12/3/2008

Illinois Sportsmen Against Hunger: The 2008-09 Illinois deer hunting seasons continue with the second segment of the firearm season, Dec. 4-7; the Muzzleloader-only Deer Season, Dec. 12-14; and, the Late-Winter Antlerless-only Deer Season in select counties Jan. 16-18, 2009. Permits were issued previously for each of these seasons. The archery deer season also continues through Jan. 15, 2009. Deer hunters are encouraged to support the Illinois Sportsmen Against Hunger program by donating whole deer they harvest for processing into ground venison that is provided to Illinois food banks. A list of participating meat processors is available through the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/legislation/isah/index.htm. Tax-deductible monetary donations to help pay for ISAH meat processing costs may be made through the Illinois Conservation Foundation, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271.

CWD Deer Season: Hunters in Boone, DeKalb, McHenry, and Winnebago counties and the portion of Kane County west of Ill. Rt. 47 can participate in the special Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Deer Season Jan. 16-18, 2009 to help control deer densities and the spread of chronic wasting disease. Special CWD season antlerless-only permits are available over-the-counter beginning in mid-December for $5 each at participating DNR Direct license and permit vendors. In addition, hunters with unfilled 2008 firearm, muzzleloader, youth deer hunt, or archery deer permits valid for one of the open counties may use those permits to hunt during the CWD season. Hunters using unfilled permits from the 2008 season may take deer appropriate for that permit (antlerless-only or either-sex). Check stations will be manned during the CWD season in the open counties. Successful hunters will be required to bring their deer to a check station prior to 8 p.m. on the day of harvest. Hunters who submit samples for CWD testing will be given an additional permit valid for the remainder of the season. Check station locations for the CWD Deer Season, Jan. 16-18, 2009 are listed below

Boone Co. – Boone County Fairgrounds, Rt. 76 and Business Rt. 20, Belvidere
DeKalb Co. and Kane Co. (west of Ill. Rt. 47) – Shabbona Lake State Park, 4201 Shabbona Grove Rd., Shabbona
McHenry Co. – McHenry Dam Day Use Area, Moraine Hills State Park, east of McHenry on River Road, 2.2 miles south of Route 120
Winnebago Co. – Rock Cut State Park, 6425 Hart Road (one mile east of Perryville Rd. on Hart Rd.), Loves Park

Deer Pins: Hunters successful in taking a deer during the 2008-09 deer seasons in Illinois can pick up a free deer pin at one of the hundreds of IDNR license and permit vendor locations throughout the state. For deer pin locations, check the IDNR web site at the following link: http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/harvest.htm. Deer pins are also available during regular business hours at the IDNR Headquarters in Springfield, the IDNR Regional offices in Sterling, Bartlett, Clinton, Alton and Benton, and the IDNR Chicago office.

Spring Turkey: Applications are being accepted for the second lottery for 2009 Illinois Spring Wild Turkey Hunting permits. The deadline to apply for the second lottery is January 12. For more information, go to the Hunting link on the IDNR web site home page. The 2009 spring turkey hunting dates are:

South Zone
1st Season: April 6-April 10
2nd Season: April 11-April 16
3rd Season: April 17-April 22
4th Season: April 23-April 29
5th Season: April 30-May 7

North Zone
1st Season: April 13-April 17
2nd Season: April 18- April 23
3rd Season: April 24-April 29
4th Season: April 30-May 6
5th Season: May 7-May 14

2009 Calendar: The IDNR 2009 wall calendar, produced in conjunction with OutdoorIllinois magazine, is available as part of the December issue of OI. The traditional favorite among readers measures 17 by 11 inches and includes seasonal photography from Illinois