Natural resources 'newsbits'      

[OCT. 8, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- Announcements from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources:

Sangchris trapping drawing: A public drawing for the allocation of Sangchris Lake State Park trapping permits is at 1 p.m. today (Saturday), following noon registration at the site headquarters, located approximately six miles southeast of Rochester, at 9898 Cascade. The phone number is [phone].

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Veterans Point dedication: The dedication of Veterans Point at Weldon Springs State Park, Clinton, is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. The ceremony will dedicate the memorial honoring and memorializing veterans past, present and future. The public is invited to attend. Activities during the day include a band concert at noon, food concessions and military displays at the Chautauqua Picnic Area, and a short parade at 1 p.m. that will proceed to Veterans Point for the dedication ceremony. For more information, call the park office at [phone].

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Blaze orange reminder: Archery deer hunters are reminded of the requirement that they wear a blaze orange cap and upper outer garment of at least 400 square inches of blaze orange in select counties during the Youth Antlerless-only Firearm Deer Hunt this weekend. The blaze orange requirement also applies to participants in the youth hunt. Counties open to the youth hunt are Adams, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Knox, LaSalle, Lawrence, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, McDonough, McLean, Montgomery, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Pike, Randolph, Richland, Schuyler, Scott, St. Clair, Washington, Wayne, White, Whiteside and Williamson. Shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to sunset.

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Wing shooting clinics: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and a variety of participating sponsors are hosting a series of wing shooting clinics for beginners and hunters. A clinic for hunters is this weekend at Randolph County State Recreation Area, [phone]. An upcoming clinic for youth and women is Oct. 29-30 at Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area, [phone].

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Outdoor Illinois for October: For the latest news about Illinois' natural resources, pick up the October issue of Outdoor Illinois, the monthly magazine from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. A reflective woodland graces the cover, accompanied by an intriguing editorial inviting readers to step outdoors and enjoy the splendors of autumn. Feature stories are about Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, youth hunting programs, fall mushrooms, archaeological work at New Philadelphia, antique lures and waterfowl art. Sportsmen will gain valuable tips through articles on how to keep venison fresh and getting a trophy to the taxidermist in the best condition. Outdoor Illinois is a great tool for learning about Illinois' natural, cultural and recreational resources and is only $15 for a one-year, 12-issue magazine subscription. Call 1 [phone] to subscribe. VISA and MasterCard are accepted. For information on advertising in the magazine, call [phone] or e-mail [e-mail].

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Art exhibit: The art of Stanley Szwarc, Robert Stewart and Kyle Kinser, all longtime members of the Illinois Artisans Program, will be featured in the Illinois Artisans Shop at the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph St., Suite 2-200, Chicago, through Oct. 31. The shop is open weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The exhibit will have extended hours on Oct. 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, call [phone].

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Boating Infrastructure Grants: Local governments, privately owned marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs have until Oct. 14 to apply for the next round of federal grants available to provide temporary docking facilities for large boats. Funds for the program come from federal excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels through the Sport Fishing and Boating Safety program and can provide up to 75 percent of an approved project's cost. The program is intended to enhance boating for transient, nontrailerable recreational boats -- those 26 feet long or longer. The applicant must provide the other 25 percent of a project's cost. All proposals must be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Federal Aid and Special Funds Section. For more information, call [phone].

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Jim Edgar Panther Creek trapping drawing: A public drawing for the allocation of Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area trapping permits will be at 2 p.m. Oct. 15. Registration will begin at 1 p.m. on that date at the site headquarters, located approximately five miles southeast of Chandlerville in Cass County. For more information, contact Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area, P.O. Box 646, Ashland, IL 62612; or call [phone].

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Schoolyard Habitat Grants available: The Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Education provides a funding opportunity for educators who want to involve students in learning about their environment. Awards of up to $600 per educator are available through a competitive grant application process. Funds are to be used to develop or improve wildlife habitat. Applications must be postmarked by Oct. 15. Funding is provided by the Jadel Foundation and administered by the Illinois Conservation Foundation. Details on the program and an application form can be downloaded at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/
classrm/grants.htm. For more information, contact the IDNR Division of Education by e-mail to [e-mail] or call [phone].

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Biodiversity Field Trip Grants available: The fall application deadline is arriving soon for the popular Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grants program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Education. Through this competitive grant program, teachers may apply for up to $500 to take their class on a field trip to study aspects of Illinois' natural and cultural heritage. An application form with instructions may be downloaded at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/
classrm/grants.htm. Applications for the fall deadline must be postmarked by Oct. 15. A second application period has a Feb. 15 deadline. The program is made possible by the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation and the Independence Tube Corporation. Funding is administered by the Illinois Conservation Foundation. For more information about the grant program, call [phone] or e-mail [e-mail].

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Kankakee River Archery Hunt for People With Disabilities: Kankakee River State Park will host its 11th annual Archery Deer Hunt for People with Disabilities at the park Nov. 1-17. A workday to prepare the site for this popular hunting program is planned for Oct. 16. Hunters interested in participating in the hunt should contact the Kankakee River State Park site superintendent, Kathy Pangle, for more information by calling [phone]. For many years, Whitetails Unlimited has partnered with the park to prepare for and host this hunting opportunity for people with disabilities. This year, the park has formed an additional partnership with the Disabled Hunters of North America, Illinois Chapter. Both organizations will participate in a workday at Kankakee River State Park to prepare for the November hunt. Anyone interested in taking part in the workday is invited to report to the Kankakee River State Park maintenance shop at 10 a.m. on Oct. 16.

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Illinois Nature Preserves Commission meeting: The 188th meeting of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission will be Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. at the Pere Marquette Lodge and Conference Center in Grafton. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, call [phone].

