Nov 1, 2024
Hunting participation in the United States has declined over the past several decades. A special youth waterfowl hunting season to reverse, or at least mitigate, declines in hunting participation started in 1996. After 27 years an important question remains: has the youth waterfowl hunting season had an impact on youth hunting participation in Illinois?
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Introduced to hunting as a child, today Lauren Dean hunts not only for the reward of harvesting her own meat but as a way of spending time in the woods with her husband and dog, and to experience cool things in nature. New to Illinois, she attributes her success in learning the regulations and finding places to hunt to the Illinois Learn to Hunt program.
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When you are in the deer stand during archery deer season and the deer aren’t present you have time to watch wildlife from a new perspective. Join author Tom Hintz as he recounts his first-ever archery hunt and enjoying the moment with black-capped chickadees.
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The osprey was listed as a state-endangered species in Illinois in 1997. It struggled to thrive following years of habitat loss and the degradation of waterways essential to their food source and nest site selection. In 2012, Illinois Department of Natural Resources biologists Patrick McDonald and Joe Kath designed a program to give osprey a boost in building a self-sustaining breeding population in Illinois.
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Many people are familiar with the saying that pertains to the real estate business: “The First Rule in real estate is Location, Location, Location!” That same axiom might be properly applied to trapping, as well. This article highlights some elements that help trappers decide where to make a set and how those decisions can change with changing circumstances.
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Even though muskrat harvest has declined, and their populations are lower today, there are still plenty of muskrats in Illinois. Grab some binoculars and perhaps a camera and get out and learn first-hand about muskrats and how these interesting animals utilize wetland habitats.
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An acorn fallen on a lawn doth not a mighty oak make. It was that fact that made me gather acorns and move them elsewhere. As I did so, I discovered that other creatures did likewise.
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The Bats in Small Cities Project was organized to learn how urban bat ecology relates to the context of the city, specifically to learn how bats respond to their environment in a city with lots of tree cover versus one with little tree cover. Check out the findings here.
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The eastern monarch butterfly population has reached historic low numbers since the mid-1990s. Climate change, land use practices, and conversion of grasslands are primary drivers that have reduced available habitat across the landscape. In response, Illinoisans are working alongside people all across North America to help reverse these trends.
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Several lines of evidence demonstrate the recurrence of fires in our past: layers of charcoal in sediments, burn scars on trees rings, journals of pioneers and historical records. Today, Shawnee National Forest personnel, along with numerous state and local agencies, non-profit organizations and private landowners, are increasing their use of prescribed fire to manage natural communities.
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A message from Chief Mike McClelland
Welcome to the November 2024 edition of the online magazine OutdoorIllinois Journal, featuring timely, seasonally based stories about the Prairie State’s wildlife resources, with an expansion of content to include a broader range of subjects—including endangered and threatened species and Illinois’ unique, high-quality habitats and the people working to preserve, protect and manage these resources.
