NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

Wingshooting Clinics: The Department of Natural Resources and a variety of participating sponsors are hosting a series of wingshooting clinics for beginners and hunters this spring and summer. At the youth/women’s clinics, Saturday session instruction is available for young wingshooters 10 - 15 years of age. Sunday sessions are for girls and women and are open to all those ages 10 and older. Instructors are certified by the National Sporting Clays Association. All supplies including shotguns and ammunition are provided at youth/women’s clinics. Hunter clinics are designed to enhance the wingshooting skills of hunters ages 16 and older. Hunters with wingshooting skill levels from beginner to advanced are encouraged to attend. A small fee is assessed each hunter clinic participant to cover the cost of clay targets and refreshments.

Upcoming Youth/Women’s clinics (and contact phone numbers) include:

May 14-15 - Des Plaines Conservation Area (Will County), 815/423-5326
May 14-15 - Peabody River King SFWA (St Clair County), 618/785-2555
May 14-15 - Twin Oaks Sporting Clays, Mode (Shelby County), 217/782-2457
June 4-5 - Joker’s Wild Sporting Clay’s (Macoupin County), 217/557-1395
June 11 - Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA (Cass County), 217/452-7741

Upcoming Hunter’s clinics are:
May 21-22 - Middle Fork SFWA, Oakwood (Vermilion County), 217/442-4915
June 4-5 and June 11-12 - Des Plaines Conservation Area (Will County), 217/423-5326
Check the IDNR web site for the complete schedule of wingshooting clinics.

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GOVERNOR’S CUP REPEAT WINNER: Ralph Everson of Belvidere won the annual Governor’s Cup Shooting Challenge for the second straight year. More than 130 shooters participated in the event conducted April 29-30 at Faller’s Sporting Clays near Butler in Montgomery County.

Everson struck 94 out of a total 100 targets, earning $750 in prize money.
Other winners from the NSCA-registered sporting clays tournament were Jeff Dickey of Paris, Missouri (who won Class M with a 90); Benjamin H. Harlow of Mt. Vernon and Dennis Sneed of Ewing (Class AA tie-86); James Hayhurst of Mexico, Missouri (Class A-88); Drew Meyer of Freeburg (Class B-86); William J. Moore of Hillsboro (Class C-83); Jerry Love of Jacksonville (Class D-86); and, Hunter Hopkins of Springfield (Class E-83).

In the Hunter Class, Robert Kunz of Trenton was high overall with an 82, winning the first flight of Lewis Class Scoring. The second flight ended in a tie with Steven Bails of Raymond and Marvin Strader of Easton scoring 71. The third flight was won by Charles Skorzewski of Chicago with 62.

The competitive 5-Stand Tournament was won by Brad Davis of Mattoon with 47 targets of a possible 50.

In junior competition, Junior A Class first place went to Nathan Anheuser of Pickneyville. Others placing were Dusty Humphrey of Burlington, Iowa, Seth Lemme of Mason City and Zachary Pennell of Jacksonville. In sub-junior competition, Hunter Hopkins of Springfield placed first followed by Jacob Pennell of Jacksonville. The sub-junior hunter class winner was Taylor Ford of Winchester.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Conservation Foundation’s youth shooting programs. Trophies were sponsored by The Trophy Case Ltd in Fairview Heights, Faller Farms Sporting Clays in Butler, Salt Creek Sporting Clays in Mason City and Gary Fitzjarrell Sr. of White Hall.

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Powerton Maintenance: Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area southwest of Pekin in Tazewell County will be closed May 16, 17 and 18 for routine levee maintenance and repairs. No public access will be allowed during those three days. Powerton Lake will reopen at 6 a.m. on Thursday, May 19.

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Discover Illinois' great natural resources by picking up a copy of the May issue of OutdoorIllinois, the Department of Natural Resources monthly magazine. The fun and excitement of a day on the Embarras River and hiking the trails at Fox Ridge State Park are captured on the cover and in a feature article. Other stories include tips for gardening with wildflowers, the 100th anniversary of the Illinois State Geological Survey, the outrageously colorful but seldom seen group of fish known as darters and more. Details on the 6th annual OutdoorIllinois photo contest will send shutterbugs to the field for that award-winning shot. OutdoorIllinois is a great tool for learning about Illinois' natural, cultural and recreational resources - and a bargain at only $15 for a one-year, 12-issue magazine subscription. Call 1-800-720-3249 to subscribe. VISA and MasterCard are accepted. For information on advertising in OutdoorIllinois, call 217/558-1222 or email cconrad@dnrmail.state.il.us.

