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OutdoorIllinois

VOLUME X, NUMBER 12

OUTDOOR ILLINOIS is published monthly by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Public Services, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787, phone (217) 782-7454, e-mail editor@dnrmail.state.il.us.

(Publication number: ISSN 1072-7175)
Periodical Postage Paid at Springfield, IL POSTMASTER: Send address changes to OUTDOOR ILLINOIS, Department of Natural Resources, Dept. NL, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787.

George H. Ryan    Governor
Brent Manning    Director
Adrea Moore    Assistant Director
James D. Garner    Deputy Director
Jim Riemer, Jr.    Deputy Director

STAFF: James L. Fulgenzi, office director, Liz Pensoneau, editor; Kathy Andrews,Joe McFarland and staff writer; P.J. Perea, staff writers, Adele Hodde, chief photographer; Chas. J. Dees, staff photographer; Charles J. Copley, design & layout; Cheryl Gwinn, production coordinator; Vera Lynn Smith, circulation.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Internet Address: http://dnr.state.il.us

Staff-written material appearing in this publication may be reprinted without permission, provided that OUTDOOR ILLINOIS, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, is acknowledged as the source. OUTDOOR ILLINOIS assumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or illustrations.

Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies is available to all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion or other non-merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source's civil rights office and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, DNR, 524 S. Second, Springfield, IL 62701-1787; 217/785-0067; TTY 217/782-9175.

All public meetings conducted by the Department of Natural Resources will be accessible to handicapped individuals in compliance with Executive Order No. 5 and pertinent state and federal laws, upon notification of the anticipated attendance. Handicapped persons planning to attend and needing special accommodations should inform the Department of Natural Resources at least five days prior to the meeting by telephoning or writing the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Department of Natural Resources, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787, phone (217) 785-0067.

Department of Natural Resources information is available to the hearing impaired by calling DNR's Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (217) 782-9175.

Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois PRT3266256-28,290-11/02 Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with soy-based ink.

Illinois Department of
Natural Resources

What'sInside


2
Where the Eagles Fly
Pere Marquette State Park near Grafton is well-known for eagle watching, but there's more to this park than meets the eye.


6
Illinois Pheasant History
Learn when these exotic game birds arrived in Illinois and why their survival has been challenging.


9
Game Time
OutdoorIllinois writers/chefs Joe McFarland and P.J.Perea share recipes from the wild side.


13
Hand-crafted Memories
Memories of world travels are carved in stone and wood by an Illinois scientist.


16
The American Dream
A bittersweet tale of a successful Centralia business venture that came too late in life.


20
NewsFront
This month receive the latest update on chronic wasting disease in Illinois and learn about the new DNR Gift Shop, the extension of DNR grant deadlines, the dedication of Duck Ranch waterfowl area, the upcoming Avery International Goose Calling Invitational and Waterfowl Hunt, teacher workshops on purple loosestrife, the Carlyle Lake Waterfowlers Association's recent recognition and more.

On the cover...
Chas. J. Dees photographed the Great Room at Pere Marquette Lodge, elegantly decorated for the holiday season.


UpFront

Since 1991, we've certainly seen a lot of change in the economy and our social conditions—wide, daily fluctuations in gas prices, peacetime, the Gulf War, terrorist attacks, military actions and a resurgence in American pride. Despite these dramatic swings, one thing has remained true. Americans value wildlife and the time they spend outdoors.

Yes, being outdoors is very important to Americans. More than 34 percent of Illinoisans place great importance on their time outdoors, whether it is spent fishing for catfish, sitting motionless on an early spring morning calling a tom turkey or keeping a daily record of the birds visiting a backyard feeder.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released preliminary findings of the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation. Conducted every five years, this survey collects information on U.S. residents' participation in and expenditures for hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching activities. The 2001 survey represents the tenth in this series; 50 years of valuable research on natural resource recreation.

More than 80 million Americans 16 years old and older, or 39 percent of the U.S. population, hunted, fished or watched wildlife in 2001. Related expenditures that year totaled $110 billion, or 1.1 percent of the nation's gross domestic product.

Fishing remains popular in the U.S., with more than 34 million people 16 years and older spending an average of 16 days annually fishing. Expenditures to support fishing totaled $35 billion, or an average of $1,046 per angler throughout the nation. Illinois anglers numbered 1.2 million, and their contribution to the economy was slightly less than $600 million.

More than 13 million people 16 years and older reported hunting as an outdoor activity in 2001, each spending about 17.5 days afield. Hunters spent an average of $1,581 annually on trips, equipment, licenses and other hunting-related activities, totaling $20 billion for the nation. In Illinois, hunters numbered 310,000 and spent 5.8 million days and nearly $451 million in pursuit of game.

Watching, feeding, photographing and observing wildlife continue to be popular outdoor recreation activities. Nationwide, more than 66 million people 16 years and older watched wildlife in 2001 and spent $40 billion on equipment, food and travel expenses. Illinois' contribution was approximately $814 million by 2.5 million people. Twenty-seven percent of our population spent a combined total of nearly 8 billion days watching Illinois' wildlife.

What type of overall trends have we noticed since 1991? Although angler numbers have remained steady, anglers now spend slightly more money. Hunter numbers have dropped, but hunters are spending significantly more on their sport. Since 1991, wildlife-watching expenditures have increased 41 percent, while the numbers of participants decreased by 13 percent.

An overall increase in expenditures for hunting, fishing and wildlife watching came about because of a 90-percent increase in equipment purchases. Trip-related costs for all three areas of the survey remained fairly constant over the decade.

While enjoying their activity of choice during 2001, resident and nonresident sportsmen spent an astounding $1.86 billion in Illinois.

The bottom line is that fish and wildlife are still big business in Illinois and the nation. Regardless of changes in the economy or our society, the public continues to support fish and wildlife programs. For this, the future generations of Illinoisans and I thank you.


OutdoorIllinois


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