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All Natural Fish Feeder Never Needs Filling and Cleans Water

The Hangout Artificial Fish Habitat Fish Feeder

Fishiding habitat products

Product Description

Growing big fish starts with growing lots of food to feed them. In order for the fry and forage fish to thrive and reproduce, they need mass amounts of food to develop and prosper.

Minnows, small panfish and fry feed on film that grows on surfaces underwater called peripyhton. This magical micro-floral community of bacteria and fungi, protozoa and zoo-plankton, dance together forming this wonderful highly efficient, nutrient converting fish food.

Phosphorus and nitrogen are often the biggest culprits in abundant weed growth and eutrophic waters. Converting these nutrients into fish food and ultimately fish, is not new and has been being used with ongoing success sometimes called brush parks. Create the food source and the fish will come.

The more surface area available, the more food can grow. Weed beds are a good example of surfaces for this film to grow and hiding places for the small fish.

The Hangout is where the smaller fish will congregate and eat this highest form of food available, within the protection of the maze of vinyl limbs that surround the feeder bag.

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The plastic mesh feeder bag holds an incredible 400 square feet of surface area from a matrix of woven plastic recycled from drinking bottles. Weighing just over two pounds and approximately ten inches diameter and two feet long, these bags hold the key to fish development.

Over thirty two square feet of flexible vinyl limbs, the same material in all fishiding fish habitat products, complete this protective eating establishment. Dozens of unique habitat models at fishiding.com

Bend limbs and pinch crease with fingers, no tools or additional supplies needed.

Opens to a full 46″wide by 48″ tall, hang at any depth, unit sinks.

Each unit comes with 5.5 pounds of pre-drilled vinyl limbs, ranging in length from 12″-28″ long and 1″-4″ wide with feeder bag with ten feet of mono bait-ball line.

Hang unit from underside of dock or pier for year around fishing action.

Suspend unit from raft or tree limb to keep predators close by your food source.

Attach unit to full size habitat unit or anchor and add foam to feeder bag to add buoyancy.

Tie multiple units together for deep water applications.

Peoria Lake aims to create fish habitat

Island construction in middle of Illinois River

PEORIA, Ill. — Construction of an island in the middle of the Illinois River and Lake Peoria has started as part of a project the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hopes will recreate deep underwater habitats for fish. Continue reading “Peoria Lake aims to create fish habitat”

Dog Days of Summer, teaching Youth at Outdoor Expo

This weekend a hundred kids got to tell dogs to go jump in the lake as part of some environmental lessons.

Wisconsin’s official state dog is the water spaniel – a great choice for a lake laden land.

If Minnesota was to choose one, the Labrador retriever would be a good candidate.

It’s hard to keep the water loving pooches out of the H20.

The Duluth Retriever Club’s members can vouch for that.

“We’re dedicated to training dogs; hunting dogs and field trial dogs and hunt test dogs.”

The club’s labs took center stage on Saturday as part of the Izaak Walton League’s semi-annual Youth Outdoor Expo.

The expo gets kids off the couch and away from the keyboard for real world experiences.

“That’s what the Izaak Walton League is all about; getting kids outdoors and into outdoor sports.”

Walton was a 17th century English author and fisherman.
The league named after him was founded in Chicago in 1922 to preserve fish habitat.

Now, all environmental issues concern them.

This expo will teach the kids about hunting ethics and conservation by letting them handle dogs themselves in single mark water retrieves.

“The dog has to sit, be steady; it can’t leave until you instruct the dog to leave.”

Nearly a hundred kids took turns handling the dogs.

Montessori School teacher Sarah Pelto brought some of her relatives to the session.

She feels kids need lessons in and out of the classroom.

“It’s important they have a broad base of experience so they can have a good foundation for learning and growing and knowing about options in life.”

The Twin Ports chapter of the Izaak Walton League is already planning their next Youth Outdoor Expo.

It will be this spring at Hartley Nature Center and will focus on topics related to fishing.

See the dozens of unique artificial fish habitat models, fish attractors and fish cover used at fishiding.com, the industry leader and only science based, man made and artificial fish habitat, proven to provide all fish with cover they prefer to prosper.

K.Hoving Companies Going Green for Fish Habitat

When we talk about fishing and being in the outdoors, waste removal, disposal and recycling won’t come up much in the conversation. We enjoy the clean air and water which holds our quarry, not considering the orchestrated work taking place for fish habitat and the environment by waste recovery companies like K.Hoving companies in West Chicago, Illinois.

