Outdoors
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 54,661 deer during the first weekend of the Illinois firearm deer season between Nov. 22-24. Comparatively, hunters took 53,348 and 52,354 deer during the first firearm weekends in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Illinois seven-day firearm deer season will conclude Dec. 5-8. Remaining 2024-2025…
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — As technological innovation continues to advance, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources cautions hunters to be mindful of rules and best practices surrounding the use of technology in the field. This includes the use of drones for recovering wildlife, artificial intelligence for reviewing hunting laws and e-bikes to access hunting sites. Drones…
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — As hunters across Illinois prepare for the upcoming firearm deer season, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources urges them to use safety harnesses when hunting from tree stands in the field. Tree stands are the No. 1 source of hunting-related accidents and fatalities in Illinois. The 2024 firearm deer season dates are…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Huckleberry Lake Park is scheduled to have 725 rainbow trout, including five “lunkers,” released into the lake on Thursday, Oct. 31. Shelby Lovelace, fishery biologist with Missouri Department of Conservation, said the trout will be transported from Montauk Hatchery that morning. The rules for trout fishing are: All other fish species in…
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QUINCY — The red tag blind drawing for Quincy Bay Waterfowl Management Area will take place Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources district office in Pittsfield. Registration begins at 10 a.m., and the drawing will take place at noon. The office is at 1252 W. Washington in Pittsfield. To participate, applicants…
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The 2024 Illinois fall trout season will open October 19 at 60 ponds, lakes and streams throughout the state. The early catch-and-release season is scheduled to open October 5. No trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites until the regular fall season opens at 5 a.m. October 19. The…
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QUINCY — Most mornings, Bill Stitchcomb wakes to his labrador retriever, Gus, pawing at the side of the bed or the smell of percolating coffee now that he has learned how to set the coffee maker to kick on automatically at 6:30 a.m. “My grandkids bought me the new coffee pot for Christmas,” he said.…
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URSA, Ill. — The sun had already started its dive toward the horizon as Armando and Cindy Gonzalez settled in to their chairs, but the fading daylight didn’t bother them. “Fresh batteries and all,” Armando said as he held up the lantern he planned to use after dusk. His wife of 30 years reached into…
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois turkey hunters harvested a preliminary total of 2,006 birds during the 2024 youth season, breaking the previous harvest record of 1,733 set in 2020. The dates for this year’s season were March 30-31 and April 6-7. A total of 6,001 youth turkey permits were issued this year, compared to 5,283 in…
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The 2024 Illinois spring trout fishing season will open Saturday, April 6, at 58 ponds, lakes and streams throughout the state. An early opportunity at select trout sites — the spring catch-and-release fishing season — will open March 23. No trout may be kept during the catch-and-release period, but anglers can keep…
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ADAMS COUNTY, Ill. — Hunter safety education courses will be held on four weekends at different locations throughout Adams County in 2024. Each class will meet on from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and again from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Hunters must attend both sessions. The courses are open to all boys, girls,…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Trout harvesting can begin at Huckleberry Lake beginning Thursday, Feb. 1, with a limit of four per day. Additionally, a trout permit is required for all anglers regardless of age in addition to the prescribed fishing permit to possess and transport trout. The lake was stocked with 725 rainbow trout, including five…
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For the first time in modern Illinois history, deer hunters were allowed to use single-shot centerfire rifles in 2023 during deer firearm season. Hunting instructor Dan Stephens, a recruiter with Illinois Learn to Hunt, said that preteen hunters and folks with shoulder issues are two groups who are prime buyers for the now-legal-for-hunting centerfire rifles.…
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SPRINGFIELD – Hunters in Illinois took a preliminary total of 76,232 deer during the seven-day 2023 Illinois firearm deer season that concluded Dec. 3. Comparatively, hunters harvested 76,854 deer during the 2022 firearm season. Hunters in Adams County harvested 2,151 deer, with 1,840 harvested in Pike County. Of the 100 counties reporting, Randolph County finished…
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — As people across Illinois prepare for this weekend’s firearm deer season, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is urging hunters to use safety harnesses when hunting from tree stands in the field. Tree stands are the No. 1 source of hunting-related accidents and fatalities in Illinois. This year’s firearm deer season dates…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The red tag blind drawing for Quincy Bay Waterfowl Management Area will take place Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources district office in Pittsfield. Registration begins at 10 a.m., and the drawing will take place at noon. The office is at 1252 W. Washington in Pittsfield. To participate, applicants…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Waterfowl hunters are encouraged to mark their calendars for the upcoming waterfowl hunting blind drawings that will take place at numerous public hunting areas throughout Illinois in July and August. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will host traditional blind drawings at all sites scheduled for this hunting year. Participants are advised…
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QUINCY — The Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources is warning Illinois hunters about the impact of the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PA 102-1116). Common sporting shotguns used by snow goose hunters in Illinois no longer will be allowed on public lands as of Monday, April 10, even though snow goose season runs through April 30…
