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Illinois Department of Natural Resources news bits

[JAN. 24, 2007] 

2007 Licenses Available Jan. 15: Illinois fishing, hunting and sportsmen combination licenses for 2007 will be available starting Jan. 15 from DNR Direct license and permit vendors, online through the IDNR web site or go directly to: https://www1.wildlifelicense.com/il/start.php, or by calling 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648). DNR Direct makes buying licenses, habitat stamps, and waterfowl stamps convenient and easy. By going online, license buyers can use American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa or E-Check and print the license or receipt -- and the system is available 24 hours a day. The new IDNR license year begins April 1. The 2007 licenses purchased beginning Jan. 15 will be valid through Mar. 31, 2008.

Commercial Licenses on DNR Direct -- Jan. 15: Select IDNR commercial licenses for 2007 will be available through DNR Direct -- the IDNR automated license, permit and registration system
-- beginning Jan. 15. The following commercial licenses will be available from DNR Direct license and permit vendors, online through the IDNR web site at https://www1.wildlifelicense.com/il/start.php, or by phone toll-free at 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648):

Fur Bearing Animal Breeder
Wild Game and Bird Breeder Class A
Wild Game and Bird Breeder Class B
Resident Mussel Dealer
Non-Resident Mussel Dealer
Resident Retail Fish Dealer
Resident Wholesale Fish Dealer
Resident Retail Minnow Dealer
Resident Wholesale Minnow Dealer
Non-Resident Fish Dealer
Fur Tanner or Dyer
Taxidermy
Processed Wild Game Dealer
Ginseng Grower
Resident Ginseng Dealer
Non-Resident Ginseng Dealer

Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet: Tickets are now available for the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet on Feb. 3 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. The event opens with a social hour at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $50 and are available by calling the Illinois Conservation Foundation at 217/785-2003. The Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame inductees to be honored at the banquet are the late Carl Becker, Jared Garver, John Kidd, Jr., and Dr. Glen Sanderson. Organizations and corporate supporters being honored include John Deere, the Friends of the Outdoors, Magro's Processing, and Turasky Meats.

Special Edition of OutdoorIllinois: The January 2007 issue of OutdoorIllinois, the IDNR monthly magazine, is devoted entirely to the threatened and endangered species of Illinois. This illustrated, one-of-a-kind magazine provides a comprehensive overview of rare plant and animal communities around Illinois. Featured plant and animal species and habitats include rare orchids and eared false-foxglove... cave amphipods, redspotted sunfish and Indiana bats... Algific slopes, fens, cliff communities and much more. OutdoorIllinois is an indispensable guide to Illinois' natural, cultural and recreational resources at $15 for a one-year subscription. Call 1-800-720-3249 or visit http://www.ilcf.org to subscribe. VISA and MasterCard are accepted.

OutdoorIllinois to Schools: On behalf of the IDNR, the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board, and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission -- and with a grant from the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund -- nearly 3,800 Illinois school libraries will receive a complimentary issue of OutdoorIllinois magazine. This special issue -- devoted entirely to the threatened and endangered species of Illinois -- represents an illustrated, one-of-a-kind reference for students seeking a comprehensive overview of rare plant and animal communities around Illinois. To make the information readily accessible to students, PDF versions of the magazine pages may be downloaded at no cost at www.dnr.state.il.us/OI. As Illinois' premier monthly magazine for the outdoors enthusiast, OutdoorIllinois can also become a regular part of a school's environmental education curriculum. For the discount rate of just $10, schools can receive 12 full-color issues of the award-winning OutdoorIllinois magazine, the official magazine of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Call 1-800-720-3249 or visit http://www.ilcf.org to subscribe.

Pere Marquette Bald Eagle Programs: Have you ever seen our national bird, the bald eagle? Soaring on a 6- to 7-and-a-half foot wing span, eagles are magnificent. Pere Marquette State Park in Jersey County is host to these seasonal visitors.

