Illinois Mixed Bag: Pekin High School wins Bob Kerans Muskie Tournament – Outdoor News
Pekin, Ill. — Pekin High School Teams 1 and 2 won the 12th annual Illinois Bob Kerans Scholastic Muskie Tournament held on Johnson Lake in Banner Marsh on May 31.
Wyatt Weidner and Chris Gilbert from Pekin High School Team 1 took first and big fish when Wyatt caught a 38.5-inch muskie trolling at 10:35 a.m.
Team 2 from Pekin High School with Teigan McCoy and Zayne Young was in the right place and time when Teigan caught a 35-inch muskie casting at 1:15p.m..
Other schools in attendance were Belleville West, Home School Gaddy, Guilford , Macomb, Murphysboro, Timothy Christian, Trico, and Wauconda.
MORE COVERAGE FROM ILLINOIS OUTDOOR NEWS:
Right on schedule, black bear wanders in – then out of Illinois
Illinois DNR ‘open to the conversation’ of having some state sites converted to national parks
Illinois turkey hunter joins elite company in accomplishing Super Slam
Free Fishing Days Set for June 13-16
Springfield — DNR announced that the state’s free fishing days will be June 13-16. During these four days, everyone can fish in Illinois lakes and waterways without a license, salmon stamp or inland trout stamp.
Illinois DNR encourages residents to buy a fishing license, invest in conservation.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce the young people in your life to the joy of fishing and spending time on the water,” the DNR said in a post on Facebook.
Illinois fishing licenses cost $15 a year, and the fees help support DNR’s Division of Fisheries through activities like fish production, fish stocking, and habitat restoration.
The number of fishing licenses sold, combined with land size also contributes to the amount of funding a state receives by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
For more information about fishing in Illinois, visit the DNR’s website.
Pheasant Habitat Grant Applications Open
Springfield — DNR is accepting applications for the State Pheasant Fund Special Funds and the Illinois Habitat Fund Special Funds Grant programs July 1 through Aug. 1.
The pheasant habitat and wildlife habitat programs enhance the natural environment for pheasant and wildlife through projects developed by not-for-profit organizations and governmental entities for conservation. Funding for the State Pheasant Fund Special Funds and the Illinois Habitat Fund Special Wildlife Funds grants comes from the sale of habitat stamps to sportsmen and sportswomen.
Applicants must register and be current in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act portal.
Applications must be submitted online. For additional information, email [email protected].
Missouri Proposes Hiking Deer, Turkey Permit Fees
Jefferson City, Mo. — Citing inflation, the Missouri Department of Conservation is proposing price adjustments for some permits next year. The MDC said the proposed increases to some nonresident, resident and commercial permit prices for 2026 are “to keep pace with continually rising costs of goods and services.”
MDC said the changes include significant increases to nonresident deer and turkey hunting permits, as well as a new nonresident migratory bird permit at a proposed $60 price and a new nonresident trout permit at a proposed price of $40.
Several of the price increases the department said would “bring MDC nonresident-permit prices more aligned with surrounding states.” MDC, which issues nearly 2.6 million hunting, fishing and trapping permits each year, said it surveyed both resident and nonresident hunters.
“Across deer, turkey, and waterfowl, one potential change supported by residents is adjusting permit prices to be more in alignment with surrounding states,” said MDC Director Jason Sumners.
Brandon Road Project Gets Key Piece of Land
Joliet, Ill. — The State of Illinois closed on the acquisition of a nearly 50-acre parcel of property in Will County needed for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, a federal project designed to prevent invasive carp from accessing the Great Lakes.
The property, which includes riverbed access for the Brandon Road lock, was donated to the state by Midwest Generation LLC.
In February, in response to the Trump Administration illegally withholding taxpayer dollars from Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker requested additional assurances from the federal government to uphold their financial commitments for the project. On May 9, Pritzker said he secured the needed commitments from the federal government to proceed with the real estate closing.
Nature Festival June 14 at William Powers
Chicago — Families are invited to enjoy free fishing, archery, kayaking, guided hikes and wildlife demonstrations at the Everyone Belongs Nature Festival on June 14 at William W. Powers State Recreation Area in Chicago. The festival, hosted by DNR, will take place between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the park, located at 12949 S. Ave. O. The first 300 visitors will receive a free flying disc.
One of the day’s highlights is a youth fishing derby, made possible by the Hegewisch Veterans Memorial and DNR’s urban fishing program, which offers free equipment, bait, and hands-on instruction to young participants.
“The Everyone Belongs Nature Festival is a vibrant gathering that celebrates the connection between people and nature, particularly in communities that have long faced access barriers to outdoor activities,” said DNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “Held during Illinois’ free fishing weekend, it’s also an opportunity for families to explore angling without the need for a fishing license or prior experience.”