We toss our trash in the can or roll-off at work, or maybe that roof we recently had to replace got tossed in a dumpster. Off to a landfill right?  What about that old siding, doors, concrete, and windows we threw out? Or the old office building that got torn down, doesn’t that go to the dump anymore? Continue reading “K.Hoving Companies Going Green for Fish Habitat”

Bassmasters of Delaware add needed fish structure


The Eastern Shore Bassmasters of Delaware, in conjunction with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) have completed a habitat restoration project at Griffith’s Lake in Milford. The club is an affiliated member of the National Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society or B.A.S.S. as it is more commonly known, and the Delaware B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, a state wide federation made up of other clubs within the state to help promote, educate, and conserve the basic principles of freshwater sport fishing in Delaware. 

The club participated in the DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife GO FISH program which stands for Fill In Structural Habitat. The GO FISH program consists of clubs applying to the DNREC program requesting to plant artificial or natural fish attractors in area ponds and lakes to enhance the habitat for all species of fish. Members of Eastern Shore Bassmasters collected discarded Christmas trees after the holidays and constructed bundles of trees that were weighted with concrete blocks and placed in the ponds in areas that are productive places for fish to seek shelter and food.

The tree bundles also serve as fish attracting features along the shoreline to provide more opportunities for shoreline anglers, or bank fishermen.  Multiple shoreline fish attractors were placed in the pond along the fishing access areas including areas along Griffith’s Lake Drive. Two (2) of tree bundles will be made visible to bank fishermen through the Division of Fish and Wildlife identifying the two locations as fish attractors on the pond’s map, and placement of signs at the park indicating such. The other thirteen (13) tree bundles were placed in areas to provide cover and safe habitat for fish throughout the pond.

The tree bundles were constructed by taking two (2) trees joined side by side and tied at the trunks and tips. The concrete blocks were then fastened one to each end of the bundle to help sink the trees and hold them in place in the water. The trees were placed by members of the club, with the assistance from the DNREC Fish and Wildlife workboat and crew on hand to assist, in various locations on the pond in no less than five (5) feet of water, as not to impede boat navigation.

The club considered the idea to enhance habitat in area ponds due to the large numbers of ponds with featureless lake cover and structure such as stumps, weed beds, submerged timber, rock piles, and dock pilings. The consideration was given to bank fishermen as well to attract more numbers of fish closer to shore. The fish attractors will provide opportunities for more anglers as more fish become accustomed to using the tree bundles for cover, food, and staging areas.

Griffith’s Lake was selected as this year’s location as somewhat of a resource management option. The lake back in 2006 suffered an unexpected partial drawdown that occurred when a leak developed under the dam and put it at risk for losing quality fish and habitat. It is the club’s goal to help restore some of the habitat and provide for a better angling experience for more fishermen, as well as provide the necessary habitat and cover with the tree bundles for promoting healthy populations of all fish species.

Club President Dave Perrego and Conservation Director Bob Wallace have been in contact with DNREC’s Cathy Martin, a fisheries biologist for the Division of Fish and Wildlife and GO FISH program administrator since early this year. This is the 2nd habitat planting project in Kent County in two years. The last took place at Killen’s Pond in Felton back in April of 2008.

For more information on how your Delaware club or organization can participate in the GO FISH program you may contact Ms. Cathy Martin at (302) 653-2887, or email her at catherine.martin@state.de.us.

To contact the club to inquire about future conservation projects and general membership, please call Dave Perrego at (302)339-2133, or email the club ateasternshorebassmasters@yahoo.com. The club’s website can also be found at www.eteamz.com/easternshorebassmasters.

 

Fish and Game and Volunteers Restore Fish Habitat

Fish and Game and Volunteers Restore Fish Habitat

Page Last Updated: Wednesday April 20, 2011 10:40pm MDT
Idaho Fish and Game 

Idaho Fish and Game

Today at the old Cove Dam site Idaho Fish and Game along with dozens of volunteers released around 1000 Bonneville cutthroat trout into the wild as a final step in a project that began years ago. Joselin Matkins Director of Sagebrush Steppe Regional Land Trust explains why today was a great day for the partnership. Joselin Matkins, Director, “This is a great day for the partnership with PacifiCorp energy, Fish and Game, all the other partners at the Bear River Coordinating Committee because we released about 1000 Bonneville cutthroat trout into the stream today.”

David Teuscher, Regional Fisheries Manager for Idaho Fish and Game explains the vital role that the cutthroat trout have in the bear river ecosystem

David Teuscher, Regional Fisheries Manager, “The cutthroat trout play an important role, fish eating birds rely on fish resources so in the past native cutthroat trout filled all these streams and tributaries and they were food resources for other things like fish birds so the played an important role in a larger picture.”

Today is the culmination of years of hard work Fish and Game and volunteers have put in to restore the habitat of these fish.

