tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17751359260824864502024-03-15T20:09:23.757-05:00Walkin' With the Wild WomanGretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-42045316006778679702023-11-20T08:26:00.001-06:002023-11-20T08:53:14.396-06:00SAF Seeks En Banc Hearing on Illinois Gun Ban<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1v941rj6hmfG5FrIDN3VwJr4FrR-d33L591n-ktTFVYPYbCx8VL2yd23O1dteaVZXieYUK_thlVUSqsSTtr0LedNSXpCoSAxzXbQ6yrne07EAYk4WMgWT7MaE-ZUPnjeAgg5LFBR6lLyAd-eQ1lbzkOf-fGvXUAk_2qDi8JMYUTGZS3FTRBFhGaEb7s/s263/fb7f02ab-2ef2-4d46-9660-872c06f547df_246x263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="246" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1v941rj6hmfG5FrIDN3VwJr4FrR-d33L591n-ktTFVYPYbCx8VL2yd23O1dteaVZXieYUK_thlVUSqsSTtr0LedNSXpCoSAxzXbQ6yrne07EAYk4WMgWT7MaE-ZUPnjeAgg5LFBR6lLyAd-eQ1lbzkOf-fGvXUAk_2qDi8JMYUTGZS3FTRBFhGaEb7s/s1600/fb7f02ab-2ef2-4d46-9660-872c06f547df_246x263.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; font-size: 16px;">BELLEVUE, WA – Attorneys for the Second Amendment Foundation and its partners in one of three federal court actions challenging the ban on so-called “assault weapons” and their magazines in Illinois have filed a</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://saf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/141-en-banc-petition.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1700493801971000&usg=AOvVaw0juw2xbFtPOKoRt7tAEbLy" href="https://saf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/141-en-banc-petition.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #990000; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">petition for rehearing</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; font-size: 16px;">before an</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; font-size: 16px;">en banc</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; font-size: 16px;">panel of the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The consolidated cases are known as Harrel v. Raoul, Barnett v. Raoul and Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois v. Raoul. SAF is a plaintiff in the Harrel case, along with the Illinois State Rifle Association, Firearms Policy Coalition, C4 Gun Store and a private citizen, Dane Harrel, for whom the case is named. They are represented by attorneys Mark L. Shaw, Jennifer Craigmile Neubauer and Michael A. Danfore of Waukegan, Ill., and C.D. Michel and Anna M. Barvir of Long Beach, Calif, along with David Sigale of Wheaton, Ill., and David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson and William V. Bergstrom of Washington, D.C.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">“In our petition,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb, “we note how the three-judge appellate panel essentially thumbs its nose at the Supreme Court’s ruling in Bruen. Without explanation, the 2-1 appeals panel majority arbitrarily found that modern semiautomatic rifles are apparently not protected by the Second Amendment even though they clearly are protected, primarily because they are in common use and are not considered ‘dangerous or unusual’ arms. The three-judge panel opinion cannot be allowed to stand.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">“Just because the appellate panel apparently disagrees with the Supreme Court on the Second Amendment,.” added SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut, “they cannot simply reject the high court’s rulings and make up their own by subjectively determining all guns on the banned list are suitable only for military purposes and therefore are not protected by the Second Amendment. We’re hopeful a full <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">en banc</em> panel will correct this error.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Second Amendment Foundation (<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.saf.org&source=gmail&ust=1700493801971000&usg=AOvVaw15C1NBFwBj1lpo546NG5BZ" href="http://www.saf.org/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">www.saf.org</a>) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 720,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.</em></p>Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-69257860212650200542023-04-07T09:17:00.002-05:002023-04-07T09:17:42.518-05:00School habitat projects to receive funding through IDNR’s Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Grant program<p> </p><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-fm1F7FVusUO4JMHjtW1UOusRtlocWay1MPhSlwaMAMwYLUV4vd3mubmTdFDbl_Gl_NZb7owJ7Xx1pTNzkh64KEWarxT8FjX0Nekmrg5fsZl9JxrxzBWXtBUodKVHPC1BEXW0QlffgG4KmnBV9GJ7WZhh2o-imQJnGW4zj0pHz2OYIsJ_JUKQBQR/s1024/gretchen_steele_robber_fly-5007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-fm1F7FVusUO4JMHjtW1UOusRtlocWay1MPhSlwaMAMwYLUV4vd3mubmTdFDbl_Gl_NZb7owJ7Xx1pTNzkh64KEWarxT8FjX0Nekmrg5fsZl9JxrxzBWXtBUodKVHPC1BEXW0QlffgG4KmnBV9GJ7WZhh2o-imQJnGW4zj0pHz2OYIsJ_JUKQBQR/w400-h266/gretchen_steele_robber_fly-5007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><strong style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></strong></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><strong style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">SPRINGFIELD –</strong><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Seventeen Illinois schools have been awarded Schoolyard Habitat Action grants totaling $15,700 from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Conservation Foundation.</span></h2><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program supports the development or enhancement of wildlife habitat, such as pollinator gardens and other projects, on school grounds or other public places. Funding is provided through donations to the Illinois Conservation Foundation. The Jadel Youth Fund and the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation are the major sponsors of the program.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program provides children and educators with an opportunity to increase the use of native plants in landscapes while benefiting wildlife species,” <strong>said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie</strong>. “By participating in these projects, students learn their efforts can make a positive difference in the world, and they gain experience in problem-based learning through planning, developing, and maintaining the habitat.”</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Nearly $360,000 in Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant funding has been distributed since the program began.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“We want school children to learn about nature through hands-on experiences,”<strong> Finnie said</strong>. “It’s our goal to have Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program projects developed in every county of the state and eventually at every school. So far, we have supported projects in 86 of Illinois’ counties.”</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Applications will be accepted soon for the next round of the program, with an application deadline of Nov. 30, 2023. Visit <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/grantsshag.html&source=gmail&ust=1680962634632000&usg=AOvVaw38w979jkkMpeRKUzzlQxn2" href="https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/grantsshag.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://dnr.illinois.gov/<wbr></wbr>education/grantsshag.html</a> to access the application form and related information or email <a href="mailto:dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov.</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The latest Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant awardees are:</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Champaign County</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Gerber School, Urbana School District #116, Urbana. Sixth through 12th grades. Pollinator garden, $367.58.</li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Clinton County</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Bartelso Grade School, Bartelso. Fifth through eighth grades. Standard pollinator garden, $1,000.</li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Cook County</strong></div><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Congress Park Elementary School, Brookfield. Sixth grade. Birds and butterflies pollinators garden, $1,000.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Congress Park Elementary School, Brookfield. Sixth grade. Standard pollinator garden, $1,000.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Galileo Scholastic Academy, Chicago. Sixth through seventh grades. Standard pollinator garden, $480.91.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">George B. Swift Specialty School, Chicago. Kindergarten through fifth grades. Woodland habitat, $1,000.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Lenart RGC, Chicago. Third through eighth grades. Birds and butterflies pollinators garden, $997.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">North-Grand High School, Chicago. Ninth through 12th grades. Standard pollinator garden, $994.52.</li></ul><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Crawford County</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Palestine High School, Palestine. Ninth through 12th grades. Woodland habitat, $1,000.</li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>DuPage County</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Arbor View Elementary School, Glen Ellyn. Third grade. Standard pollinator garden, $981.73.</li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Grundy County</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Prairieland Kids Daycare and Learning Center, Morris. Pre-kindergarten. Standard pollinator garden, $973.30.</li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Kendall County</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Grande Park Elementary PTA, Plainfield. Fifth grade. Standard pollinator garden, $970.</li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Lake County</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Libertyville High School, Libertyville. Ninth through 12th grades. Pollinators wetland, $1,000.</li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Morgan County</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Meredosia-Chambersburg High School, Meredosia. Standard pollinator garden, $990.40.</li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Peoria County</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Oak Grove School District 68, Bartonville. Seventh through eighth grades. Standard pollinator garden, $1,000.</li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>St. Clair County</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Carriel Junior High, O’Fallon. Seventh grade. Standard pollinator garden, $1,000.</li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Will County</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Elwood CCDE #203, Elwood. Fifth through eighth grades. Standard pollinator garden, $1,000.</li></ul></div>Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-2297604073556347712023-01-06T18:17:00.003-06:002023-01-06T18:23:54.949-06:00 IDNR Director Colleen Callahan announces departure<p><br /></p><br /><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-left: 1.15pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Callahan is the first woman to
lead the Illinois Department of Natural Resources <br /><br /><br /></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBYZMgLgwuG6qMsZKtDCP3JbOoTff3Qs_E20bKWkPteR5uJxWJMLcXhnAY6qR7JhLNv0_A1RGl0L9d82HrhfVyFTPdtUMYyXtMsVnERmM5luoU9qWRuM-odM9230w2coy2fyp0Dnh4xcGW3QG-V4ONoD93kV5FN9PfWxXgL1S5q1hZwxARbl5Dkys/s1024/Gretchen%20Steele%20Illinois%20Caverns%20-3476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBYZMgLgwuG6qMsZKtDCP3JbOoTff3Qs_E20bKWkPteR5uJxWJMLcXhnAY6qR7JhLNv0_A1RGl0L9d82HrhfVyFTPdtUMYyXtMsVnERmM5luoU9qWRuM-odM9230w2coy2fyp0Dnh4xcGW3QG-V4ONoD93kV5FN9PfWxXgL1S5q1hZwxARbl5Dkys/w640-h426/Gretchen%20Steele%20Illinois%20Caverns%20-3476.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Director Callahan at the reopening of the ling shuttered Illinois Caverns State Natural Area</td></tr></tbody></table><i><br /></i><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.25pt;">SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department
of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Colleen Callahan will step down from her
post on Jan. 16 after nearly four years leading the state agency charged with
managing, conserving and protecting Illinois’ natural and cultural resources. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.25pt;">Callahan has served as director
since March 1, 2019, when she was appointed by Gov. JB Pritzker. During that
time, she guided the agency through a global pandemic, which resulted in
millions of visitors seeking to nurture their physical and mental health in the
outdoors at Illinois’ nearly 400 state parks, natural areas, and historic
sites. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.25pt;">During her time at IDNR, Callahan
oversaw efforts to develop a strategic plan for the agency, with a focus on
positioning IDNR as a leader on reducing the state’s carbon footprint and
mitigating the effects of climate change. A climate action plan is currently
under review and set to be released in early 2023. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.25pt;">Callahan also ushered the agency
into a new era of diversity, equity and inclusion, and she led the launch of <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.25pt;">Copi – a new brand name for
invasive carp designed to spark consumer interest in the plentiful fish found
in Illinois waterways. Since IDNR’s Enhanced Contract Fishing Program was
established in 2019, commercial fishers have removed more than 9.4 million
pounds of invasive carp from the Illinois River. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.25pt;">In 2022, Callahan advocated for
IDNR to receive its largest state budget in 20 years to address long overdue
improvements at state sites and to offer the largest round of Open Space Land
Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grants in the history of the agency. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.25pt;">Also during her tenure at IDNR,
Callahan was named president of the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies (MAFWA) and vice president of the national Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies (AFWA). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.25pt;">Prior to her appointment as IDNR
director, Callahan served as state director of Illinois’ Rural Development for
the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She broke glass ceilings in broadcast media
as the first female agribusiness director for WMBD Radio and Television in
Peoria. Her 30-year career at WMBD led her to the National Association of Farm
Broadcasters, where she served as the first female president of the
organization and was the first woman inducted into their Hall of Fame. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.25pt;">Callahan is a graduate of the
University of Illinois with a degree in agriculture communications. She and her
husband, Dick, raise cattle and grow corn and soybeans on their farm in Peoria
County. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.25pt;">IDNR manages nearly 400 state
parks, recreational and natural areas, historic sites, the Illinois State
Museum, and the World Shooting and Recreational Complex. The agency’s offices
and divisions include the offices of Resource Conservation, Land Management,
Water Resources, Coastal Management, Nature Preserves, Historic Preservation,
Mines and Minerals, Oil and Gas Resource Management, the Illinois Conservation
Police, and more. <o:p></o:p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnUVw9FhGRv6S_Fgo6NzKRGZilsd94ZibdNIY8kcec2nS7oopR9wTQcMeBJpS98P5BnWudNavwBibGtlSuq3z6Zta9WuBvSg2X_RYXfpMx8CFmOV8T0MOCBtogYZXjQChmp4q6nUfYVMTH_6_8aB6dEf629NUGABEG8AholzMJKpJVWruwKwvW_iB/s1024/Gretchen%20Steele%20Illinois%20Caverns%20-3476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnUVw9FhGRv6S_Fgo6NzKRGZilsd94ZibdNIY8kcec2nS7oopR9wTQcMeBJpS98P5BnWudNavwBibGtlSuq3z6Zta9WuBvSg2X_RYXfpMx8CFmOV8T0MOCBtogYZXjQChmp4q6nUfYVMTH_6_8aB6dEf629NUGABEG8AholzMJKpJVWruwKwvW_iB/s320/Gretchen%20Steele%20Illinois%20Caverns%20-3476.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-19758300947910571212022-11-30T08:00:00.002-06:002022-11-30T08:00:45.403-06:00Suspected Avian Flu Outbreak in SW Illinois <p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">IDNR monitoring suspect outbreaks of avian influenza during fall waterfowl migration<br /><br /><br /></span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9TGOfPfwD5qFIYw4-SLj_A-OVvt0QPP-cG-eVlI74KZ5scpAPfGxD-fvmFTQTBrXUwCKI0x6nc2ZB28w_7amxvtGGFHnqWH1YRPwalynI0a60lFfeRq_482cEMaYsHOHXJSOU6F0Wbjr9QPnFtv3bI2DOoMG__k_tO06pNC8ON1TuAWkp3Lhsp3j/s2048/Gretchen%20Steele%20suspected%20avian%20flu%20utbreak%2011282022-5649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9TGOfPfwD5qFIYw4-SLj_A-OVvt0QPP-cG-eVlI74KZ5scpAPfGxD-fvmFTQTBrXUwCKI0x6nc2ZB28w_7amxvtGGFHnqWH1YRPwalynI0a60lFfeRq_482cEMaYsHOHXJSOU6F0Wbjr9QPnFtv3bI2DOoMG__k_tO06pNC8ON1TuAWkp3Lhsp3j/w640-h426/Gretchen%20Steele%20suspected%20avian%20flu%20utbreak%2011282022-5649.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) staff began receiving the first reports of unusual numbers of ill and deceased waterfowl at several southwest Illinois locations on Friday, November November 25th. Over the weekend as more hunters headed afield for traditional Thanksgiving waterfowl hunts the reports became more numerous and it was becoming clear to boots-on-the-ground staff that a significant problem was beginning to occur at Baldwin Lake, Pyramid State Recreation Area, Carlyle Lake and Rend Lake. <br /><br />DNR staff were mobilized on Monday November November 29 and Tuesday November 30th to begin collecting samples for testing and assessing the extent of the outbreak. Reports were received that the numbers of dead birds were in excess of 250 - 300 at some popular waterfowl hunting locations. In a release dated November 29, IDNR confirmed at least 300 waterbirds, primarily snow geese, had died of suspected avian influenza at public hunting areas throughout southern Illinois. At one SW Illinois site alone local hunters reported observing in excess of 270 carcasses. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Deceased wild birds have been found at Baldwin Lake, Pyramid State Recreation Area, Rend Lake, and Carlyle Lake in recent days.<br /><br />Illinois is not alone in facing this issue, similar die-offs have been noted in Missouri and Arkansas. <span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“We have seen an uptick in avian flu in the last two
weeks", said Sherri Russell, a wildlife veterinarian with the Missouri
Department of Conservation (MDC). "We were expecting it. We’re seeing
problems in Arkansas, Illinois and Missouri.”<br /><br />Currently, <b>Arkansas</b> is also requesting assistance from the public. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission <span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">is asking waterfowl hunters to remain vigilant for any concentrations of sick or dead birds they find in the wild.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 8pt; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hunters and wildlife watchers who observe concentrations of sick or dead birds should contact the AGFC’s wildlife health program with any questions, information about the species, the number of birds affected, and the location at <u style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1155cc;"><a href="mailto:agfc.health@agfc.ar.gov" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #7e8e43; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1155cc;">agfc.health@agfc.ar.gov</span></a></span></u><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #3f3f3f;">. <br /></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">In <b>Illinois</b>, IDNR is requesting similar assistance from the public. <br /><br /><i>Members of the public in Illinois are encouraged to report large concentrations of <b><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">20 or more</span> deceased birds <span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">at one location</span>. </b>Reports can be made to the local IDNR district wildlife biologist at the following link: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wildlifeillinois.org/sidebar/contact-an-idnr-district-wildlife-biologist/&source=gmail&ust=1669899607095000&usg=AOvVaw0kevsbdyjVb-Oj-QtugDdw" href="https://www.wildlifeillinois.org/sidebar/contact-an-idnr-district-wildlife-biologist/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.wildlifeillinois.<wbr></wbr>org/sidebar/contact-an-idnr-<wbr></wbr>district-wildlife-biologist/</a></i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The risk of humans contracting the disease remains low, but hunters can help further minimize that risk by following a few simple precautions.<br /><br /></span></span><p style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 8pt; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As a general precaution, hunters should use good hygiene practices when handling, cleaning and preparing harvested waterfowl.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 14pt 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Safety Guidelines for Hunters</span></span></span></span></span></p><ul style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1rem 1.25rem; padding: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Harvest only waterfowl that act and look healthy. Do not handle or eat sick animals.</span></span></span></span></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wear disposable gloves when handling and cleaning game and field dress outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water afterward.</span></span></span></span></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dispose of unwanted parts in a manner that prevents scavenging by domestic animals and wildlife.</span></span></span></span></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thoroughly cook all game to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before eating it.</span></span></span></span></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 17pt 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do not feed pets or domestic animals uncooked portions of waterfowl.</span></span></span></span></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 8pt; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Avian influenza spreads quickly through direct, bird-to-bird
contact. It can also spread to birds via contaminated surfaces and materials,
including people’s clothing, shoes, or hands. Thus, waterfowl hunters and outdoor enthusiasts should be aware and disinfect boots, shoes, gear etc. after visiting an area where ill and deceased birds have been observed. <br /></span><br />The more concerning risk associated with HPAI is its potential for spillover to domestic poultry.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 8pt; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Agricultural officials urge poultry producers to implement biosecurity measures around their flocks, especially during periods of waterfowl migration, but hunters who have contact with poultry should use extra caution. Avoid contact between poultry and wild birds or their parts. After handling waterfowl, change or clean clothing, shoes, and other equipment before coming into contact with poultry, including commercial production facilities and backyard flocks.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Best Practices for hunters can be found at this link: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/2015/fsc_hpai_hunters.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1669899607095000&usg=AOvVaw2BKSpdiJE1Udz-ttAScNsN" href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/2015/fsc_hpai_hunters.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Hunters-Protect Your Poultry and Pet Birds from Avian Influenza (usda.gov)</a>. <br /><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hunters also should avoid handling sick or dead waterfowl found in the field, and they should not allow dogs or other pets to consume waterfowl that died from unknown causes. Further guidance for hunters can be found at: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/fsc_hpai_hunters.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1669899607095000&usg=AOvVaw18lnBh8WzT2m45KnFMNJJV" href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/fsc_hpai_hunters.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.aphis.usda.gov/<wbr></wbr>publications/animal_health/<wbr></wbr>fsc_hpai_hunters.pdf</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rubber gloves and a mask should be worn when disposing of any deceased wild birds, and carcasses should be double-bagged in sealed plastic bags. The bags can be buried away from scavengers or placed in the garbage if approved by the local waste service provider.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyone handling deceased birds should thoroughly wash their hands and any other clothes or tools with soap and water following disposal.<br /></span><br /><p style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 8pt; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">More information on avian influenza information is <span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #3f3f3f;">available at </span><u style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1155cc;"><a href="http://www.agfc.com/avianflu" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #7e8e43; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1155cc;">AGFC</span></a></span></u>, <u style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://www.ducks.org/conservation/waterfowl-research-science/waterfowl-hunters-and-the-avian-flu-what-you-need-to-know?poe=waterfowl-research-&-science" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #7e8e43; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1155cc;">Ducks Unlimited</span></a></span></u>, and <u style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #7e8e43; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1155cc;">USDA APHIS’s website</span></a></span></span></u>.</span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div>Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-57316998883749504412022-07-06T06:45:00.000-05:002022-07-06T06:45:04.234-05:00IDNR announces schedule of waterfowl blind site drawings<div class="separator"><h1 style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MN31jA5h86lbtBwksAP08hRZ9sln3HHe5Mm9DQb3YdaPrwdSA_nOvnXnhEJ5CE4FuvqX2JZpxY28HhP_giCvxSk-n3Gf8D5iyQZY0OMyWuVsyA0qpX28e-y5Z7sU5EebrmL7HCoaGT3wUd5oyZwHY_Ssmucxs2rhg5XX9xJN-68YYOPk_b1794AT/w640-h427/20101229-untitled-9431-Enhanced.jpg" width="640" />IDNR announces schedule of waterfowl blind site drawings <o:p></o:p></h1></div>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .95pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Drawings to be held for
public hunting area waterfowl blind sites </span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">SPRINGFIELD –
Waterfowl hunting blind drawings will take place at several public hunting
areas in Illinois the last weekend of July, the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources (IDNR) announced today.<span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">IDNR intends to host
traditional blind drawings at all sites scheduled for this year. Participants
are advised to follow any site-specific drawing procedures.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">Duck and goose
hunters must register in person for waterfowl blind site drawings and must be
present during the drawing at each designated location immediately after the
registration period to claim their blind sites. Mail-in or pre-registrations
are not accepted. Blind allocations for these sites are good for one year.<span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">To participate in a
drawing, applicants must present a 2021 or 2022 regular Illinois hunting
license (no apprentice licenses or youth licenses will be accepted unless the
youth license holder also presents hunter safety certification); a 2021 or 2022
Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp at the time they register, unless exempted
by law; and a valid photo identification. Applicants must be at least 16 years
old by the date of the drawing.<span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Applicants needing
to purchase new licenses and stamps should do so prior to the drawing. Most
blind drawing locations will not have license sales available. Licenses and
stamps are available at any IDNR license and permit vendor, through the IDNR
website at </span><a href="http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">www.dnr.illinois.gov</span></a><a href="http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;"> </span></a><span style="text-indent: 0in;">or by calling 1888-6-PERMIT
(1-888-673-7648).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">Registrants are no
longer required to possess a valid Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification
(FOID) card from the Illinois State Police to participate in blind drawings. To
be eligible for the drawing, participants must not have had his or her hunting
privileges suspended or revoked by the IDNR or any other jurisdiction at the
time of the drawing. Out-of-state residents must have an annual (five-day
licenses not accepted) 2021 or 2022 non-resident hunting license for Illinois
and a 2021 or 2022 Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp.<span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">Individuals with a
disability precluding them from hunting from a waterfowl blind may be
accommodated through the issuance of a Standing Vehicle Permit from IDNR.
