Stay connected for news and updates

We post daily news updates on our Facebook page so you will always be in the loop on what's happening in Illinois and surrounding states. MORE :: (3) COMMENTS

Catfish, crappie fishing still excellent at Rend Lake

The Rend Lake fishing report has been pretty stable for the last three weeks or so. Fishing remains excellent for crappie and catfish. Largemouth bass, bluegill and white bass are rated good. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

General CRP signup period open until June 14

Currently, 27 million acres are enrolled in CRP through 700,000 contracts on 390,000 farms throughout the U.S. Contracts on an estimated 3.3 million acres will expire Sept. 30. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

Hunters kill 14,133 turkeys in wet, rainy spring season

The 2013 total compares with the statewide turkey harvest of 15,941 in 2012. Hunters took a state-record 16,605 turkeys during the spring season in 2006. We've got county-by-county totals inside. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

Conservation police on lookout for boating safety violations

There were 101 boating-related accidents on Illinois waters, resulting in 17 deaths and 77 injuries in 2012. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

Walleye expert Bruce DeShano shares his secrets

Hall of famer Ted Takasaki with a dandy big water walleye taken with the help of planer boards designed by trolling gear designer Bruce DeShano. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

Body of missing boater recovered Friday

The body of a 20-year-old Rushville man who had been missing since May 11 was recovered from the LaMoine River just after 1 p.m. Friday. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

‘Moral character’ clause removed from Senate concealed carry bill

Sen. Kwame Raoul said Friday he’ll remove one of the more contentious provisions in his concealed-carry legislation that required permit applicants to show they have “good moral character” before qualifying to carry a weapon in public. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

Illinois college grad establishes nest boxes for kestrels

Taylor Joray is making a big effort to protect North America’s smallest falcon. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

Central Illinois fishing report for May 17

Fluctuating springtime weather has made fishing a struggle in many areas, but bluegills could be your best bet right now in farms ponds and strip mines. With water levels returning to near normal, the catfish bite has picked up on the Illinois River. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