But converting this once dam site to a useable habitat for the fish takes time and effort. Teuscher says many of these fish and game projects like this one would not be possible without the help of volunteers.

Teuscher, “So volunteers play a huge role in the amount of work we’re able to do because as you know labor and things are very expensive and we’re limited by how much we can do on an annual basis on budgets, the more volunteers we get the more work we can do.”

All the hard work and effort does pay off as an important investment in Idaho fisheries for the future.

Teuscher, “In two years when these fish come back upstream to spawn they’ll have that good spawning habitat.”

Those interested in volunteering for Idaho Fish and Game can find more information on their website.

 

ENDANGERED AND THREATENED ANIMALS AND PLANTS OF ILLINOIS

CHECKLIST OF ENDANGERED AND THREATENED ANIMALS AND PLANTS OF ILLINOISIllinois Endangered Species Protection BoardEffective February 22, 2011The Board revises the list of protected species at least once every five years and completed its most recent revisions in 2009. The following list reflects those2009 and subsequent 2010 revisions:   This booklet contains a list of all species which have been designated as endangered or threatened by the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board.  Species are listed alphabetically by scientific name.  Species listed at the Federal level are indicated by asterisks -** = Federally Endangered* = Federally ThreatenedCRITERIA FOR STATE LISTINGA species shall be included on the official list of endangered and threatened species when one or more of the following criteria exists: 1) Species included in the Federal list of Endangered or Threatened Species, 2) Species proposed for Federal Endangered or Threatened Species which occur in Illinois, 3) Species which formerly were widespread in Illinois but have been nearly extirpated from the State due to habitat destruction, collecting, or other pressures resulting from the development of Illinois, 4) Species which exhibit very restricted geographic ranges of which Illinois is a part, 5) Species which exhibit restricted habitats or low populations in Illinois, or 6) Species which are significant disjuncts in Illinois i.e., the Illinois population is far removed from the rest of the species’ range.DEFINITIONS:FEDERALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES – Any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.FEDERALLY THREATENED SPECIES  – Any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.STATE ENDANGERED SPECIES – Any species which is in danger of extinction as a breeding species in Illinois.STATE THREATENED SPECIES – Any breeding species which is likely to become a state endangered species within the foreseeable future in Illinois.TAKE – In reference to animals and animal products, to harm, hunt, shoot, pursue, lure, wound, kill, destroy, harass, gig, spear, ensnare, trap, capture, collect, or to attempt to engage in such conduct.  In reference to plants and plant products, to collect, pick, cut, dig up, kill, destroy, bury, crush, or harm in any manner.The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act prohibits the possession, taking, transportation, sale, offer for sale, or disposal of any listed animal or products of listed animals without a permit issued by the Department of Conservation.  Also prohibited are the taking of listed plants without the expressed written permission of the landowner and the sale or offer to sell plants or plant products of endangered species.Citation: Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board.  2011.  Checklist of Endangered and Threatened Animals and Plants of Illinois.  Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board, Springfield, Illinois.  