8:30 a.m. Reservations
are required and may be made by calling 618/786-3323. Programs are on select dates through early
March. To check the schedule of program
dates, go to the Pere Marquette State Park web page and click on “Bald Eagle
Days” at this link:
Starved Rock Bald Eagle Watch Weekend:
Visitors are invited to the annual Bald Eagle Watch Weekend on Jan.
26-27 at Starved Rock State Park in Utica and the Illinois Waterway Visitor
Center (Lock and Dam), hosted by the Illinois Audubon Society, IDNR and the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. More details are available online at
Kaskaskia Eagle Trek:
Families are invited to attend the HeartLands Conservancy Eagle Trek on
Sat., Feb. 2 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Kaskaskia Lock and Dam, 4800 Lock and
Dam Road, Modoc, IL. The free event
features eagle watching, World Bird Sanctuary programs, lock and dam tours, and
children’s activities. Sponsors include
the IDNR, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
HeartLands Conservancy, Southwestern Illinois College, Kaskaskia Regional Port
District, Lower Kaskaskia Stakeholders, Inc., Chester Tourism Committee, and
CLIFFTOP.
Chicago Outdoor Sports Show:
Stop by and visit with IDNR staff and Conservation Police officers, and
buy your 2013 licenses, at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
booth during the Chicago
Outdoor Sports Show, at the Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL, January
23-27. For more show information:
www.chicagosportsmenshow.com/
Chicagoland Fishing, Travel and Outdoor
Expo: Visit with Illinois DNR staff and learn more
about efforts to combat aquatic invasive species, including Asian carp, during
the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel and Outdoor Expo, Jan. 24-27 at the Schaumburg
Convention Center at I-90 and I-290 (Route 53), Schaumburg. For more information: www.sportshows.com/chicago/index.html
Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet:
Tickets are now available for the annual Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame
Banquet, the evening of Thursday, Jan. 31 at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.
Proceeds from the Hall of Fame Banquet assist in funding Illinois Conservation
Foundation youth scholarships. For reservations or more information, contact
the Illinois Conservation Foundation, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield,
IL 62702-1271, phone 217/785-2003, or check the ICF web site at www.ilcf.org.
Camping Reservations:
Make your reservation now for campsites and shelters for many IDNR sites
for 2013. Reservations can be made
online through the ReserveAmerica website at www.reserveamerica.com
using a Visa or MasterCard. For more
information, check the IDNR website at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/Programs/Camping/
Follow the IDNR:
Keep up to date with events and information on outdoor recreation and
natural resources in Illinois through IDNR postings on Facebook and
Twitter. Find us at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/about/Pages/SocialNetworking.aspx
Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grants:
School teachers are encouraged to apply now for the Illinois
Biodiversity Field Trip Grant program. Pre-K through 12th grade
teachers may apply for up to $500 to cover the costs of transportation and
substitute teachers for a field trip to one of Illinois’ natural resources
sites. The field trip must occur in the calendar year that the funds are
received. The deadline to apply is Jan.
31. For detailed instructions and the
application form, visit http://dnr.state.il.us/education/CLASSRM/grants.htm. The IDNR, Illinois Conservation Foundation,
Independence Tube Corporation, and the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation all
sponsor this program.
Earth Day in the Parks:
Teachers can apply now for the 2013 Earth Day in the Parks program,
which promotes stewardship of our natural resources by Illinois school
children. During April and May, students and their teachers from throughout
Illinois will come to participating Illinois state parks to take part in
natural resources stewardship activities such as planting native trees and
wildflowers; building and installing nesting/roosting boxes; removing invasive
exotic species; and building brush piles for wildlife. Students will be helping
the environment and wildlife, participating in outdoor activities to increase
their fitness, and learning that their actions can make a difference in the
world. Students are encouraged to return to the state park to see and study the
results of their work. Some classes may want to perform additional volunteer
work at the park. Applications to participate in Earth Day in the Parks are
accepted through Feb. 28. For details,
go online to http://dnr.state.il.us/education/CLASSRM/EDITPinstruct.htm
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