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BAYLIS, Ill. — Plans are underway for a fishing expo for youths ages 5-18 from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, April 22, at the John Wood Community College Agricultural Education Center, 37803 IL 104, in Baylis. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. The University of Illinois Extension, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and JWCC will…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The 2023 Illinois spring trout fishing season will open Saturday, April 1, at 58 ponds, lakes and streams throughout the state. An early opportunity at selected trout sites – the spring catch-and-release fishing season – will open March 18. No trout may be kept during the catch-and-release fishing period, but anglers can…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Trout at Huckleberry Lake can be harvested starting Jan. 31. The lake was stocked with 720 rainbow trout on Oct. 31, 2022. Hannibal Parks and Recreation has partnered with the Missouri Department of Conservation for management and monitoring of the fish. The other fish available for harvesting and daily limits are: Fish…
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QUINCY — Growing up, the best part of the calendar rolling into October meant hunting season was upon us and I had the opportunity to spend more time with my dad. No matter what we did outdoors, I was right by his side. That hasn’t changed in adulthood. With the archery deer season in full…
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FOWLER, Ill. — The pride and sense of accomplishment Butch Crowder saw in the sparkle in the eyes of his 10-year-old grandson Michael and the smile stretching across the youngster’s face is all the 61-year-old wanted to see. It was nearly enough to bring a grizzled hunter to tears. “Dusty,” Crowder said. “I told him…
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HULL, Ill. — How much wood, would a wood duck duck if a wood duck could duck wood? A bunch of kids at Gardner Camp probably didn’t learn the answer to that question, but they learned plenty more during a Wildlife Encounter Series session. Youth from around the area attended a wood duck banding seminar…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation has issued fishing requirements for Huckleberry Lake. Hannibal Parks and Recreation has partnered with MDC for management of the fish and fishery biologists monitor the fish stock in the pond. Trout must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught until Jan. 31, 2023. The…
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QUINCY — Country singer/songwriter Clayton Anderson feels the outdoors and country music go hand in hand. Growing up in Bedford, Ind., about 30 miles south of the Indiana University campus in Bloomington, his family spent many an hour in the wild. “We’d always go down to Salt Creek or the White River and fish around…
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BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — A 2008 study conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources showed more than 320,000 silver carp thriving near the La Grange Reach of the Illinois River. And the populations continue to grow. “We’ve had one big carp female that had around 3.2 million eggs in one batch and they can put…
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QUINCY — Jeff Remington’s 6-year-old son, Noah, noticed the gun case leaning against the cabinet near the garage door and became instantaneously curious. “Is it time to go hunting?” he asked. Not yet, but it was time to get prepped, which is why the Ruger .22 rifle was in the hard travel case. Remington made…
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QUINCY — Glenn Sanders has been synonymous with the outdoors and the opportunities afforded to youth anglers and hunters his entire life. A retired sergeant with the Illinois Conservation Police, Sanders currently is the president of the Mississippi Valley Hunters and Fishermen’s Association and arguably West-Central Illinois’ strongest advocate for wildlife resources. Sanders and Muddy…
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PIKE COUNTY, Ill. — The road morphs from asphalt to gravel to dirt as it winds between corn fields and through the trees lining the Mississippi River bottoms. You begin to wonder: Where am I? At the moment you start to think the directions are wrong and you consider turning back, you navigate a final…
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EWING, Mo. — About an hour before Bryce Cooper left his office on a Thursday afternoon, several of his co-workers became disinterested in their daily tasks and started chatting about their weekend plans. It didn’t take long before Cooper found himself sucked into the casual banter. While most of the conversation hinged on bar hopping…
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TIMEWELL, Ill. — Elise Bethel jumped out of her dad’s truck and rushed toward the lake, bouncing past some wildflowers and chasing after a butterfly she’d never catch. Jack Bethel smiled. “It couldn’t have been a more perfect moment,” he said. While his daughter dashed after the yellow butterfly, Bethel and his 12-year-old son, Ethan,…
Read Full Article KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Northeast Regional Office is ready to connect the public with nature in July. A full list of upcoming programs planned for July can be found online at mdc.mo.gov/events. Some programs require advance registration and space is limited. Unless otherwise noted, all programs are offered at the…
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QUINCY — Throughout the majority of my sports writing career, when my creativity requires recharging or it’s time to unwind my mind, I jump in my truck and spend some time exploring the countryside on county roads. Thursday, a walk through the woods was needed, so to speak. And as the sun headed for the…
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Sunshine greeted all 14 area high school teams for the Gardner Camp 3 on 3 Tournament sponsored by Ducks Unlimited. Individuals from teams of three represented their schools in .22 Rifle, Trap, and 3-D Pop-Up Archery … with the final event, a kayak relay, ending last week’s competition. The Quincy Notre Dame Blue Team finished…
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HULL, Ill. — It was a normal day like any other at State Street Bank back in 2012, with members of the Trust Department sitting in a conference room and opening the last will and testament of a client. The documents of John Willis “Jack” Gardner II were opened following his passing on August 5,…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — The return of the Hannibal Area Shooter’s Education Youth BB Gun League at the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center was an unqualified success. Travis Moore, program coordinator, said about 28 youngsters finished the program, which teaches safe firearms handling and teamwork. He said the theme for the year was “Back in Black,” which…
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What would you do if your daughter told you that all the summer camps she wanted to attend were full? Well, back in 1962, Everett Jensen donated 40 acres of his own land to the Central Illinois Conference of Methodist Churches to solve his daughter’s problem. Thus, Jensen Woods Camp was born. Located in Brown…
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Lone Elk Park in Saint Louis County, Mo., is one of the few areas in the Midwest where the American bison roams and park visitors can view them in close proximity. This photo was taken within 20 feet of the bison from inside a vehicle. Do you have a Shot of the Day you would…
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Do you have a Shot of the Day you would like to submit? Send it to Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman at mschuckman@muddyrivernews.com.