18 pp.FISHES19 Endangered, 12 ThreatenedEndangeredAcipenser fulvescens Lake SturgeonAmmocrypta clarum Western Sand DarterEtheostoma camurum Bluebreast DarterEtheostoma histrio Harlequin DarterHybognathus hayi Cypress MinnowHybopsis amblops Bigeye ChubHybopsis amnis Pallid ShinerIchthyomyzon fossor Northern Brook LampreyLepomis miniatus Redspotted SunfishMacrhybopsis gelida Sturgeon ChubMoxostoma valenciennesi Greater RedhorseNocomis micropogon River ChubNotropis anogenus Pugnose ShinerNotropis boops Bigeye ShinerNotropis heterolepis Blacknose ShinerNotropis maculatus Taillight ShinerNotropis texanus Weed ShinerNoturus stigmosus Northern MadtomScaphirhynchus albus** Pallid SturgeonThreatenedAmmocrypta pellucidum Eastern Sand DarterCatostomus catostomus Longnose SuckerCoregonus artedi CiscoErimystax x-punctatus Gravel ChubEtheostoma exile Iowa DarterFundulus diaphanus Banded KillifishFundulus dispar Starhead TopminnowLampetra aepyptera Least Brook LampreyLepomis symmetricus Bantam SunfishMoxostoma carinatum River RedhorseNotropis chalybaeus Ironcolor ShinerNotropis heterodon Blackchin ShinerAMPHIBIANS3 Endangered, 6 ThreatenedEndangeredSalamandersAmbystoma platineum Silvery SalamanderCryptobranchus alleganiensis Eastern HellbenderDesmognathus conanti Spotted Dusky SalamanderThreatenedSalamandersAmbystoma jeffersonianum Jefferson SalamanderHemidactylium scutatum Four-toed SalamanderNecturus maculosus MupuppyFrogs and ToadsGastrophryne carolinensis Eastern Narrowmouth ToadHyla avivoca Bird-voiced TreefrogPseudacris illinoensis Illinois Chorus Frog1 2REPTILES10 Endangered, 8 ThreatenedEndangeredTurtles Apalone mutica  Smooth SoftshellClemmys guttata Spotted TurtleEmydoidea blandingii Blanding’s TurtleKinosternon flavescens Yellow Mud TurtleMacrochelys temminckii Alligator Snapping TurtlePseudemys concinna River CooterSnakesMasticophis flagellum CoachwhipNerodia fasciata Broad-banded WatersnakePantherophis emoryi Great Plains Rat SnakeSistrurus catenatus Eastern MassasaugaThreatenedTurtles Terrepene ornata  Ornate Box TurtleSnakesClonophis kirtlandi Kirtland’s SnakeCrotalus horridus Timber RattlesnakeHeterodon nasicus Plains Hog-Nosed SnakeNerodia cyclopion Mississippi Green WatersnakeTantilla gracilis Flathead SnakeThamnophis sauritus Eastern RibbonsnakeTropidoclonion lineatum Lined SnakeBIRDS25 Endangered, 5 ThreatenedEndangeredAsio flammeus Short-eared OwlBartramia longicauda Upland SandpiperBotaurus lentiginosus American BitternButeo swainsoni Swainson’s HawkCharadrius melodus** Piping PloverChlidonias niger Black TernCircus cyaneus Northern HarrierEgretta caerulea Little Blue HeronEgretta thula Snowy EgretGallinula chloropus Common MoorhenLanius ludovicianus Loggerhead ShrikeLaterallus jamaicensis Black RailLimnothlypis swainsonii Swainson’s WarblerNyctanassa violacea Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night-HeronPandion haliaetus OspreyPhalaropus tricolor Wilson’s PhalaropeRallus elegans King RailSterna forsteri Forster’s TernSterna hirundo Common TernSternula antillarum** Least TernThryomanes bewickii Bewick’s WrenTympanuchus cupido Greater Prairie-ChickenTyto alba Barn OwlXanthocephalus xanthocephalus Yellow-headed BlackbirdThreatenedCoccyzus erythropthalmus Black-billed CuckooDendroica cerulea Cerulean WarblerFalco peregrinus Peregrine FalconIctinia mississippiensis Mississippi KiteIxobrychus exilis Least Bittern3 4MAMMALS5 Endangered, 4 ThreatenedEndangeredCorynorhinus  rafinesquii Rafinesque’s Big-eared BatMyotis austroriparius Southeastern MyotisMyotis grisescens** Gray BatMyotis sodalis** Indiana BatNeotoma floridana Eastern Wood RatThreatenedCanis lupus** Gray/Timber WolfOchrotomys nuttalli Golden MouseOryzomys palustris Rice RatSpermophilus franklinii Franklin’s Ground SquirrelINVERTEBRATES43 Endangered, 12 ThreatenedEndangeredSnailsDiscus macclintocki** Iowa Pleistocene SnailFontigens antroecetes Hydrobiid Cave SnailLithasia obovata Shawnee RocksnailMusselsCumberlandia monodonta SpectaclecaseCyprogenia stegaria** FanshellEpioblasma rangiana** Northern RiffleshellEpioblasma triquetra SnuffboxLampsilis abrupta** Pink MucketLampsilis fasciola Wavy-rayed LampmusselLampsilis higginsii** Higgins EyePlethobasus cooperianus** Orangefoot PimplebackPlethobasus cyphyus SheepnosePleurobema clava** ClubshellPleurobema cordatum Ohio PigtoePotamilus capax** Fat PocketbookPtychobranchus fasciolaris KidneyshellQuadrula cylindrica RabbitsfootSimpsonaias ambigua Salamander MusselToxolasma lividus Purple LilliputVillosa iris RainbowCrustaceansCaecidotea lesliei IsopodCaecidotea spatulata IsopodCrangonyx anomalus Anomalous Spring AmphipodCrangonyx packardi Packard’s Cave AmphipodGammarus acherondytes** Illinois Cave AmphipodOrconectes indianensis Indiana CrayfishOrconectes kentuckiensis Kentucky CrayfishOrconectes lancifer Shrimp CrayfishOrconectes placidus Bigclaw CrayfishStygobromus iowae Iowa AmphipodScorpionsCentruroides vittatus Common Striped