STAFF: James L. Fulgenzi, office director; Gary Thomas, editor; Liz Pensoneau, managing editor; John Alien, staff writer; P.J. Perea, staff writer; 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

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Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois PRT3216173-28,395-7/01 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with soy-based ink.

Illinois Department of
Natural Resources

What'sInside

2

Night Moves
It's midnight, do you know where your fish is?

6

Round-up Time
It's just like an old west round-up, only these aren't cattle, they don't use branding irons and they aren't using horses.

8

Tiny Dragons
They leave their watery homes, sprout wings and become one of nature's most efficient predators.

10

Going Full Circle
Learn what happens when a little girl from Humboldt grows up to be a fishing champion.

13

Music in the Air
The Shawnee hills are alive with the sound of music.

16

Fun in the Sun
Learn why Stephen A. Forbes State Park is the perfect place to spend hot summer days.

20

NewsFront
This month, you'll read about the goose outlook and how to get hunting permits by telephone, results of the Foundation's salmon fishing tournament, how otters are spreading throughout the state, the governor's upcoming walleye tournament, a quail management workshop, the multi-agency battle against kudzu, who will enter Illinois' Outdoor Hall of Fame this winter, and about a high school that has sent a gift to college researchers.
On the cover...
The frog on this month's cover blends in nicely with the duck weed that covers the water. DNR Chief Photographer Adele Hodde took the photo at Heron Pond in southern Illinois.

August 2001

UpFront

Brent Manning

August marks the beginning of hunting season in Illinois. While this is an exciting time of the year for those of us who love to hunt, the enjoyment of the season can lead to tragic consequences if safety procedures are not followed at all times.

Each year, the Department of Natural Resources publishes a list of hunting accidents that have occurred during the previous year's hunting season. Last year, there were 14 hunting accidents that resulted from the discharge of a firearm. Three of the accidents are listed as self-inflicted, while the others resulted from a hunter mistakenly shooting his partner or someone in another hunting party. Fortunately, there were no fatalities recorded as a result of these accidental shootings. This year's report also shows that 17 non-firearm hunting accidents occurred last year, a dozen of which were the result of a hunter falling from a tree limb or tree stand.

This compares with 29 hunting accidents in 1999. Although there were fewer accidents that year, three of them involved fatalities.

As I read over the reports that were gathered during the past two years, it became readily apparent that almost all of these accidents were preventable. In fact, none of the accidents involving firearms would have occurred if hunters had remembered to use safe handling practices at all times. I'm also sure that the number of tree stand-related accidents could have been reduced substantially if hunters had been more careful when installing their tree stands and had worn safety belts or safety harnesses while hunting.

Illinois law requires that anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1980, must successfully complete a DNR-approvcd hunter education course before being issued an Illinois hunting license. These classes are free, last about 10 hours and are taught throughout the state by volunteer hunter education instructors. Classes provide instruction on firearms, ammunition, field safety, hunter responsibility, muzzleloaders, wildlife identification, archery, conservation practices and a review of state hunting regulations.

I would encourage all parents to make sure their children take one of these classes, whether or not they ever plan to hunt. Furthermore, I would encourage the parents to go with their children. You're never too old for a refresher class, and many other states are now requiring that adults furnish evidence of completing a hunter education class before they can be issued a non-resident hunting license.

DNR offers three other free safety education programs that I would also like to recommend—Boating Safety, Snowmobile Safety and Trapping Education. Young participants are required to take the corresponding class before they can operate a boat or snowmobile, and must take the Trapper Education class before being issued a trapping license. While only minors are required to take these classes, I would again recommend them as excellent refresher courses for anyone participating in these activities.

You can get a listing of all the education classes being taught in your area by calling DNR's toll-free number: 1-800-832-2599. The listing of upcoming hunter education classes can also be found on DNR's homepage at http://dnr.state.il.us.

Let's strive to make this hunting season the safest one ever.