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The Illinois spring turkey opens April 11 in the North Zone, which includes Adams, Brown, Hancock and Pike counties, and runs through May 12. The Missouri spring turkey season opens April 18 and runs through May 8. Do you have a Shot of the Day you would like to submit? Send it to Muddy River…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – St. Patrick’s Day is a time to celebrate Irish culture and everything green, including leprechauns and shamrocks. While the shamrock is a well-known symbol of good luck, another interesting plant associated with good fortune is bells of Ireland, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund. An annual in the mint family,…
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Located in Macoupin County 7 miles southwest of Carlinville and situated in an oak/hickory woodland, Beaver Dam State Park offers a variety of recreational opportunities on its 750 acres. Fishing, picnicking, hiking, and tent and trailer camping are among the most popular activities. Although beaver are virtually gone from this area, the park is named…
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The Appalachian Trail covers 14 states and 2185 miles. Quincy has the Bill Klingner Trail on the north side of town that stretches from Bonansinga Drive to 24th Street. But the Quincy Area Convention & Visitors Bureau has introduced a new trail, just in time for Lent … The Tri-County Catfish Trail. Covering three counties…
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FOWLER, Ill. — The hinges creak as Buster Elliott swings the wooden door open. “I better bring some WD-40 out here with me next time,” he said. “That sounds awful.” Sure, lubricating the hinges will help, but in zero degree weather, some creaking is expected. “Don’t be afraid of the cold,” Elliott said. “You’ll be…
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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Missouri Department of Conservation naturalist Alex Homes said though the motivation may be sincere, “there’s no need to rescue wildlife during wintertime,” as each species knows how to endure Mother Nature. “They each have their own time-tested method of surviving,” he said. “The season is indeed difficult for some, but they…
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FOWLER, Ill. — Jennifer Taylor’s timing couldn’t have been better. To celebrate the new year and wash away what had been a misadventurous 2021, she decided to spend the afternoon and early evening of December 31 enjoying a wine tasting with a couple of friends. That allowed her husband, Brad, the freedom to do whatever…
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QUINCY — With the deer hunting season in Illinois heading into its final weeks, harvest totals remain significantly lower than previous seasons. The archery deer season will run through January 16 and the late-winter antlerless-only and Chronic Wasting Disease seasons in designated counties will have three more days — January 14-16. The seven-day firearms season,…
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On the opening morning of the Illinois firearms season, Quincy’s Jeff Terry was treated to a sparring match. Two bucks were fighting over territory in Adams County. After the more mature buck won and chased off the competition, Terry was able to draw him in and knock him down.
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A district championship on Friday night. A trophy buck the next morning. Last weekend turned out to be pretty prolific for Hannibal’s Trenton Cowden. A starting lineman on the undefeated Hannibal football team, Cowden helped the Pirates beat Jefferson City 47-0 on November 12 to win the Class 4 District 5 championship. The Missouri firearms…
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Hunting in Adams County during the Illinois archery season, Breiton Klingele harvested his first trophy buck on Halloween night. According his mother, Heidi Klingele, the Liberty High School senior’s monster buck “will be going on the wall!”
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QUINCY — Charlie Rodgers ventured into a local retailer figuring there was nothing he really needed, but he wanted to make sure he didn’t overlook anything before heading to deer camp. “I walked the aisles,” Rodgers said. “And I filled my cart.” A harmless stroll turned into a $165 investment. “You never want to go…
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The water rippled and the 6-year-old sitting on the bow of the boat jumped. “Fish! Fish! Fish!” he screamed. His grandfather laughed. “Yep, that was a fish,” Bruce Robinson told his grandson, Briar. “And it’s going to happen again.” A moment later, on the opposite side of the boat, another fish hit the water’s surface…
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The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is sponsoring two hunter safety education courses in Adams County this fall. The first course takes place August 20-21 at the Paloma Community Building in Paloma, while the second course is scheduled for September 17-18 at the Twin Oaks Club on Bonansinga Drive in Quincy. These are 10-hour courses,…
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