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 The first lottery drawings for firearm and muzzleloader-only
deer permits are for Illinois residents only. Resident hunters
can apply in both the firearm and muzzleloader-only lotteries.
The 2015 Illinois firearm deer seasons are Nov. 20-22 (first
season) and Dec. 3-6 (second season). The 2015 muzzleloader-only
permits may be used Dec. 11-13 (and in the second firearm
season, Dec. 3-6).
Time for 2015 Licenses: Buy a 2015 Illinois hunting,
fishing, or sportsman’s combination license today. Illinois’ new
license year began April 1. Licenses for 2015 are available from
DNR Direct license and permit vendors, online through the IDNR
website, or by calling 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648). The 2015
licenses are valid through Mar. 31, 2016, unless otherwise
noted. When buying a license, add a donation to the Illinois
Conservation Foundation to support youth hunting and fishing
programs. An additional $5.00 donation to the ICF will help
recruit the next generation of outdoors enthusiasts.
Camping Reservations: Now’s the time to make campsite and
shelter reservations for many IDNR sites online through the
Reserve America website at
www.reserveamerica.com.
For more information, check the IDNR website at
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/programs/
camping/camprsvp.htm
Spring Trout Season Opens April 4: The 2015 Spring Trout
Fishing Season in Illinois will begin at 5 a.m. on Sat., April
4. The catchable trout program is made possible through the sale
of inland trout stamps to those anglers who participate.
Unless exempt, anglers must have a valid Illinois fishing
license and an inland trout stamp. A list of sites for the
spring catchable trout program is available on the IDNR website
at this link:
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/
Pages/IllinoisSpringTroutFishing
SeasonisJustAroundtheCorner.aspx
Free Fishing Days for 2015: Mark your calendars for the
2015 Illinois Free Fishing Days promotion on June 5-8.
Hunter and Boating Safety Education: Hunter Safety
Education and Boating Safety Education courses from the IDNR are
posted on the IDNR website, where class schedules are updated
frequently. The website link for all IDNR Safety Education
course information is
www.dnr.illinois.gov/safety.
Illinois Boat Owners Reminded to Check Registration: The
IDNR reminds boat owners in Illinois to check their current
three-year boat registration/decal and renew their registration
if it expires on June 30, 2015. Renewing watercraft registration
can be done online through the IDNR website at
www.dnr.illinois.gov or by phone by calling 1-866-867-3542. To
renew registration, have available the watercraft’s Illinois
registration number, the first six characters of the
watercraft’s hull ID number, the first three letters of the
registered owner’s last name, and a credit card. For details on
Illinois watercraft registration requirements and three-year
boat registration fees, check the IDNR website at
www.dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/boating.
Non-motorized watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, paddle
boats, or sail boards in Illinois, are no longer required to be
titled/registered in Illinois, unless the vessels have a motor
or sail. Non-motorized watercraft owners are required to
purchase an Illinois Water Usage Stamp for $6.00 per calendar
year (for each of their first three vessels, and $3.00 each for
any additional vessels). An agent fee of $0.50 is charged per
vessel. The 2015 Illinois Water Usage Stamp is valid through
December 31, 2015. Water Usage Stamps are available
over-the-counter from IDNR license and permit vendors. Find a
vendor through the IDNR website at
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/
LPR/Pages/LicensePermitVendors.aspx
Neandertals: The Illinois State Museum Science Series
program on April 8 is “There Are Neandertals Among Us!”
Presented by Dr. Fred H. Smith of Illinois State University, the
program examines the debate over the role of Neandertals
(commonly spelled Neanderthal) in the ancestry of modern people
-- the longest running controversy in human evolutionary
studies, and one of the oldest in science. Enjoy the free
program on Wed., April 8 at 7 p.m. at the Illinois State Museum
Research and Collections Center, 1011 East Ash in Springfield.
For more information, phone 217-782-0061.
