11/5/2008

Deer Permit Application Deadline: The last day to apply for 2008 firearm and muzzleloader-only season deer permits is Fri., Nov. 7. Hunters may apply online through DNR Direct (link through the DNR Direct button on the IDNR home page at http://dnr.state.il.us). Permit application forms are also available on the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems/. The Illinois Firearm Deer Season is Nov. 21-23 and Dec. 4-7. The Illinois Muzzleloader-only Deer Season is Dec. 12-14 (and the second firearm weekend of Dec. 4-7).

Late-Winter Deer Season: The deadline to apply for permits for the 2009 Illinois Late-Winter Firearm Antlerless-Only Deer Season is Fri., Nov. 14. The Late-Winter season is scheduled for Jan. 16-18, 2009. Counties that will be open for the Late-Winter season are: Adams, Bond, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Knox, LaSalle, Lawrence, Lee, Logan, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Massac, McDonough, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Pike, Putnam, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, St. Clair, Stephenson, Tazewell, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Whiteside, Williamson, and Woodford. Hunters may apply for a permit online through DNR Direct at http://dnr.state.il.us or print out a copy of the permit application at http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/late.htm.

CWD Deer Season: Hunters in Boone, DeKalb, McHenry, and Winnebago counties and that 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 will be 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 firearm, muzzleloader, youth, or archery 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.

Upland Prospects: For information on prospects for the 2008-09 pheasant, quail and rabbit seasons in Illinois, check the IDNR web site for the annual hunting prospects reports prepared by the IDNR Division of Wildlife Program Development. The link to the reports is available through the IDNR home page at http://dnr.state.il.us. Click on the Hunting and Upland/Small Game links.

Spring Turkey First Lottery: Resident hunters may now apply for the first lottery for 2009 Illinois Spring Wild Turkey Season permits online through DNR Direct. Just go to the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us and click on the Hunting and Turkey Hunting links. The application deadline for the first lottery for 2009 resident spring turkey permits is Dec. 1, 2008.

OutdoorIllinois: Illinois’ first state park, Fort Massac State Park in Massac County, was dedicated 100 years ago this month, and is the subject of the cover and a feature article in the November 2008 issue of OutdoorIllinois. Other stories include the work of Conservation Police Officers during deer season, deer hunting, leaf litter, youth goose hunting, tracking waterfowl by radar and the red-headed woodpecker. 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.

Landowner Honors: The IDNR Division of Wildlife Resources has honored four landowners as 2008 recipients of the Illinois Landowner of the Year award for their efforts to restore and develop wildlife habitat on their private properties. The program is one of the ways the IDNR recognizes some of the great efforts of private property owners who do extraordinary work in developing their property for wildlife. The property owners recognized this year participate in the Acres for Wildlife program and have developed properties that showcase how land can be managed for the benefit of wildlife. The award winners are:

Dr. Bob Benningfield, property in Knox County, recognized by District Wildlife Biologist (DWB) Kevin Oller

Ron and Donna Scudder, property in Champaign County, recognized by DWB Dan Newhouse

Norman and Anita Dicks, property in Adams County, recognized by DWB Brad Poulter

Tom and Roxie Blasdel, property in Wayne County, recognized by DWB Steve Kern

Utilizing a variety of conservation programs including the IDNR 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. Warm and cool season grassland development, construction of wetlands, bottomland hardwood plantings, exotic species control, and prescribed burning are examples of various habitat practices employed. For more information on habitat enhancement for wildlife in Illinois, contact the IDNR Division of Wildlife Resources at 217/782-6384.

ICF Youth Scholarship Program Nomination Deadline Dec. 1: The Illinois Conservation Foundation Youth Achievement Scholarship program nomination deadline is Dec. 1. Ten high school juniors or seniors