Please visit the following link for an application: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 103%; margin-bottom: .5pt; margin-left: -.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5pt;"><a href="https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/LPR/Documents/StandingVehiclePermitApplicationForm.pdf"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/LPR/Documents/StandingVehiclePermitApplicationForm.pdf</span></a><a href="https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/LPR/Documents/StandingVehiclePermitApplicationForm.pdf"><span style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;"> </span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: .7pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<h2>2022 blind drawings schedule</h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">Saturday, July 30,
2022 – Blinds allocated for one year. All registration times are 10 a.m. to 2
p.m.<span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 2.35pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Chain O’ Lakes State Park and Redwing
Slough/Deer Lake State Natural Area, Lake County:</b> Registration for both
sites at Oak Point day use area, 1/5 mile east of the Fox River on the south
side of Illinois 173. Hunters will be allowed to register for only one of the
two sites. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area,
Will County:</b> Registration at the site office, two miles northwest of Wilmington
off exit 241 from Interstate 55. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 103%; margin-bottom: .5pt; margin-left: 35.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Kankakee River State Park and Momence
Wetlands, Kankakee and Will counties:</b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">Registration for
both sites at the Kankakee River State Park office, five miles northwest of
Bourbonnais on Illinois 102. Hunters will be allowed to register for only one
of the two sites. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area,
Grundy County:</b> Registration at the site office, 7705 E. Huston Road,
Braceville (just off Illinois 53, two miles southeast of Braceville). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, DeKalb
County:</b> Registration at the park office. Directions: Go 2½ miles south of
Shabbona on Shabbona Road, turn east on Shabbona Grove Road and go ½ mile.
Office is on left side of the road. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Sinnissippi Lake, Whiteside County:</b>
Registration at Harry Oppold Marina on Stouffer Road on the east edge of
Sterling. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>William Powers State Recreation Area, Cook
County:</b> Registration at Shelter No. 2, 126th St. and Ave. 0, Chicago. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">Sunday, July 31,
2022 – Blinds allocated for one year.
All registration times are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. <span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area,
Fulton County:</b> Registration at the area check station, 13½ miles southwest
of Havana on Illinois 100. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Clear Lake, Mason County:</b> Registration
at Sand Ridge State Forest headquarters, 25799E County Road 2300N, Forest City.
Phone 309-597-2212. Follow the signs from Manito or Forest City. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Lake DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area,
Bureau County:</b> Registration at Oak Grove Park, ¾ mile west of DePue on
Illinois 29. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 103%; margin-bottom: .5pt; margin-left: 35.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area,
including the Sparland Unit, Marshall County:</b> Registration at the area
check station, five miles south of Lacon on Illinois 26.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 103%; margin-bottom: .5pt; margin-left: 35.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 103%; margin-bottom: .5pt; margin-left: 35.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 103%; text-indent: -0.25in;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area,
Fulton County:</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Registration at the area check station, three miles south of
Banner on Route 24.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 103%; margin-bottom: .5pt; margin-left: 35.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 36.1pt; margin-left: 35.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 103%; text-indent: -0.25in;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area,
Cass and Mason counties:</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Registration on the east side of the maintenance
building, two miles north of Chandlerville on Illinois 78 (follow the signs to
Sanganois).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 36.1pt; margin-left: 35.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 103%; text-indent: -0.25in;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
and Pekin Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Tazewell County:</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Registration
at the south park office area, two miles north of Manito on County Road 16
(Manito Road) and eight miles west and south on Spring Lake Road.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 36.1pt; margin-left: 35.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 103%; text-indent: -0.25in;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Starved Rock State Park, Lasalle County:</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
Registration at Buffalo Rock State Park (large picnic shelter area). Three
miles west of Ottawa on Dee Bennett Road.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; line-height: 103%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area,
Woodford County:</b> Registration at Johnson’s Grove Park, 500 block of Park
Street, Lacon. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .3in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Additional hunting information and maps of the sites can be accessed at </span><a href="https://huntillinois.org/hunt-planner" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://huntillinois.org/hunt</span></a><a href="https://huntillinois.org/hunt-planner" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">https://huntillinois.org/hunt-planner</a><a href="https://huntillinois.org/hunt-planner" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">planner</span></a><a href="https://huntillinois.org/hunt-planner" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;"> </span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">and </span><a href="https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/FactSheets/Pages/default.aspx" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/FactSheets/Pages/default.aspx</span></a></div>Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-58361737398153535002022-01-26T03:25:00.019-06:002022-05-09T10:11:34.683-05:00Spring Legislative Update - Bills that impact outdoor enthusiasts<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXh5lOQ2b00lmutspMIFjYxkBY_Q_YYtOkLww4mAwbGDl5q4ODnXWRvxGlWqFaymLD7GQoE1BgXIUicPRLdJ5MwVbJqbonsAQmqYsc5oGtVDr_7bnnbOl4DffcjZQ2ne7-Ppv1laq21FdGc7B-tJ_J6pUNkjl92jABtuKglxIn3z-nXT2CdKBguDox=s560" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXh5lOQ2b00lmutspMIFjYxkBY_Q_YYtOkLww4mAwbGDl5q4ODnXWRvxGlWqFaymLD7GQoE1BgXIUicPRLdJ5MwVbJqbonsAQmqYsc5oGtVDr_7bnnbOl4DffcjZQ2ne7-Ppv1laq21FdGc7B-tJ_J6pUNkjl92jABtuKglxIn3z-nXT2CdKBguDox=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br />Just like always this time of year there have been a flurry of bills introduced that affect outdoor enthusiasts, or are related to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. It's important to remember that at the time of this writing, these are "just a bill", and with the anticipated shortened session this spring they may or may not make it to committee, out of committee or be called to the floor for debate /vote.<br /><br />What is important is that as an outdoor enthusiast you read the bill, look at the bill status, and respond according to your feelings. At this juncture, I'm only sharing the list of bills and the links to the bills. <br /><br />Going forward in the coming days, we'll break down this list and unpack these bills in smaller groups/lists for discussion. Additionally, we'll be posting information that explains how to comment to your legislator, file witness slips etc. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />As bills move forward we will strive to add those updates. However, remember it's up to you as outdoor enthusiast to stay informed and also watch for any movement, committee assignments, hearing, file witness slips, or submit testimony (as appropriate). <br /><br />YOU have a voice; use it! <br /><br />Now let's get down to business and have a look at some of these bills! <br /><br />House Bills: <br /><br /><span style="color: #274e13;"><b><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4372&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=137658&SessionID=110" target="_blank">HB4372:</a></b><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4372&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=137658&SessionID=110" target="_blank"><b>PROHIBIT WILDLIFE CONTESTS</b></a></span></span><br /><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">House Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Rep. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2876" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">Anna Moeller</span></a><span class="content" style="background-color: white;"> and </span><a class="content notranslate" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2945" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz</span></a><br /><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Wildlife Code. Prohibits contests or competitions with the objective of taking any fur-bearing mammal. <i>Provides an exception for field trials. (emphasis added) </i> Provides that a person who violates the new provisions is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and subject to a fine of no less than $500 and no more than $5,000 in addition to other statutory penalties.<br />Find the full text of the bill<a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=4372&GAID=16&LegID=137658&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank"> <span style="color: red;">here</span></a><br /><b><br /><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4386&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=137698&SessionID=110"><span style="color: #38761d;">HB4386:WILDLIFE CD-RIFLE-DEER HUNTING</span></a></b><br /><span class="heading2" style="font-weight: bolder;">House Sponsors</span><br /><span class="content">Rep. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2951"><span style="color: #38761d;">Lance Yednock</span></a> - <a class="content notranslate" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2905"><span style="color: #274e13;">Tony McCombie</span></a><br /><span class="heading2" style="font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br /><span class="content notranslate">Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that a centerfire rifle may be used to harvest deer during the firearm open season set by the Director of Natural Resources annually. Provides that all straight walled rifle rounds are legal ammunition for a centerfire rifle.<br />Find the full text of the bill <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=4386&GAID=16&LegID=137698&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here</a><br /><br /><b><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4429&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=137778&SessionID=110" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">HB4429: </span></a><span style="color: #274e13;">DNR- STATE PARKS /PERMIT TO SEL</span>L </b></span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="content" style="background-color: white;"><span class="heading2" style="font-weight: bolder;">House Sponsors</span><br /><span class="content">Rep. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=3004">David Friess</a> - <a class="content notranslate" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2873">Charles Meier</a>, <a class="content notranslate" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2905">Tony McCombie</a><span class="content"> and </span><a class="content notranslate" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2960">Dan Caulkins</a><br /><span class="heading2" style="font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br /><span class="content notranslate">Amends the State Parks Act. Requires all persons or entities seeking to charge fees to participants, provide items for sale, or otherwise collect money or items as part of an event located on property or facilities that are owned, leased, or managed by the Department of Natural Resources to complete a permit to sell application form to obtain a permit to sell. Provides that all revenue generated from an event shall be subject to a 10% fee payable to the Department of Natural Resources upon completion of the event. Requires all funds received by the Department to be allocated to the site at which the fees were collected. Waives activity permit fees, permit to sell fees, and facility usage fees for formally recognized Friends Groups and for all fishing tournaments and clubs. Effective immediately.<br />Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=4429&GAID=16&LegID=137778&SpecSess=&Session=">here</a><br /><br /><b><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4451&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=137828&SessionID=110" target="_blank">HB4451:</a></b></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4451&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=137828&SessionID=110" target="_blank">DNR-HISTORIC PRESERVATION-NAME</a><br /></b></span><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">House Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Rep. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2951" style="background-color: white;">Lance Yednock</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act, the Historic Preservation Act, and the Illinois State Agency Historic Resources Preservation Act. Requires the Illinois State Museum and Division of Historic Preservation of the Department of Natural Resources to collaborate and assist the Department of Resources exercise its duties under the Acts. Removes authority of Board of the Illinois State Museum to approve budget requests of the Illinois State Museum. Replaces references to the Historic Sites and Preservation Division of the Department with the Department of Natural Resources. Makes other changes. Effective Immediately.<br />Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=4451&GAID=16&LegID=137828&SpecSess=&Session=">here</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4540&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=138001&SessionID=110" target="_blank">HB4540:<span style="background-color: white;">FISH/HUNT LICENSE FEE VETERANS</span></a></span></b></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">House Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Rep. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2895" style="background-color: white;">David A. Welter</a><br /><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Wildlife Code and the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Provides that hunting and fishing license fees shall be one-half the price of the current license fee amount for all resident veterans, regardless of deployment (instead of only for veterans after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States). Effective immediately.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=4540&GAID=16&LegID=138001&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here</a><br /><br /><b><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4542&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=138004&SessionID=110" target="_blank">HB4542:</a></b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4542&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=138004&SessionID=110" target="_blank">STATE PARKS-DNR APPROVAL</a><br /></b></span><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">House Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Rep. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2998" style="background-color: white;">Dave Vella</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the State Parks Act. Specifies that certain actions are not violations of the Act if they are done with the approval of the Department of Natural Resources. Effective immediately.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=4542&GAID=16&LegID=138004&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here</a><br /><br /><b><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4679&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=138850&SessionID=110" target="_blank">HB679:</a></b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4679&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=138850&SessionID=110" target="_blank">WILDLIFE CD-RIFLE HUNTING</a><br /></b></span><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">House Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Rep. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2905" style="background-color: white;">Tony McCombie</a><br /><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Wildlife Code. Defines "rifle" as any firearm designed, made, or adapted to be fired from the shoulder that uses the energy of an explosive in a fixed metallic cartridge to fire a projectile through a rifled bore by a single function of the trigger. Permits hunting with a rifle for the taking of deer; makes related changes. Provides that legal handguns and rifles include any bottleneck centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding 1.4 inches or any straight walled centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger both of which must be available as a load with the published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.</span><br /></span></div><div><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=4679&GAID=16&LegID=138850&SpecSess=&Session=">here</a></span></span></div><div><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4680&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=138851&SessionID=110" target="_blank">HB4680:</a></span><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4680&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=138851&SessionID=110" target="_blank">VETERAN-FISH/HUNT LICENSE</a><br /></span></b><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">House Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Rep. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2905" style="background-color: white;">Tony McCombie</a><br /><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Removes provisions requiring a veteran who has served as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or reserves of the United States Armed Forces to apply in person for a fishing license at a regional office of the Department of Natural Resources. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall establish by administrative rule the documentation that qualifies as acceptable verification of service; defines "acceptable verification" of service. Makes related changes to the Wildlife Code. Effective immediately.<br />Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=4680&GAID=16&LegID=138851&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4696&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=138940&SessionID=110" target="_blank">HB4696:</a><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4696&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=138940&SessionID=110" target="_blank">DNR-LICENSE-ORGAN DONOR INFO</a><br /></span></b><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">House Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Rep. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2984" style="background-color: white;">Tim Ozinga</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Provides that a hunting license issued under the Wildlife Code must contain information indicating whether the holder of the license is registered as an organ donor in the First Person Consent registry maintained by the Secretary of State. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources and the Secretary of State shall share information as necessary to implement the new provisions.<br />Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=4696&GAID=16&LegID=138940&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4713&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=139063&SessionID=110" target="_blank">HB4713:</a></b><span style="background-color: white;"><b><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4713&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=139063&SessionID=110" target="_blank">DNR-ABOLISH ADVISORY BOARD</a><br /></b></span><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">House Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Rep. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2844" style="background-color: white;">Lawrence Walsh, Jr.</a><br /><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Departments of State Government Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois by repealing the Section that created the Department of Natural Resources Advisory Board. Makes corresponding changes in the Wildlife Code and the Illinois Open Land Trust Act. Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to conduct regional yearly public forums to obtain public input and comments on subjects, matters, or programs under the control of the Department of Natural Resources. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to consider all comments received during a public forum.<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=4713&GAID=16&LegID=139063&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here</a></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Senate Bills</span></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=2987&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=137429&SessionID=110" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>SB2987:</b></span><span style="background-color: white;">TIMBER BUYERS LICENSING</span></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Senate Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Sen. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2890" style="background-color: white;">Laura M. Murphy</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Timber Buyers Licensing Act. Provides that all timber buyers must possess a liability insurance policy in an appropriate amount pursuant to administrative rule prior to issuance of a timber buyers license and must keep the policy in force at all times while the license is in effect. Provides that every applicant for a timber buyers license shall submit, on a form provided by the Department of Natural Resources, a surety bond or letter of credit in a specified amount. Provides that all persons buying timber under the Act must possess a valid timber buyers license. Provides that when a timber buyer purchases timber in the State, the timber buyer shall submit a report to the Department of the purchase. Provides that the Department shall require timber growers who own 5 acres or more of timberland in any county to obtain a landowner timber number, or similar unique identifier from the Department, associated with their timberland before timber is cut for commercial purposes. Provides that landowner timber numbers will be dated and expire after 2 years unless extended by the Department by rule. Makes changes to provisions concerning definitions; application for licensure; bond; prohibited acts; license, issuance, validity, and certificate; application; records; penalties; license revocation; and seizure. Adds provisions concerning reporting a harvest fee. Amends the Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act. Provides that the Act applies to property seized or forfeited under the seizure provision of the Timber Buyers Licensing Act.