• Turkey hunter on an “epic” quest May 16
• Backyard birding video series May 16
• Senate panel OKs restrictive concealed carry bill; full Senate could vote Friday May 16
• IDPH: Take precautions against tick bites May 16
• Crappie fishing still excellent at Rend Lake May 14
• Monitoring for Asian carp to increase in Illinois May 13
• Q and A: status of Illinois’ concealed carry law May 13
• Wildlife Prairie Park now back in private hands May 11
• Mushroom hunting season far from over in central Illinois May 11
• Volunteers busy cleaning up flooded Hooked on Fishing facility May 10
• DNR no longer mailing boat registration renewals May 10
• Wait for late-morning toms May 10
• Late nature photographer’s memory inspires new generation May 10
• Central Illinois fishing report for May 10 May 10
• Morel hunters having success May 09
• “Moderate” fish kill occurring on Lake Decatur May 09
• IHSA Bass Fishing State Finals rescheduled for May 31-June 1 May 09
• Rend Lake fishing report: Crappie fishing remains excellent May 09
• UPDATED: Prairie State Outdoors video playlists on YouTube May 08
• FOID permit backlog still an issue May 08
• Southern Illinois forestry workshop set for May 18 May 08
• DNR: Illinois losing too much Lake Michigan water May 08
• Hunting, fishing license sales in Kentucky total $7 million; set April record May 06
• Bio-island installed at DNR to clean water, provide habitat May 05
• Iowa officials seek comment on hunting, trapping May 05
• Invasive species: Popular Bradford pear escapes May 03
• Help wanted to control invasive species May 03
• U.S. Supreme Court gives Illinois more time for concealed carry appeal May 03
• Crappie fishing “excellent” at Rend Lake May 02
• Central Illinois fishing report for May 2 May 02
• Attorney general seeks extension on gun appeal April 30
• Illinois Senate gun bill to get overhaul April 30
• Ind. Senate blocks high-fence deer hunting bill April 29
• UPDATED: IHSA state bass finals postponed April 29
• IHSA completes sectional bass tournaments despite high water, weather delays April 28
• Nature Conservancy: Wildlife areas can help store floodwater April 28
• Rend Lake fishing report for April 28 April 28
• Central Illinois fishing report for April 28 April 28
• George Little: Take precautions against tick-borne illnesses April 26
• Athens, Chatham Glenwood, North Mac advance to state bass finals April 26
• Morel mushroom festival coming up April 24
• Senate sponsor seeks gun bill compromise April 24
• Flood crests revised; Emiquon pumps to high ground April 22
• 2 hunters rescued from rising water in SW Missouri April 20
• Many high school bass sectionals postponed by weather April 20
• Illinois River sites restrict access due to flooding April 20
• Managers of wildlife areas brace for record flooding April 20
• Concealed carry bill fails in House April 18
• Native plant sales see growing demand April 18
• Youth turkey hunters bag fewer birds, still have second best season April 18
• Illinois House erupts over ‘may issue’ gun bill April 18
• 3 hunters plead guilty to poaching in Illinois April 18
• IHSA state bass fishing sectionals set for April 19 April 11
• Prevent conflicts: Keep people and wildlife safe April 11
• Meeting former Gov. Edgar good luck for young hunter April 11
• Takasaki on crappies: Find hidden spots others miss April 10
• We want to see your pictures from youth turkey season April 10
• Rend Lake fishing report for April 9 April 09
• Ind. Senate leader opposes high-fence deer hunting April 08
• Rock River Valley Insider: Fishing records are waiting to be broken April 07
• Report: Asian carp may have reached Great Lakes April 06
• Lake Springfield earning reputation as top bass lake April 05
• Young hunter bags turkey with multiple beards April 04
• ‘Flow of dead fish’ in Rock River brings Illinois DNR inquiry April 03
• Cape Girardeau voters reject deer hunt in city April 03
• Iowa House OKs crossbow deer hunting for residents April 02
• Scientists look for Illinois sites to move mussels April 02
• Ind. panel votes to allow fenced deer preserves April 02
• Rend Lake fishing report for April 1 April 01
• Jake Wolf Hatchery quietly produces millions of fish for Illinois anglers March 30
• Jake Wolf Hatchery: Technology advances, but volunteer support still critical March 30
• Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery: Video series March 30
• George Little: What a difference a year makes March 29
• Wet weather puts spring burns behind schedule March 29
• DNR turkey biologist: Good reason to be optimistic this spring March 29
• Panel considers Indiana fenced deer hunting sites March 26
• Wis. lawmaker wants open season on woodchucks March 23
• Wis. DNR seeks input on new deer surveys March 22
• Sequester could hold back funds for fish, wildlife March 21
• Diving duck study enters second year March 21
• Spring trout season open April 6 March 21
• Winnebago County Forest Preserve to hire Mike Holan as director March 20
• Record number of volunteers place trees, structures in Lake Shelbyville March 19
• Missouri conducting feral hog control March 18
• New director named at Lincoln Memorial Garden March 16
• Feds charge 8 with poaching Missouri paddlefish March 15
• Illinois farmland averaged $12,670 an acre in 2012 March 15
• George Little: Time saved now pays off later March 15
• Lawmakers add strings to proposed concealed-carry law March 15
• Exploring the night sky: the universe is just outside March 14
• Indiana DNR: No sign of chronic wasting disease March 13
• Apply online for firearm deer permits starting Tuesday March 11
• Former Rockford resident to hike Appalachian Trail to raise funds for vets March 11
• Hunters plead guilty to Illinois deer poaching violations March 09
• Get away from it all at RV show March 07
• Don’t get tangled up in Alabama rig rules March 07
• Wis. DNR plans deer forums March 06
• Illinois House OKs amendments banning semi-auto guns March 06
• State Police: Concealed carry will cost $25 million March 04
• School transformed for Elmwood All Outdoors Show March 04