Spring Illinois Recreational Access Program Turkey Applications Out

Here at Capitol Outdoors, we say this a lot, it's that time of year again!  Yep, it's that time of year again, to apply for the turkey hunting on Illinois Recreational Access Program participants land.  Below you'll see the dates, information and how to's of applying for the IRAP hunting opportunities.

Have you ever said to yourself, I wish I had some private land to hunt on?  Well, that's what this is!  IRAP works with landowners, that have specific regulations to help make the best habitat for wildlife, and opens their land up for hunters.  Success rates are high and hunting is fierce.  

IDNR Offers 2019 Spring Turkey Hunting on Private Property Through the IRAP Public Access Program

Youth Hunters and Adult Hunters Can Apply Today

Wingshooting Clinic and Pheasant Hunt for Youth at Johnson-Sauk Trail SRA

Youth Wingshooting Clinic and Pheasant Hunt Nov. 10 at Johnson-Sauk Trail SRA

Free Event for Youth Ages 10-17 Hosted by IDNR and Local Chapters of Pheasants Forever

KEWANEE, IL – Girls and boys ages 10-17 are invited to participate in a free Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Youth Wingshooting Clinic and Pheasant Hunt on Sat., Nov. 10 at Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area near Kewanee.

Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area WIngshooting Clinic Sept. 22 - 23

Hunters Wingshooting Clinic at the Des Plaines SFWA

Sept. 22-23

WILMINGTON, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the IllinoisConservation Foundation are sponsoring a Hunters Wingshooting Clinic on Saturday and Sunday, September 22-23 at the Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area near Wilmington.

The Hunters Wingshooting Clinic at the Des Plaines SFWA in Will County consists of two 4- hour wingshooting sessions each day. Morning sessions run from 8 a.m. until 12 noon, and afternoon sessions run from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The clinic sessions are taught by instructors certified by both the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) and the IDNR. The clinics are designed primarily to improve the wingshooting skills of hunters. Hunters interested in improving their ability to hit moving targets with a shotgun are encouraged to attend. However, these wingshooting clinics are not limited only to hunters. Adults who want to learn to shoot a shotgun, or who want to improve their shotgun shooting ability, can attend. Young hunters and young clay target shooters that are at least at the novice shotgun shooting skill level will benefit by attending as well. Shotgun shooters who just want to experience shooting an interesting sporting clays course can also attend. In addition, participants will have a fun time shooting with friends or new acquaintances with similar shooting abilities.

Hunters Wingshooting Clinics are hands-on and include extensive live fire at a variety of clay target presentations on a specially-designed sporting clays course. For the two-day clinic, the sporting clays course will be set up on that part of the Des Plaines SFWA east of Interstate 55. The clay target presentations represent typical hunting scenarios. From ducks and doves to pheasants, quail and rabbits, hunters will find clay target presentations that resemble their favorite, as well as their most troublesome, shots. Since upland game, woodcock and waterfowl seasons will be right around the corner, there will be presentations typical of upland game and waterfowl hunting, as well as the elusive woodcock, to provide an opportunity for hunters to tune-up their shooting skills.

The participant-to-instructor ratio is four to one. Typically, participants are matched with others of similar shooting ability. There will be a short (approximately 10-15 minute) briefing about shotgun safety, shotgun handling and on-range safety protocols at the start of each session. Advanced registration is required, and the fee for a session is $30 per person. Registration forms for the IDNR/Des Plaines SFWA Hunters Wingshooting Clinic can be accessed at: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/wingshooting/Pages/default.aspx . Click on the dates for the clinic to access the appropriate forms. Follow the instructions on the forms.

Illinois CPOs Asking for Public's Help in White Pelican Deaths

The Illinois Conservation Police Officers are asking for the public's help in regards to five white pelicans shot at Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area in Jasper County.  Please see below for the full details provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  

White Pelicans Shot at Newton Lake in Jasper County

Illinois Conservation Police Ask for the Public’s Help in the Investigation

Picture provided by IDNR

IDNR Announces 2018 Wingshooting Schedule

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), in cooperation with its partners and co-sponsors, will conduct wingshooting clinics at sites throughout Illinois from March through mid-November. 

The clinics provide instruction and help improve the shooting skills for both beginners and experienced hunters. Most clinics are conducted on weekends at IDNR sites, cooperating gun clubs and shooting ranges, hunting preserves, and farms.