Eagles may be spotted in the treetops along the Illinois River throughout the winter. Join site staff at Pere Marquette State Park for informative programs about bald eagles this winter. All programs will begin at the park's visitor center at 8:30 a.m. with a short video presentation followed by an observational drive to view the wintering bald eagles. Dress warmly, have a full tank of gas, and bring binoculars. Dates for these bald eagle programs at Pere Marquette State Park are: Jan. 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31; Feb. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 20, 25, 27 and 28. Reservations are required. Please make reservations at 618/786-3323.

Campground Hosts: The IDNR is looking for campground hosts for the 2007 camping season. Campground hosts assist campers, answer questions, collect camping fees, encourage compliance with park regulations, and report emergencies. Applicants must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver's license and agree to work 35 hours per week (usually over a five-day period) for a minimum of four weeks. Weekend and holiday duty is mandatory. Compensation is $1 per day for the days worked. Campground hosts need to provide their own camping equipment. More than 50 state campgrounds use campground hosts. Applications are available by contacting the sites directly, by contacting coordinator Barb Foster at 217/785-8129, or by downloading an application though the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us.

ICF Check-Off: There is a new, easy way to support fishing and hunting programs in Illinois through the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) donation check-off option offered on DNR Direct, the IDNR automated license, permit and registration system. Users of DNR Direct are now offered the option of including a voluntary donation of $3.00 or more to the ICF to support fishing and hunting programs and projects throughout the state. The new check-off contribution option is available at the more than 800 DNR Direct license and permit vendor locations throughout Illinois -- and as a pop-up option on DNR Direct online through the IDNR web site (www.dnr.state.il.us). Those using DNR Direct through the toll-free telephone system at 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648) can also designate a donation to the ICF as part of their transactions.

INPC Meeting: The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission will meet on Tues., Feb. 6 at the Emmerson Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield at 10 a.m. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, phone [phone].

Starved Rock Eagle Watch Weekend: Bald eagles are the attraction on the Illinois River in LaSalle County during Bald Eagle Watch Weekend, Jan. 27-28 at Starved Rock State Park and the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center near Utica. Enjoy eagle watching and birds of prey programs at the Starved Rock Lodge. For information, phone [phone] or 815/667-4054.

Application Deadline Jan. 31 for Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program: The Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant from the IDNR Division of Education has a new annual application deadline of Jan. 31. A revised application form can be downloaded through the IDNR web site at www.dnr.state.il.us. Only the revised application form will be accepted.

This popular program offers funds for teachers to take students out of the classroom to study some aspect of Illinois biodiversity. The program makes awards of up to $500 per teacher available. For more information, contact the IDNR Division of Education at 217/524-4126. Funding for the program is administered by the Illinois Conservation Foundation.

Upcoming ENTICE Workshops: School teachers are encouraged to sign up for an enlightening ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) workshop this coming spring and summer. Registration is open for a wide variety of informative programs. ENTICE workshops provide expansive natural resources background information, lessons, supplemental resources and Continuing Professional Development Units. To see complete workshop details and to register, visit the Illinois Conservation Foundation web site at www.ilcf.org and click on "Education Workshop Information."

WPF Grants: Applications are now being accepted for two Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund Grant Programs administered through the IDNR Office of Resource Conservation Division of Natural Heritage. The programs are funded through a voluntary check-off designation to the Wildlife Preservation Fund on the state income tax form. The Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund Small Project Program proposals are open to all persons and may address many types of projects including management, site inventories, education or special equipment purchases.

Individual proposals are eligible for grants of up to $2,000. Proposals are also being accepted for the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund "Maintenance of Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities That Take Care of Threatened or Endangered Species Program" grants. This program is designed to keep wildlife rehabilitation facilities that take care of threatened or endangered species in a state of good repair necessary to provide safe and sanitary conditions for wildlife being cared for in the facility and for facility staff. Only persons who possess a current wildlife rehabilitation license/permit issued by the IDNR and who have provided care for threatened or endangered wildlife species during the three-year period preceding the date of their application qualify for grant funds. Individual proposals are eligible for grants of up to $2,000. Application packets include a program explanation, instructions for completing the application form and an application form. The application packet can be found on the IDNR website at http://dnr.state.il.us/grants/ or by calling 217/782-2602, or by e-mail at [e-mail]. The application deadline is April 2, 2007 at 5 p.m.

(Text copied from Illinois Department of Natural Resources news release)