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=2987&GAID=16&LegID=137429&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here<br /></a><br /></span></span></div><div><b><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=3103&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=137786&SessionID=110" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">SB3103:</span><span style="background-color: white;">STATE PARKS-DNR APPROVAL</span></span></a></b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Senate Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Sen. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2932" style="background-color: white;">Suzy Glowiak Hilton</a><br /><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the State Parks Act. Specifies that certain actions are not violations of the Act if they are done with the approval of the Department of Natural Resources. Effective immediately.<br /></span>Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=3103&GAID=16&LegID=137786&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=3108&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=137796&SessionID=110" target="_blank">SB3108:<span style="background-color: white;">DNR-HISTORIC PRESERVATION-NAME</span></a><br /><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Senate Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Sen. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=3009" style="background-color: white;">Doris Turner</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act, the Historic Preservation Act, and the Illinois State Agency Historic Resources Preservation Act. Requires the Illinois State Museum and Division of Historic Preservation of the Department of Natural Resources to collaborate and assist the Department of Resources exercise its duties under the Acts. Removes authority of Board of the Illinois State Museum to approve budget requests of the Illinois State Museum. Replaces references to the Historic Sites and Preservation Division of the Department with the Department of Natural Resources. Makes other changes. Effective Immediately.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=3108&GAID=16&LegID=137796&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=3154&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=137878&SessionID=110" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">SB3154:<span style="background-color: white;">FISH/HUNT LICENSE FEES</span></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Senate Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Sen. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2886" style="background-color: white;">Neil Anderson</a><span style="background-color: white;"> - </span><a class="content notranslate" href="https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2897" style="background-color: white;">Dale Fowler</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Provides that the current fees for a fishing license, sportsmen's combination license, and hunting license are annual fees. Allows a resident to obtain a 3-year fishing license (for a fee of $45), sportsmen's combination license (for a fee of $78.75), or hunting license (for a fee of $37.50). Provides that there is no fee for an annual or 3-year fishing license, sportsmen's combination license, or hunting license for a resident Gold Star Family member. Effective immediately.<br />Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=3154&GAID=16&LegID=137878&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=3184&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=137954&SessionID=110" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">SB3184:<span style="background-color: white;">FISH&WILDLIFE-VARIOUS</span></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Senate Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Sen. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2927" style="background-color: white;">Christopher Belt</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law. Requires Conservation Police Officers hired after July 1, 2022 to obtain certification pursuant to the Illinois Police Training Act. Limits powers of arrest and permission to carry firearms to Conservation Police Officers 21 years of age or older. Amends Herptiles-Herps Act, Fish and Aquatic Life Code, Wildlife Code, and Ginseng Harvesting Act. In provisions concerning violations, adds violations of United States Code. Defines terms. Makes other changes. Amends Deadly Weapons Article of Criminal Code 2012. Limits specified exemption to hunting, trapping or fishing that is lawful as defined by statute. Effective immediately.</span></span></div><div><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=3184&GAID=16&LegID=137954&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here </a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=3724&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=138739&SessionID=110" target="_blank">SB3724:<span style="background-color: white;">CONSV-PRESCRIBED BURNING ACT</span></a><br /><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Senate Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Sen. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2846" style="background-color: white;">Jason A. Barickman</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Illinois Prescribed Burning Act. Removes provisions that provide that a property owner and any person conducting a prescribed burn is liable for actual damage or injury caused by the prescribed burn or resulting smoke upon proof of negligence. Provides instead that no landowner, agent of the landowner, or certified prescribed burn manager is liable for damage, injury, or loss caused by a prescribed burn or resulting smoke unless proven to be grossly negligent. Effective immediately.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=3724&GAID=16&LegID=138739&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=3868&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=138949&SessionID=110" target="_blank">SB3868: </a></span><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=3868&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=138949&SessionID=110" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;">BIKE/PEDESTRIAN PATH FUNDING</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Senate Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Sen. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2915" style="background-color: white;">John F. Curran</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall establish and solely fund bicycle and pedestrian ways in conjunction with the construction, reconstruction, or other change of any State transportation facility in or within one mile of an urban area (instead of in or within one mile of a municipality with a population of over 1,000 people). Allows a county (in addition to a municipality) to opt out of bicycle and pedestrian way construction by passing a resolution stating that a bicycle or pedestrian way does not fit within its development plan<br />Full Text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=3868&GAID=16&LegID=138949&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=3870&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=138953&SessionID=110" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">SB3870: <span style="background-color: white;">RIVERS LAKES STREAMS-PENALTY</span></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Senate Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Sen. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2814" style="background-color: white;">David Koehler</a><br style="background-color: white;" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Rivers, Lakes and Streams Act. Provides that any person who violates the Act shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 (instead of $5,000) for a violation not resulting in the potential for loss of life or not associated with dam or floodway construction reasonably valued over $250,000 that continues past a Department of Natural Resources-ordered remediation deadline. Provides that any person who violates the Act shall be liable for a civil penalty of up to 10 times the applicable permit application review fee, but not to exceed $50,000, plus an additional civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each day the violation continues past a Department-ordered remediation deadline, for any violation resulting in the potential for loss of life or associated with dam or floodway construction reasonably valued over $250,000. Provides that payment of such penalties does not discharge the required remediation of the violation. Provides that a penalty shall (instead of "may") be paid to the Department and deposited into the State Boating Act Fund. Repeals the Des Plaines and Illinois Rivers Act. Effective immediately.<br />Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=3870&GAID=16&LegID=138953&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=3908&GAID=16&GA=102&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=138999&SessionID=110" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">SB3908: <span style="background-color: white;">DNR-ABOLISH ADVISORY BOARD</span></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Senate Sponsors</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content" style="background-color: white;">Sen. </span><a class="content" href="https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=3009" style="background-color: white;">Doris Turner</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="heading2" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Synopsis As Introduced</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;">Amends the Departments of State Government Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois by repealing the Section that created the Department of Natural Resources Advisory Board. Makes corresponding changes in the Wildlife Code and the Illinois Open Land Trust Act. Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to conduct regional yearly public forums to obtain public input and comments on subjects, matters, or programs under the control of the Department of Natural Resources. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to consider all comments received during a public forum.</span></span></div><div><span class="content notranslate" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Full text of the bill can be found <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=3908&GAID=16&LegID=138999&SpecSess=&Session=" target="_blank">here</a></span></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-81129104602437366552021-08-30T12:14:00.002-05:002022-05-09T09:58:52.675-05:00MDC Reminds Deer Hunters to Get Harvested Deer Sampled for CWD<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZWVJZEANZAMCU6ukS74VNlCmboThhJKGExpJmLymAR_MF2Alpl7feOZ7GZMKkL0dp8wrgNxx_UcnJ7cNyd5MPavuj6KsmRgHHjjuCSOiuZRXqK-GEMI6zJubsAADe7toc06xmCVBR8I/s2048/gretchen+steele+CONWR+winter+deer0825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZWVJZEANZAMCU6ukS74VNlCmboThhJKGExpJmLymAR_MF2Alpl7feOZ7GZMKkL0dp8wrgNxx_UcnJ7cNyd5MPavuj6KsmRgHHjjuCSOiuZRXqK-GEMI6zJubsAADe7toc06xmCVBR8I/w640-h426/gretchen+steele+CONWR+winter+deer0825.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="m_6217454446570108534gd_ab_main_tab" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 20px auto; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td id="m_6217454446570108534gd_ab_header" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" valign="top" width="600"><br /></td></tr><tr><td id="m_6217454446570108534gd_ab_main_body" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" valign="top" width="600"><h1 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">MDC reminds deer hunters to get harvested deer sampled for CWD</h1><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;"><em>MDC holding mandatory CWD sampling during opening weekend of firearms season and voluntary CWD sampling all season for hunters who harvest deer in MDC CWD Management Zone counties.</em></p><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. –</strong> With deer hunting in Missouri opening for archery season on Sept. 15 and for firearms portions in the coming months, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wants hunters to know key information about chronic wasting disease (CWD). MDC will be holding mandatory CWD sampling during opening weekend of firearms season and voluntary CWD sampling all season for hunters who harvest deer in MDC CWD Management Zone counties.</p><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">CWD is a deadly, infectious disease in deer and other members of the deer family (cervids) that eventually kills all animals it infects. There is no vaccine or cure. CWD is spread from deer to deer and through the environment. CWD was first detected in Missouri’s free-ranging deer population in 2012 and has since been found in 18 counties. The disease remains relatively rare in the state, being detected in 206 deer out of more than 152,300 tested by MDC since 2012. MDC is working hard to keep it that way, and hunters play a critical role in helping MDC manage the disease by having their deer tested and following the carcass-movement restrictions. Learn more at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY3dkIn0.LydhwRZcD1TO4IvWimtK-PbZb4ilvovlQhegAeRtdfM/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l&source=gmail&ust=1630429072798000&usg=AFQjCNE1KbaaTWltD8xPNvzXUCR-hQUuOw" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY3dkIn0.LydhwRZcD1TO4IvWimtK-PbZb4ilvovlQhegAeRtdfM/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l" style="color: #7dabbc;" target="_blank">mdc.mo.gov/cwd</a>.</p><h2 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 18px; margin: 5px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><strong>CWD Management Zone</strong></h2><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">MDC designates counties within 10 miles of where a positive case of CWD has been found as part of its CWD Management Zone. The CWD Management Zone counties are: Adair, Barry, Camden, Cedar, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Hickory, Howell, Jefferson, Knox, Laclede, Linn, Macon, McDonald, Mercer, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Warren, and Washington. Camden, Laclede, McDonald, and Pulaski counties were added to the CWD Management Zone this year.</p><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">Related CWD regulations prohibit the placement of feed or minerals for deer in counties of the CWD Management Zone. For exceptions, see the <em>2021 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information</em> booklet, available where permits are sold and online at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL21kYy5tby5nb3YvYWJvdXQtdXMvYWJvdXQtcmVndWxhdGlvbnMvZmFsbC1kZWVyLXR1cmtleS1odW50aW5nLXJlZ3VsYXRpb25zLWluZm9ybWF0aW9uIn0.j5sY3yhZZohbg78xmFszCnkSq2MRDqc-qC616pOCi2Q/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l&source=gmail&ust=1630429072798000&usg=AFQjCNFp72ZZ4BEb7TMk9ROzTssbq2EPfg" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL21kYy5tby5nb3YvYWJvdXQtdXMvYWJvdXQtcmVndWxhdGlvbnMvZmFsbC1kZWVyLXR1cmtleS1odW50aW5nLXJlZ3VsYXRpb25zLWluZm9ybWF0aW9uIn0.j5sY3yhZZohbg78xmFszCnkSq2MRDqc-qC616pOCi2Q/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l" style="color: #7dabbc;" target="_blank">mdc.mo.gov/about-us/about-<wbr></wbr>regulations/fall-deer-turkey-<wbr></wbr>hunting-regulations-<wbr></wbr>information</a>.</p><h2 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 18px; margin: 5px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><strong>Voluntary CWD Sampling All Season Statewide</strong></h2><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">MDC will again offer statewide voluntary CWD sampling and testing of harvested deer during the entire deer season at select locations throughout the state. Locations include select MDC offices during regular business hours, cooperating taxidermists and meat processors (hours vary), and self-service freezers where hunters can leave deer heads for sampling and testing.</p><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">Hunters can get their CWD test results for free online at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY3dkUmVzdWx0cyJ9.3VPAbG_thbrSDtk2noCB8ioF34XMjzXqOeXHKmgrwZ4/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l&source=gmail&ust=1630429072798000&usg=AFQjCNFO5zSg6zT6d-9xgSxNWYt0I6gvUg" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY3dkUmVzdWx0cyJ9.3VPAbG_thbrSDtk2noCB8ioF34XMjzXqOeXHKmgrwZ4/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l" style="color: #7dabbc;" target="_blank">mdc.mo.gov/cwdResults</a>. Results are usually available within three weeks or less from the time of sampling. Find locations and more information online at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY3dkIn0.p9ys8tMhiiZ2GZtW8DzEwrC6DQa5CLavtbtTlwN0zRk/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l&source=gmail&ust=1630429072799000&usg=AFQjCNFck0I9wy-Pu0f-WxIeqYvEsoSPxw" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY3dkIn0.p9ys8tMhiiZ2GZtW8DzEwrC6DQa5CLavtbtTlwN0zRk/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l" style="color: #7dabbc;" target="_blank">mdc.mo.gov/cwd</a> or by contacting an MDC regional office at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY29udGFjdC1lbmdhZ2UvcmVnaW9uYWwtbWRjLW9mZmljZXMifQ.8g6-cgm2xo4mlohquDxuLqlqLiY6_do3LRYR6HAIW-E/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l&source=gmail&ust=1630429072799000&usg=AFQjCNHtKrLlg74PgC2jZY-3quOS0nG3ww" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY29udGFjdC1lbmdhZ2UvcmVnaW9uYWwtbWRjLW9mZmljZXMifQ.8g6-cgm2xo4mlohquDxuLqlqLiY6_do3LRYR6HAIW-E/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l" style="color: #7dabbc;" target="_blank">mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/<wbr></wbr>regional-mdc-offices</a>.</p><h2 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 18px; margin: 5px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><strong>Mandatory CWD Sampling Nov. 13 and 14</strong></h2><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">Hunters who harvest deer in any counties in the CWD Management Zone during opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season (Nov. 13 and 14) are required to take their harvested deer or the head on the day of harvest to one of MDC’s numerous CWD mandatory sampling stations located throughout the zone. Sampling and test results are free.</p><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">Hunters must present their deer to a CWD mandatory sampling station within the county of harvest, with a few exceptions. Deer that will end up being delivered to a licensed meat processor or taxidermist within 48 hours, or deer heads that will be left at the MDC CWD mandatory sampling station for disposal after sampling, may be transported to a sampling station in any county.</p><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">Find CWD mandatory sampling station locations online at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY3dkIn0.RhV1G6LWGEs4V0AOF9G52XDb5BPu2FGt8nIVvMSw_S4/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l&source=gmail&ust=1630429072799000&usg=AFQjCNGxLwFVP5OAFixhlP-HNWiW2PhjGg" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY3dkIn0.RhV1G6LWGEs4V0AOF9G52XDb5BPu2FGt8nIVvMSw_S4/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l" style="color: #7dabbc;" target="_blank">mdc.mo.gov/cwd</a> or from MDC’s <em>2021 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information</em> booklet.</p><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">CWD sampling takes only a few minutes and consists of MDC staff cutting an incision across the throat of harvested deer to remove lymph nodes for testing. Tissue samples are sent to an independent lab for testing. Hunters will be given a card with information on getting free test results for their deer after samples are processed. Hunters can get their CWD test results for free online at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY3dkUmVzdWx0cyJ9.YWi1aCU1sD_SmZNK4obIyAwQOQ4U7Kdr7k4udt0NtZU/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l&source=gmail&ust=1630429072799000&usg=AFQjCNFrjxFGKlYi7oYvFhRm1BNdz5dl-w" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY3dkUmVzdWx0cyJ9.YWi1aCU1sD_SmZNK4obIyAwQOQ4U7Kdr7k4udt0NtZU/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l" style="color: #7dabbc;" target="_blank">mdc.mo.gov/cwdResults</a>. Results are usually available within three weeks or less from the time of sampling.</p><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">Hunters presenting bucks bound for taxidermy should inform MDC staff. Staff will complete paperwork and inform the hunters about participating taxidermists taking CWD tissue samples. The cape may also be removed from the animal prior to being taken to a sampling station.</p><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>Before arriving at a CWD mandatory sampling station:</strong></p><ul style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5;"><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Field dress and Telecheck deer.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Bring the carcass or just the head.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Capes may be removed in preparation for taxidermy.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Position deer in vehicles with head and neck easily accessible.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Be sure the person who harvested the deer is present.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Have the hunter’s conservation ID number ready.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Be prepared to find the location of harvest on a map.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">If using a paper permit, have it detached from the deer for easy access.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">If using the MO Hunting app, have permit and Telecheck information available.</li></ul><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">Mandatory CWD sampling dramatically increases the number of tissue samples MDC can collect in a brief period of time. The increased number of samples gives MDC scientists a much better understanding of the distribution and prevalence of the disease — where it is and how many deer may have it. It can also help find new cases in new areas.</p><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">Opening weekend of the firearms deer season is the most popular two hunting days for most deer hunters. Hunters take about a third of the state’s total annual deer harvest during those two days. Focusing on this key weekend gives MDC the best opportunity to collect the most tissue samples during a very concentrated time period.</p><h2 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 18px; margin: 5px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><strong>Carcass Movement Restrictions</strong></h2><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">Hunters must follow carcass-movement restrictions for deer harvested in a CWD Management Zone county and when bringing parts of harvested deer and other cervids into Missouri from another state.</p><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>For hunters who harvest deer in Missouri from a CWD Management Zone county:</strong></p><ul style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5;"><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Deer must be Telechecked before any parts of the carcass may be transported out of the county of harvest.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Whole carcasses and heads may only be transported out of the county of harvest if delivered to a licensed meat processor, taxidermist, or to an approved CWD sampling station within 48 hours of exiting the county of harvest. On Nov. 13-14, deer must be taken on the day of harvest to a CWD mandatory sampling station.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">The following carcass parts may be moved outside of the county of harvest without restriction:</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Meat that is cut and wrapped or that has been boned out.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Hides from which all excess tissue has been removed.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Antlers or antlers attached to skull plates or skulls cleaned of all muscle and brain tissue.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Finished taxidermy products.