IDNR to Hold Wingshooting Clinics at Jim Edgar Panther Creek

While many of us are thinking about flipping logs or holding a stringer of crappie the IDNR has will been thinking of ways to get wingshooters outside.  This spring and summer the IDNR will be holding two wingshooting clinics at Jim Edgar Panther Creek.  These two events cover the wide range of shooting skill levels.  Below you'll find some information regarding these two events.

There are two IDNR Wingshooting Clinics scheduled at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek (JEPC) SF&WA this spring and early summer. The first is a Hunters Wingshooting Clinic on Saturday and Sunday, April 7-8th. The registration instructions and forms for this clinic can be accessed on the IDNR Wingshooting Website located on the internet at: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/wingshooting/Pages/default.aspx.

The instructions and forms for both clinics can be accessed on the Wingshooting Website by clicking on the Calendar and then clicking on the underlined dates for the JEPC Hunters Wingshooting Clinic or the JEPC Youth/Women’s Wingshooting Clinic.

Hunters wingshooting clinics are conducted in the area of the hand trap shooting range at JEPC on a sporting clays course with clay target presentations designed to represent actual hunting scenarios. Hunters and clay target shooters with novice thru advanced wingshooting skills are encouraged to attend. After a short safety briefing at the JEPC Hunter Check Station Bldg., each group of participants (typically four) spends the morning or afternoon each day shooting the sporting clays course accompanied by a certified wingshooting instructor. As noted in the attached instructions, bring 6-8 boxes (150-200 shotshells) and spend a session enhancing your wingshooting skills. If you like to shoot a shotgun, hunters wingshooting clinics are really fun!

The second JEPC Wingshooting Clinic will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 9-10th. This clinic is a Youth/Women’s Wingshooting Clinic for participants either just beginning to learn about shotgun shooting or with novice shotgun shooting skills. Registration instructions and forms are attached and can also be accessed on the IDNR Wingshooting Website (see first paragraph above). Shooting students must be at least 10 years old, and shooting students must also be at least 4 feet 6 inches tall and weigh 75 pounds to participate. Boys 16-18 must be in the beginning or novice shooting skill range. Girls 10 and older meeting the minimum height and weight requirements and women of all ages are eligible to attend. Youth/Women’s Wingshooting Clinic are free to participants, begin with a thorough firearm safety presentation at the JEPC Hunter Check Station Bldg., and include lunch for participants. Taught by IDNR and National Sporting Clays Assoc. certified wingshooting instructors, youth/women’s wingshooting clinics are a wonderful way for shooting students to learn firearm safety protocols, to learn correct shotgun shooting fundamentals, and to learn how to hit a moving clay target successfully.

Wingshooting Clinic for Youth and Women at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA on June 10-11

Capitol Outdoors covered this event last year.  Kids and adults had a great time learning about gun safety, hunting techniques and much more.  If you've been pondering taking this class. DON"T!  You'll learn a great deal and be ready for the upland game or waterfowl season.  Read about the Jim Edgar Panther Creek Wingshooting Clinic 2016.  If you're interested read the post below from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Press Office

Wingshooting Clinic for Youth and Women at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA on June 10-11

Opportunity to Learn Shotgun Shooting Safety and Skills

CHANDLERVILLE, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Foundation are sponsoring a wingshooting clinic for youth, young adults, and women on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (JEPC) near Chandlerville, IL in Cass County.

The JEPC Youth/Women’s Wingshooting Clinic is an introductory clinic designed for boys and girls ages 10-15, young adults ages 16-18 and women of all ages interested in learning to shoot or improving their ability to shoot a shotgun at moving targets. The youth/women’s clinic is provided at no cost to participants.

Youth/Women’s wingshooting clinics are about learning to safely shoot a shotgun at moving targets with reasonable reliability. The clinic starts with a shotgun safety presentation at 10:00 a.m., followed by a short small group hands-on shotgun orientation session with each group’s wingshooting instructor. The afternoon is spent in the field shooting clay targets. Shotguns and shotshells are provided. Not only do the participants learn to safely handle and shoot a shotgun, but they learn that being skilled at shooting clay targets is a lot of fun.

This clinic is taught by instructors certified by the IDNR and the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA). The participant-to-instructor ratio is four to one. Typically, participants are grouped with others of similar shooting skill ability.

Advanced registration is required. Registration forms for the JEPC Wingshooting Clinic can be accessed at https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/wingshooting/Pages/default.aspx. Once the Wingshooting Website is accessed, click on the “Calendar” button; then click on the date to access the registration forms. Follow the instructions on the forms.