Scorpion5 6INVERTEBRATESEndangered (continued)DragonfliesSomatochlora hineana** Hine’s Emerald DragonflySpringtailsPygmarrhopalites madonnensis Madonna Cave SpringtailStonefliesDiploperla robusta  Robust SpringflyProstoia completa Central ForestflyLeafhoppersAthysanella incongrua LeafhopperParaphlepsius lupalus LeafhopperButterflies and MothsAtrytone arogos Arogos SkipperCalephelis mutica Swamp MetalmarkHesperia ottoe Ottoe SkipperIncisalia polios Hoary ElfinLycaeides melissa samuelis** Karner Blue ButterflyPapaipema eryngii Eryngium Stem BorerThreatenedMusselsAlasmidonta viridis SlippershellCyclonaias tuberculata Purple WartybackEllipsaria lineolata ButterflyElliptio crassidens Elephant-earElliptio dilatata SpikeFusconaia ebena EbonyshellLigumia recta Black SandshellVillosa lienosa Little SpectaclecaseDragonfliesNannothemis bella Elfin SkimmerLeafhoppersAflexia rubranura Redveined Prairie LeafhopperINVERTEBRATESThreatened (continued)ButterfliesHesperia metea Cobweb SkipperSpeyeria idalia Regal Fritillary7 8PLANTS251 Endangered, 81 ThreatenedEndangeredAdoxa moschatellina MoschatelAlnus incana subsp. rugosa Speckled AlderAmelanchier sanguinea ShadbushAmmophila breviligulata Marram GrassAmorpha nitens Smooth False IndigoArctostaphylos uva-ursi BearberryArtemisia dracunculus Dragon WormwoodAsclepias lanuginosa Wooly MilkweedAsclepias meadii*  Mead’s MilkweedAsclepias ovalifolia Oval MilkweedAsclepias stenophylla Narrow-leaved Green MilkweedAsplenium bradleyi Bradley’s SpleenwortAsplenium resiliens Black SpleenwortAstragalus crassicarpus var. trichocalyx Large Ground PlumAstragalus distortus Bent Milk VetchAstragalus tennesseensis Tennessee Milk VetchBaptisia tinctoria Yellow Wild IndigoBartonia paniculata ScrewstemBeckmannia syzigachne      American Slough GrassBerberis canadensis            Allegheny BarberryBetula alleghaniensis Yellow BirchBotrychium campestre Prairie MoonwortBotrychium matricariifolium Daisyleaf Grape FernBotrychium multifidum Northern Grape FernBotrychium simplex Dwarf Grape FernBouteloua gracilis Blue GramaBumelia lanuginosa Wooly BuckthornCalamagrostis insperata Bluejoint GrassCalla palustris Water ArumCalopogon oklahomensis Oklahoma Grass Pink OrchidCalopogon tuberosus Grass Pink OrchidCamassia angusta Wild HyacinthCardamine pratensis var. palustris Cuckoo FlowerCarex alata Winged SedgeCarex arkansana Arkansas SedgeCarex brunnescens Brownish SedgeCarex canescens var. disjuncta Silvery SedgeCarex chordorrhiza Cordroot SedgeCarex crawfordii Crawford’s SedgeCarex cryptolepis Yellow SedgePLANTSEndangered (continued)Carex cumulata SedgeCarex decomposita Cypress-knee SedgeCarex diandra SedgeCarex disperma Shortleaf SedgeCarex echinata SedgeCarex formosa  SedgeCarex garberi Elk SedgeCarex gigantea Large SedgeCarex inops subsp. heliophila Plains SedgeCarex nigromarginata Black-edged SedgeCarex oligosperma Few-seeded SedgeCarex physorhyncha Bellow’s Beak SedgeCarex plantaginea Plaintain-leaved SedgeCarex reniformis Reniform SedgeCarex trisperma Three-seeded SedgeCarex tuckermanii Tuckerman’s SedgeCarya pallida Pale HickoryCastilleja sessiliflora Downy Yellow Painted CupCeanothus herbaceus RedrootChamaelirium luteum Fairy WandChamaesyce polygonifolia  Seaside SpurgeChimaphila maculata Spotted WintergreenChimaphila umbellata PipsissewaCimicifuga americana American BugbaneCimicifuga racemosa False BugbaneCircaea alpina Small Enchanter’s NightshadeCladrastis lutea YellowwoodClematis crispa Blue JasmineClematis occidentalis Mountain ClematisClematis viorna LeatherflowerCollinsia violacea Violet CollinsiaComptonia peregrina SweetfernConioselinum chinense Hemlock ParsleyCornus canadensis BunchberryCorydalis aurea Golden CorydalisCorydalis halei Hale’s CorydalisCorydalis sempervirens Pink CorydalisCorylus cornuta Beaked HazelnutCynosciadium digitatum CynosciadiumCypripedium acaule Moccasin FlowerCypripedium parviflorum var. makasin Small Yellow Lady’s Slipper9 10PLANTSEndangered (continued)Cypripedium reginae Showy Lady’s SlipperCystopteris laurentiana Laurentian Fragile FernDalea foliosa**  Leafy Prairie CloverDennstaedtia punctilobula Hay-scented FernDeschampsia flexuosa HairgrassDichanthelium boreale Northern Panic GrassDichanthelium joori Panic GrassDichanthelium portoricense Hemlock Panic GrassDichanthelium ravenelii Ravenel’s Panic GrassDichanthelium yadkinense Panic GrassDraba cuneifolia Whitlow