Chief’s Letter

Just in time for the fall hunting and trapping season is the release of the annual Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, featured in a story in this edition of OutdoorIllinois Journal. Of note for those participating in these recreational activities are the addition of mandatory deer check stations in counties where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was detected as of April 2025, bag limit changes for northern pintails and the closing of the gray fox hunting and trapping season (also included as a full story, Gray Fox Season Closed in Response to Decline in Population).

As the summer draws to a close, many people start thinking about the hunting seasons. For generations, many hunters began their outdoor experiences pursuing squirrels alongside family members or neighborhood peers. Author Gretchen Steele suggests that this be the year that experienced squirrel hunters make a concerted effort to introduce someone to the time-honored fall tradition of squirrel hunting. Speaking of squirrels, Bethany Warner provides insights into the sensitivity of eastern gray squirrels to habitat fragmentation. Don Kahl, Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) Ag and Grassland Program Manager provides an overview of the upcoming dove season, tips for managing your lands for doves and suggestions for maximizing your success in harvesting a limit of  these aerial acrobats. Summertime heat also brings out the midges that transmit Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) and we’ve included an article that summaries of the annual level of EHD reports in Illinois since 2025 and a link where you can report sick and dead deer.

If you are new to hunting or interested in giving it a try, check out the Mentored Archery Deer Hunt on State Sites article to learn about the Illinois Hunter Heritage Program and opportunities to share a deer blind with a mentor. You also may find valuable information in the story on the Illinois Hunt Camp and their September one-day social networking and professional development workshop for new hunters.

There’s even more related to hunting. Check out the stories on the 25th anniversary of Emiquon and the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Illinois’ first Pheasants Forever chapter. And then there are stories on tick borne diseases, tularemia (also known as rabbit fever), an announcement of the new-and-improved Hunter Safety Education registration process, the 2025 Pheasants Forever Farmer of the Year—an Illinois native—and more.

In our continued celebration of IDNR’s work over the past century to conserve and protect the state’s natural resources and provide related services to the people of Illinois are three stories about Illinois’ rich fishing history. In a two-part story, Bruce Muench, the first technically trained fisheries biologist hired by IDNR, shares his perspective on the development of fisheries management programs for the state. Author Nerissa McClelland tells us about the oldest known state record fish (spoiler alert: it is a 42-pound common carp caught in 1928) and she summarizes some of the record fish caught in the last century.

If you are a landowner with a pond on your property, you’ll be interested in IDNR Fisheries Biologist Blake Ruebush’s article with tips on what fish to stock, if restocking is necessary and how to manage aquatic weeds. Also check out the research under way by the Eastern Illinois University Center for Fisheries and Aquatic Studies that is testing the use of nest boxes to enhance spawning of channel catfish.

Fishing was among the activities that more than 500 people enjoyed at the second annual IDNR Everyone Belongs in Nature festival at William W. Powers State Recreation Area. They also enjoyed meals that included Copi—which gained rave reviews. This story provides an excellent overview about a program designed to connect people with nature and their community.

Craving more about Illinois aquatic resources? Peruse the articles on a Conservation Education Representative’s role in teaching youth to fish, perspectives from women who fish, carp management, flyfishing for bass, the five species of lampreys found in Illinois, tips for fishing for catfish and two articles on the crayfish of Illinois.

If your interest lies in landscape management, check out the article on how volunteers are helping to steward Markham Prairie, an Illinois Nature Preserve. The articles on emerging invasive plants in Illinois and sericea lespedeza will be of interest to landowners wishing to maximize the quality of habitat on their properties. Also check out a story summarizing research on attitudes toward urban wildlife.

The story entitled Nature’s Seasonal Events will captivate your interest in tracking the phenology of nature, and A Nature Walk by the Chicago River highlights the wealth of nature found within an urban setting. If your interests lie with our feathered friends, check out the articles on Caspian terns, pileated woodpeckers, eastern bluebirds and piping plovers. If you’re a fan of reptiles, we’ve included a story about a research project under way on the Illinois-endangered timber rattlesnake.

There’s even more for you in this edition of OutdoorIllinois Journal. Check it out at your earliest convenience and come back often to delve into our archive of articles. Our search feature can help you quickly locate topics of interest.

OutdoorIllinois Journal is a collaborative effort led by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Divisions of Wildlife Resources, Natural Heritage and Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration and the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. Funding for OutdoorIllinois Journal was made available through Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Project W-147-T, the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund and the Fish Management Fund. 

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