Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson It is Official…Hunting Season is Here How do I know that? I know that because I received my Bass Pro and Cabela’s fall hunting catalogs in the mail. I would be looking to get your fall hunting supplies while they are still available, because they may be in short supply in the very near future. Every year I get calls from people who can’t find deer slugs and other hunting equipment, simply because they waited too long. Don’t let that happen to you! Dove Season Opens Soon Here we are, only a few days away from dove season. Dove season opens on September 1st and runs till January 8th in the northern zone and January 15th in the southern zone. Remember, dove season is closed during deer season. That closure runs from November 15 to December 26. The bag limit
is 15 doves. Dove hunting is one of the great hunting experiences. Doves fly fast at a very erratic rate and are fun to shoot and are great eating. Remember, when you’re dove hunting, to keep your shotgun at 40° or higher for safety. If you haven’t gotten your shotgun
shells yet, I would be going to the store and getting some. I always recommend trap loads rather than a standard dove load, because the shot pattern is much better. If you haven’t shot your shotgun for a while, I would make sure there are no obstructions in the barrel. If your shotgun has choke tubes, be sure to take them out, clean and lubricate them properly. Make sure you tighten
them snuggly and if you’re getting a lot of shots, check them occasionally to make sure they’re tight. If your choke tubes are slotted and require a wrench, a good way to tighten them is to simply use a quarter. Choke tube wrenches can be really hard to find in the field. If you drop the quarter, you’re only out 25 cents. Good Hunting! Japanese Yew Trees and Shrubs Extremely
Poisonous To date 78 elk and 55 pronghorn antelope in Idaho and Utah have died because of ingesting Japanese Yew trees. There may be other animals that have died that we don’t know about. The Yew trees and shrubs come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can reach 120 feet tall. Moose, mule deer, cattle, horses, bears, dogs and humans, can also be poisoned by eating Yew trees and shrubs. This seems to be more
prevalent in winter when food is scarce. Moose are members of the deer family, so it is possible Whitetail Deer could also be affected but it appears they have a resistance to it. This is only my supposition. The toxin in Yew trees is called “Taxine” used by people since as early as 500 A.D., and used as a favorite poison. Many murders and suicides occurred because it was easy to
attain. It causes an almost instant death, in five minutes or less, and there is no known remedy. I will be planting no more Yew trees. Attention Illinois Hunters (See IDNR.org for complete details & regulations) Deer Over-The-Counter Permit County-issued permits remaining will be available for sale over the counter (OTC) at licensed vendors on a first-come, first-served basis beginning October 15, 2024. Youth Deer Permit OTC Hunters may only purchase one Youth Either Sex
Deer Permit, over the counter at licensed vendors, August 6, 2024 - October 14, 2024. Youth hunters must be under the age of 18 prior to the opening date of the season. Turkey Over-the-Counter Permits Remaining county-specific Fall Turkey Shotgun permits will be available for sale over the counter (OTC)
from licensed vendors beginning September 16, 2024, on a first-come, first-served basis until quotas are exhausted, or until the season closes. One or more permits may be purchased during this period. There is a 2-permit limit, including lottery-issued and landowner permits. | 