GrassDrosera rotundifolia Round-leaved SundewDryopteris celsa Log FernEchinodorus tenellus Small BurheadEleocharis olivacea Capitate SpikerushEleocharis pauciflora Few-flowered SpikerushEquisetum scirpoides Dwarf Scouring RushEquisetum sylvaticum Woodland HorsetailEriophorum virginicum Rusty Cotton GrassEryngium prostratum EryngoEuonymus americanus American Strawberry BushEupatorium hyssopifolium Hyssop-leaved ThoroughwortEuphorbia spathulata SpurgeFilipendula rubra Queen-of-the-PrairieFimbristylis vahlii Vahl’s FimbristylisGalactia mohlenbrockii Boykin’s DiocleaGalium lanceolatum Wild LicoriceGalium virgatum Dwarf BedstrawGeranium bicknellii Northern CranesbillGlyceria arkansana Arkansas MannagrassGratiola quartermaniae Hedge HyssopGymnocarpium dryopteris Oak FernGymnocarpium robertianum Scented Oak FernHackelia deflexa var. americana StickseedHalesia carolina Silverbell TreeHelianthus giganteus Tall SunflowerHeliotropium tenellum Slender HeliotropeHeteranthera reniformis Mud PlantainHexalectris spicata Crested Coralroot OrchidHudsonia tomentosa False HeatherHydrolea uniflora One-flowered HydroleaPLANTSEndangered (continued)Hypericum adpressum Shore St. John’s WortHypericum kalmianum Kalm’s St. John’s WortIliamna remota Kankakee MallowIresine rhizomatosa BloodleafIsoetes butleri Butler’s QuillwortIsotria verticillata Whorled PogoniaJuncus vaseyi Vasey’s RushJuniperus horizontalis Trailing JuniperJusticia ovata Water WillowLespedeza leptostachya* Prairie Bush CloverLesquerella ludoviciana Silvery BladderpodLonicera dioica var. glaucescens Red HoneysuckleLonicera flava Yellow HoneysuckleLuzula acuminata Hairy WoodrushLycopodiella inundata Bog ClubmossLycopodium clavatum Running PineLycopodium dendroideum Ground PineLysimachia radicans Creeping LoosestrifeMalus angustifolia Narrow-leaved CrabappleMalvastrum hispidum False MallowMatelea decipiens Climbing MilkweedMedeola virginiana Indian Cucumber RootMegalodonta beckii Water MarigoldMelanthera nivea White MelantheraMelica mutica Two-Flowered Melic GrassMimulus glabratus Yellow Monkey FlowerMirabilis hirsuta Hairy Umbrella-wortNemophila triloba Baby Blue-eyesNothocalais cuspidata Prairie DandelionOpuntia fragilis Fragile Prickly PearOrobanche fasciculata Clustered BroomrapeOxalis illinoensis Illinois Wood SorrelPaspalum dissectum Bead GrassPenstemon brevisepalus Short-sepaled Beard TonguePenstemon grandiflorus Large-flowered Beard TonguePenstemon tubaeflorus Tube Beard TonguePhacelia gilioides Ozark PhaceliaPhegopteris connectilis Long Beech FernPhlox pilosa subsp. sangamonensis Sangamon PhloxPinus banksiana Jack PinePinus echinata Shortleaf Pine11 12PLANTSEndangered (continuedPinus resinosa Red PinePlantago cordata Heart-leaved PlantainPlatanthera ciliaris Orange Fringed OrchidPlatanthera clavellata Wood OrchidPlatanthera flava var. flava Tubercled OrchidPlatanthera leucophaea*  Eastern Prairie Fringed OrchidPlatanthera psycodes Purple Fringed OrchidPoa alsodes Grove BluegrassPoa languida Weak BluegrassPoa wolfii Wolf’s BluegrassPogonia ophioglossoides Snake-mouthPolanisia jamesii James’ ClammyweedPolygala incarnata Pink MilkwortPolygonatum pubescens Downy Solomon’s SealPolygonum arifolium Halberd-leaved TearthumbPolygonum careyi Carey’s HeartseasePopulus balsamifera Balsam PoplarPotamogeton praelongus White-stemmed PondweedPotamogeton pulcher Spotted PondweedPotamogeton robbinsii Fern PondweedPotamogeton strictifolius Stiff PondweedPrimula mistassinica Bird’s-eye PrimrosePtilimnium nuttallii Mock Bishop’s WeedQuercus texana Nuttall’s OakRhamnus alnifolia Alder BuckthornRhexia mariana Dull Meadow BeautyRhynchospora glomerata Clustered Beak RushRibes hirtellum Northern GooseberryRosa acicularis Bristly RoseRubus odoratus Purple-flowering RaspberrySabatia campestris Prairie Rose GentianSagittaria australis ArrowheadSalix serissima Autumn WillowSalix syrticola Dune WillowSambucus racemosa subsp. pubens Red-berried ElderSanguisorba canadensis American BurnetSanicula smallii Southern SaniculaSarracenia purpurea Pitcher PlantSaxifraga virginiensis Early SaxifrageSchizachne purpurascens False Melic GrassSchoenoplectus purshianus Weak BulrushPLANTSEndangered (continued)Schoenoplectus smithii Smith’s BulrushScirpus hattorianus BulrushScirpus microcarpus BulrushScleria muhlenbergii Muhlenberg’s Nut RushScleria pauciflora Carolina WhipgrassShepherdia canadensis BuffaloberrySilene