During the hunting seasons, an extended online Illinois hunting report is usually posted here by Tuesday evening. Otherwise, the Illinois Hunting Report comes at the end of the Midwest Fishing Report in the Sun-Times each Wednesday during hunting.
With the aerial surveys for waterfowl being flown (they are weather dependent), I will update if needed.
If you have suggestions, email me at outdoordb@sbcglobal.net or post in the comments.
OVERALL OUTLOOK
It's the lull before the real start of hunting with the opening of deer on Oct. 1. Time to look at deer stands, such as this beaut by Dave Fredrickson (he's on the right) and Gerry Rodeen.
Crops and crop harvest remain way behind schedule. Opening day for archery deer is going to look much different this year than last. Let me put it this way: last year at this time, corn was 21 percent harvested compared to the 1 percent on Monday. And with the saturated soil, it will be late this week before farmers get back into the fields.
Full report follows.
ILLINOIS HUNTING ONLINE
For IDNR hunting info, click here.
For the Illinois 2008-09 Digest of Hunting & Trapping Regulations, click here.
For the 2008-09 Digest of Waterfowl Hunting Regulations, click here.
For the Illinois Public Hunting Areas Report, click here.
For Illinois crop reports (generally posted Monday afternoons), click here.
TEAL
Season runs through Sunday. The aerial surveys last week on the Mississippi and Illinois showed very few teal. Not sure what if any impact the record flood on the Illinois will have.
(ADDED) Tuesday's aerial surveys showed only 375 teal along the Mississippi, compared to the 10-year average of 5,423. The Illinois was only slightly better at 3,115, compared to the 10-year average of 11,381.
DOVE
First season runs through Oct. 24. Daily bag is 15.
DEER
Random daily drawings for firearm/muzzleloader deer permits run through Nov.7.
Archery season opens Oct. 1.
SQUIRREL
In northeast Illinois, Marseilles, Silver Springs, Kankakee River and Iroquois County SWA are open to squirrel hunting. Most end for squirrel on Sept. 30. Would expect more hunters to begin with leaves starting to fall, vegatation beginning to thin, and cooler fall weather coming in.
TURKEY
Archery season opens Oct. 1.
RAIL
Season, for Sora and Virginia rails only, runs through Nov. 14.
COMMON SNIPE
Season ends Dec. 21.
WATERFOWL
The DU Migration Map is posted here .
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