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The 126th meeting of the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 20, 2005, at the McHenry County Conservation District’s Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake, Illinois. For more information, phone 217/785-8687.

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Limited Edition Illinois Habitat Art Prints: This year’s Illinois Habitat Stamp art prints are now available at competitive prices. The artist is Jim Kasper from the Lake County region of central Minnesota. He is the recipient of numerous awards and his art prints are popular at Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and National Wild Turkey Federation fund-raising events. His work has been featured in numerous magazines and nature-theme products.

General Edition - $130. Governor’s Edition - $225. Pencil Remarque - $125. To order or for more information, check the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us, or phone 1-800/720-3249 (in Illinois) or 217/782-1687. Purchasing a print will assist with habitat funding and provide a unique opportunity to own a special piece of art.

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OutdoorIllinois Photo Contest: The sixth annual photo contest for OutdoorIllinois is about to begin. For information about the contest, deadlines and rules visit the web site at the following address: http://dnr.state.il.us/oi/index.htm.

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Weldon Springs Piatt County Unit Deer Opportunities: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will conduct an archery deer hunt this fall at the Weldon Springs State Park Piatt County Unit, located east of Allerton Park off of Allerton Road. Site permits for the Piatt County Unit will be issued for a total of 12 one-week hunting periods from October 1, 2005 through January 9, 2006. The unit will be closed to archery deer hunting Nov. 12-20 and Nov. 28-Dec. 4 during the weeks of firearm deer season. Archery hunting periods will be filled through a mail-in application random drawing.

Applications are available at Weldon Springs State Park, Mascoutin State Recreation Area at Clinton Lake and the IDNR Region 3 office at Clinton Lake. To qualify for the site permit drawing, applications must be received at the Weldon Springs State Park office by close of business June 30. Successful applicants will be notified by mail by August 1. All hunters will be required to show proof of a current hunting license, state issued archery permit and issued site permit.

New at the Piatt County Unit this year is a requirement that archery hunters must harvest a doe before they will be allowed to harvest an antlered deer. The requirement is intended to help manage the large deer population in and near the site and the Allerton Park area.

For more information on deer hunting opportunities and site regulations at the Weldon Springs Piatt County Unit, contact the Weldon Spring State Park office at 217/935-2644 or IDNR District Wildlife Biologist Carl Handel at 217/423-7708.

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Check the IDNR web site for dates, times and locations of upcoming Illinois safety education programs. Courses this spring and summer are available for boating and hunter safety education. The courses are available for new boaters and hunters, but are also valuable for those with plenty of experience on the water and/or in the field. Check the schedule at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/safety or phone toll-free at 1-800/832-2599.

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Archaeology Lecture: The next Illinois State Museum Paul F. Mickey Archaeology Lecture will celebrate the museum’s new natural history exhibition, Changes. Dr. Eric Grimm, Illinois State Museum Chairman of Botany, will present a special program entitled An Ice Age Ends. Note that this month’s lecture will be held in the Thorne Deuel Auditorium at the Illinois State Museum, located at the corner of Spring and Edwards Streets in Springfield. It will be held on Wednesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. Following the lecture, Dr. Grimm will go into the Changes exhibition and highlight exhibits that feature the dramatic environmental changes that occurred at the end of the most recent Ice Age. The program is free and open to the public. It is geared to high school students and adults. For more information, phone 217/782-0061.

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Discover Illinois’ icy cold past at the Illinois State Museum program Celebrating Changes: Cold Mammoths & Warm Tortoises on Saturday, May 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. This is the third in a series of public programs celebrating the opening of Changes, the museum’s new natural history hall. The entire family will enjoy a wide variety of hands-on activities and a chance to meet the museum scientists who helped develop the new exhibition. At 2 p.m., Dr. Jeff Saunders will present a dynamic program about the animals found in Illinois during cold glacial periods and warm interglacial periods of the Ice Age. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, phone 217/782-5993. The Illinois State Museum is located at 502 South Spring Street in Springfield.

