Hunters Prepare For Second Firearm Deer Season in Illinois December 4-7
December 2, 2008
Hunters in Illinois Harvest 71,894 Deer During First Weekend of Firearm Deer Season
SPRINGFIELD , IL – Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 71,894 deer during the opening weekend of the 2008 Illinois Firearm Deer season, Nov. 21-23, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Acting Director Sam Flood announced today. The second portion of the firearm season will be Dec. 4-7.
The preliminary total for the first three days of the 2008 firearm season compares with the first weekend harvest of 85,490 deer during the 2007 deer season. The top county harvest total was in Pike with 2,194 deer, followed by Adams (1,900), Fulton (1,878), Randolph (1,770), and Jefferson (1,650). The preliminary first-season figures reported for each county include those deer taken on special hunt areas within that county as well as on private land.
“Deer hunters in Illinois once again provided a good deer harvest for the first weekend of the firearm season,” said Flood. “We offer some of the best deer hunting opportunity in the world here in Illinois , and the firearm deer season continues to be our most popular hunting season.”
Illinois has issued approximately 350,000 firearm deer hunting permits for the 2008 season. Most hunters register their deer harvest online through the IDNR web site or by phoning 1-866-ILCHECK (1-866-452-4325) by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest. Hunters in Boone, DeKalb, Grundy, Kane, LaSalle, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties take their deer to county check stations where IDNR conducts sampling for chronic wasting disease.
“The weather was unseasonably cold to start the season on Friday, but it appears many hunters were in the field enjoying some success on that day and throughout the first weekend of the firearm deer season,” said IDNR Forest Wildlife Program Manager Paul Shelton. “Most corn had been harvested, although 10 to 12 percent remained in the fields in the northern part of the state.
“The good news for managers and for deer hunters with permits remaining for the second season is that most of the decline in harvest was a drop in buck harvest,” Shelton added. “This means that our doe harvest was fairly comparable to last year and that there are plenty of both bucks and does still out there for second season hunters.”
Approximately 59 percent of the deer taken this past weekend were bucks, compared with 62 percent bucks taken during the first weekend of the firearm season in 2007.
The Illinois firearm deer season concludes Dec. 4-7. The muzzleloader-only deer season is Dec. 12-14. The Late-Winter Antlerless-only firearm deer season and the Special CWD deer season are Jan. 16-18, 2009. The state’s 2008-09 archery deer season continues through Jan. 15 (except closed in firearm counties during the second firearm season Dec. 4-7).
The table below provides preliminary county harvest totals for the first segment of the firearm season and comparable figures for the first season in 2007.
| County |
2007 |
2008 |
| Adams |
2140 |
1900 |
| Alexander |
339 |
335 |
| Bond |
877 |
632 |
| Boone |
133 |
90 |
| Brown |
1135 |
996 |
| Bureau |
1205 |
1030 |
| Calhoun |
1036 |
889 |
| Carroll |
921 |
740 |
| Cass |
665 |
510 |
| Champaign |
272 |
195 |
| Christian |
574 |
466 |
| Clark |
1122 |
896 |
| Clay |
1177 |
998 |
| Clinton |
808 |
635 |
| Coles |
621 |
550 |
| Crawford |
950 |
