Finding a place to hunt can be difficult when you don’t know where to look. Utilizing public information provided by the Illinois DNR and other data sources, you can find and scout public land near you. Narrowing down sites and noting key habitat features before conducting boots on the ground scouting helps saves time and […]
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Knot to be Without — The One Knot Everyone Should Know
When is the last time you learned a simple skill that could save your life? Well, if you don’t already know the bowline knot, that counter will restart today. Take 15 minutes to learn this knot and practice it often enough that it gets engrained in your memory. Anyone who goes outside should know it. […]
Mourning Doves and Grizzly Bears
Mourning Doves and Grizzly Bears The farmer who planted the ag fields at my Grandpa’s place had a wheat field loaded down with doves. I must have been right around 15 or so and while I had been hunting for several years, this was my first dove hunt. I wonder if that farmer would have […]
Modern day Wildlife Management in North America may be the best story never told.
Modern day Wildlife Management in North America may be the best story never told. Sadly, most of us were never taught about wildlife management and conservation in our primary education. We can calculate angles of a triangle (if given a couple measurements) and we know when Columbus sailed the ocean blue but somehow wildlife and […]
Remote Scouting Series: Reading and Understanding Topographic Maps
As much of Illinois is experiencing substantial snowfall and below-average temperatures, many of us are hunkered down inside waiting for the eventual onset of spring. As a hunter, I like to take this time to clean and organize my gear, practice my turkey calling skills, and spend time developing a plan for my scouting efforts […]
Shed Hunting Overview and Strategies
Shed Hunting Overview and Strategies There is just something special about antlers. Perhaps, it’s the rapid growth and deciduous nature of antlers that make them so appealing. Every single antler is different; its shape, size, and character all show the unique story of each buck. Being in the heart of winter, many of us are […]
Tracking – Ancient Art For the Modern-day Hunter
One of the many things to love about hunting is how it encourages you to push your own personal boundaries. Not just by getting you out into the wild places where memories come from, but also by encouraging personal growth. Growth in skills that were prerequisites for survival to our ancestors but have become exceedingly […]
Looking for something to do mid-winter? Try squirrel hunting!
Looking for a mid-winter outdoor activity? Try squirrel hunting! It has been said, “the secret to happiness is to have someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to.” As we reach the middle of winter, it is safe to say, we can all look forward to warmer weather, evening scouting, and […]
Post-season Deer Scouting Strategies
Post-season Deer Scouting Strategies As the Illinois 2020-2021 deer season comes to an end, it’s never too early to begin preparations and planning for next fall. While the most valuable information a hunter can rely on is their observations collected during the season, post-season scouting can provide useful information for the next season. It’s important […]