</li></ul><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>For hunters bringing harvested deer and other cervids into Missouri from another state:</strong></p><ul style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5;"><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Hunters may no longer transport whole cervid carcasses into the state.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Heads from cervids with the cape attached and no more than six inches of neck attached may be brought into Missouri only if they are delivered to a licensed taxidermist within 48 hours of entering Missouri.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">There is no longer a requirement that cervid carcass parts coming into the state be reported to the MDC carcass transport hotline.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">The following cervid parts can be transported into Missouri without restriction:</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Meat that is cut and wrapped or that has been boned out.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Hides from which all excess tissue has been removed.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Antlers or antlers attached to skull plates or skulls cleaned of all muscle and brain tissue.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Upper canine teeth.</li><li style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;">Finished taxidermy products.</li></ul><h2 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 18px; margin: 5px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><strong>Share the Harvest</strong></h2><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">MDC encourages deer hunters to share their harvest. Missouri’s Share the Harvest program helps deer hunters donate venison to those in need. To participate, take harvested deer to an approved meat processor and let the processor know how much venison is to be donated. Deer harvested within the CWD Management Zone may only be donated to approved processors in the Share the Harvest CWD Testing Program. Deer harvested outside of the CWD Management Zone may be donated to any Share the Harvest processor. Learn more online at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDcsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3Yvc2hhcmUifQ.3dFfjZi7C-I03fxi0nQjcLaQD0cduZk18lE6JZJrJIM/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l&source=gmail&ust=1630429072799000&usg=AFQjCNEizybg3ZH7IocJU1vF2yL4UORG8Q" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDcsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3Yvc2hhcmUifQ.3dFfjZi7C-I03fxi0nQjcLaQD0cduZk18lE6JZJrJIM/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l" style="color: #7dabbc;" target="_blank">mdc.mo.gov/share</a> or from MDC’s <em>2021 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information</em> booklet.</p><h2 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 18px; margin: 5px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><strong>More Information</strong></h2><p align="left" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">Get more information on CWD regulations and other CWD information online at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDgsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY3dkIn0.9Qz2U-lR6ngtoOSQRthq1AwUtoRrZbIBSpNHVDnHK8o/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l&source=gmail&ust=1630429072799000&usg=AFQjCNEuhxYAti0T-4PjWA0_f9GjMupT2g" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDgsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvY3dkIn0.9Qz2U-lR6ngtoOSQRthq1AwUtoRrZbIBSpNHVDnHK8o/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l" style="color: #7dabbc;" target="_blank">mdc.mo.gov/cwd</a> or from MDC’s <em>2021 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information</em> booklet, available where permits are sold and online at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDksInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL21kYy5tby5nb3YvYWJvdXQtdXMvYWJvdXQtcmVndWxhdGlvbnMvZmFsbC1kZWVyLXR1cmtleS1odW50aW5nLXJlZ3VsYXRpb25zLWluZm9ybWF0aW9uIn0.etsLsUi9anNFgEVAG5xjcet-ljKwJn81CVUkzhSK17g/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l&source=gmail&ust=1630429072799000&usg=AFQjCNGXFZ5CU5A0V3oX9exRsTAscqW3HA" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDksInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MzAuNDUyMjgxMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL21kYy5tby5nb3YvYWJvdXQtdXMvYWJvdXQtcmVndWxhdGlvbnMvZmFsbC1kZWVyLXR1cmtleS1odW50aW5nLXJlZ3VsYXRpb25zLWluZm9ybWF0aW9uIn0.etsLsUi9anNFgEVAG5xjcet-ljKwJn81CVUkzhSK17g/s/757566232/br/111595760124-l" style="color: #7dabbc;" target="_blank">mdc.mo.gov/about-us/about-<wbr></wbr>regulations/fall-deer-turkey-<wbr></wbr>hunting-regulations-<wbr></wbr>information</a>.</p></td></tr></tbody></table>Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-55812770203692874242020-09-21T05:53:00.005-05:002022-05-09T10:19:25.988-05:00<p> </p><div class="row" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 16px; margin-left: -15px; margin-right: -15px;"><div class="col" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; box-sizing: border-box; flex-basis: 0px; flex-grow: 1; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; position: relative; width: 648px;"><h3 class="mt-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font-family: Prata, serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0.5rem;">Rend Lake Will Open New Archery Complex Today</h3></div></div><div class="row mt-3" style="background-color: white; border-top: 1px dotted rgb(204, 204, 204); box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 16px; margin-left: -15px; margin-right: -15px; margin-top: 1rem;"><div class="col" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; box-sizing: border-box; flex-basis: 0px; flex-grow: 1; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; position: relative; width: 648px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7f0ThcT9jiH6gDWPiOXvkJWWhok_AS82U0YOG-R5VabgLeObi5-AUmmVOVE3QWlvIExsAlQmcGFN7T6GESd3m3HsV8H_XjsBpsGIrJFlsxKC1J70HS21rdbW98rW5HhcWCr3o_km2NQ65pktjfrpB9hXt8senhbWu2j3wf690T3ByzCe8Xr3cXHkP/s320/82156ab3-e9f0-4b18-8766-65b1e9c168c7_320x213.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" src="http://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7f0ThcT9jiH6gDWPiOXvkJWWhok_AS82U0YOG-R5VabgLeObi5-AUmmVOVE3QWlvIExsAlQmcGFN7T6GESd3m3HsV8H_XjsBpsGIrJFlsxKC1J70HS21rdbW98rW5HhcWCr3o_km2NQ65pktjfrpB9hXt8senhbWu2j3wf690T3ByzCe8Xr3cXHkP/s16000/82156ab3-e9f0-4b18-8766-65b1e9c168c7_320x213.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="mt-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; line-height: 20.8px; margin-top: 1rem;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Williamsburg, KY – </span>The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers a<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">t </span>Rend Lake, Illinois is set to open the North Marcum Archery Complex today (Monday, September 21, 2020), with a grand opening ceremony being planned for the Spring of 2021. This new complex is located within the North Marcum Multiple Resource Area and offers a fully equipped archery range with shooting distances from 10 to 50 yards, an elevated shooting platform which simulates shooting from a tree stand, and the realistic shooting experience of a 3-D archery trail winding through the woods. The complex will open daily at 8:00 AM and close at dusk. This opening will allow archery enthusiasts time to hone their skills for hunting and competition season.</div><div class="mt-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "PT Sans", san-serif; line-height: 20.8px; margin-top: 1rem;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Multiple partners within the local community envisioned this new archery complex and helped bring it to fruition. During initial design meetings, the S3DA Illinois State Coordinator, Jim Sharp, was asked to provide his input on the complex so it would be in compliance with S3DA needs and tournament ready for scholastic organizations. After he’d seen the day use area adjacent to the proposed complex, he knew Rend Lake offered a prime location for a national event.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Since then, the Rend Lake Area Tourism Council and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake have worked seamlessly with Scholastic 3-D Archery to host the upcoming 3-D National Championship Tournament set for June 17th-20th, 2021 at the North Marcum Recreation Area. This area is a premier location for fishing, hiking, wildlife watching and a host of other activities. S3DA Board of Directors Vice President, Jack Fares said, “We are very excited to be able to introduce the S3DA families from across our great nation to the wealth of recreation, conservation and tournament opportunities available at Rend Lake. S3DA 3-D tournaments have historically been held at locations that were already established tournament sites. Never before have we been able to provide input and feedback from the ground up and we’re very thankful that everyone at Rend Lake has been so accommodating and receptive to our needs. The 2021 S3DA 3-D National Tournament will be an incredible event!”</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Rend Lake Operations Manager, Jackie Taylor stated, “We are so excited to see this concept become a reality. The archery complex is a result of the Rend Lake community pulling together to create new outdoor recreation opportunities for visitors, which will also bring additional tourists to the area and increase economic benefits for local businesses. The North Marcum site will be the perfect location for the upcoming 3-D National Championship Tournament. The surrounding communities are looking forward to welcoming new visitors to the area.”</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">About Scholastic 3-D Archery</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) is a unique, family-oriented youth archery program which has grown exponentially across the United States as a next-step initiative to follow introductory archery programs. The mission of the Scholastic</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">3-D Archery program is to foster, educate and guide youth in the areas of 3-D, indoor target, and outdoor target archery as well as safe, ethical bowhunting practices. The goal of the S3DA program is to provide archery and bowhunting opportunities to youth in after-school settings, as well as with archery-affiliated clubs and businesses in the community. S3DA students participate in 3-D and target archery using compound and traditional archery equipment. Students can participate at local, regional, state, and national archery events and earn college scholarships from colleges and universities across the United States. S3DA addresses the need for a program to bridge beginning target archery experience and more advanced activities such as 3-D shooting and bowhunting. The program currently operates across the United States with hundreds of certified coaches serving thousands of young archers, grades 3–12.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Contact the Scholastic 3-D Archery National Office at:</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.s3da.org&source=gmail&ust=1600716475782000&usg=AFQjCNEFI_DTjuqRdgIrEd1yVCUSqeLWWw" href="http://www.s3da.org/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">www.s3da.org</span></a><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"> or 225 North 3</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">rd</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"> Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769, Ph: 606.524.3685</span></p></div></div></div>Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-57047624476696538802019-05-11T07:00:00.000-05:002019-05-11T07:00:34.718-05:00A Mother's Day MusingI stepped gingerly across the slick sand rocks, forging my way across the swift running creek, still a bit swollen from another round of the seemingly ever-present spring rains this year. I poked with my walking stick, making sure that there was something solid in front of me for each step and that there were no surprise hidden deep spots that would soak me to my waist.<br />
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I clambered up the wet sharp bank, using exposed tree roots as hand holds and for balance and leverage. Walking through the light misty rain I marveled at the sheer greenness of the woods. My inner clock was ticking and as I mentally checked off the plants, I was seeing I knew the time<br />
was right.<br />
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<br />
It was time to visit the wild orchids. The fat, bulbous, golden yellow lady slippers, the small tiny and delicate showy orchis. The wild orchids that first appear as the morels, bluebells, and spring ephemerals fade and the ferns, Blue Eyed Mary's, and spiderworts burst forth.<br />
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<br />
The wild orchids that bloom near Mother’s Day each year and will forever for me be associated with my tiny wild woman mother and her final acceptance of me as trustworthy and caring of our wild and sacred plants and places.<br />
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I’d always been the child in our family that loved the woods in the same deep and often spiritual way that my mother did. Like my mother I found safety, solace, and sanctuary in the deep creek bottoms, the murky swamps, the steep hills and soaring bluffs. We were blessed to live in area where multiple ecosystems existed – including arid high desert glades. Each of these held special, rare, unique plants that few ever saw. Plants that were edible and nutritious and could sustain us. Plants that were medicinal and that provide care. Plants whose roots were valuable and provided extra income in times of need.<br />
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“Going to the woods” was an integral part of my mother’s daily life and in turn became part of mine.<br />
My mother was fierce, intelligent, and keeper of deep secrets. Many of those secrets were where the special, the unusual, and the wildest of the wild things could be found. She had seen enough of life to know that if she had shared those special things others likely would not recognize the specialness, the rarity or the need to leave them undisturbed and protected in a world where habitats were disappearing left and right.<br />
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The early May wild orchids were one of those species. It wasn’t an easy hike to the creek bottom and hillsides where they were found along with a full season’s worth of other rare and endangered plants. On the days she went to the site I was left behind. First, she told me it was too hard of a walk, as I got older and more woods hardy that excuse didn’t wash with my snappy know it all ten-year-old personality. I could scale a bluff and wade a swamp better than most adults. I knew what snakes were venomous, what bugs were would leave a nasty bite, and had developed an internal compass and ability to use a field guide that rivaled many adults. I insisted that I be allowed to go along. I stomped, and snarled, and pouted.<br /><br />
But still, she would not let me go along to see the lady slippers, the showy orchis, the whirled pegonias.<br />
<br />
She recognized my impatience, but in her eyes, she had to be sure that the lessons in the forests and the fields she had taught me were firmly cemented. That I understood the importance of secret places. That I was able to judge the intentions, character, and personality of anyone I would consider<br />
sharing those rarities with in future years.<br />
<br />
It was the spring before I turned 13 – she announced one drizzly May morning that if I’d get my boots on, we could go look maybe for a few of the last remaining big yellow morels or maybe to see if the lady slippers were blooming yet. “I suppose it’s time.” she sighed.<br />
<br />
Little did I realize then, that for her it was an admission that her last child was no longer a child and was quickly growing up and moving on.<br />
<br />
Little did I realize then that this was her way of telling me that she trusted me and the person I was becoming. It was a rite of passage and leap of faith. Her fledgling was ready to fly.<br />
<br />
I will never forget that day, the beauty the wonder the magic of that special place. I simply sat on the damp ground, listening to the light drizzle on the leaves of the trees, suddenly understanding far more than just the intricate make up of the plants around me. I never did take anyone there – instead saving it as a place that was ours alone. I learned to seek out and find my own special places and special plants.<br />
<br />
Know that if I ever share one of those places with you, you are indeed a special soul. Know that when I refuse to share that place with you, it does not mean that you are unworthy; it only means that I have that inner need to guard and to protect those places the way I would a child. Trust must be earned.<br />
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It’s been 45 years since that first sighting of the masses of yellow lady slippers and delicate pink and white orchis and I still find myself early each May wading the creeks, climbing the hills, resting in the ferns and dense green marveling at the beauty and the specialness of these amazing wild orchids.<br />
<br />
Funny how it’s always near Mother’s Day. I like to think Mother Nature likes it that way. It’s <i>her</i> gift to <i>us</i> for Mother’s Day. It's her promise to us that as long we continue to protect and to cherish the wild things she will continue to provide them.<br />
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<br />Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-20955630131843049142019-04-13T08:12:00.000-05:002019-04-13T08:12:14.796-05:00Mind Your Mushroom Manners<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Don’t let your desire for morels get the best of you! <br />
<br />
It’s mushroom season – morels are starting to pop throughout southern IL and
the “find line” is moving north a little every day. Sadly, that also means some
conflicts inevitably arise. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s an almost subculture among long time morel hunters,
and like any subculture it has own inherent ethics, rules, and customs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As more and more people, each year take to
the woods in search of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>morels it’s
important that we all understand safe, ethical, and legal mushroom hunting
practices. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First let’s look at some of legalities –<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trespassing is trespassing. End of discussion. It doesn’t
matter that you aren’t hunting turkey, it doesn’t matter that once three years
ago you went with a friend on this property. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t
know where the property lines were. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
doesn’t matter if you only went “a little” over the property line, or nine
miles deep in someone’s woods. It doesn’t matter that you “know a guy who said
it was okay -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he hunts here” Trespassing
is still trespassing, and many property owners won’t think twice about calling
the CPO or having you ticketed. Just don’t do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many different phone apps these days (I use <a href="https://www.onxmaps.com/" target="_blank">onXHunt Maps</a>) that clearly show both property owners and property lines. With onX
Hunt Maps there is a 30-dollar annual fee, but that is far cheaper than a
trespassing fine, and I have also found it useful for identifying property
owners to ask permission to access property. It’s especially useful in areas
where public land and private land are adjoining or patchworked. Additionally,
it allows you to pin your spots, set tracks as journey through the woods, and
is one paid app that I highly recommend for all outdoor enthusiasts. <br />
<br />
If you do ask permission for property access it’s always a good idea to offer
the property owner a Landowner Permission Card that is available free from IDNR.
It really helps cut down on any conflicts down the road and helps to indicate
to the property owner that you are willing to follow the rules on their
property, and do things in correct and safe fashion. <br />
<br />
Additionally, if someone is gracious enough to offer you access to their
property you should always share your harvest, send a nice thank you note, and
never take others along with you unless it has been specifically cleared with
the property owner. Remember they gave YOU permission, not you and dozens of
your friends. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkBLtemuVVQBVMFgjzzALDnsZgNQFHc6tFIkknehjWA00dhiOi-c_2QRodr_kJxunio_kddAd_rsSWGGf3Cw2xCP3ysF_ZYlCAc_e6Dn5GbzzQiRZbABJAIvWNBwXzL3OWahYn7gSOGY/s1600/untitled-1595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkBLtemuVVQBVMFgjzzALDnsZgNQFHc6tFIkknehjWA00dhiOi-c_2QRodr_kJxunio_kddAd_rsSWGGf3Cw2xCP3ysF_ZYlCAc_e6Dn5GbzzQiRZbABJAIvWNBwXzL3OWahYn7gSOGY/s320/untitled-1595.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Things get even more complicated for public land hunters. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s vital that during spring turkey season you stay out of
the woods until after 1 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not a
way for all the turkey hunters to get all the mushrooms first – it’s a way to
keep you from being accidentally shot. It’s a method to help decrease conflict
between user groups, and foremost it’s a safety issue. It doesn’t matter if you
are in a no hunting area – it’s turkey season, and you should treat every piece
of public land as if it may be holding a turkey hunter somewhere, or within
gunshot range. NO mushroom is worth a fanny full of shot or worse. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Additionally, you should always check with the individual
site for any closed areas, natural areas, or preserves where mushroom hunting
is not permitted. In general, in IL if it’s a designated nature preserve,
ecological area, or natural area you can’t remove anything; and that includes
mushrooms. This also often applies to some National Historic areas.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>foraging
on federal properties such as National Wildlife Refuges or USCAE recreational
areas, make sure that you have appropriate vehicle stickers and passes. Some
fee areas require these for entrance or parking .<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Lastly, thanks to social media, Craigslist, and few television shows, folks
believe commercial mushroom hunting is the way to make a quick buck. Be very
aware that you cannot commercially hunt on IL public lands, so if you decide to
do so, know that you are doing it at your own peril. Additionally, groups or
even single folks who commercial hunt on public land can very quickly decimate
entire areas. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MiAZCCAUOuptozIakQp3ptABY878sUNxLgOeebh6CyaX92j1yBedwpM_gfJSju2e_gszn-alfpPHqfHwp1tW4nvhMbGxLRP4COaDKpO41NH0-5HND1wHNdvpGbMln6Vt_8d8MMyeKL8/s1600/IMG_4318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MiAZCCAUOuptozIakQp3ptABY878sUNxLgOeebh6CyaX92j1yBedwpM_gfJSju2e_gszn-alfpPHqfHwp1tW4nvhMbGxLRP4COaDKpO41NH0-5HND1wHNdvpGbMln6Vt_8d8MMyeKL8/s320/IMG_4318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
Commercially selling wild harvested mushrooms in IL is a bit of grey area.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
IL Department of Public Health tells us that “Due to the
difficult and complex nature of mushroom identification, the challenge is best
left to mycologists, or mushroom experts. For instance, while mushrooms in the
genus Amanita are responsible for the most mushroom-related deaths in Illinois
per year, some edible species within this genus are revered as the most
delectable. Due to the ease in misidentification, the sale of wild harvested
mushrooms is not allowed at farmer’s markets in Illinois.“<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I can’t find any specific regulation (please correct me
if anyone knows of a source!) that regulates the sale of wild mushrooms on a
person to person basis. My best suggestion is contact your local CPO to double
check on any mushroom related legal question, and when in doubt – don’t. <br />
<br />
Be very cautious when buying mushrooms through social media, web sites, etc.