831 |
| Cumberland |
693 |
654 |
| DeKalb |
213 |
136 |
| DeWitt |
320 |
303 |
| Douglas |
212 |
156 |
| Edgar |
608 |
555 |
| Edwards |
434 |
354 |
| Effingham |
923 |
795 |
| Fayette |
1684 |
1480 |
| Ford |
123 |
115 |
| Franklin |
979 |
827 |
| Fulton |
2003 |
1878 |
| Gallatin |
451 |
402 |
| Greene |
1209 |
989 |
| Grundy |
354 |
269 |
| Hamilton |
1036 |
901 |
| Hancock |
1698 |
1553 |
| Hardin |
907 |
780 |
| Henderson |
586 |
432 |
| Henry |
742 |
561 |
| Iroquois |
548 |
548 |
| Jackson |
1824 |
1612 |
| Jasper |
1049 |
915 |
| Jefferson |
1997 |
1650 |
| Jersey |
790 |
670 |
| JoDaviess |
2055 |
1518 |
| Johnson |
1435 |
1385 |
| Kane |
48 |
43 |
| Kankakee |
191 |
157 |
| Kendall |
67 |
53 |
| Knox |
1244 |
1048 |
| Lake |
25 |
19 |
| LaSalle |
1127 |
957 |
| Lawrence |
497 |
420 |
| Lee |
577 |
446 |
| Livingston |
498 |
392 |
| Logan |
401 |
298 |
| Macon |
252 |
217 |
| Macoupin |
1677 |
1228 |
| Madison |
995 |
648 |
| Marion |
1677 |
1404 |
| Marshall |
696 |
607 |
| Mason |
489 |
484 |
| Massac |
471 |
369 |
| McDonough |
902 |
759 |
| McHenry |
360 |
216 |
| McLean |
541 |
490 |
| Menard |
392 |
288 |
| Mercer |
828 |
632 |
| Monroe |
910 |
863 |
| Montgomery |
1149 |
861 |
| Morgan |
899 |
674 |
| Moultrie |
251 |
224 |
| Ogle |
1035 |
730 |
| Peoria |
1317 |
1133 |
| Perry |
1161 |
964 |
| Piatt |
184 |
134 |
| Pike |
2610 |
2194 |
| Pope |
1473 |
1301 |
| Pulaski |
547 |
533 |
| Putnam |
454 |
361 |
| Randolph |
1890 |
1770 |
| Richland |
745 |
635 |
| Rock Island |
806 |
610 |
| Saline |
734 |
726 |
| Sangamon |
743 |
598 |
| Schuyler |
1346 |
1166 |
| Scott |
508 |
374 |
| Shelby |
1193 |
1025 |
| St. Clair |
868 |
724 |
| Stark |
258 |
216 |
| Stephenson |
837 |
643 |
| Tazewell |
625 |
527 |
| Union |
1551 |
1323 |
| Vermilion |
719 |
648 |
| Wabash |
252 |
218 |
| Warren |
554 |
481 |
| Washington |
1083 |
864 |
| Wayne |
1446 |
1316 |
| White |
808 |
699 |
| Whiteside |
806 |
542 |
| Will |
287 |
267 |
| Williamson |
1391 |
1176 |
| Winnebago |
410 |
315 |
| Woodford |
837 |
753 |
| Total |
85490 |
71894 |
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NY DEC to Issue Deer Management Permits
October 28, 2008
Hunters Previously Denied May Receive Deer Management Permits Through Correction Process - UNCLAIMED PERMITS ALSO AVAILABLE ON NOVEMBER 1
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced that approximately 10,000 Deer Management Permits (DMPs) will be issued to hunters who were previously denied permits earlier this year during the DMP initial application period that ended on Oct. 1. Leftover DMPs will also be available in several Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) beginning Nov. 1.
“New York’s hunters are key to the success of the state’s deer management programs,” Commissioner Grannis said. “Hunters have enjoyed a proud legacy in New York State and we look forward to helping them have a successful season this year. The DMPs greatly enhance our ability to properly manage the state’s deer population.”
Deer Management Permits, which allow hunters to harvest antlerless deer, are issued for specific WMUs to control local deer populations. In order to provide DMPs at point-of-sale locations, DEC must anticipate the number of applicants in each WMU and assign a probability to each unit to ensure the availability of the appropriate number of DMPs. In several WMUs, DEC received fewer applications than projected by the Oct. 1 deadline, while in other areas demand exceeded supply.