ovata Ovate CatchflySilene regia Royal CatchflySisyrinchium montanum Mountain Blue-eyed GrassSorbus americana American Mountain AshSparganium americanum American BurreedSparganium emersum Green-fruited BurreedSpiranthes lucida Yellow-lipped Ladies’ TressesSpiranthes vernalis Spring Ladies’ TressesStellaria pubera Great ChickweedStenanthium gramineum Grass-leaved LilyStylisma pickeringii Patterson’s BindweedStyrax grandifolius Bigleaf Snowbell BushSymphoricarpos albus var. albus SnowberrySynandra hispidula Hairy SynandraTalinum calycinum FameflowerTetraneuris herbacea* Lakeside DaisyThelypteris noveboracensis New York FernTilia heterophylla White BasswoodTorreyochloa pallida Pole Manna-GrassTrichomanes boschianum Filmy fernTrichophorum cespitosum Tufted BulrushTrientalis borealis Star-flowerTrillium cernuum Nodding TrilliumTrillium erectum Ill-scented Trillium Trillium viride Green TrilliumUlmus thomasii Rock ElmUtricularia cornuta Horned BladderwortUtricularia minor Small BladderwortVaccinium corymbosum Highbush BlueberryVaccinium macrocarpon Large CranberryVaccinium oxycoccos Small CranberryVaccinium stamineum DeerberryValeriana uliginosa Marsh ValerianValerianella chenopodifolia Corn SaladValerianella umbilicata Corn Salad13 14PLANTSEndangered (continued)Veronica americana American BrooklimeViola blanda Hairy White VioletViola canadensis Canada VioletViola primulifolia Primrose VioletWoodsia ilvensis Rusty WoodsiaZigadenus elegans White CamassThreatenedAgalinus skinneriana Pale False FoxgloveAmelanchier interior ShadbushAster furcatus Forked AsterBerchemia scandens Supple-JackBesseya bullii Kitten TailsBoltonia decurrens*  Decurrent False AsterBotrychium biternatum Southern Grape FernBuchnera americana BlueheartsCakile edentula Sea RocketCarex atlantica SedgeCarex aurea Golden SedgeCarex bromoides SedgeCarex communis Fibrous-rooted SedgeCarex intumescens Swollen SedgeCarex oxylepis Sharp-scaled SedgeCarex prasina Drooping SedgeCarex viridula Little Green SedgeCarex willdenowii Willdenow’s SedgeCarex woodii Pretty SedgeCarya aquatica Water HickoryChamaedaphne calyculata LeatherleafCimicifuga rubifolia Black CohoshCirsium pitcheri*  Pitcher’s (Dune) ThistleCorallorhiza maculata Spotted Coral-root OrchidCyperus grayioides Umbrella SedgeCyperus lancastriensis GalingaleCypripedium candidum White Lady’s SlipperDelphinium carolinianum Wild Blue LarkspurDodecatheon frenchii French’s ShootingstarDrosera intermedia Narrow-leaved SundewEleocharis rostellata Beaked Spike RushElymus trachycaulus Bearded Wheat GrassPLANTSThreatened (continued)Epilobium strictum Downy Willow HerbEquisetum pratense Meadow HorsetailHelianthus angustifolius Narrow-leaved SunflowerHuperzia porophila Cliff ClubmossHymenopappus scabiosaeus Old PlainsmanJuncus alpinus Richardson’s RushJuniperus communis Ground JuniperLarix laricina TamarackLathyrus ochroleucus Pale VetchlingLechea intermedia PinweedLiatris scariosa var. nieuwlandii Blazing StarMatelea obliqua Climbing MilkweedMelanthium virginicum BunchflowerMelothria pendula Squirting CucumberMenyanthes trifoliata BuckbeanMinuartia patula Slender SandwortOenothera perennis Small SundropsOrobanche ludoviciana BroomrapePhaeophyscia leana Lea’s Bog LichenPlanera aquatica Water ElmPlatanthera flava var. herbiola Tubercled OrchidPotamogeton gramineus Grass-leaved PondweedQuercus montana  Rock Chestnut OakQuercus phellos Willow OakRanunculus rhomboideus Prairie ButtercupRhynchospora alba Beaked RushRubus pubescens Dwarf RaspberryRubus schneideri Bristly BlackberryRudbeckia missouriensis Missouri Orange ConeflowerSalvia azurea subsp. pitcheri Blue SageSchoenoplectus hallii Hall’s BulrushScirpus polyphyllus BulrushSedum telephioides American OrpineSisyrinchium atlanticum Eastern Blue-eyed GrassSolidago sciaphila Cliff GoldenrodStyrax americana StoraxSullivantia sullivantii SullivantiaTalinum parviflorum Small Flower-of-an-hourTofieldia glutinosa False AsphodelTomanthera auriculata Ear-leafed Foxglove15 16PLANTSThreatened (continuedTradescantia bracteata Prairie SpiderwortTrifolium reflexum Buffalo CloverTriglochin maritima Common Bog ArrowgrassTriglochin palustris Slender Bog ArrowgrassUrtica chamaedryoides NettleUtricularia intermedia Flat-leaved BladderwortVeronica scutellata Marsh SpeedwellViburnum molle ArrowwoodViola conspersa Dog Violet   Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board