There is literally no way you can be sure of freshness, quality, care taken in
harvest etc. Do you really want to trust someone you don’t know to ensure that
the mushrooms were picked legally, ethically, and that the utmost care has been
used in storage and packaging? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now on to the subtler ethics, morals, and social mores
associated with mushroom hunting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whether it’s morels or any other wild edible, always use
sustainable and ethical harvest practices. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t go in and completely decimate an area.
Always leave a little “for seed”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good
rule of thumb is at least 10%, although some recommend a little more be left to
keep patches active and thriving. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Make sure that you are not destroying habitat
tramping around. I’ve seen excellent patches completely obliterated by over
harvest or groups who tramped through, raked back leaves, and left the spot as
bare as Wal Mart parking lot when they were finished. This helps no one. Be
certain that the population can withstand the harvest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t harvest in areas such where
contamination by chemicals etc. could be possible. Harvest using the correct
method to promote the patch/stand. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t just go ripping things out willie
nillie with no thought to the underlying damage you may be causing. Think like
a conservationist. Wild harvesters have long understood that for us to continue
with bountiful harvests, we must practice good wild harvest practices.
Unfortunately, in this get rich quick age, and with the increasing trend for
local wild foods and foraging many people never get around to considering the
conservation piece. All they want is a plateful and pocketful of cash. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Be respectful of other mushroom hunters you encounter. While
indeed public land is there for all of us to share – just like any other public
land activity – be respectful of others and their spaces. Perhaps one of the
worst things you can do if you see someone picking mushrooms along a hillside
is to rush over and invade that space. Best case is to speak politely, wish
them luck, and make a note of the spot for future forays. Don’t crowd or
intrude on other foragers who are picking! It’s also very rude to hang just a
few yards behind and follow someone through the woods. In today’s age many can
perceive that as unusual or threatening behavior, and you might find yourself
being reported to a CPO. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s no need
to have wars in the parking lots, be ugly, or threaten anyone you encounter
along the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although, somedays I
think public land mushroom is just as fraught with this unpleasant behavior as
public land waterfowl hunting and the battles at the ramps and walk ins. <br />
<br />
To tell or not to tell – well, I honestly don’t know any long-term mushroom
hunter that will very willingly give up their best spot, private or public. They
may take you along – with either the clear message that you shouldn’t come back
without them, nor bring others to the spot, or assume you understand the
unspoken rules. This is the fastest way to find yourself blacklisted in the
mushroom hunting community. Once word gets out that you return or worse yet
bring everybody and their brother to show them patches that you were shown by
some trusting friend, you may well find the calls to go shrooming drop off
dramatically. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you visit from out of state to our IL mushroom hunting
areas – remember, you are a visitor, and while we welcome visitors, we don’t
want to hear how much money you have spent to get here, how you have made a 6-hour
drive, how much more entitled you are, or how you are here to commercial hunt…on
and on and on. Just mind your manners, be polite and do not be surprised when
no one answers your questions about where the best areas are located.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Explore the area, get a feel for it and be
nice to the locals. They are after all, the ones who will be rescuing you if
you get lost or in trouble. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you happen to know of or stumble into a patch that is a
very easy walk, close to parking etc. be mindful that this may be one of the
few patches that an old timer can still physically hunt. Just my own opinion,
but taking over or intruding on an old timer’s patch because it’s “easy
picking” is one of the worst things a mushroom hunter can do. Some day if you
are lucky you will have lived long enough to no longer run up and down the
hills and hollers. Keep that in mind, and offer to help any of the old timers <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you encounter or share your harvest with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you get down to brass tacks, it’s simple; follow the
rules and regulations, try to understand the sub culture and local attitudes
about mushrooms, be nice. Share and respect public land for what it is and
understand that it is often multi use property. Don’t encroach, invade, or overstep.
Don’t give away the locations to areas shared with you by others unless they
have specifically given you permission to share or bring others. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Be nice boys and girls – the mushroom wars are just
starting. Let’s try for a little bit of a peace accord this year, shall we? <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-54359529081391448572018-03-09T06:14:00.000-06:002018-03-09T06:14:08.772-06:00Final Call for Entries in Norm Strung Youth Writing Awards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfu-UIc6X52xA7_MTuyYsBXv6Rf6v3Z2afUMHyoxl__UdW2O70slw5iSnVu4uVTPdK4CC_z_FTHhfSNUiKyubWfRYl_BKppt4S9halmOjb6_D8quobCRk6hakExhRdr8JZC53YWt8GTg/s1600/owaa+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="387" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfu-UIc6X52xA7_MTuyYsBXv6Rf6v3Z2afUMHyoxl__UdW2O70slw5iSnVu4uVTPdK4CC_z_FTHhfSNUiKyubWfRYl_BKppt4S9halmOjb6_D8quobCRk6hakExhRdr8JZC53YWt8GTg/s320/owaa+logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;">
The 2018 Norm Strung Youth Writing Awards contest allows promising young writers to showcase their skills in prose or poetry and win cash prizes totaling $1,400.<br /><br />The deadline for entries is <strong>March 15, 2018</strong>. All entries must have been written during the 2017 calendar year.<br /><br />The contest features categories in poetry or prose and awards prizes in two divisions. At the time the article was written the author must have been a student in grades 6-8 to enter the junior division; or grades 9-12 to enter the senior division. The topic must be outdoor-oriented (hiking, camping, boating, fishing, hunting, nature, ecology, canoeing, etc.).<br /><br />In addition to cash prizes, the winning entries from this year’s contest will be printed in a future issue of Outdoors Unlimited, OWAA’s magazine.<br /><br />For complete contest rules and entry instructions, visit<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://owaa.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D5ebfc8472ff071531163077b9%26id%3D4cff727b3a%26e%3D6619d21cbe&source=gmail&ust=1520638436728000&usg=AFQjCNFZtHbVBs94Dk9a1OBPlccLagCZFw" href="https://owaa.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5ebfc8472ff071531163077b9&id=4cff727b3a&e=6619d21cbe" target="_blank">owaa.org/programs/contests/norm-strung-youth-writing-awards</a>. Preferred entry submission is via email to <a href="mailto:info@owaa.org" target="_blank">info@owaa.org</a>. Entries can also be mailed to OWAA Headquarters, <a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=615+Oak+St.,+Ste.+201,+Missoula,+MT+59801&entry=gmail&source=g">615 Oak St., Ste. 201, Missoula, MT 59801</a>.<br /><br />The Norm Strung Youth Writing Awards were named after Norm Strung, who served as OWAA president from 1984-1985. Now deceased, Strung received OWAA’s Excellence in Craft award in 1989. He won the Ham Brown award in 1988 for his service to the organization. That same year, he organized and edited a book for OWAA titled “Selling the Outdoor Story.” He was also recognized as Outstanding Board member in 1975.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;">
<em>OWAA is The Voice of the Outdoors</em>®<em>. The Outdoor Writers Association of America is the oldest and largest association of professional outdoor communicators in the United States. It was organized in 1927 by members of the Izaak Walton League of America and includes professional communicators dedicated to sharing the outdoor experience. OWAA’s professionals include writers, photographers, outdoors radio- and television-show hosts, book authors, videographers, lecturers and artists. The association is headquartered in Missoula, Mont. For more information, contact Outdoor Writers Association of America, <a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=615+Oak+St.,+Ste.+201,+Missoula,+Mont.+59801&entry=gmail&source=g">615 Oak St., Ste. 201, Missoula, Mont. 59801</a>; <a href="tel:406-728-7434" target="_blank" value="+14067287434">406-728-7434</a>,<a href="mailto:info@owaa.org" target="_blank">info@owaa.org</a>; <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://owaa.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D5ebfc8472ff071531163077b9%26id%3D2f20c92e61%26e%3D6619d21cbe&source=gmail&ust=1520638436728000&usg=AFQjCNFAXb8XzDjGTfSkntQu4avaGDOZRQ" href="https://owaa.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5ebfc8472ff071531163077b9&id=2f20c92e61&e=6619d21cbe" target="_blank">www.owaa.org</a>.</em></div>
Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-345967027088702642018-01-29T11:22:00.000-06:002018-01-29T11:23:30.538-06:00Join MDC for Upcoming Wild Webcasts and Facebook Live<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="m_-7164972921721046140gd_ab_main_tab" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 20px auto; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td id="m_-7164972921721046140gd_ab_header" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" valign="top" width="600"></td></tr>
<tr><td id="m_-7164972921721046140gd_ab_main_body" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" valign="top" width="600"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvXpu6LB45Ut7H3iEBA5df2kj8tHIL5QAK_bBtom6EF0W7YEWgB7ZhBS-_bjP7XTHlTgaHzhvJY3QvwSxqmU_2d-yWdk91unDuYVN1V6yiv85yOlhCfLNE6bn30j3U8-KQJEnGhP-RYM/s1600/mdocferalhog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="590" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvXpu6LB45Ut7H3iEBA5df2kj8tHIL5QAK_bBtom6EF0W7YEWgB7ZhBS-_bjP7XTHlTgaHzhvJY3QvwSxqmU_2d-yWdk91unDuYVN1V6yiv85yOlhCfLNE6bn30j3U8-KQJEnGhP-RYM/s640/mdocferalhog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo provided Missouri Department of Conservation </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1 align="left" class="m_-7164972921721046140govd_header" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
</h1>
<div align="left" class="m_-7164972921721046140gd_p" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<i>Learn about feral hogs, backyard wildlife, Eagle Days -- and ask MDC director and agents questions.</i></div>
<div align="left" class="m_-7164972921721046140gd_p" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<b>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. </b>-- Join the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for its upcoming 2018 Wild Webcasts on feral hogs, backyard wildlife, and bald eagles -- along with special Facebook Live sessions with MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley and conservation agents.</div>
<h3 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
<b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #7dabbc;">Join the webcasts from a computer or smartphone by registering through the provided links. Registrants will then get email reminders and links to join the live webcasts. </a></b></h3>
<h3 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
<b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #7dabbc;">For the Facebook Live sessions, simply go to the MDC Facebook page (</a><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type%3Dclick%26enid%3DZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg%3D%3D%26%26%26100%26%26%26https://www.facebook.com/moconservation/&source=gmail&ust=1517331884618000&usg=AFQjCNHz2SfoiowICwF5_HszFXBYjOKKzQ" href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&100&&&https://www.facebook.com/moconservation/" style="color: #7dabbc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">facebook.com/moconservation/</a>) at the time of the sessions to watch. Ask questions by posting them in the comments section.</b></h3>
<div align="left" class="m_-7164972921721046140gd_p" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5;">
<b style="color: black; font-size: 18px;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="left" class="m_-7164972921721046140gd_p" style="color: #232323; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5;">
<b style="color: black; font-size: 18px;">Wild Webcast: Feral Hog Update -- <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_797776100" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">March 21, noon to 1 p.m.</span></span></b></div>
<h3 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Join MDC Feral Hog Elimination Team Leader Mark McLain and State Feral Hog Coordinator for MDC Alan Leary for an update on what MDC and partners are doing to combat feral hogs in Missouri, along with background on what they are and why they are such a destructive problem for landowners, MDC, and others. </span><span style="color: #232323;">Register at </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type%3Dclick%26enid%3DZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg%3D%3D%26%26%26101%26%26%26https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZTn&source=gmail&ust=1517331884618000&usg=AFQjCNEYgjtFcsbrEGtj6Tg52Vj61ykVLQ" href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&101&&&https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZTn" style="color: #7dabbc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">short.mdc.mo.gov/ZTn</a></h3>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #7dabbc; font-weight: normal;"><b><br /></b></a></h2>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #7dabbc; font-weight: normal;"><b>Wild Webcast: Attracting Backyard Wildlife -- <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_797776101" style="border: none !important; cursor: inherit !important; position: static !important; top: -2px; z-index: auto !important;"><span class="aQJ" style="border: none !important; cursor: inherit !important; position: static !important; top: 2px; z-index: auto !important;">May 16, noon to 1 p.m.</span></span></b></a></h2>
<h3 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Join MDC State Ornithologist Sarah Kendrick, Community Conservation Planner for the City of Columbia Danielle Fox, and MDC Habitat Management Coordinator Nate Muenks to learn about attracting birds and other wildlife to backyards large and small through bird feeding, native plantings for wildlife food and shelter, and other habitat help. </span><span style="color: #232323;">Register at </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type%3Dclick%26enid%3DZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg%3D%3D%26%26%26102%26%26%26http://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZTh&source=gmail&ust=1517331884618000&usg=AFQjCNGnG1GotTkWZ0sY-Jj8_MyDPxdj3Q" href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&102&&&http://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZTh" style="color: #7dabbc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">short.mdc.mo.gov/ZTh</a></h3>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #7dabbc;"><br /></a></h2>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #7dabbc;">Facebook Live: Ask the Director -- <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_797776102" style="border: none !important; cursor: inherit !important; position: static !important; top: -2px; z-index: auto !important;"><span class="aQJ" style="border: none !important; cursor: inherit !important; position: static !important; top: 2px; z-index: auto !important;">July 18, noon to 12:30 p.m.</span></span></a></h2>
<h3 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Join MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley to ask her questions on a variety of MDC topics. </span><span style="color: #232323;">Join the conversation at </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type%3Dclick%26enid%3DZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg%3D%3D%26%26%26103%26%26%26https://www.facebook.com/moconservation/&source=gmail&ust=1517331884619000&usg=AFQjCNEeK-08U7ynbetjP1Wicfmv-6-lIw" href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&103&&&https://www.facebook.com/moconservation/" style="color: #7dabbc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">facebook.com/moconservation/</a></h3>
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<b><br /></b></h2>
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<b>Facebook Live: Ask the Agent -- <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_797776103" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Oct. 31, noon to 12:30 p.m.</span></span></b></h2>
<h3 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Join MDC conservation agents to ask questions and get answers on hunting, fishing, trapping, and other MDC regulations. </span><span style="color: #232323;">Join the conversation at </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type%3Dclick%26enid%3DZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg%3D%3D%26%26%26104%26%26%26https://www.facebook.com/moconservation/&source=gmail&ust=1517331884619000&usg=AFQjCNHdEcG07YdyJI2YNi8xFeh3Rnd1RA" href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&104&&&https://www.facebook.com/moconservation/" style="color: #7dabbc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">facebook.com/moconservation/</a></h3>
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<b><br /></b></h2>
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<b>Wild Webcast: Bald Eagles & Eagle Days -- <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_797776104" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Dec. 5, noon to 1 p.m.</span></span></b></h2>
<h3 align="left" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Join MDC Resource Scientist and Eagle Expert Janet Haslerig and MDC Eagle Days Veteran Dan Zarlenga to learn about bald eagles in Missouri and the perennially popular MDC Eagle Days events around the state. </span><span style="color: #232323;">Register at </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type%3Dclick%26enid%3DZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg%3D%3D%26%26%26105%26%26%26https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZT7&source=gmail&ust=1517331884619000&usg=AFQjCNGb0cOFv0YJYnhifVnPp7Tho2h7eg" href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&105&&&https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZT7" style="color: #7dabbc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">short.mdc.mo.gov/ZT7</a></h3>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Watch previous MDC Wild Webcasts at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type%3Dclick%26enid%3DZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg%3D%3D%26%26%26106%26%26%26https://mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/mdc-wild-webcasts&source=gmail&ust=1517331884619000&usg=AFQjCNFcEgUhp3ZQ9kG_5AhfS1B2WzIIGg" href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMTI5Ljg0NDM5MTkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDEyOS44NDQzOTE5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MTcwMzE4JmVtYWlsaWQ9c3RlZWxlcGhvdG9AZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zdGVlbGVwaG90b0BnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&106&&&https://mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/mdc-wild-webcasts" style="color: #7dabbc;" target="_blank">mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/mdc-<wbr></wbr>wild-webcasts</a>to learn about invasive species, mountain lions, birding, fishing, chronic wasting disease, black bears, pollinators, and feral hogs.</i></b></div>
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Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-34483233112079619722018-01-29T08:38:00.000-06:002018-01-29T09:54:44.982-06:00Starting Anew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0dPY0otWeWtDYcLUVbkWRJWeRtyVJb1cC3spoY7-IiDNrMgpU0S_BkE1AqXLeAUCSw2q5PQHeExXaEu5f8IK7-0aiRfo2oh84-8zdMYqzN9e8Ip8Yyo-bFSnsou_fHGeMvNGKRNxS1Q/s1600/She+knew+this+transformation+was+not+about+becoming+someone+better%252Cbut+about+finally+allowing+herself+to+become+who+she%2527d+always+been..png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0dPY0otWeWtDYcLUVbkWRJWeRtyVJb1cC3spoY7-IiDNrMgpU0S_BkE1AqXLeAUCSw2q5PQHeExXaEu5f8IK7-0aiRfo2oh84-8zdMYqzN9e8Ip8Yyo-bFSnsou_fHGeMvNGKRNxS1Q/s640/She+knew+this+transformation+was+not+about+becoming+someone+better%252Cbut+about+finally+allowing+herself+to+become+who+she%2527d+always+been..png" width="640" /></a></div>
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It seems that over the past few years I let a good many things go - moved on to other arenas; print, commercial work, writing for others instead of myself. All this really did was increase my overall dissatisfaction with things.<br />It became time to "fish or cut bait" - so I'm starting all over again !</div>
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<br />Time to write more what I want to write instead of what an editor wants.<br /></div>
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Time to photograph what I enjoy instead of just what will sell. </div>
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Time to get back in the saddle and admit I was not as ready to retire things as I once thought I was! <br /><br />This is going to be a journey as I essentially will be rebranding and reinventing everything it seems.<br /><br />I hope that if you enjoyed this blog in the past, you will continue to enjoy it, if you are new to my work, please have a look at the older posts, and subscribe via the sign up form on right side of the page.<br /><br />I hope you will enjoy following the blog and "Walkin' with the Wild Woman"! </div>
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<br />Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-78766552239504151692016-05-06T10:32:00.001-05:002018-01-24T17:27:34.592-06:00Running Traps AKA The Name and Shame Game<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8vMGmxn-Ml1-rMD2LlAFY5tf9RI7_QKX7MDdgvtYdHphXQ0Mrn3DcN0yfR9y2cVWFVx_zmKuGQeitf2gd4K-VE3gl_PvXvyhSq2M3jt6kTCPZwkZn2pInKU0Dap6Sk4rJh9tb-K4KB4/s1600/IMG_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8vMGmxn-Ml1-rMD2LlAFY5tf9RI7_QKX7MDdgvtYdHphXQ0Mrn3DcN0yfR9y2cVWFVx_zmKuGQeitf2gd4K-VE3gl_PvXvyhSq2M3jt6kTCPZwkZn2pInKU0Dap6Sk4rJh9tb-K4KB4/s400/IMG_0016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yesterday I was out running my traps, listening to an
outstanding interview with <a href="http://thedianerehmshow.org/audio/#/shows/2016-05-05/rita-dove-collected-poems-1974-2004/112613/@00:00">Rita
Dove on NPR</a>, thinking about a very to the point post a friend had made on
face book, and feeling pretty darned inspired. I was anxious to get home and
start writing. <br />
<br />
Oh Holy Crap, what did I just say? <br />
<br />
I’d better change up that “running my traps” language immediately. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The phrase “running my traps” is semi local, colloquial, phrase
that means out roaming – checking on friends, stopping at fishing holes,
scouting birds, just wandering around – I wasn’t out actually checking a trap
line. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Why you ask do I feel the need to be so adamant about that?
