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 Online Dove Permits:
Applications will be accepted July 3-16 for the second lottery for
Illinois Free Dove Hunting Permits. Applications will be accepted
from resident hunters who were unsuccessful in the first lottery, or
residents who did not apply in the first lottery. Applications will
also be accepted from non-resident hunters for the second lottery
drawing. After the second lottery permit application deadline on
July 16, hunters may apply for remaining free dove permits on a
first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8 a.m. on July 30 – Aug.
25. For more information on dove hunting permit areas and free dove
permits, check the IDNR website at
www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/dove
Renew Watercraft Registration by Phone or Online:
Watercraft owners in Illinois are reminded that boat registrations
(except for non-powered watercraft) are good for three years and
have expiration dates of June 30. Watercraft owners can renew
registration online at
https://www.il.wildlifelicense.com/vehicle.php?action=vehiclelkup
or by phone by calling 1-866-867-3542. When renewing, watercraft
owners should have handy their Illinois registration number and hull
identification number (located on the registration card) and pen and
paper to record their confirmation number.
Non-motorized watercraft, canoes, kayaks and paddle boats in
Illinois are no longer required to be titled or registered in
Illinois Non-motorized watercraft owners are now required to
purchase a Water Usage Stamp for $6.00 per calendar year for each of
the first three vessels, and $3.00 each for any additional vessels
(plus an agent fee of $.50 will be charged per vessel). The annual
stamps expire on December 31 each year. Water Usage Stamps are
available from all DNR Direct license and permit vendors. Check on
DNR Direct vendor locations at this link:
http://dnr.illinois.gov/DNRDirectMonitor/
VendorListing.aspx
Endangered and Threatened Species Notice:
The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board is accepting
comments and evidence regarding the Board’s preliminary decisions
for revision of the Illinois Lists of Endangered and Threatened
Animal and Plant Species. The Board will receive written comments
through July 11, 2014. Directions about how to submit comments and
evidence via email, as well as a complete list of the Board’s
proposed changes and additional references, including the current
list of endangered and threatened species approved in 2011, can be
accessed at
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/espb/index.htm.
To request a hard copy of the list of proposed changes, other
materials, or to submit hard copy written comments, contact the
Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board, One Natural Resources
Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271.
Natural Resources Advisory Board:
The IDNR Natural Resources Advisory Board will meet on Friday, July
25 at 1:30 p.m. at IDNR Headquarters in Springfield. Agenda items
include wildlife management updates, grant program information, the
Illinois Conservation Foundation’s Torstenson Youth Conservation
Education Center, and an off-highway vehicle trails update. The
meeting is open to the public. For more information, phone
217-785-0075.
Cache River Junior Naturalists Day:
Parents and children are invited to explore the ecology and history
of the Cache River wetlands through art, hands-on learning, and
simply getting out into the wild. Children who complete the program
will become a Cache River Junior Naturalist, receiving a patch and
certificate. The event for children ages 7-15 is on Sun., July 13
from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Register at 618-634-2231. The Cache River State
Natural Area Wetlands Center is located at 8885 State Route 37
South, Cypress, IL 62923.
National Championships:
The World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, IL welcomes
the Scholastic Clay Target Program National Team Championships and
the Scholastic Pistol Program Junior/Senior Championships on July
14-19. For information, check the Scholastic Shooting Sports
Foundation website at
www.sssfonline.org
Grand American:
The Amateur Trapshooting Association’s 115th Grand
American World Trapshooting Championships are scheduled for Aug.
6-16 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, IL.
Check the ATA website for details at
www.shootata.com
Oregon Trail Days Festival at Lowden State Park:
Visit Oregon, Illinois during the annual Oregon Trail Days Festival
at Lowden State Park on July 19-20. The event celebrates the
region’s Native American heritage, highlighted by Lorado Taft’s
Eternal Indian statute, a Rock River bluff landmark at Lowden State
Park that was dedicated in July 1911. Proceeds from the festival
will assist in the restoration of the iconic statue. The $7 per
person entry fee includes parking (children 6 and under admitted
free). For details on the Oregon Trail Days Festival, check the
website at
www.oregontraildays.org.
Conservation World:
Make plans now to attend the 2014 Illinois State Fair and visit
Conservation World on the state fairgrounds, Aug. 8-17.
Conservation World features nearly 30 acres of family activities
including fishing, archery, and family entertainment, plus expert
information on habitat enhancement, state parks, wildlife, fish, and
forestry. Conservation World is open weekend days from 10 a.m. – 7
p.m. and weekdays from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. throughout the state fair in
Springfield.