Earth and Me: Bring the kids to the Illinois State Museum
in Springfield on Sat., April 11 for a free Super
Saturdays event “The Earth and Me.” The Earth is an incredible
planet, and it is our job to protect and preserve it. Visit the
Illinois State Museum to celebrate our home planet and learn
easy steps to better the environment. The free event is from 11
a.m.-3 p.m. on Sat., April 11 at the Illinois State Museum, 502
S. Spring St., Springfield in the State Capitol Complex.
Wingshooting Clinics: The IDNR and its partners and
co-sponsors will be holding wingshooting clinics at sites
throughout Illinois through early November this year. Most
clinics are conducted on weekends. Youth/Women’s Wingshooting
Clinics are about learning to safely shoot a shotgun at a moving
target with reasonable reliability. Girls and boys typically in
the 10-15 age group – and women of all ages – are eligible to
participate. 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. Check the wingshooting
clinic schedule online at
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/programs/
wingshooting/WingshootingDates.htm
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Becoming an Outdoors Woman: Registration is open now for the
IDNR ‘Becoming an Outdoors Woman’ Workshop on June 5-7 at the
Lorado Taft Field Campus in Oregon, Illinois. ‘Becoming an Outdoors
Woman’ workshops are designed to provide introductory instruction
and experiences in many outdoor-related activities and skills. Class
instruction is offered in a fun, non-competitive, and hands-on
environment. BOW workshops are very popular, so register early. The
cost of $225 per person includes lodging, class instruction, use of
equipment, transportation during the event, supplies and giveaways.
Registration information is online at
www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/bow.
IDNR Site Safety Reminder: Mushroom collectors and other
visitors to Illinois state parks, fish and wildlife areas, and other
IDNR-managed sites with spring turkey hunting programs in April and
May are reminded that hunting areas are closed to activities other
than spring wild turkey hunting from one-half hour before sunrise
until 1 p.m. daily during the spring turkey season. The turkey
hunting area restrictions are in place for the safety of site
visitors and hunters.
Mushroom Collecting: No license is required for mushroom
collecting in Illinois, but mushroom collectors always need
landowner permission and, on public sites, must adhere to approved
collecting regulations and hours. Collection of mushrooms is allowed
in many IDNR state parks, fish and wildlife, and other recreation
areas, but it is prohibited in any area designated as a dedicated
nature preserve. Areas under the jurisdiction of the IDNR that offer
spring turkey hunting are not open to mushroom collecting until
after 1 p.m. daily to ensure the safety of all site visitors.
Mushroom hunters are urged to call ahead to the state site they
intend to visit to learn of any site-specific regulations regarding
mushroom collecting.
Text Talks: The next Text Talk gallery discussion at the
Illinois State Museum in Springfield features artists of a variety
of media with works in the exhibition “Pro-Text: When Words Enter
Visual Art.” The discussion on Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m.
features artists Stanley Bly, Ruthann Mazrim and Kevin Veara. ISM
Assistant Director of Art and Pro-Text curator Robert Sill will
moderate the discussion. The program is free and open to the public.
The Illinois State Museum is at 502 S. Spring St., Springfield. For
more information on the Pro-Text exhibition, check the ISM website
at
http://www.museum.state.il.us/ismsites/main/
exhibitions.html?ExhibitID=293
Bubble Show: For unique free family entertainment, visit the
Dickson Mounds Museum for “Ben’s Bubble Show” on Sunday, April 19
at 1 p.m. See Ben use his bare hands to create beautiful, humorous,
and mindboggling soap bubble sculptures. Admission is free. Seating
is limited. Free tickets will be available at noon the day of the
show and may be picked up at the Dickson Mounds Museum's lobby on a
first-come, first-served basis. For more information, phone
309-547-3721. Dickson Mounds Museum is located at 10956 North
Dickson Mounds Road, Lewistown.
INPC Meeting: The next meeting of the Illinois Nature
Preserves Commission will be held on Tuesday, May 5 at 9 a.m.
at the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club, 701 North Point Road, Winthrop
Harbor, IL 60096. The meeting is open to the public. For more
information, phone 217-785-8686.
ESPB Meeting: The Illinois Endangered Species Protection
Board will meet on Friday, May 15 at 9 a.m. at the Lowell
Park Nature Center, 2114 Lowell Park Road, Dixon, IL 61021. The
meeting is open to the public. For more information, phone
217-785-8687.
Memorial Open Water Swim at Lincoln Trail State Park:
Make plans to participate or attend the annual Geoffrey Keller
Memorial Open Water Swim on Sat., June 6 at Lincoln Trail
Lake at Lincoln Trail State Park, Marshall, IL. The event will be
held in honor of the late Geoffrey Keller in support of Malignant
Hyperthermia awareness. For more information, contact the Lincoln
Trail State Park office at 217-826-2222, or check the website at
http://my.mhaus.org/events/event
_details.asp?id=580497
[Illinois Department of Natural
Resources]
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