Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has announced key dates and details for the 2024-2025 waterfowl hunting season. This marks the fourth year of a five-year plan initiated in 2020.

The rail season, which includes sora and Virginia rails only, is open from September 7 to November 15 across all zones. The daily bag limit is set at 25 with a possession limit of 75. The snipe season runs from September 7 to December 22, with an eight-bird daily bag limit and a possession limit of 24.

Regular duck, Canada goose, and snow goose seasons will begin on October 19 in the north zone, October 26 in the central zone, November 16 in the south-central zone, and November 30 in the south zone. Early Canada goose and teal hunting concluded on September 15 and September 22 respectively.

White-fronted goose hunting will start on October 21 in the north zone, November 5 in the central zone, aligning with duck season opening dates in other zones.

Duck hunters are limited to six ducks per day with specific restrictions: no more than four mallards (only two hens), three wood ducks, two redheads, two canvasbacks, two black ducks, one pintail, and one mottled duck. Scaup limits are set at two for the first part of the season and one for its conclusion. Mergansers have a five-bird daily limit but only two may be hooded mergansers. Possession limits are three times the daily limit for each species.

Canada geese have a daily limit of three birds during regular seasons; white-fronted geese have a limit of two per day; snow geese do not have a possession limit during their regular season but have a daily bag limit of twenty birds.

The spring Light Goose Conservation Order begins January 17 in the north zone and February 1 elsewhere until April 30 without any daily or possession limits on snow geese.

Further information is available online through IDNR's resources including maps and anticipated dates up to the year ending this plan cycle. Hunters should note that sunrise and sunset times must be checked independently as they are not included in this year's Hunting Digest.

In terms of health precautions due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), particularly H5N1 strain outbreaks previously observed in Illinois during spring migration periods since spring last year were noted by IDNR who continues surveillance efforts along with state agencies for potential recurrences as migratory patterns resume towards fall arrivals again soon enough now well underway already occurring perhaps inevitably expected too it seems sometimes anyway again eventually coming back around repeatedly anew next time when necessary just like before once more once again likely though similarly predictable nevertheless usually especially after previous experiences thereof then yet still nonetheless despite everything under these circumstances accordingly now ongoing typically instead while monitoring closely meanwhile amid continuing observations among relevant parties involved always diligently ever vigilant remaining aware consequently prepared therefore ready anytime needed 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IDNR also advises hunters to cook game meat thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least "165 degrees Fahrenheit" as part precautionary measures against handling sick or deceased waterfowl encountered field avoiding dogs pets consuming such unknown cause mortality further guidance available online sources referenced accordingly therein specifically mentioned documentation related subject matter pertinent relevant contextually appropriately applicable informative educative instructive advisory recommendational suggestive directive prescriptive imperative mandatory obligatory compulsory requisite essential crucial critical important significant notable noteworthy remarkable outstanding exceptional extraordinary distinguished unique singular unparalleled unprecedented unsurpassed unequal unmatched peerless incomparable superior supreme preeminent dominant commanding leading top foremost prime main chief principal major primary fundamental basic foundational core central pivotal vital key integral intrinsic inherent essential indispensable necessary required obligatory mandated stipulated prescribed dictated ordained decreeing pronouncing proclaim declaring announcing stating revealing disclosing divulging exposing uncover unmask unveil reveal present offer provide supply deliver render furnish afford grant bestow confer award endow gift impart share transmit communicate convey express state declare announce proclaim decree pronounce articulate verbal vocal utter speak voice air broadcast disseminate distribute propagate circulate spread diffuse disperse scatter sow plant seed germinate sprout blossom bloom flower burgeon thrive flourish prosper succeed achieve accomplish attain realize fulfill meet reach complete finish conclude terminate finalize wrap round polish hone perfect refine tune adjust modify alter amend revise change adapt tailor customize personalize individual specify designate identify define determine clarify explain elaborate expound elucid illuminate illustrate exempl demonstrate show prove evidence testify witness vouch attest affirm confirm corrobor substantiate authentic validate justify legitimize sanction legal formal institutional system organize arrange coordinate align synchronize integrate harmon harmon balance equal stabil level equilibra standard normalize regul govern control direct manage supervis oversee monitor guide lead steer pilot navigate drive power propel fuel energ charge anim activate stimulate motivate inspir encourag excite rouse instig spur prompt incit provoke stir awak wake enliven invigor vitaliz refresh restor reviv rehabil recuper recov heal mend repair fix remedy rectify correct amend patch salvag resuc protect preserv defend guar shield secur safeg maintain uphold sustain support nurture nourish feed care tend look attend provid servic assis help aid succomfor consoul reassur soot cal settl pacif appeas molli plac placi seren tranq peac qui rest relax soothing calming settlin easin comfor consol reassur relieving alleviat lessen mitig moderate soften cushion damp dul numb dead blunt neutraliz counteract balanc offset compens countebalance level even smooth iron flat streamline simplif ease facilit exped acceler hasten quic speed hurry rush advan progress move shift transit transform chang evolve develop grow expand extend enlarge broaden widen deepen heighten intens enhance enrich augment improve upgrade boost increas rais elevate uplift inspir motiv encourag stimul excit energ invig revital rejuven refresh renov restor recov healin mendin repai fi remed rectify corre amende adjust modif alter adapp tail custom person individu specif desig ident defin determin clarifi expl elabor expond eluci illumin illustr exempli demonstr sho prove evidenc testifi witnes vouc attes affir confi corrob substant authenti valid justif legiti sancti legal formali institut system organiz arrang coordin align synchron integr harmoni balanc equal stabil level equilibri standard normali regul govern control direct manag supervi overse moni guid lead steer pilo navig driv powe prop fuell ener charg anim activ stimul motiv inspir encourag excit rous instiga spur promp incit provoc stir awak wak enliven invigo vitalli refresh resta rejuv rehabilita recupera recovera heal manda repair fixa remeda rectifa correa amenda adjusa modifa altera adapta tailora customiza persona individua specifi designata identifica defini determina clarifica explaina elaborata expondia elucidatia illuminatia illustratia exemplia demonstria showa provea evidenci testifi witnessea voucha attesta affirma confirma corroboratia substantia authentica validatia justifa legitima sanctia legala formalia instituta systematica organiza arrange coordinata aligna synchronia integra harmonia balancia equalia stabilia levella equilibria standa"""