It's springtime! That means all new articles prepared for the May 2024 edition of OutdoorIllinois Journal. From fishing to turkey hunting to the return of wildflowers and their colorful pollinators, you’ll find something of interest in this quarter’s magazine. We are also excited to announce that a limited number of articles will be available in Spanish and Polish.
Introducing youth to fishing sets them on a path to a lifetime spent outdoors. In this issue, there are several stories about how Illinois school children are learning about fish, fishing and healthy environments. Some are rearing fish in the classroom, others participate in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) Urban and Community Fishing Program, while other young anglers experience the excitement of learning how to fish at an after-school program. And, to alleviate any concerns that fishing will break the bank, there is a story that offers tips on equipping yourself for fishing with a minimal outlay of cash.
As ephemeral wildflowers start to emerge and flowering trees show their color, wild turkey hunters take to the woods. One author shares his experience hunting with his young son and tips for preparing for the annual spring hunt. Another describes the how a group of state turkey biologists and researchers across the nation have standardized data collection techniques to strengthen our understanding of turkey population trends across the nation. The annual ring-necked pheasant hunting season is several months off, but another story explains the factors necessary for a successful brood-rearing season that will bring about an autumn abundance of this grassland bird.
For many people, warming weather signals it is time to go outdoors to work on their landscape plantings—or put the spade to the ground and develop a new planting bed. In this issue we have multiple stories that provide tips for how people can install pollinator gardens and enjoy watching the variety of wildlife that will visit the plot. We’ve also published a story on the ecological damage of invasive plants and recommended springtime actions for removing some of these species from your property.
And we have even more for you in this edition of OutdoorIllinois Journal. Look for articles on baby wildlife, maximizing the utilization of bat boxes, a spotlight on green-winged and blue-winged teal and how hunters helped document the expansion of the Illinois bobcat population. Anglers will be interested in stories on Mississippi River catfish, fly fishing casting techniques, bowfishing and how—and why—researchers are tracking fish in the Chicago River. If you’re interested in a road trip this year to explore some of Illinois’ most unique habitats, check out the two articles on the Mississippi River Lowlands Natural Division to learn about some of the plants and animals that reside in the swamps and floodplain forests of southwest Illinois. That’s just the beginning of the storylines you can discover in this edition of OutdoorIllinois Journal. So head over and start reading!