Because this my friends, is how things so rapidly go to hell in handbasket
these days. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I can just about guarantee you some person would read this,
and immediately jump to the conclusion that I am illegally running a trap line
in IL in May. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then the internet naming and shaming begins, the memes, the
creative cut and paste, the posts telling me that I am highly illegal and
should be removed from the planet. Screams of “Call the authorities!” would
echo through the cyber world. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The anti trapping folks would steal a photo or two and make
an example of this shameful and lawless behavior. Surely, I gleefully murder
kittens and other warm, fuzzy, cute, creatures as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>And no one would
bother to ask IF I was really running a trap line or WHY I was a running a trap
line in May. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Because the online judge,jury and executioners are running their own trap line so speak as they scroll their feeds each day. </i></div>
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We have become a society that can’t think beyond 140 characters
and a meme. We take every character typed, every photo posted, every sentence
uttered as an opportunity to find fault and be offended. We have become a name
and shame society via social media. Quite
frankly many days I feel like I am living in the era of the Inquisitions or the
witch burnings. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To quote my witty friends inspiring facebook post "passive-aggressive,
slightly vicious yammering and self-righteous pride” would run rampant. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve come to the conclusion that people no longer care about
civil discourse, differing opinions or fact checking. Let’s just fall into the
click bait headline trap – blindly share, and pass on the horror or offense of
the day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Because, well it makes folks feel so damn good about
themselves. It proves what high moral standards they hold themselves to, it
proves that they are - SO. MUCH. BETTER.
<br />
<br />
It also proves critical thinking skills are clearly at an all time low, and the
self involved it’s ALL about me and how
wonderful and perfect I am set has this
name and shame thing down to fine art. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>And they feel so damn
good about it. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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The name and shamers feel great pride in being the one who
exposed the theoretical bad behavior; they don’t want to know the facts, they
don’t want to know “the rest of the story” as Paul Harvey would say. <o:p></o:p></div>
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They just want the world to see how absolutely great, moral,
ethical and offended that they are. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Because clearly, taking one sentence from an interview, one
paragraph from a blog, or one photo shared and turning it to a "passive-aggressive,
slightly vicious yammering and self-righteous pride” comment fest on their
social media accounts makes them the star for the day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I see social media posters gleefully delight in the fact
that they have gone viral with their take down of often innocent people, or how
they shut down a business, a religious group or political candidate they didn’t
care for. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Oh yes – and here is where all the free speechers will jump
in – you watch. It’s their God given
right, we live in country of free speech, I can say whatever the hell I want
. That’s true – to a point. That’s also
why slander and libel laws exist. Please don’t make me drag out the whole
shouting fire in crowded theater example. <br />
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But then again isn’t that exactly what the social media
judges, juries, and executioners are actually doing? Isn’t the whole internet
shamefest mentality just an online version of yelling fire in crowded theater? <br />
<br />
Let’s stir up the crowd, get out the torches and pitchforks and see just how much
mayhem we can actually achieve. <br />
<br />
Consequently, I see more and more thinking people just walking away from social
media. It is just is too tiring to wade through feeds full of utter crap.
Thinking people who really have never been into that whole herd mentality thing to begin with. <br />
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And that’s sad – because social media can be a great tool, a
great way to exchange ideas and information. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And now here we are – the whole post I had planned has flown
out the window and I have to start that whole project over again because I got
side tracked thinking about a world that’s full of social media “stars” who’s
greatest talent seems to be making posts full of "passive-aggressive,
slightly vicious yammering and self-righteous pride”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Guess I need to go “run my traps” again this morning and
find that inspiration all over again. <o:p></o:p></div>
Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-80144491838278484602015-09-18T20:47:00.002-05:002018-01-29T16:34:37.805-06:00Hunters, Landowners Encouraged to Report Suspected Cases of EHD <div class="PRHeadline" id="strPRHeadline">
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<b>IDNR has received 47 EHD reports from 17 Counties so far in 2015</b><br />
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SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has
received reports of 47 suspected cases of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease
(EHD) in wild white-tailed deer so far in 2015. EHD appears to be more
prevalent in west-central Illinois counties including Adams, McDonough
and surrounding counties. In all, reports have come from 17 counties
(see map attached). EHD was also confirmed in captive deer herds in
Adams and Schuyler counties with heavy losses reported. <br />
<br />
Scattered
EHD cases were reported across the southern third of Illinois as well
as two counties (Stephenson and Winnebago) in northern Illinois. EHD
was also confirmed in multiple cattle herds in Jo Daviess County. <br />
<br />
The
worst year for EHD was 2012 when 2,043 cases were reported from 76
counties. In 2013, IDNR received reports of 403 cases from 51 counties.
EHD was virtually absent in 2014. <br />
<br />
IDNR continues to ask
landowners, hunters, and concerned citizens to be on the look-out for
dead or dying deer, and to report suspected EHD cases to their local
IDNR field office, or to the Wildlife Disease and Invasive Species
Program (WDIS). IDNR is especially interested in sick or recently dead
animals as staff may attempt to collect tissue samples in order to
confirm the presence of the EHD virus. <br />
<br />
Contact information for
local IDNR biologists is available at the following web site
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/professionals.cfm . Contact
the WDIS Program at (815) 369-2414 or by email at
doug.dufford@illinois.gov. Please provide your name and contact
information as well as the county, number of dead/sick deer, sex (if
known), age (fawn or adult) and specific location of the deer
(distance/direction from the nearest town or intersection of two
roads). <br />
<br />
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is a viral
disease of white-tailed deer that can cause localized die-offs when
conditions are favorable for transmission. Infected animals develop a
high fever and dead animals often are found near water sources. Hunters
may encounter deer killed by EHD when they go into the woods during the
upcoming deer hunting seasons. EHD outbreaks typically end when freezing
weather kills the insects that spread the virus. While often fatal to
deer, EHD is not hazardous to humans or pets. EHD has been shown to
affect livestock, so producers are encouraged to be vigilant. <br />
<br />
The
virus is transmitted between deer by a midge that hatches from muddy
areas along lakes/ponds and streams/rivers. Although EHD is observed
somewhere in Illinois every year, cases are more numerous during hot and
dry summer weather conditions, presumably because receding water levels
create these muddy areas, providing breeding sites for the midges.
Limited water resources also congregate deer at remaining watering
sites, creating conditions favorable for disease transmission. <br />
<br />
A map showing the distribution of EHD-suspected deer reports as of September 15 for 2015 is available at this link: </div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/Hunters,%20Landowners%20Encouraged%20to%20Report%20Suspected%20Cases%20of%20EHD%20IDNR%20has%20received%2047%20EHD%20reports%20from%2017%20Counties%20so%20far%20in%202015%20SPRINGFIELD,%20IL%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Illinois%20Department%20of%20Natural%20Resources%20has%20received%20reports%20of%2047%20suspected%20cases%20of%20Epizootic%20Hemorrhagic%20Disease%20(EHD)%20in%20wild%20white-tailed%20deer%20so%20far%20in%202015.%20%20EHD%20appears%20to%20be%20more%20prevalent%20in%20west-central%20Illinois%20counties%20including%20Adams,%20McDonough%20and%20surrounding%20counties.%20In%20all,%20reports%20have%20come%20from%2017%20counties%20(see%20map%20attached).%20EHD%20was%20also%20confirmed%20in%20captive%20deer%20herds%20in%20Adams%20and%20Schuyler%20counties%20with%20heavy%20losses%20reported.%20%20Scattered%20EHD%20cases%20were%20reported%20across%20the%20southern%20third%20of%20Illinois%20as%20well%20as%20two%20counties%20(Stephenson%20and%20Winnebago)%20in%20northern%20Illinois.%20%20EHD%20was%20also%20confirmed%20in%20multiple%20cattle%20herds%20in%20Jo%20Daviess%20County.%20%20The%20worst%20year%20for%20EHD%20was%202012%20when%202,043%20cases%20were%20reported%20from%2076%20counties.%20In%202013,%20IDNR%20received%20reports%20of%20403%20cases%20from%2051%20counties.%20%20EHD%20was%20virtually%20absent%20in%202014.%20%20IDNR%20continues%20to%20ask%20landowners,%20hunters,%20and%20concerned%20citizens%20to%20be%20on%20the%20look-out%20for%20dead%20or%20dying%20deer,%20and%20to%20report%20suspected%20EHD%20cases%20to%20their%20local%20IDNR%20field%20office,%20or%20to%20the%20Wildlife%20Disease%20and%20Invasive%20Species%20Program%20(WDIS).%20%20IDNR%20is%20especially%20interested%20in%20sick%20or%20recently%20dead%20animals%20as%20staff%20may%20attempt%20to%20collect%20tissue%20samples%20in%20order%20to%20confirm%20the%20presence%20of%20the%20EHD%20virus.%20%20Contact%20information%20for%20local%20IDNR%20biologists%20is%20available%20at%20the%20following%20web%20site%20http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/professionals.cfm%20.%20%20Contact%20the%20WDIS%20Program%20at%20(815)%20369-2414%20or%20by%20email%20at%20doug.dufford@illinois.gov.%20%20Please%20provide%20your%20name%20and%20contact%20information%20as%20well%20as%20the%20county,%20number%20of%20dead/sick%20deer,%20sex%20(if%20known),%20age%20(fawn%20or%20adult)%20and%20specific%20location%20of%20the%20deer%20(distance/direction%20from%20the%20nearest%20town%20or%20intersection%20of%20two%20roads).%20%20%20%20Epizootic%20Hemorrhagic%20Disease%20(EHD)%20is%20a%20viral%20disease%20of%20white-tailed%20deer%20that%20can%20cause%20localized%20die-offs%20when%20conditions%20are%20favorable%20for%20transmission.%20%20Infected%20animals%20develop%20a%20high%20fever%20and%20dead%20animals%20often%20are%20found%20near%20water%20sources.%20Hunters%20may%20encounter%20deer%20killed%20by%20EHD%20when%20they%20go%20into%20the%20woods%20during%20the%20upcoming%20deer%20hunting%20seasons.%20EHD%20outbreaks%20typically%20end%20when%20freezing%20weather%20kills%20the%20insects%20that%20spread%20the%20virus.%20%20While%20often%20fatal%20to%20deer,%20EHD%20is%20not%20hazardous%20to%20humans%20or%20pets.%20%20EHD%20has%20been%20shown%20to%20affect%20livestock,%20so%20producers%20are%20encouraged%20to%20be%20vigilant.%20%20The%20virus%20is%20transmitted%20between%20deer%20by%20a%20midge%20that%20hatches%20from%20muddy%20areas%20along%20lakes/ponds%20and%20streams/rivers.%20%20Although%20EHD%20is%20observed%20somewhere%20in%20Illinois%20every%20year,%20cases%20are%20more%20numerous%20during%20hot%20and%20dry%20summer%20weather%20conditions,%20presumably%20because%20receding%20water%20levels%20create%20these%20muddy%20areas,%20providing%20breeding%20sites%20for%20the%20midges.%20%20Limited%20water%20resources%20also%20congregate%20deer%20at%20remaining%20watering%20sites,%20creating%20conditions%20favorable%20for%20disease%20transmission.%20%20%20%20A%20map%20showing%20the%20distribution%20of%20EHD-suspected%20deer%20reports%20as%20of%20September%2015%20for%202015%20is%20available%20at%20this%20link:%20http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Documents/EHDMap-Sep2015.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Documents/EHDMap-Sep2015.pdf </a></div>
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Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-43558601362049834262014-08-20T08:06:00.000-05:002014-08-20T08:21:49.384-05:00KenLake State Resort Park Opens New Archery Range<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9PcKGim1KqCadPMGzxP1OPQjRBKxowhrTRU9OGtU1Vf5qkx95oKVynnci4rYwAmGDKdw3O-BxVKEaAVDxcC5tEY61dUCS03upEWvJjtcyaKe-bLL-YgFteZfa2bT-ZluMmbyUGf9Abc/s1600/gretchen_steele_kenucky_parks-1483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9PcKGim1KqCadPMGzxP1OPQjRBKxowhrTRU9OGtU1Vf5qkx95oKVynnci4rYwAmGDKdw3O-BxVKEaAVDxcC5tEY61dUCS03upEWvJjtcyaKe-bLL-YgFteZfa2bT-ZluMmbyUGf9Abc/s1600/gretchen_steele_kenucky_parks-1483.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've recently had the very good fortune to spend some time at <a href="http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/kenlake/default.aspx" target="_blank">KenLake State Resort Park,</a> in Aurora Kentucky. My first visit was during the <a href="http://heartlandoutdoors.com/gretchen/story/hundreds_of_bowfishers_descend_on_kentucky_lakes/" target="_blank">Bowfishing Association of America's World Championship</a> - although my schedule only allowed for an overnight stay, I was so taken with the many activities and photo opportunities Ken Lake State Resort Park, It didn't take long for me to decide I had to plan a return visit. I knew I would be returning the great Kentucky Lakes area in September, but that wasn't soon enough to suit me. </div>
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During my initial visit, KenLake gave me a sneak peek and a preview of their soon to be opening 3D archery range. Although on that first visit it wasn't quite completed I could tell that it was going to be an outstanding range that would appeal to a wide range of archery enthusiasts. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjMo5KVWgwHmAlrokrGbIXU5Vv7DGbCef_ISDHtma7W0kP5QwVK6kBDTEGmKu2uqxvOVTj-ueIJ4pODfDjKLAn2J8-YhpRC9TIGIyJwGZSlnF3l3le7QCGMvkc729_AvSWizFz56oML0/s1600/gretchen_steele_kenucky_parks-2059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjMo5KVWgwHmAlrokrGbIXU5Vv7DGbCef_ISDHtma7W0kP5QwVK6kBDTEGmKu2uqxvOVTj-ueIJ4pODfDjKLAn2J8-YhpRC9TIGIyJwGZSlnF3l3le7QCGMvkc729_AvSWizFz56oML0/s1600/gretchen_steele_kenucky_parks-2059.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>On my return visit, the park was in a flurry of Grand Opening preparations and park staff again generously allowed us to preview the range and spend some time trying our hands at the interesting and challenging layout. My partner and fellow outdoor photographer Amy Pease and I knew that this would be a great side trip for our many outdoor media colleagues who will be descending on the Kentucky Lakes area for the 2014 Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers Annual Conference in September.Not only is this range a must visit for outdoor media when visiting the Kentucky Lakes area, it provides a great opportunity for any archery enthusiast visiting the Kentucky Lakes Area.egardless of what takes you Kentucky Lakes area, be sure to pack your bow and give this challenging and interesting course a try! You won't be disappointed!</div>
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<a href="http://aglowinfo.org/horizons/" target="_blank"><i>Kentucky Lakes area work that originally appeared in the AGLOW Horizons Magazine August 2014</i></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Gnq9psJHSRzwG2nJNnnizkrFJi8ZXZ9bj9Fw9wVl66PrQiFW47GR-G-ehUdxZd0UxwUyOuaEDYNB4vIsuB7Cj-gB4y37sclosbFtpTDaV5K9cGSCjj41ZAkfK3iXAqBRtyMzQm_hbho/s1600/Aug2014Horizons-4+Bring+Your+Bows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Gnq9psJHSRzwG2nJNnnizkrFJi8ZXZ9bj9Fw9wVl66PrQiFW47GR-G-ehUdxZd0UxwUyOuaEDYNB4vIsuB7Cj-gB4y37sclosbFtpTDaV5K9cGSCjj41ZAkfK3iXAqBRtyMzQm_hbho/s1600/Aug2014Horizons-4+Bring+Your+Bows.jpg" height="640" width="500" /></a></div>
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<br />Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-37175466627418414212014-06-25T11:13:00.001-05:002014-06-25T11:19:09.835-05:00Boaters: Don’t Let July 4th Be Your Undoing<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><i>BoatUS: Nation’s Birthday Requires Special Caution</i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP8rYPTWkrWudglz7DPe0ki-uMZN2h0BfHnWO0MlYTzwXT4dTCdbtLjcF7vyo0J0nLsEM6FUcWrB9uuUid9uSVqYpj-9j_KMi3VhsldM0GSAjSd3aMM6RSSjZBTlw8YKwomIskAr_heQ/s1600/boatusfireworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP8rYPTWkrWudglz7DPe0ki-uMZN2h0BfHnWO0MlYTzwXT4dTCdbtLjcF7vyo0J0nLsEM6FUcWrB9uuUid9uSVqYpj-9j_KMi3VhsldM0GSAjSd3aMM6RSSjZBTlw8YKwomIskAr_heQ/s1600/boatusfireworks.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of BoatUS</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></i></b></span></span></span></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">ALEXANDRIA,
Va., June 25, 2014 – A long day on the water exposed to the elements
combined with crowded waterways and alcohol consumption could be a
recreational boater’s ultimate undoing this July 4th holiday weekend.