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Becoming an Outdoors Woman Workshop:
The IDNR invites women to register now for the next ‘Becoming an
Outdoors Woman’ workshop, Sept. 26-28 at Pere Marquette State Park,
Grafton. BOW workshops are designed to provide introductory
instruction in outdoor-related activities. Classes are conducted in
a casual and non-competitive atmosphere by experienced instructors.
The cost is $170 per person, which includes the workshop, meals,
class supplies and equipment, overnight lodging, prizes and more.
Registration is limited, so sign up today. Workshop and
registration materials can be found on the IDNR website at
www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/bow
Camping Reservations:
Summer is a great time for camping in Illinois. Make campsite and
shelter reservations for many IDNR sites online through the Reserve
America website at
www.reserveamerica.com
using a Visa or MasterCard. For more information, check the IDNR
website at
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/programs
/camping/camprsvp.htm
Wingshooting Clinics: Wingshooting
clinics will be conducted at sites throughout Illinois through early
November. Most clinics are conducted on weekends. Wingshooting
clinics are held on IDNR sites, cooperating gun clubs, hunting
preserves, and farms. Wingshooting clinics for youth (age 10-15)
and women provide instruction on safely firing a shotgun at a moving
target with reasonable reliability. Hunter wingshooting clinics are
hands-on, and include extensive live fire at a variety of clay
target presentations on sporting clays courses specifically designed
for teaching typical hunting situations. For the wingshooting
clinic schedule and more information, check the IDNR website:
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/programs
/wingshooting/wingshootinghome.htm
Satur-Play for Kids:
Every Saturday is Satur-Play! at the Illinois State Museum
in Springfield, with fun science experiments and art projects for
children and families. From 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturdays in July,
kids can create engineer a paper toy boat on July 19, and use
gelatin as a printmaking plate on July 26. Activities are free.
For more information, call 217-782-5955 at the Illinois State
Museum, 502 South Spring, Springfield.
French-Canadian Settlement Archaeology:
The Illinois State Museum’s monthly science series program for July
is “The Louis Blanchette Site: A Circa-1770 French-Canadian
Settlement” on Wed., July 9 at 7 p.m. Dr. Steve J. Dasovich of
Lindenwood University presents information on the French Colonial
Colonel Louis Blanchette site in St. Charles, MO. The program is
free at the ISM Research and Collections Center, 1011 East Ash St.,
Springfield, IL. For more information, phone 217-782-0061.
Super Saturdays:
“The Secret Life of Prairies” is the ‘Super Saturdays’ children’s
program at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield on Sat., July 12
from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Illinois was known as the Prairie State because
over half of it was once covered by tallgrass prairies. Now, less
than 1% of the prairie is left. From wildflowers to herds of bison,
kids can learn the secrets of our tallgrass prairies. For more
information, phone 217-782-6044.
Summer Fun Fridays:
Dickson Mounds Museum near Lewistown is hosting a summer program
series for kids ages 9 - 11 years old on Fridays in July. The
‘Summer Fun Fridays’ series will be offered July 12, 19, and
26 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. with a different topic featured each
week. Call the Dickson Mounds Museum at 309-547-3721 to register.
Photos Needed from Kids for Conservation®:
IDNR is reviving the Kids for Conservation® program in an online
format, launching the program in August by featuring monarch
butterflies. Interested kids are asked to send in images of monarch
butterflies (all life stages) in Illinois, and the images will be
posted on the new Kids for Conservation® webpage – and at
Conservation World at the Illinois State Fair in August. Photos must
be taken in Illinois by an Illinois youth. The photos should not
include people. The images will be posted with the first name and
age of the photographer with each photograph, so please include that
information (no more than three images per youth). Images should be
emailed to
dnr.teachkids@Illinois.gov
Living with Wildlife:
The IDNR and UI Extension have teamed up to provide residents of
Illinois with information about how to coexist with wildlife,
especially in urban areas. Wildlife helps us maintain our
connection with nature. Helpful information on preventing problems
with wildlife can be found on the “Living with Wildlife in Illinois”
website at
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/
Follow the IDNR:
Keep up to date with events and information on outdoor recreation
and natural resources in Illinois through IDNR postings on Facebook
and Twitter. Find us at
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/about/Pages
/SocialNetworking.aspx
[Text received; ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT
OF NATURAL RESOURCES]
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