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Outdoors notes

Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:18 PM CDT

Apprentice Hunter License Program expanded

SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed legislation expanding eligibility in Illinois' Apprentice Hunter License Program to out-of-state hunters. The Illinois Apprentice Hunter License Program grants limited hunting privileges to residents - and now non-residents - interested in trying hunting before buying a regular Illinois hunting license.

"The Apprentice Hunter Program allows people who may not otherwise get a chance to hunt to participate in a safe and fun way with an experienced, licensed hunter," Blagojevich said. "Now, people of all ages from out of state can enjoy what Illinois has to offer."

This program allows youths, ages 10 to 17, to hunt when supervised by a parent, guardian or grandparent, who is a licensed hunter in Illinois, before purchasing a hunting license. The program has a $7 fee, which is paid to the Wildlife and Fish Fund, which supports the activities of the Department of Natural Resources.

Individuals are allowed only one apprentice license per lifetime. The license is only valid for the license year that it is purchased. Illinois joins Kansas, Ohio and Tennessee, which currently have similar programs. There were 1,660 apprentice licenses issued last year and 232 have been issued so far this year.

For details on how to obtain an Illinois Apprentice Hunter License, visit the IDNR Web site at www.dnr.state.il.us.

IDNR fisheries give help to Iowa

TOPEKA - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has joined the effort to assist Iowa fisheries personnel in recovering from damage to that state's fish hatcheries caused by record-setting flooding in June.

The Illinois DNR Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery has provided 7,000 seven-inch trout to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to help replace trout lost when flooding damaged two Iowa trout hatcheries.

"We are pleased to help our colleagues in Iowa - and the anglers who will ultimately benefit," said Steve Krueger, manager of the Illinois DNR Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery.

Staff from the Iowa DNR picked up the fish last week. The seven-inch Illinois trout being raised at the Jake Wolf hatchery were extra trout that were part of those that will be stocked this fall as 10-inch fish in Devil's Kitchen Lake in Southern Illinois .

Iowa DNR staff reported that flooding damaged two of that state's hatcheries where tens of thousands of trout are produced for stocking. In addition to the donation of 7,000 trout from Illinois, Iowa officials report they are receiving assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and fisheries personnel in other neighboring states following the flood damage.

The Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery is the largest of three fish hatcheries operated by the Illinois DNR. It produces millions of fish in 16 different species each year.

Steger, Yahn win Brenner tournament

Malvin Steger and Marion Yahn took home the $5,000 first-place prize money in the Rodney J. Brenner Memorial Buddy Tournament at the Smithland Pool on July 13.

The duo weighed in a five-fish limit of 12.49 pounds, more than a half-pound better than the second-place team of Rusty Rosenthal and Glenn Dalton. Tim Threlkeld and Roy Arnold placed third with 11.16 pounds.

Big bass honors, 4.84 pounds, went to Charley Glidewell and Lonnie Sadler.