Outdoor News Daily

The application period is now open for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s cooperative Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program, the agency announced today. The program enhances opportunities for pheasant hunting in New York state through a partnership between DEC and the sporting community, 4-H youths and landowners interested in rearing and releasing pheasants.

The Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program began in the early 1900s. In the early days of the program, pheasant eggs and chicks were distributed to farmers and rural youths via 4-H clubs. Today, day-old chicks are available at no cost to participants who are able to provide a brooding facility and covered outdoor rearing pen, and have identified an adequate release site. Approved applicants will receive the day-old chicks in April, May or June. No chicks obtained through the Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program are permitted to be released on private shooting preserves. All release sites must be approved in advance by DEC and must be open to the public for pheasant hunting. The program is funded through the State Conservation Fund from license fees paid by hunters, trappers and anglers.
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The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced additional controlled pheasant hunting season extensions at Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area in Clinton County and Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area in Franklin and Jefferson Counties.

Four days – Wednesday, January 18, 2012 through Saturday, January 21, 2012 – have been added at Eldon Hazlet, and five days – Wednesday, January 18, 2012 through Sunday, January 22, 2012 have been added at Wayne Fitzgerrell. These season extensions are possible because the IDNR Wildlife Propagation Centers had a better than expected pheasant production season in 2011.

Hunters are encouraged to use the online Controlled Pheasant Hunting Reservation System at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov to secure permits for these additional hunting opportunities. Reserved permits ensure hunters will have the opportunity to hunt. Standby permits are also available at each site, although standby hunting opportunities may be limited.
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The Jordan Valley Sage-Grouse Local Implementation Team will meet on Tuesday Jan. 24 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Jordan Valley Lions Club Hall, Highway 95 North, Jordan Valley. Plans are to review Core Area and Conservation Opportunity Area maps that illustrate newly mapped action areas which share common threats to sage-grouse and focus efforts for future habitat management actions and/or mitigation needs. The Jan. 24 meeting is a follow up to the Vale Local Implementation Team Nov. 18 meeting, which due to adverse weather conditions was lightly attended.

There are five Sage-Grouse Conservation Strategy Implementation teams, one for each Bureau of Land Management District within the current distribution of sage-grouse in Oregon as well as one in the Baker Resource Area in the Vale district. Public meetings are held in each of the Implementation Team areas periodically. The Lakeview and Vale meetings were held on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18, respectively. The Hines, Prineville, and Baker meetings were held on Dec. 6, Dec. 8, and Dec. 13, respectively.
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The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced that the controlled pheasant hunting seasons have been extended at Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area in Clinton County and Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area in Franklin and Jefferson counties.

Five days – Wednesday, January 11, 2012 through Sunday, January 15, 2012 – have been added at both Eldon Hazlet and Wayne Fitzgerrell. These season extensions are possible because the IDNR Wildlife Propagation Centers have had a better than expected pheasant production season in 2011.

Hunters are encouraged to use the online Controlled Pheasant Hunting Reservation System at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov to secure permits for these additional hunting opportunities. Reserved permits ensure hunters will have the opportunity to hunt. Standby permits are also available at each site, although standby hunting opportunities may be limited.
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