IDNR News Bits
Resident Archery Deer Permits:
Resident combination and antlerless-only archery deer permits are available over-the-counter (OTC) from DNR Direct license and permit vendors. Find a vendor link here: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/LPR/Pages/LicensePermitVendors.aspx
Non-Resident Archery Deer Permits:
Illinois Non-Resident Archery Deer combination permits are available over-the-counter (OTC) from DNR Direct license and permit vendors. The Illinois Archery Deer Season continues through Jan. 15, 2017.
Firearm Deer Permits:
Illinois Firearm Deer permits and Muzzleloader-only Deer permits remaining after this year’s lottery drawings will be available over-the-counter (OTC) from DNR Direct license and permit vendors beginning Oct. 18.
CWD Sampling:
Deer hunters statewide in Illinois are encouraged to allow samples to be taken for chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling from adult deer they harvest. For a list of locations that are serving as CWD sampling stations, taking samples from entire deer or deer heads from October 1, 2016 thru Jan. 20, 2017, visit: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/programs/CWD/Documents/CWDSamplingLocations.pdf
Hunting and Trapping Digest:
The Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2016-2017 edition is available in PDF format on the IDNR website: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/HuntingTrappingDigests.aspx
Illinois Waterfowl Digest:
Review this season’s Illinois waterfowl regulations with the Digest of Waterfowl Hunting Regulations 2016-2017, available online on the IDNR website at this link: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Documents/DigestWaterfowlHuntingRegulations.pdf
Controlled Pheasant Permits:
Hunters can apply online now for 2016-17 Illinois controlled pheasant hunting opportunities available at 18 IDNR sites. Fourteen of the sites are operated by the IDNR, while four other sites are managed by concessionaire T. Miller, Inc. For application information, check the IDNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov or www.tmillerinc.com.
ICF 2017 Calendar:
The Illinois Conservation Foundation’s annual Outdoors in Illinois 2017 wall calendar is available for order. Proceeds from the sale of the beautiful 2017 calendar support a variety of youth education programs at the Torstenson Youth Conservation Education Center, and the traveling Torstenson Education Station. The 9×12 calendar contains stunning photography of Illinois, and it can be purchased for $15 through the ICF website at www.ilcf.org or by phone at 217-785-2003.
Public Areas Hunting Report:
The latest edition of the IDNR Illinois Public Areas Hunting Report – with details on public lands hunting effort and harvest for the 2015-16 seasons – is available online on the IDNR website at this link: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Documents/IllinoisPublicHuntingAreasReport.2015.2016.pdf
Hike App:
Visitors to Giant City, Illinois Beach, Pere Marquette, and Starved Rock State Parks can now take a guided hike on the parks’ most popular trails by downloading a new smartphone app. Download the Prairie State Hike App for 99 cents from iTunes or Google Play. Features of the app include a map, points of interest, audio for each stop, photographs and video. Hikes will be continually updated and new hikes added in the coming months will be available at no additional charge. The app was developed by the Prairie State Conservation Coalition, a non-profit organization created to assist conservation land trusts, land owners, and communities in their efforts to protect land and water resources in Illinois. Hikes from other conservation organizations statewide also are available through the app. To find state park trails, open the app and choose ‘Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ from among the conservation organizations listed.