“It’s mayhem,” said BoatUS Foundation President Chris Edmonston, “So
pull out all the stops and make safety priority #1 to ensure you have a
wonderful time on the water.” <a href="http://www.boatus.com/" target="_blank">BoatUS</a> suggests these tips to enjoy America’s birthday on on a boat:</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i>
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Everyone wants to see the show:</b>
Every boat owner becomes popular on July 4th because they’ve “got
boat”. Whoa, that doesn’t mean everyone can safely come aboard.
Overloading combined with intense wake action always spells trouble on
recreational boating’s most highly-trafficked holiday. Keep to your
boat’s capacity limit, ensure everyone has a seat inside the boat, and
have a life jacket for everyone aboard. Wearing life jackets, especially
after the fireworks end when the risk of a nighttime collision is the
greatest, is a wise move.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Get all of the lights working: </b>In the dark, the only way to determine a boat’s direction is by seeing its <a href="http://www.boatus.com/navlights" target="_blank">navigation lights</a>.
Fix any broken lights before you go – and ensure they are visible from
360 degrees. You may be surprised to learn that just because the light
switch is turned on, it doesn’t mean your nav lights can be seen from
every quarter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Paddlers, resist the urge: </b>Stand
up paddleboards, kayaks and canoes are great – but not in the middle of
a nighttime fireworks display. Wearing a headlamp or hanging glowsticks
around your neck isn’t enough to be seen and may confuse other boaters.
If you do insist on going out, stay very close to shore and away from
any boating traffic, have USCG-approved nav lights, and keep clear of
any channels, marinas or launch ramp areas. Assume that no one can see
you.<br />
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<b>Patience is a virtue:</b> Wait a little bit after the
fireworks show ends for boating traffic to thin out before you haul
anchor. It’s also better to pass other boats astern to avoid anchor line
entanglements – one of the top reasons why boaters will call for on
water assistance from the TowBoatUS or Vessel Assist fleets. BoatUS
reports their 24-hour dispatch call center switchboards <a href="tel:%28800-391-4869" target="_blank" value="+18003914869">(800-391-4869</a>) light up like a Christmas tree after the fireworks shows end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Check your dock:</b>
Before you invite everyone down to the lake house, ensure that any dock
with electric service or a boat tied up to it isn’t leaking any stray
current into the water. Minute amounts of alternating current in fresh
water can be hazardous to swimmers and lead to <a href="http://www.boatus.com/esdexplained" target="_blank">Electric Shock Drowning</a>.
An easy way to check your dock is with a circuit tester and a clamp
meter. If in doubt, just shut off all electricity to the dock, relax,
and enjoy the fireworks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Boat Sober:</b>
While it’s embarrassing to be arrested for boating while intoxicated,
it also means the boat driver has forgotten his or her responsibility to
keep everyone aboard safe. Wait until after you’ve tied up for the
night before drinking, or one of the hundreds of law enforcement
officers assigned to increased patrols may have to remind you in a very
unpleasant, humiliating and costly way. Drunk driving on the water can
cost you your car driver’s license, too.<br /><br />Please keep these things in mind while planning your Forth of July outing and remember SAFETY FIRST! </span><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">About BoatUS:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Boat Owners Association of The United States (<a href="http://www.boatus.com/" target="_blank">BoatUS</a>)
is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its
over half-million members with government representation, services such
as 24-hour dispatch, on water boat towing as well as roadside
assistance for boat trailers and tow vehicles, feature-packed boat
insurance programs, money-saving benefits including marina and service
discounts, and vital information that improves recreational boating. Its
member-funded BoatUS Foundation is a national leader promoting safe,
clean and responsible boating and offers range of boating safety courses
– including 33 free state courses – that can be found at
BoatUS.org/courses.</span><br />
<br /><br />
</i></b>Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-2943307577359328302014-06-08T07:48:00.000-05:002018-01-30T09:42:52.948-06:00Time to Speak Up; Time to Speak Out<br />
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Unfortunately it seems I have ruffled a feather or two in the bowfishing community, and the issue has become so intense with some, that after consulting with a few trusted outdoor media colleagues and my legal advisors, the general consensus was that the best course of action was to simply speak up and speak out and then walk away from the fray.<br />
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On April 24th of this year the following announcement was made by Ed DeVries, President of Bowfishing Association of Illinois:<br />
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“LIMITED CHANNEL CAT BOWFISHING LEGAL FOR 2015 SEASON<br />
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Starting April 2015 bowfishers will be allowed to take a 6 fish limit of channel cat from the Illinois River between the starved rock dam and Dresden dam.<br />
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Now bowfishers will be able to harvest another fish that are excellent on the table thanks to the IDNR and the efforts of your BAI! Currently channel cats are a commercial fish that can be caught on trot line, bank pole, hook and line and now by bowfishing. Very cool news!”<br />
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After reading the announcement I sent the following message to Mr. DeVries via Facebook’s messaging system:<br />
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Gretchen Steele<br />
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Truthfully Ed, I don't support the catfish. I see too many people that do not know the difference between a channel cat, a blue or flathead. If they can't tell the difference between them on a jug or trot line or pole and line, I doubt that they will be able to tell the difference in the water. The commercial fishermen in this area will likely fight it. They are struggling for decent catch numbers now. They aren't anti bowfishing by any means, they just are unlikely to support adding another method to take cats from a population that's already starting to dwindle down. I know this is just an area that we will have to agree to disagree, good luck with the pilot program - I hope that it proves my concerns wrong.<br />
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After researching the announced rule change and program with DNR I discovered that BAI had only sent the proposal to DNR and that no rule change had been made, nor had it been placed on the regulatory agenda for consideration.<br />
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I wrote about the proposal in my blog at Heartland Outdoors. You may read that blog entry HERE.<br />
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Following that post Mr. DeVries began, for lack a of a better term, a well documented smear campaign that included calling for boycotts of publications that publish my work and their advertisers, calling for my immediate removal from the various pro staff positions I hold etc. As time went on the campaign became increasingly defamatory both personally and professionally.<br />
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I chose to simply ignore the situation, as that seemed to me to be the best and most professional choice. As the old adage says, “Don’t feed the trolls.” Thankfully the bulk of the incessant ranting and raving has been largely ignored and limited to primarily internet sites, social media and internet forums. More thankfully, my sponsors, publishers, editors and the companies I Pro Staff for simply laughed it off and continue to do so.<br />
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Then on Friday May 6th I received a request from Mr, DeVries for an e mail interview, with an attached list of questions that ranged from disingenuous at best to bordering on threatening demands at worst.<br />
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I respectfully declined his request based on several factors; the history of the defamatory campaign against me personally and professionally, there was no vetting or credentialing of Mr. DeVries as a journalist provided, and it’s truly a non issue at this point. The proposal is merely a proposal on a desk at DNR. It’s old news. It’s 15 minutes of fame has come and gone. If and when it the proposal is placed on the regulatory agenda and sent to the rules committee I will revisit the issue as outdoor media; but until then I consider it a non issue.<br />
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However Mr. DeVries chose to follow up my denial of the request with an overtly adversarial and threatening email that compelled me to provide the whole mess to my legal advisor.<br />
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While I can’t imagine that anyone finds my opinion all that noteworthy, compelling, or influential. Contrary to Mr. DeVries claims that I am afraid to speak up; I am not afraid to share my opinion.I just saw no reason to engage in some childish internet based flaming war, nor provide an interview to someone who has repeatedly misquoted me, and made blatantly untrue claims about me. I fully expect to find cut and pasted excerpts of this post used in more of the ridiculous claims being made by BAI. So here we are – here’s how I feel regarding the BAI proposal to allow bowfishing for channel catfish with a daily creel limit of six between Starved Rock Dam and Dresden Dam.<br />
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I am not “100% against bowfishing for catfish” as has been reported. However, I do not and will not support the proposal as it is written. I feel that by making it specific to channel catfish this opens up the door for the possibility of accidental violations when bowfishers inadvertently arrow a different species of catfish. I see too many cases of people incorrectly identifying catfish, and feel it could be difficult for the average recreational bowfisher to always correctly identify the specific catfish species.<br />
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I also feel that limited area of the pilot program waters is insufficient to determine it’s effect on the catfish population statewide. Perhaps a better choice would be to also have pilot or test programs in several bodies of water throughout the entire state, along with creel surveys so that DNR can determine exactly how many catfish are being taken by bowfishers, along with all other anglers who take catfish.<br />
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By choosing only that body of water, it could give the appearance of favoring northern Illinois over southern, causing more feelings of abandonment by anglers and bowfishers who reside in southern Illinois. It creates more ill will and feelings of division between southern and northern Illinois, and frankly there’s enough of that already.<br />
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I think that this could well be a precedent setting rule change that could open up the door for further proposals to allow bowfishing for additional species that are currently considered game or sport fish.<br />
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I think that bowfishing for catfish could be feasible in specific waters at specific times, but this is a decision that should be made with input from all user groups including commercial fishermen, bowfishermen, pole and line anglers, netters, etc. after a careful study of the overall health of the catfish populations and input from regional fisheries biologists.<br />
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I think that all user groups must be willing to discuss the issue openly, constructively, civilly, and be willing to make good faith concessions in effort to find a solution palatable to all.<br />
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Lastly, I am not anti hunting, anti bowfishing, or anything of sort. I am however a conservationist first and bowfisher second.<br />
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I am saddened that this post even had to be made. In my gut I still feel that I shouldn't feed the trolls so to speak, but I realize that my silence only allows this to continue and could possibly be construed that the claims made are true.<br />
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It saddens me that any single person or organization that is supposed to represent the bowfishing community can create such a controversy and adversarial situation that it causes division among our ranks.<br />
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So there you have it – That’s how I feel about the bowfishing for catfish proposal, despite what you may hear, read, or see being put forth by any detractors.<br />
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With that said – Let’s all just go fishing (by whatever method you prefer) and forget about this proposal until such time it is placed on the regulatory agenda and sent to rules committee. It truly is much ado about nothing at this juncture.Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-4718767464295080532014-04-04T09:05:00.000-05:002018-01-30T10:46:28.776-06:00Still "Chasin' Birds" !<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyERTk1y51W3zcOWMixyNCms98yjCDQmd8M_TLxPQtwmif5SaI64Pb61za7uYQivSSCncugsyRVARXIX4pVxa_p1Yr-clghEnvRAGpKXmISO2Gx5TgBB4L1hHTJ44wFLNvGo3Oc7QIjk/s1600/IMG_6044-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="440" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyERTk1y51W3zcOWMixyNCms98yjCDQmd8M_TLxPQtwmif5SaI64Pb61za7uYQivSSCncugsyRVARXIX4pVxa_p1Yr-clghEnvRAGpKXmISO2Gx5TgBB4L1hHTJ44wFLNvGo3Oc7QIjk/s640/IMG_6044-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My beloved waterfowl are slowly but surely making their way out of the area and on to their winter homes, but that doesn’t mean that I am no longer chasing birds. It merely means that I have shifted my focus so to speak to the other migrants, the residents who are in full breeding colors and in some cases are beginning to nest, and of course the “boys of spring” the wild turkeys that seem to be everywhere in the spring woods right now. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif43RQqEDMzknx128O5bi06_km5IpLtO4vtaO3HmjIptPlQInim4psMHtbjK2XWAszDU1_54QuubsopwjlA6zXu22_MWcFj2XdqjfysO8n0eGof4sZinxzsXNnnDU2YZ3IcIva9uKZISQ/s1600/gretchen_steele_2014_eastern_wild_turkey_illinois-9952.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif43RQqEDMzknx128O5bi06_km5IpLtO4vtaO3HmjIptPlQInim4psMHtbjK2XWAszDU1_54QuubsopwjlA6zXu22_MWcFj2XdqjfysO8n0eGof4sZinxzsXNnnDU2YZ3IcIva9uKZISQ/s1600/gretchen_steele_2014_eastern_wild_turkey_illinois-9952.jpg" /></a><br />
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I’ve been wandering about the last few days – still in search of fine feathered friends. Hmmm seems like I am always “chasin’ birds” doesn’t it? <br />
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Although I spend an enormous amount of time looking for birds to photograph, I don’t consider myself a birder; bird watcher yes, bird photographer – of course, and bird hunter, again of course. Let’s be clear on the bird hunting part before some crazed anti-hunting birder jumps on the band wagon – I only use the phrase “bird” as a general description and only hunt legal species that are considered game birds. I am not out there picking off cardinals and nuthatches with an air rifle. Got that folks? <br />
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I have been pulling the trigger on the camera a good bit in recent days - I hope you all enjoy the photos as much as I have enjoyed sitting in the spring woods and traverse the recently open waters in search of these beautiful winged wonders! <br />
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An unusual find for southern Illinois –<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TmvKMucrXrB87rmqbm6lftR0NBex39JzPR8LKNPNB2JF-J0QCiE-47Xbz44n6RJ6PEzTSrjCQ-GJ3lxO5mJKUws5m8wV8C3a353YAUdSQdakVTQ0cF5Z4P8VzJtI5BwtUi5CSbfWQcQ/s1600/gretchensteele_common_loon-0712.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TmvKMucrXrB87rmqbm6lftR0NBex39JzPR8LKNPNB2JF-J0QCiE-47Xbz44n6RJ6PEzTSrjCQ-GJ3lxO5mJKUws5m8wV8C3a353YAUdSQdakVTQ0cF5Z4P8VzJtI5BwtUi5CSbfWQcQ/s1600/gretchensteele_common_loon-0712.jpg" /></a><br />
I honestly stumbled into this group of common loons. While they are occasionally seen in southern Illinois during migration, I wouldn’t call them a common visitor. A quick check of the <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/map/comloo?bmo=1&emo=12&byr=2010&eyr=2014">eBird sighting map</a> confirmed that indeed the loons really are just occasional visitors here in my neck of the woods. I might as well admit, I wasn’t looking for them I was looking for a restroom. I knew that one of my favorite boat ramps had good bathrooms so I was headed to there when I noticed what I first thought was an odd looking cormorant (they are common here). Imagine my surprise when I realized I was looking at loons! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJFpMBMETlp5ZOYctod7KeNQrlGihph_3Q3dmMYWeGPd4PN0e4V1CToxFe0qVo048PtrDYe9bnp5e4G6m3yzNWmMGJEqKJk5Xr-D0CmTejc1hDhLRHkYHM657GtL8rkGRSgAvB4ZfWWM/s1600/gretchensteele_common_loon-0431.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJFpMBMETlp5ZOYctod7KeNQrlGihph_3Q3dmMYWeGPd4PN0e4V1CToxFe0qVo048PtrDYe9bnp5e4G6m3yzNWmMGJEqKJk5Xr-D0CmTejc1hDhLRHkYHM657GtL8rkGRSgAvB4ZfWWM/s1600/gretchensteele_common_loon-0431.jpg" /></a> <br />
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one of the loons that is not in "breeding color" <br />
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I absolutely spent way too much time planted right there in the little inlet, sitting at the boat ramp, watching these beautiful birds. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfxyEsTPJqY0BnucIONbg1yAG6CA01ZTJv6Talf9_GEp_jfbbuhBYLOe-6YIm8FjO7rYjaqbQXujjR2qCqGktPlh297rp_EUnY2H2ENzyn65Wl-iRDfeXBtfhjWA9BOtrLHWcuu9-icw/s1600/gretchensteele_common_loon-0393.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfxyEsTPJqY0BnucIONbg1yAG6CA01ZTJv6Talf9_GEp_jfbbuhBYLOe-6YIm8FjO7rYjaqbQXujjR2qCqGktPlh297rp_EUnY2H2ENzyn65Wl-iRDfeXBtfhjWA9BOtrLHWcuu9-icw/s1600/gretchensteele_common_loon-0393.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNc-ZaIkdWfTlOW7pFvcRfsIZmbVI1J3PpuBaTuL0L2BjqvJlF1oFXExDE-jCiA41MEXq3qRW9IFDW5QQ5K9PjFE_eghbvNAEo3bZv2uRom8tKi5nRpyXEZF-R2DxgqIjyE9e6Q0YjBwY/s1600/gretchensteele_common_loon-0762.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNc-ZaIkdWfTlOW7pFvcRfsIZmbVI1J3PpuBaTuL0L2BjqvJlF1oFXExDE-jCiA41MEXq3qRW9IFDW5QQ5K9PjFE_eghbvNAEo3bZv2uRom8tKi5nRpyXEZF-R2DxgqIjyE9e6Q0YjBwY/s1600/gretchensteele_common_loon-0762.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJucLRTCfmj1cxIaTd6jv-xkSHbjZUUMjJXxiP-q9gainVz2L_fPndjUdLLbZH-GTVz9EiX5vMvgXUnqwAuNkXafdjn0RYMBj5RQ_OhFScGMyBSY3s34eES4AIlkCUb_DB9iil4R20jXY/s1600/gretchensteele_common_loon-0770.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJucLRTCfmj1cxIaTd6jv-xkSHbjZUUMjJXxiP-q9gainVz2L_fPndjUdLLbZH-GTVz9EiX5vMvgXUnqwAuNkXafdjn0RYMBj5RQ_OhFScGMyBSY3s34eES4AIlkCUb_DB9iil4R20jXY/s1600/gretchensteele_common_loon-0770.jpg" /></a><br />
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The quarry that I was after specifically, were the “boys of spring” – the wild turkey gobblers that are beginning their annual spring show…huffing, puffing, fluffing themselves up and showing of their beautiful tail fans all in hopes of snagging a hen turkey or two.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ABdZoZTK9TSbIwvQoQQdOcaOMVSR88kSFX_FYBEbMCQyLpdlktaVNM2UIk_YK2j9NLjUZa_uJ-QYs5va9hHwXmhsv80Bz0xXe0-ZPI0GxGr5tsTtG6xlCMsXWteMBzvwj4vul7Ii-0A/s1600/gretchen_steele_2014_eastern_wild_turkey_illinois-9976.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ABdZoZTK9TSbIwvQoQQdOcaOMVSR88kSFX_FYBEbMCQyLpdlktaVNM2UIk_YK2j9NLjUZa_uJ-QYs5va9hHwXmhsv80Bz0xXe0-ZPI0GxGr5tsTtG6xlCMsXWteMBzvwj4vul7Ii-0A/s1600/gretchen_steele_2014_eastern_wild_turkey_illinois-9976.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIXUuxcMOwg4X_nARQ9SlVdFHT7vbQWjT9pr644y21Wrm7cwAliAJ6noXG_ATdZlIkWaYOEzuHSgseVB3XuuEcCFqolgtLGmoJJ2irc5T52R2VlCo3dbTNweFFg7meAIEHD0knHMPIvw/s1600/gretchen_steele_2014_eastern_wild_turkey_illinois-0046.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIXUuxcMOwg4X_nARQ9SlVdFHT7vbQWjT9pr644y21Wrm7cwAliAJ6noXG_ATdZlIkWaYOEzuHSgseVB3XuuEcCFqolgtLGmoJJ2irc5T52R2VlCo3dbTNweFFg7meAIEHD0knHMPIvw/s1600/gretchen_steele_2014_eastern_wild_turkey_illinois-0046.jpg" /></a><br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KBN7q9V5rfk9htdaO0Y9LiWwE_8OeYT1K20lssRDzrj1kOHCqfA_pTF91ixFzSEb2Jf6HfrtPBQ_2-dXkK7E5uACXTdtN533cycldFVqweG994ThIjOKkSej0hJY88BYmkDMldSRdEo/s1600/gretchensteele_illinois_pelicans-8100.jpg" /><br /><br />I was also treated to a show by the migrating white pelicans – evidently the word is out that the shad are running and this neighborhood is a good spot for mid migration snack. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjl6Tk53OVfhUcipj8tuYkp1Wx9-l5kR-VM1dn_ZzCoXYqlov-3jX_V3bD7CkYN0zjea27ksHJZFh4mDozZK8stDXmRcKOuz_OJyCJAvGSAHrz_rDFkLxA3Bg-nyAfskqsjU-5zGgGyk/s1600/gretchensteele_illinois_ringneck_pheasant-0152.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjl6Tk53OVfhUcipj8tuYkp1Wx9-l5kR-VM1dn_ZzCoXYqlov-3jX_V3bD7CkYN0zjea27ksHJZFh4mDozZK8stDXmRcKOuz_OJyCJAvGSAHrz_rDFkLxA3Bg-nyAfskqsjU-5zGgGyk/s1600/gretchensteele_illinois_ringneck_pheasant-0152.jpg" /></a><br />
