OPEN SEASON
Illinois DNR talks hunting drones, trout season, more
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has plenty to discuss this October with the fall hunting season underway since Oct. 1 beginning with archery deer and turkey seasons throughout the state.
Here’s a look at what IDNR has been talking about in October:
Hunting with drones in Illinois
Inquiries have been flowing in throughout the state to IDNR and Illinois Conservation Police about drone usage for scouting and tracking animals, according to a release.
Simply put, IDNR and the Illinois Conservation Police want the public to know that the use of drones or any other unmanned aircraft is unlawful when hunting or attempting to recover wildlife in the state of Illinois.
“Not only is drone use for hunting unlawful in Illinois, it goes against the spirit of fair chase and widely accepted hunting ethics,” director of the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement Jed Whitchurch said.
“Illinois Conservation Police officers will be monitoring for drone use during the fall and winter hunting seasons. We encourage all hunters to familiarize themselves with the (Illinois) Wildlife Code, abide by the law, and have a safe and successful hunting season.”
Punishment includes but is not limited to the forfeiture and seizure of unlawfully used equipment, the IDNR states.
Illinois Trout season set to begin
IDNR is offering a warning to anglers that warm weather will delay some of the early stockings for the fall as the 2023 fall trout season is set to begin at 5 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 in Illinois.
According to the release, trout stocked in wa
ters warmer than 70 degrees experience high mortality rates. Therefore, the early catch-and-release season — which began Oct. 7 — will be stocked later than usual due to the warm water temps.
Trout may not be taken from any stocked site until the regular season begins with a daily catch limit of five.
Stocking updates will be provided at IDNR, ifishillinois.org and the website’s social media channels.
Not all sites open at 5 a.m. on opening day. Check the opening time of your favorite site prior Oct. 21. Fishing licenses and trout stamps can be purchased online.
2023 Illinois fall trout locations
According to an IDNR release, there are 59 locations slated to open for the 2023 fall trout season:
Central Illinois
● Adams County: Siloam Springs
State Park Lake ee
● Cass County: Gridley Lake, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area ee
● Champaign County: Kaufman Lake, Champaign Park District.
● Christian County: Manners Park Pond, Taylorville Park District.
● Clark County: Casey Park Pond, Casey.
● Coles County: Eastern Illinois University Campus Pond, Charleston.
● DeWitt County: Weldon Springs, Weldon Springs State Park.
● Douglas County: Villa Grove West Lake.
● Hancock County: Horton Lake,
Nauvoo State Park ee
● Macon County: Rock Springs Pond, Macon County Conservation District.
● Macoupin County: Beaver Dam Lake, Beaver Dam Lake State Park.
● McDonough County: Argyle Lake,
Argyle Lake State Park.
● Morgan County: Morgan Lake at Nichols Park, Jacksonville ee
● Sangamon County: IDOT Lake, Springfield ee; Southwind Park, Springfield; Washington Park Pond, Springfield.
● Shelby County: Forest Park Lagoon, Shelbyville.
● Tazewell County: Mineral Springs
Park Lagoon, Pekin.
● Vermilion County: Clear Lake, Kickapoo State Recreation Area.
Northern Illinois
● Bureau County: Hennepin Canal Parkway.
● Cook County: Axehead Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District; Belleau Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District; Busse Woods North Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District; Green Lake in Calumet City, Cook County Forest Preserve District; Horsetail Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District; Sag Quarry East, Cook County Forest Preserve District; Wolf Lake at William W. Powers State Recreation Area, Chicago.
● DuPage County: Grove Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District; Pickerel Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District; Silver Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District.
● Jo Daviess County: Apple River, Apple River Canyon State Park ee
● Kankakee County: Bird Park Quarry, Kankakee.; Rock Creek, Kankakee River Sate Park ee
● Kendall County: Big Lake, Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area (SFWA).
● Lake County: Sand Lake, Illinois
Beach State Park.
● LaSalle County: Illinois and Michigan Canal Lock 14, LaSalle.
● McHenry County: Spring Grove Hatchery Pond, Spring Grove.
● Ogle County: Pine Creek, White Pines Forest State Park ee
● Rock Island County: Prospect Park Lake, Moline
● Warren County: Citizen’s Lake, Monmouth.
● Whiteside County: Centennial Park Pond, Rock Falls, Coloma Park District.
● Will County: Lake Strini, Romeoville; Van Horn Woods, Plainfield.
● Winnebago County: Baumann Lake, Cherry Valley
Southern Illinois
● Bond County: Patriot’s Park Lake (Greenville Old City Lake).
● Crawford County: Crawford County Conservation Area Pond.
● Jefferson County: Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond.
● Johnson County: Ferne Clyffe State Park Lake.
● Madison County: Belk Park Pond, Wood River − Note: No trout will be stocked during the fall 2023 at Highland Old City Lake in Madison County due to ongoing maintenance. Stocking is expected to resume in fall 2024.
● Marion County: Boston Pond, Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area.
● Massac County: Fairgrounds Pond, Fort Massac State Park
● Randolph County: Derby Lake, World Shooting and Recreational Complex, Sparta; Randolph County State Fish and Wildlife Area Lake.
● Saline County: Jones Lake Trout Pond, Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area.
● St. Clair County: Frank Holten State Park Main Lake; Jones Park Lake, East St. Louis; Willow Lake at Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area**
● Wabash County: Beall Woods Lake, Beall Woods State Park.
● Wayne County: Sam Dale Conservation Area Trout Pond.
Illinois youth wingshooting clinics, pheasant hunts in October
The IDNR is accepting applications for youth wingshooting clinics and pheasant hunts at three Illinois state parks for children ages 10-17 later this month.
Here are the schedule and locations for each clinic and hunt:
● Saturday, Oct. 21: Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area, Logan County.
● Saturday, Oct. 28: Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, DeWitt County.
● Saturday, Oct. 28: Eldon Hazlet State Recreation, Clinton County.
Instructors certified by the National Sporting Clays Association and the IDNR will teach safe shotgun handling and operation while advancing wingshooting skills in the morning. The pheasant hunt will take place in the afternoon.
Participants in the pheasant hunt must have a valid hunting license and are required to have completed an approved hunter safety course.
To obtain permits for the clinics and hunts or for more information, visit dnr.illinois.gov.