Remember Enjoy the Outdoors, Good Luck and Stay Safe

                       

Wingshooting Clinic Scheduled for the World Shooting and Recreational Complex on May 13

Wingshooting Clinic Scheduled for the World Shooting and Recreational Complex on May 13

Opportunity to Learn Shotgun Shooting Safety & Skills

SPARTA, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Foundation are partnering with the Friends of the World Shooting and Recreational Complex and the National Wild Turkey Federation – Randolph County Strutters and Cutters Chapter in sponsoring a wingshooting clinic for youth, young adults, and women on Saturday, May 13 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex (WSRC) in Sparta, IL.

IDNR Announces 2017 Schedule for Wingshooting Clinics

IDNR Announces 2017 Schedule for Wingshooting Clinics

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), in cooperation with a number of partners and co-sponsors, will conduct wingshooting clinics at sites throughout Illinois this spring through mid-November.

Wingshooting clinics are intended to provide instruction and improve the shooting skills of beginners and experienced hunters. Most clinics are conducted on weekends at IDNR sites, cooperating gun clubs and shooting ranges, hunting preserves, and farms.

Is Illinois Headed for a Lead Ammunition Ban?

Is Illinois Headed for a Lead Ammunition Ban?  

Earlier this year the Department of the Interior Director issued an order pertaining to Lead Tackle.  You can read the full order here, but below is the exact words for the purpose of the order:

To establish procedures and a timeline for expanding the use of nontoxic ammunition and fishing tackle on Service lands, waters, and facilities and for certain types of hunting and fishing regulated by the Service outside of Service lands, waters, and facilities.

Waterfowl hunters have had to use steel instead of lead for some time now, but could Illinois be heading to an all out ban. We saw this coming several years ago and started using steel shot for all of our hunting.

On February 10, 2017 Senator Harmon filed SB 1985, which:

Provides that it shall be unlawful to use lead ammunition to take wildlife in State parks or natural areas. Defines "lead ammunition" as a projectile containing one or more percent lead by weight. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Sangchris State Park and Silver Springs State Park are just two examples of state facilities that have site specific rules regarding non-toxic shot for dove hunting. These small steps taken at each facility show that the State of Illinois has already started the process to ban lead ammunition.  While the impact of something like this is non-existent for waterfowl hunters.  It will be interesting to see what the impact for hunters across the state would be for deer and dove season.

What are other states doing?

For example California is on its way to a lead ammunition ban.  Currently, non-toxic ammunition is required in the eight-county historic range of the California condor. There will be a complete ban on the use of lead ammunition for any hunting purposes anywhere in the state by July 1, 2019. 

If you would like more information regarding regulations on lead ammunition in other states, click here. 

Are you in favor of a lead ammunition ban? 

Remember Enjoy the Outdoors, Good Luck and Stay Safe

                       

Wildlife CD- Lead Ammunition-100th GA - SB 1985

Wildlife CD- Lead Ammunition-100th GA - SB 1985

Senator Don Harmon (D)

Filed: SB 1985 on 2/10/2017

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that it shall be unlawful to use lead ammunition to take wildlife in State parks or natural areas. Defines "lead ammunition" as a projectile containing one or more percent lead by weight. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

• Date - Chamber -  Action
• 2/10/2017 Senate Filed with Secretary by Sen. Don Harmon
• 2/10/2017 Senate First Reading
• 2/10/2017 Senate Referred to Assignments
• 2/28/2017 Senate Assigned to Environment and Conservation
• 3/9/2017 Senate Postponed - Environment and Conservation
• 3/16/2017 Senate Do Pass Environment and Conservation; 005-003-000
• 3/16/2017 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 28, 2017
• 4/6/2017 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 25, 2017
• 4/6/2017 Senate Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Omar Aquino
• 4/6/2017 Senate Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Melinda Bush
• 4/6/2017 Senate Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford
• 4/10/2017 Senate Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Heather A. Steans
• 4/13/2017 Senate Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Patricia Van Pelt
• 4/25/2017 Senate Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro
• 4/28/2017 Senate Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 31, 2017
• 5/8/2017 Senate Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison

Remember Enjoy the Outdoors, Good Luck and Stay Safe

                       

Budget Uncertainty Affects Sparta World Shooting Complex

Budget Uncertainty Affects Sparta World Shooting Complex

 The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) decided to move the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) National Championships to Ohio.  Time will tell how the departure of the SCTP and the SASP will affect the local economy in Sparta.