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Not to be outdone by the bigger birds, this lovely ringneck pheasant rooster came trotting through as I was waiting on the gobblers to get a little closer to me. I’m not sure who more surprised to see who; the pheasant or me! <br />
I love our local migrant, resident, and occasional birds, and I love photographing them. I am really excited to announce that thanks to the generosity and assistance with planning a super trip by the Fond du Lac CVB I will be attending the world famous <a href="http://www.fdl.com/details/event/Horicon-Marsh-Bird-Festival/may-9-2014/">Horicon Marsh Birding Festival</a> this year. I can’t even imagine the photo opportunities and sightings that await me in Wisconsin!<br />
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Until it’s time for my much anticipated trip to Fond du Lac, Lake Winnebago, and Horicon Marsh; I will keep myself content roaming the backwaters, the fields, and the forests chasing our southern Illinois birds!Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-86043110559308970122014-03-28T11:08:00.001-05:002014-03-28T11:08:17.927-05:00Brain Fog Friday <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sheesh..it's certainly been foggy around here the last few days, and I don't mean the kind that hangs low across a frosty field.</div>
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Brain FOG - one of the darnedest, most frustrating symptoms of living with Multiple Sclerosis. What is brain fog you ask? It's a bit hard to explain the weirdo feeling, suffice it to say I feel like my brain has turned to scrambled eggs and I have devil of a time making sense of things. In my case it usually comes along with it's pal horrible fatigue, and you can bet your last dollar that it will happen if I get too tired or have some kind of sensory assault.<br />
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<a href="http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/features/clearing_away_ms_brain_fog" target="_blank">Web MD defines it this way: </a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h3>
4 Brain Fog Basics</h3>
<div class="node">
Brain fog is a catchall term for all sorts of brain changes that can come with MS. Here are four things to know.</div>
<ol>
<li>
<b>It's common. </b>About half the people with MS have these
issues at some point, says Rosalind Kalb, PhD, a clinical psychologist
and vice president of clinical care at the National <a href="http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/default.htm">Multiple Sclerosis</a>
Society. For most, the cloudy thinking is mild and manageable. Only 5%
to 10% of people with MS have issues with their thinking that seriously
affect their day-to-day life or career.</li>
<li>
<b>It can affect your short-term memory, attention, and concentration. </b>It
can muck up your ability to retain new information and plan.But it
doesn't usually affect your intelligence, reading comprehension, or
long-term memory.</li>
<li>
<b>It may get worse over time, but it may not. </b>Once you have episodes of brain fog, they usually don't go away completely. They are more likely to progress slowly.</li>
<li>
<b>It can have many causes.</b> Sometimes the fog is triggered
by actual changes in the brain caused by MS. But it can also be brought
on by other issues -- like <a href="http://www.webmd.com/depression/default.htm">depression</a>, <a href="http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/weakness-and-fatigue-topic-overview">fatigue</a>, and side effects from <a href="http://www.webmd.com/drugs/index-drugs.aspx">medication</a>.</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
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<i><b>I define it as a pain in the ass. </b></i>Especially when I have article deadlines due, customers waiting on photos, outdoor adventures to have.<br />
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Over the years I've figured out a few ways to work around it, some with good success, some only moderate. One thing I do rely on heavily is my smartphone with it's variety of calenders, reminders, bells, whistles, hey yous, maps etc. Now if some whiz kid could just develop an app that would let me tap here, tap there, and have things suddenly make sense; well we'd be in business! <br />
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What I won't do is stay locked inside when the brain fog hits. I've said many times what I do best is wander, and hey brain fog can be really useful when wandering. I just sort of aimlessly traverse the fields, the forests, and see what turns up. That's the only way I can process things on a foggy day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In our case, sometimes it's the human that's following dog instead of vice versa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Thankfully, Willie the Wonder Dog has a working brain, and does a great job of keeping me from getting into any real fixes. I have him mark the car, the parking area etc before we leave, just in case and thankfully when I tell him go to the car he usually leads me right back to where we started. (With of course the occasional side trip to chase a rabbit or a squirrel).<br />
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So today, instead of some thoughtful, insightful, well written post,
you'll just have to be happy with some images from the recent wandering
days. My foggy brain has reached it's limit for constructing
intelligible sentences. Enjoy the scenes from a recent "foggy" wander! <br />
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<br />Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-73711391503934668792014-03-13T12:07:00.000-05:002014-03-13T12:07:44.494-05:00Bald Eagle Numbers Soaring in Illinois SPRINGFIELD, IL – A record-setting number of American bald eagles was
reported during the annual Illinois Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey
coordinated by the Illinois Audubon Society. Volunteers tallied 5,975
birds between the dates of January 1 and January 15, 2014.<br />
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Extremely cold temperatures in northern parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin
caused a surge in the numbers of over-wintering birds along the
Illinois waterways. Survey routes are located on the Mississippi and
Illinois Rivers with additional routes on the Ohio and Wabash Rivers,
Crab Orchard Lake, Horseshoe Lake Conservation Area and Carlyle Lake.<br />
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According to Tom Clay, the Society’s Executive Director, “our 2014
survey surpassed 2013 (2,325 total) and topped the highest recorded
count (since 1992) of 4,292 reported in 2008.” The largest populations
of the eagles spotted were counted along the Mississippi River (93.6% of
the overall total), followed by 4.4% observed on the Illinois River and
2% sighted on the remaining routes. The number of adults versus
immature eagles reported on these surveys, an important indicator of
recovery and survival, remains at 60% and 40%, respectively.<br />
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Nationally, this effort is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE). The goal of the survey is to maintain the long-term,
national coordination of the surveys collected, analysis of that data,
and reporting of the results. Locally, survey data collected provides
information on eagle trends, distribution and habitat and helps create
public interest in bald eagles and their conservation.<br />
<br />Information regarding the 2014 survey and previous years’ data can be
obtained by calling the Illinois Audubon Society at 217.544.2473. <br />
<br />Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-78627889268344335542014-02-22T07:53:00.000-06:002014-02-22T07:57:17.439-06:00Alliance Forms to Tackle Illinois Deer Management Issues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A group of Illinois deer hunters formed the “Illinois Whitetail
Alliance” to promote proactive deer management in Illinois. This group
met with Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) officials and
presented a plan for deer management changes on the heels of a record
harvest drop during the 2013 deer season and eight consecutive years of
decreased deer numbers. The proposed changes would help offset several
years of over harvest from liberal seasons and bag limits, and loss of
deer due to disease.<br />
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Alliance member Brent Manning, a past
director of the IDNR, congratulates the current IDNR for their recent
announcement of possible future regulation changes. However, Manning
adds, “Many other recommendations have been made with the best interest
of Illinois’ deer herd in mind. The entire Alliance proposal is well
thought out, and deserves serious consideration. We look forward to
future meetings with IDNR officials to continue the discussion that was
started today.” <br />
Kevin Chapman, a past president and legislative
liaison for Illinois Bowhunters Society, said, “Many in the Alliance
have been involved with Illinois deer management issues for over 20
years, and have witnessed the rise and fall of Illinois deer hunting.
Most hunters are passionate about the future of one of the state’s
greatest natural resources. That’s why some of the best deer management
ideas in the past have come from the hunting public.” <br />
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Members
of the Alliance hope to gain support by presenting their ideas at the
upcoming Illinois Deer Classic in Springfield on February 22 and 23
(4:30pm and 11:00am, respectively), and the Elmwood All-Outdoors show on
March 2 at 12:30pm. Hunters are encouraged to attend. Also, the
Alliance requests that hunters call their local legislators in support
of the following Alliance proposals to help restore Illinois’ deer herd
back to acceptable levels:<br />
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1) Enact an immediate five year
moratorium on any new legislation or administrative rule change that
could result in the expansion of any deer hunting season, add any
additional weapons, or increase the deer harvest in any way. After five
years, an independent review of the deer management program would be
performed by a qualified source.<br />
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2) Reduce the pressure on the overall deer harvest, particularly on female deer, by implementing the following:<br />
<br />
a) Eliminate the current late winter deer season (LWS)<br />
<br />
b) Move all future antlerless-only (A-O) seasons to mid-September<br />
<br />
c) Implement a one-buck and one-doe limit in counties where an additional A-O season is not needed<br />
<br />
d) Eliminate all over-the-counter (OTC) gun permit sales, and OTC archery sales after November 1st<br />
<br />
3a) Implement a statewide one-buck limit, all seasons combined.<br />
<br />
3b) As an alternative to 3a, keep the 2-buck limit, but implement a
split buck season. The 2nd buck (all weapons combined) wouldn't be
killed until AFTER the end of the first gun season.<br />
<br />
4)
Implement new regulations on non-resident (NR) permits including an
immediate elimination of the OTC A-O permit, unless the NR purchased a
regular combo permit prior. Also set a limit on NR permits at 10% of
the previous year's total harvest, with an allocation of 2/3 of that
amount to archery deer hunters and 1/3 to gun hunters.<br />
<br />
5) Enact
stricter penalties for deer hunting violations that involve “willful
intent” which would result in a two-year suspension of hunting
privileges for the first offense, five-year suspension for the second
offense, and permanent loss upon the 3rd offense.<br />
<br />
The Illinois
Whitetail Alliance consists of Manning and Chapman listed above, along
with Les Davenport, an avid outdoorsman who has hunted whitetails in IL
for 51 years and has been a national outdoor writer for 25 years; Don
Higgins, a whitetail habitat consultant with experience throughout the
Midwest, nationally recognized outdoor writer, and past director of
Illinois Bowhunters Society; and Lee Mitchell, a biologist/forester with
twenty years of experience in wildlife and habitat management who has
bowhunted for 30 years.<br />
<br />
The Alliance is dedicated to proactive
management ideas based in science; ones that are fair and equitable to
all deer hunting stakeholders.<br />
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<br />Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-58238694980273984862014-02-12T07:39:00.000-06:002014-02-12T07:39:18.924-06:00Get Geared Up For the Great Backyard Bird Count!<em>New York, N.Y. and Ithaca, N.Y.</em> —From Afghanistan to
Zimbabwe, bird watchers from more than 100 countries are expected to
participate in the 17th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC),
February 14–17, 2014. Anyone anywhere in the world can count birds for
at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count and enter their
sightings at <a href="http://www.birdcount.org/">www.BirdCount.org</a>.
The information gathered by tens of thousands of volunteers helps track
the health of bird populations at a scale that would not otherwise be
possible. The GBBC is a joint project of the <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/">Cornell Lab of Ornithology</a> and the <a href="http://www.audubon.org/">National Audubon Society</a> with partner <a href="http://www.birdscanada.org/">Bird Studies Canada</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u> ©Gretchen Steele 2014</u></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u> </u></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></td></tr>
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“People who care about birds can change the world,” said Audubon
chief scientist Gary Langham. “Technology has made it possible for
people everywhere to unite around a shared love of birds and a
commitment to protecting them.”<br />
In North America, GBBC participants will add their data to help
define the magnitude of a dramatic irruption of magnificent Snowy Owls.
Bird watchers will also be on the lookout for the invasive Eurasian
Collared-Dove to see if it has expanded its range again. GBBC
observations may help show whether or not numbers of American Crows will
continue to rebound after being hit hard by the West Nile virus and
whether more insect-eating species are showing up in new areas, possibly
because of changing climate.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>© Gretchen Steele 2014</u></td></tr>
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Last year’s Great Backyard Bird Count shattered records after going
global for the first time, thanks to integration with the eBird online
checklist program launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab and Audubon.
Participants reported their bird sightings from all 7 continents,
including 111 countries and independent territories. More than 34.5
million birds and 3,610 species were recorded—nearly one-third of the
world’s total bird species documented in just four days.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">©Gretchen Steele 2014</td></tr>
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“This is a milestone for citizen science in so many respects—number
of species, diversity of countries involved, total participants, and
number of individual birds recorded. We hope this is just the start of
something far larger, engaging the whole world in creating a detailed
annual snapshot of how all our planet’s birds are faring as the years go
by,” said Cornell Lab director Dr. John Fitzpatrick.<br />
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“Canadian participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count has
increased tremendously in recent years, and it’s wonderful to see this
program growing globally,” said Bird Studies Canada President Dr. George
Finney. “The count is introducing unprecedented numbers of people to
the exciting field of bird watching.”<br />
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way for people of all ages
and backgrounds to connect with nature and make a difference for birds.
It’s free and easy. To learn more about how to join the count visit <a href="http://www.birdcount.org/">www.birdcount.org</a> and view the winning photos from the 2013 GBBC photo contest.<br />
The Great Backyard Bird Count is made possible in part by sponsor <a href="http://www.wbu.com/">Wild Birds Unlimited</a>.Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-1915416686249272862013-12-05T06:05:00.001-06:002018-01-30T10:52:56.745-06:00There's a Storm Coming...And We Need It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There’s a Storm Coming……And We Need It<br />
<br />
The first mean winter storm is on the horizon – frigid frenzied winds, snow, ice, sleet. It’s screaming down upon us and we need this storm NOW. Mother Nature is trying to heal us.<br />
<br />
It’s been a long hard year for many – we need this storm. We need to go out into icy cutting wind, chop ice from the water, and slog through mud and frozen fields. Rage and scream in the wind; feel the burn of the brutal cold filling our chests. We need to be scoured clean from the rage, pain, disappointments and sheer toxins of the last year. We need stand facing the furies and fight it out.<br />
<br />
We need to stand on the high open hill as sharp sleet slices away at our faces, taking away all the broken hard dirty parts. We need the cold. The cleansing, the sheer purity of the very air that arrives when furies move onward leaving everything washed, scoured, and frozen clean and crisp and renewed in its wake.<br />
<br />
We NEED this storm. Some of us are broken and tired and worn. We are exhausted and overwhelmed, longing for rest and respite. We NEED mother nature to send us to our dens. We need to scurry into the tiny, dark, safe, warm spaces and lick our wounds. We need sleep, and healing and repair, so that we may arise into the sunshine strengthened and strong. Able to move forward and a carry on another day.<br />
<br />
We need this storm to show us we have survived yet another year, Solstice is close, days will be getting longer and we will soon be growing and blossoming and thriving.<br />
<br />
There’s a storm coming…..and we need it right now</div>
Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775135926082486450.post-37019179774348387092013-11-19T07:40:00.001-06:002018-01-29T15:04:07.308-06:00You'll Be ThereFor my dear friend, her time is short, her days afield have come to close, but I'm heading out to the forest and field, the corn stalks and the tall grass, the river and marsh today because my friend.....<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
When the birds get up in the morning – in that giant screaming, squeaking, shrieking wad – string after string, after string…..I’ll hear you there.<br />
<br />
When that fat yella dog comes screamin’ through the cornstalks with a greenhead in his mouth….I’ll see you there.<br />
<br />
When the honeysuckle’s blooming, and the river air is hot and heavy, when the carp jump and fly…..I’ll smell you there.<br />
<br />
When I pull that first cool, moist, magical morel from the damp forest floor….I’ll feel you there.<br />
<br />
You see my friend, you’re not going very far. Because you taught me well, because you took the time to listen, because you took the time to say I love you for no particular reason and “in no particular order” every chance you had , you’ll always be out there right beside me.<br />
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<br />
May the journey ahead be peaceful and easy – through the fields filled with birds, the rivers full of fish, with all those many good dogs who have gone before seeing you safely to the other side.<br />
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A better place awaits.Gretchen Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.com3