Gearing Up For A Great Turkey Season

Gearing Up For A Great Turkey Season
Great turkey hunts don’t just happen. They require some planning and preparation.
By Tim Lilley

His gobble about scared me to death! I sure wasn’t expecting to hear a turkey already very close to the spot I intended to set up — especially after spooking three deer on the way in that headed precisely in his direction just a few minutes earlier.

 

But he was there.

After relocating, I let things settle down for about 30 minutes before offering some plaintive yelps that immediately elicited a gobble. For another 40-or-so minutes, I’d yelp and he’d gobble — but neither one of us appeared to be moving. Rather than being patient, I tried to move again — to see if I could get a look at him — and he shut up. Frustrated at my own lack of patience, I slipped quietly out of the woods and headed home.

Listening to a calling tape on the way home, the host mentioned that he found turkeys to be creatures of habit. “If you see them at a given spot one morning, they’ll be somewhere close by the next morning about the same time.” That sentence hatched my plan for the next day. Instead of getting up a 3 a.m. to make an hour-long drive and be in the woods before sunrise, I decided to be in that same spot at the same time — about 8:30 a.m.

I slept in, arrived in plenty of time.

The previous morning, he’d answered my call around 9 a.m. It was 8:30 as I walked up to the tree I intended to sit against and heard him gobble before I’d even made a sound.

He was on the ground at 8:45.

Luck undoubtedly played a role, but so did preparation. That’s what this story is all about. You can have the best spring turkey season ever by preparing to have the best spring turkey season ever.

From here, three elements are more important than any others in preparing to have a great gobbler season — scouting, shooting and sitting. That might sound strange, but what follows will help you understand the importance of each.

SCOUTING

No hunter can downplay the importance of scouting. Many hunters consider it a rite of spring to “put gobblers to bed” by spending time in the woods near sunset, looking and listening for turkeys to learn where they’re going to spend the night. Carry a pair of compact binoculars, and try to find some spots that will enable you to glass fairly large chunks of land in search of turkeys.

You don’t need to — and shouldn’t — get close to turkeys when you’re scouting. Good binoculars will help you to locate birds and pattern their movements from a distance. You won’t be disturbing them or the habitat they’re using.

Another form of scouting involves predawn trips to the edges of the turkey woods with locator calls. Crow calls and owl hooters often will elicit shock gobbles from toms that are still on the roost. Once again, the concept with this kind of scouting is not to get on top of the birds, but rather to gain a general idea of the areas they’re using before the season opens.

 

 

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