To issue the remaining DMPs, DEC randomly selected applicants who were previously denied DMPs in affected WMUs during the application period. With the selection process now completed, the Department has begin to mail permits. An average of 13 percent of the hunters previously denied permits in these units will receive a DMP through this correction process. Additional DMPs will be made available in the following WMUs:
3H: including parts of Sullivan and Ulster Counties.
4A, 4B, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4O, 4S, 4W, 4Z: including parts of Albany, Schenectady, Schoharie, Montgomery, Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Otsego, Greene, Broome, Chenango, Otsego, Sullivan, Ulster, Columbia and Dutchess Counties
5K, 5P: including parts of Washington, Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties.
6A, 6C, 6H, 6K, 6P: including parts of Franklin, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Oswego, Oneida and Madison Counties
7F, 7R: including parts of Cayuga, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Seneca Broome, Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Tioga, Tompkins Counties
9P, 9R, 9S, 9X: including parts of Allegany, Livingston, Steuben, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties
For more description on these WMU geographic units, please visit the DEC’s website.
Hunters not selected for a DMP will not receive a mailing from DEC. Hunters are urged to wait for their permits to arrive by mail. Selection for one of these permits will not affect any preference points issued to hunters who were not selected for their first choice area during the original application period.
In addition, DEC will also reopen the DMP application process starting Nov. 1, on a first-come, first-served basis for WMUs that have not reached target totals during the random selections. Hunters may apply for leftover DMPs at any DEC license sales outlet beginning Nov. 1. Leftover DMPs will not be available by phone, by mail or via the internet. DMP applications will be accepted for the following WMUs:
1C: including all of Suffolk County.
3M, 3R, 3S (bowhunting-only): including parts of Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Rockland, and Westchester Counties.
8A, 8G, 8H, 8N: including parts of Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario Wyoming, Steuben, and Yates Counties.
9A, 9F: including parts of Erie and Niagara Counties.
During this extended application period, DEC will issue DMPs for an individual WMU all day once a WMU is opened for leftover issuance. The status of permits will be reviewed each night at midnight, and any filled units will be removed from the list of those available, with no further applications accepted for those units.
For locations of these WMUs, check the 2008-09 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or visit the DEC’s website.
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DNR, Corps monitoring high hazard dams
June 13, 2008
The Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have paired up this week to check privately owned high hazard dams in 20 flood-affected counties of southern Indiana.
Significant progress has been made in evaluating the dams and determining if any emergency steps need to be taken. A dozen two-person teams have been at work in Bartholomew, Brown, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Greene, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Ripley, Sullivan, Vigo and Wayne counties.
The following general information is designed to answer most questions about dams and the regulation process in Indiana.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Exactly what is a dam?
A dam is a man-made barrier constructed for the purpose of storing or diverting water. It usually is built across a stream or river and usually consists of earthen materials or concrete. Many of the existing dams in Indiana are relatively old (30 years or more), making safety inspections and regular maintenance extremely important practices.
Who is responsible for keeping a dam safe?
The Indiana General Assembly has established dam safety laws to protect the citizens of the state. Generally, the laws are intended to ensure the dam owner maintains his/her dam in a safe manner that minimizes potential safety risks downstream to lives and property. Since dam owners can be held accountable for any damage that results from the failure of their dams, they should do whatever is necessary to avoid injuring persons or property.
Who makes sure dam owners are doing what’s required?
The Department of Natural Resources has the statutory authority to regulate dams in Indiana. The DNR oversees the inspections of about 1,100 dams statewide.
Are all dams the same?
No. The DNR regulates dams that meet one of three criteria - the drainage area above the dam is greater than 1 square mile; the dam embankment is greater than 20 feet high; or the dam impounds more than 100-acre feet of water.
These dams fall into three “hazard” categories - low, significant, and high. “Hazard” refers to the level of damage downstream if a dam fails. There are about 600 low hazard dams in Indiana, about 250 in the significant category, and about 250 in the high category.
