Hunting — The Villagers Voice

Local NWTF Fundraising Banquet a Good Time for a Great Cause

July 28, 2023 by Villagers Voice

Food, fun, fellowship and fundraising are set as the main events at the annual Hunting Heritage banquet, hosted by the White Co. Wild Turkey Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) on Saturday, August 19th, at the Floral Hall on the Fairgrounds in Carmi.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Come early to enjoy a social hour before the banquet begins. Families can play games and enter raffles to win a nice selection of guns. There also will be a silent and live auction for framed art, guns, collectibles, home furnishings, outdoor equipment and more. Purchase your ticket online at events.nwtf.org/1302010-2023 or call (618) 383-2004 to reserve your tickets prior to the event. [Read more...]

Public squirrel hunting open through Sept. 15 on participating private lands

July 27, 2023 by Kathy Sands

Hunting opportunities made possible through IDNR’s Recreational Access Program

SPRINGFIELD – Public squirrel hunting opportunities are available Aug. 1 through Sept. 15 at more than 30 private land hunting sites enrolled in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ popular Illinois Recreational Access Program, commonly known as IRAP.

IDNR has leased more than 4,400 acres of private land for 2023 squirrel hunting through IRAP, creating more than 30 public access squirrel sites in 18 counties. Sites are available at no cost to participants. Hunters simply must register, sign a liability waiver, and reserve a site through IRAP’s online registration system at https://dnr.illinois.gov/conservation/irap/irapregistration.html. [Read more...]

Area hunters can earn safety certification at August classes

July 10, 2023 by Villagers Voice

Area residents will have an opportunity to learn the basic principles of safe hunting at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources hunter safety certification course. Participants must attend all 10 hours of instruction to complete the course and receive their safety certification.

The course will be offered at three times and participants must attend all three sessions: [Read more...]

Hunting Safety Course in Carmi in August

July 9, 2022 by Kathy Sands

Area residents will have an opportunity to learn basic principles of safe hunting at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources hunter safety certification course. Participants must attend all 10 hours of instruction to complete the course and receive their safety certification. [Read more...]

Rich Gurka: Deer hunting law amended and a stolen rifle

June 2, 2022 by Villagers Voice

Some recent IDNR issues:

1, Pritzker signs “Deer Rifle Hunting” Bill. Bill Number HB4386. Allows the use of a single shot centerfire rifle to harvest deer during the firearm open season set by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Adds that it is unlawful to possess or be in proximity to non-centerfire or non-single shot rifles while deer hunting. Effective January 01, 2023. [Read more...]

Illinois bobcat season concludes with 290 harvested

March 12, 2022 by Villagers Voice

The 2021-2022 Illinois bobcat season concluded Feb. 15 with 290 bobcats harvested by hunters and trappers.

A total of 174 (56%) of bobcats were taken by hunting, while trapping accounted for 116 (37%) of the harvest. Twenty-three (7%) were salvaged by permit holders from circumstances such as road kill. [Read more...]

Deer hunting seasons conclude with hunters in Illinois taking preliminary total of 147,004 deer

February 25, 2022 by Villagers Voice

Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 147,004 deer during all 2021-2022 archery and firearm seasons that concluded Jan. 16. The total preliminary deer harvest for all seasons compares with a total harvest for all seasons of 162,752 deer in 2020-2021. [Read more...]

Area Hunters Can Earn Safety Certification

January 29, 2022 by Villagers Voice