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Ray Norbut trapping drawing: A public drawing for the allocation of furbearer trapping permits for Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area in Pike County and the Weinberg-King State Fish and Wildlife Area, Spunky Bottoms Unit, in Brown County will be held at the Pittsfield office of the Department of Natural Resources at 7 p.m. on Oct. 19. Registration will begin at 6 p.m. at the office, which is located on Highway 106 West in Pittsfield. For additional information, call Weinberg-King State Park at [phone] or the Pittsfield office at [phone].

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Day of the Dead: Find fine craft items with autumn and Day of the Dead themes at the Illinois Artisans Shop Autumn Art Spree in the atrium of the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago on Oct. 20-21 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fourteen artists will present fine crafts, including ceramics, fiber, sterling silver jewelry, beaded jewelry, colorful paintings, wood sculpture and prints. For more information, call [phone].

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ENTICE: Openings are still available for Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education workshops for schoolteachers this fall. To obtain a registration form for the following workshops and to see the complete schedule and workshop descriptions, go to http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/
entice/index.htm. For more information, call [phone] or e-mail [e-mail]. The workshop on Oct. 22 is "Incorporating Nature into the Language Arts and Fine Arts," at the Regional Environmental Center, Pecatonica. The Nov. 15 session is "Illinois Birds Featuring the Wild Turkey," at Bass Pro Shops, Gurnee.

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Giant City Leaf, Bark, and Seed Hikes: Come meet the trees in the forest at Giant City State Park in Makanda. The park will host Leaf, Bark and Seed Hikes on Oct. 22 and 29. Each hike is from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants will discover why leaves change color and ways to identify trees after leaves fall. Meet at the Giant City Visitor Center for the hikes. Phone [phone] for more information.

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Horseshoe Lake trapping: Six trapping permits will be awarded at a public drawing Oct. 24 at the site headquarters of Horseshoe Lake State Park, 3321 Highway 111, Granite City. Registration for the drawing will begin at 10 a.m. at the park office and the drawing will be at 11 a.m. Four permits will be allocated for Horseshoe Lake State Park. The remaining two permits will be allocated to the satellite site -- the Gabaret, Mosenthein and Chouteau Island area. Statewide regulations will be in effect for this area, including beaver trapping through March 31, 2006. For more information about trapping opportunities, contact Horseshoe Lake State Park at [phone].

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Beaver Dam trapping permits: Two trapping permits will be awarded at a public drawing Oct. 29 at the site headquarters of Beaver Dam State Park, 14548 Beaver Dam Lane, Plainview. Registration for the drawing will begin at 10 a.m. at the park office and the drawing will be at 11 a.m. Trapping will be permitted from the statewide opening until Jan. 20, 2006, except beaver trapping, which is allowed through March 31, 2006. For more information about trapping opportunities, contact Beaver Dam State Park at [phone].

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ICF Youth Scholarship program: The Illinois Conservation Foundation is accepting nominations for the annual Youth Conservation Scholarship program. Ten high school juniors or seniors -- one female and one male from each of the five Illinois Department of Natural Resources regions -- will be selected. Students who have made significant contributions or exhibited unparalleled dedication in preserving, promoting, enhancing or supporting natural resources conservation are eligible. Each student selected will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Applicants must be Illinois residents, members of the high school class of 2006 or 2007, and must be nominated by a natural resource constituency group, community leader, school administrator, teacher or adult mentor. The deadline to apply is Oct. 31. Those selected will be presented with the scholarships at the annual Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet at The Mark of the Quad Cities in Moline on March 4, 2006. The scholarship program is supported through funds raised at the banquet. For more information, call [phone]. Nomination forms are available at www.ilcf.org.

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Celebrity Quail Hunt: Hunters and other supporters of the youth hunting programs are invited to participate in the 12th annual Illinois Conservation Foundation Celebrity Quail Hunt on Nov. 6-8 at Rend Lake Resort, Whittington. The hunting package includes lodging, meals, refreshments, hunting guides, shells, gifts, and a sporting clays, trap and five-stand competition. Individual hunt packages are just $500. Celebrities who have attended the event include Kurt Becker, Mark Clark, Danny Cox, Jackie Smith, Whitey Herzog, Mike Shannon, Tim Norman, and Jim Thome. All proceeds benefit the foundation's extensive youth hunting programs and activities. For reservation information, phone Bob Ruff at [phone] or visit www.ilcf.org.

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Deer changes at Ray Norbut: One-day standby permits will no longer be available for the firearm portion of the deer season at Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area in Pike County. Deer hunting opportunities for the regular firearm season will be limited to hunters who received a permit in the "special hunt area" category of the regular lottery drawing. No changes will occur in the archery or muzzleloader seasons at Ray Norbut SFWA. Additional acreage will be open on the site for the late winter season in January. The formerly closed "eagle roost zone" will be open during the January season. For more information, contact the Pittsfield office of the Department of Natural Resources at [phone].

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Boat access project: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded the city of Alton $499,200 from the Boating Infrastructure Grant program for improvements at the Alton Marina. The grant program in Illinois is administered by the Department of Natural Resources. The Alton project consists of the construction of an additional 36 transient boat slips at the marina and an extension to the existing breakwater. Funds for the program come from federal excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels through the Sport Fishing and Boating Safety program and can provide up to 75 percent of an approved project's cost. The program is intended to enhance boating for transient, nontrailerable recreational boats -- those 26 feet long or longer.

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Remember to register with HIP: Illinois hunters are reminded of the requirement to register with the Harvest Information Program before hunting. Those who hunt ducks, coots, geese, brant, doves, woodcock, rails and snipe are required to participate in the program. Hunters may register online through the Department of Natural Resources website or by going to www.wetland.net. Hunters may also call 1 (800) WETLAND [1 [phone]] to register.

[Illinois Department of Natural Resources news release]

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