What’s the difference between “high” and “low” hazard?
A high hazard structure is one in which its failure may cause the loss of life and serious damage to homes, industrial and commercial buildings, public utilities, major highways, or railroads.
Failure of a significant hazard structure may damage isolated homes and highways, or cause temporary interruption of public utility services.
Failure of a low hazard structure may result in damage to farm buildings, agricultural land, or local roads.
How often are dams inspected?
State law requires a DNR inspection of low hazard dams once every five years, and once every three years for significant hazard dams. When it comes to high hazard dams, state law requires the owner of the dam to have an inspection by a licensed professional once every two years.
What happens in a dam inspection?
Actually, it’s rather complex. A responsible dam safety program should include four types of inspections - formal technical inspections, maintenance inspections, informal inspections, and special inspections. A formal technical inspection is the most comprehensive and usually includes review and analysis of available data and plans, a field examination, and a final report. The field exam is performed by a team of one or more professional engineers, geologists or qualified technicians, accompanied by the dam owner or his/her representative. Depending on the type of dam, a field exam can take 2 to 3 days for a team of experts to complete and may cost the owner $2,500 to $4,000.
Does a dam inspection guarantee the dam is safe?
Absolutely not. An inspection is only a snapshot of the dam’s relative safety status at that time while providing the owner with information on necessary repairs. Year-round vigilance by the owner using informal inspections coupled with special inspections and proper maintenance practices are far better tools for ensuring the long-term integrity of a dam.
What about levees? Are they handled the same as dams?
It depends on the type of levee. Some levees are designed and built for flood control. Others are agricultural structures not meant for the same sort of flood control but instead designed to divert water from crop fields, or to prevent topsoil erosion in the event of high water. Flood control levees are inspected. Agricultural levees are not.
So, with the recent floods, what’s the status of dams in impacted areas?
Personnel from two DNR divisions - Water and Reclamation - have teamed up with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to form two-person teams that are performing damage assessment of approximately 100 high hazard dams in 21 southern Indiana counties. It is important to note these are not dam inspections in the truest sense, but rather spot checks to evaluate visible damage and determine if there is any immediate danger.
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DNR Issues Emergency Rule for Flood Relief
June 12, 2008
Flood victims got a measure of relief Wednesday when DNR Director Robert E. Carter, Jr. announced an emergency rule that temporarily suspends permit requirements for certain reconstruction activities and debris removal in flooded areas.
“Gov. Mitch Daniels has directed state agencies to act quickly to provide relief to Hoosiers affected by the recent severe weather,” Carter said. “In issuing this emergency rule, DNR is expediting the process of rebuilding communities hardest hit this week.”
The emergency rule is applicable in 29 counties and only in the following instances:
- Reconstruction of bridge and culvert crossings damaged by floodwaters;
- Removal of logjams and debris from the channel of a waterway;
- Stabilization and repair of stream banks eroded by floodwaters.
Under normal conditions, such work requires a permit under Indiana Code 14-28-1, but that requirement is waved until Oct. 1 for the following counties: Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Clay, Daviess, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Greene, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Monroe, Morgan, Ohio, Owen, Randolph, Ripley, Rush, Shelby, Sullivan, Union, Vermillion, Vigo and Wayne.
Some conditions apply in regards to the equipment and methods used in reconstruction, debris removal and stabilization. For example, replacement bridges or culvert crossings must be at least the same size and as effective as before the flood damage occurred; appropriate control measures must be installed to prevent the flow of sediment-laden water into the waterway; and certain plants may not be used for re-vegetation. A complete list of the emergency rule guidelines is available at dnr.in.gov (click on the link marked Emergency Rule-Flood).
Carter has determined that any project meeting these criteria does not adversely affect the efficiency of or unduly restrict the capacity of the floodway; constitute an unreasonable hazard to the safety of life or property; and result in unreasonably detrimental effects to fish, wildlife or botanical resources.
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