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Join the Illinois Conservation Foundation for the annual Director’s Team Challenge shooting event to benefit ICF youth shooting sports programs. The Director's Team Challenge is May 13-14 at the Bi-State Sportsmens Association in Colona, Illinois. The five-shooter team event is $100 per shooter. The registration fee includes the Director’s Team Challenge event on Saturday, plus one free round of trap shooting and 5-stand on Friday. For more information or to register, call the ICF at 217/785-2003 or register through the web site at www.ilcf.org

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ICF Downstate Golf Benefit June 7: Golf reservations and hole sponsorships are available for the annual Illinois Conservation Foundation Downstate Golf Benefit on Tuesday, June 7 at the Rail Golf Club in Sherman, just north of Springfield. The golf benefit proceeds support youth hunting, fishing and other educational programs throughout Illinois. The registration fee of $150 per golfer (or $500 per foursome) includes greens fees and cart, lunch, dinner, beverages, prizes and awards. Hole sponsorships are available for $500 each. For more information or to register, call 217/785-7181. To register online, check the Illinois Conservation Foundation web site at www.ilcf.org.

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Reminder: Mark your calendars for the 2005 Illinois Free Fishing Days, June 10-13. During Illinois Free Fishing Days, anyone may fish without the need to have a sport fishing license, inland trout stamp or salmon stamp. For information on fishing in Illinois, check the website at www.ifishillinois.org.

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The first annual PFC Geoffrey Morris Memorial Governor’s Cup Fishing Invitational on Lake Michigan off Waukegan is scheduled for June 17-18. The salmon and trout tournament proceeds will benefit the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund. The tournament will be held in honor of Geoff Morris, a U.S. Marine from Gurnee who gave his life in combat in April 2004. The entry fee is $550 and is tax deductible. For more information on registration, prizes, rules and a tournament schedule, check the web site at www.gsmtournament.com.

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Nominations are now being accepted by the Illinois Conservation Foundation for the 2006 class of the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame, which honors individuals who have made significant commitments to natural resource protection and outdoor recreation in Illinois.

Nominees should include those outdoor sportsmen and women who truly have made significant contributions or exhibited unparalleled dedication in preserving, promoting, enhancing or supporting natural resources or outdoor recreational opportunities in Illinois.

All nominations must be submitted on an official nomination form. Forms are now available and completed nominations should be submitted no later than July 1. Forms may be obtained by contacting Kathy Wheeler, Illinois Conservation Foundation, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone 217/785-2003. Forms are also available on the ICF web site at www.ilcf.org.

The inductees selected for the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame will be announced this summer and will be honored at the annual Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet next March. The Illinois Conservation Foundation is an IRS 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization which has raised more than $20 million in support of programs and projects of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources since 1995.

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The 2005 National Bike-to-Work Week is May 16-20 and May 20 is Bike-to-Work Day. The benefits of bicycle riding are many. Riding a bike to work is less costly than driving, is better for the environment, and it is great exercise. For more information on bicycle riding and safety, check with local bicycle shops and cycling organizations.

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Tree Reminders: Look up, look down. Follow this advice given by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) before deciding what type of tree to plant and where the tree will be planted. Proper tree and site selection will provide trouble-free beauty and pleasure for years to come.
One of the most important things to consider is the location of utility lines. Trees that are small now can create significant problems in the future as they grow into maturity and into power lines. The location of utility lines should have a direct impact on tree and site selection. Both overhead lines and underground lines need to be considered.

Planning before planting can help ensure that the right tree is planted in the right place. Proper tree selection and placement enhances property value, prevents costly and sometimes unsightly maintenance trimming, and lowers the risk of damage to homes and property.
For help selecting the proper tree, consult a nursery, an ISA Certified Arborist or an ISA Certified Arborist/Utility Specialist. The International Society of Arboriculture, headquartered in Champaign, is a nonprofit organization supporting tree care research around the world.

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