Recreation

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An adult male white-tailed deer with large antlers chases an adult female white-tailed deer across a grassy field.

A Hunter’s Guide to Deer Check Stations

November 2, 2026 by Kaleigh Gabriel

Recreation | Hunting | Regulations

Two white-tailed deer stand near the edge of a forest and grassy field. The deer on the left is an adult female walking towards the woods. The deer to the right is an adult male with large antlers peering across the grassy field.

IDNR Offers Deer Hunters CWD Sampling Kits

November 2, 2026 by Kathy Andrews Wright

Recreation | Chronic Wasting Disease | Deer | Wildlife Health | Wildlife Pick

An adult male white-tailed deer with large antlers stands in a grassy field bordered by a forest.

Follow the Shift: Illinois bowhunting from rut to winter

November 2, 2026 by Dan Stephens

Recreation | Bowhunting | Deer | Hunting

A sailboat glides on the blue water against a bluff backdrop of gorgeous red, yellow, orange, and green foliage. A limestone rock outcropping is surrounded colorful fall foliage to the right.

From River to Table–Could Local Food Help Revive Illinois Commercial Fishing?

November 2, 2026 by Gretchen Steele

Recreation | Commercial Fishing | Fish | Fishing

Near the shoreline of a lake, two teenager boys stand and hold up large green and white fish in both hands. A man poses next to the two boys to the right. In the background is a floating covered dock over a lake.

Meet Rob Beckman: Teacher, Angler, Coach and Historian

November 2, 2026 by Rob Beckman

Recreation | Fishing | Youth

A silhouette of a hunter with her shotgun watching for waterfowl on the shoreline of a wetland with a lavender and pink sunset reflected in the calm surface of the water. Duck decoys are arranged near the shoreline by the hunter.

Illinois Waterfowl Hunting 2026-2027 Forecast

November 2, 2026 by Ben Williams

Recreation | Hunting | Waterfowl

A view looking down on an open atrium space with taxidermy mounts of various deer and elk hung on the walls.

Preserving the Hunt the Right Way: The ethics of modern taxidermy

November 2, 2026 by Steven Beltran

Recreation | Hunting

A close-up of a small bright orange and green fish resting on top of ice.

Ice Fishing Close Calls: Lessons learned from conservation rescues

November 2, 2026 by Steven Beltran

Recreation | Fishing

A adult male white-tailed deer with large antlers illuminated by a spotlight in a field at night.

What Most Hunters Never See: A night with an Illinois Conservation Officer

August 3, 2026 by Steven Beltran

Recreation | Hunting | Regulations

A hunter holds a crossbow up in preparation for aiming while sitting in a tree-stand. In the background is a grassy field. Trees with autumn foliage border the field in the distance.

How Archery Hunters Can Help Track Wildlife Populations

August 3, 2026 by Max Allen

Recreation | Hunting | Research | Wildlife Health

A man holds up a catfish to show a young boy. Both are standing on a wooden pier overlooking a pond.

Fishing Has No Boundaries Gives Young Anglers a Day to Remember

August 3, 2026 by Kaleigh Gabriel

Recreation | Fishing

A close-up of a black and white duck swimming on a body of water.

2026-2027 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest

August 3, 2026 by Kaleigh Gabriel

Recreation | Deer | Hunting | Law Enforcement | Regulations | Trapping | Waterfowl | Wildlife

During a summer day under a bright blue sky a row of tables are lined up in front of a partially roofed long metal pavilion. People stand on either side of the tables and engage in conversation. Various items and hunting gear rest on the tables and on the shelves behind the tables.

Make this Offseason Count

August 3, 2026 by Dan Stephens

Recreation | Hunting

A wooden shed installed on a platform held above a wetland by wooden posts. In the background is a woodland. A patch of waterlilies are floating on the wetland in the foreground.

Confidence in Angling

August 3, 2026 by Frank Sladek

Recreation | Fisheries Pick | Fishing

Two people fish off a boat dock on a lake. A bright blue partly cloudy sunny sky is overhead. The shoreline of the lake is filled with trees in the background. A gray map of Illinois overlays the image on the top right. Illinois counties are outlined in black. Three white stars are in south western Illinois.

Opening New Waters: Boat access improvements expand opportunities at southern Illinois outdoor destinations

August 3, 2026 by Gretchen Steele

Recreation | Fishing

An adult male wild turkey with his tail feathers fanned and feathers puffed in full mating display.

Mentoring New Hunters Opens the Doorway to a Lifelong Journey

May 1, 2026 by Dan Stephens

Recreation | Hunting | Turkey

Two young boys stand together on the bank of a freshwater lake. One of the boys holds up a fishing rod and reel. In the background are a group of children and adults fishing.

Youth Fishing in the Shawnee

May 1, 2026 by Ethan Stephenson

Recreation | Fisheries Pick | Fishing | Places to Visit

A close-up of a fisherman's hands tying a fishing lure on to a fishing line.

The Warden’s Gear Guide: Choosing the Right Line and Rope

May 1, 2026 by Steven Beltran

Recreation | Fishing | Hunting

A young man secures his yellow tent with a rope tied to a stake. In the background is the green understory of a woodland.

The Tie That Binds: A Game Warden’s Field Guide to Knots on the Water and in the Woods

May 1, 2026 by Steven Beltran

Recreation | Fishing | Hunting

A black and brown wild turkey basks in warm spring sunshine. The turkey is surrounded by green vegetation in a woodland. In the background is a fallen log.

The Shawnee Offers Turkey Hunters a True Public-land Adventure

February 2, 2026 by Dan Stephens

Recreation | Hunting | Turkey