"War is a series of catastrophes which result in victory."Albert Pike
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Camping With Man's Best Friend
Man's Best Friend Man's best friend your dog , and you, can go camping and have lots of fun. Look at it as a walk that doesn't end, during which he gets to spend all his time with you. For us campers, it can give us another means of security and another ...
I Hope it Rains in Heaven
I've been hunting for as long as I can remember. The first hunt I ever went on with my dad, he had to change my diapers. My first real hunting memory is sitting on a tree stand and snuggling under my dad's coat. To this day, I can still smell the musky ...
Women and Fishing -- Not Just a Man's Sport
More and more women are learning to enjoy fishing each and every day. And, why not? Fishing is a sport that doesn't require exceptional strength, stamina or height - quite the contrary, fishing is a sport of agility, finesse and patience, skills many ...
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Utilizing the Tools We Are Given
By: Mike Clifford
HeartlandOutdoorsman.Com
(Reproduce with hotlink intact)
The most comprehensive books ever assembled for understanding the ecology of Illinois' Natural Resources are available to each and every one of us by sending one simple email! The Dept. of Natural Resources provides these through a project called the Critical Trends Assessment Program, with the manuals serving as inventories of the resources encompassing many regions and watersheds throughout the state.
A list of the areas covered is listed below. You should find your favorite fishing hole covered, without a doubt.
Most of the following watershed assessments consist of a four-volume report covering the area's geology, water resources, living resources, socio-economic profile, and environmental quality. Most include a color summary report, and several also provide a historical account of the area's ecology:
Big Muddy River
Cache River
Calumet Area
Chicago River/Lake Shore (11 mb acrobat)
Driftless Area
DuPage River
Embarras River
Fox River
Headwaters
Illinois Big Rivers
Illinois River Bluffs
Kankakee River
Kaskaskia River
Kinkaid Area
Kishwaukee River
LaMoine River
Lower Des Plaines
Lower Rock River
Lower Sangamon River
Mackinaw River
Prairie Parklands
Sinkhole Plain
Spoon River
Sugar-Pecatonica Rivers
Thorn Creek
Upper Des Plaines River
Upper Rock River
Upper Sangamon River
Vermilion (Wabash River basin)
Vermilion River (Illinois River Basin)
One of the most fascinating aspects of these manuals is that they allow us to compare the forage of various watersheds, and recognize the stark differences from one region to the next. By utilizing the internet, we are able to apply this knowledge to our fishing experiences by simply comparing images of various types of forage and using baits that match this natural prey accordingly.
For instance, the predominant type of crayfish in one watershed is not necessarily the same as another, due to differences in bottom contents of the stream, for example a hard substrate versus a soft one.
I have illustrated some of these differences and comparisons on the HeartlandOutdoorsman.Com website in a topic named "Know Your Forage"- .take a look, and you'll see more clearly how this works.
What I found most interesting about some of these manuals is the historical accounts of the
various rivers and streams. Diaries of early explorers are portrayed in detail, and we realize just how difficult it was for our forefathers to live during that time period, knowing that if they were not stewards of the land around them they would have a very tough time of it in the long run.
As for statistics and charts, there are more then you could ever ask for if you were to prepare a paper or make comparisons for the purpose of a conservation project. Surely some of the best case studies to be found anywhere.
For those interested in the geological composition of our state, the descriptions and technical explanations will more than likely satisfy your interest quite capably as well.
Shaded Relief and Land Cover maps round out a comprehensive set that any serious angler should not be without.
I sent a request for just a couple of watersheds initially, and quickly realized I needed to have all of them- so save yourself some time by just sending one Email and request all of them at once. Remember, they are paid for with Conservation 2000 money, so they are yours to enjoy, free of charge!
Conservation 2000 is the culmination of recommendations from CTAP, the Illinois Conservation Congress, and Former Governor Edgar's Water Resources and Land Use Priorities Task Force.
The CTAP recommendations came out of its 1994 report on the state of the Illinois environment.
CTAP investigators inventoried and analyzed existing environmental, ecological, and economic data to establish baseline conditions from which future changes in ecological conditions might be measured.
Good luck, and be sure to let us know on the website when you get these, how you are utilizing them and how you like them.
I'm willing to bet that you'll be wondering why you hadn't ordered them sooner!
The CTAP manuals described here can be ordered by following the URL listed below:
http://dnr.state.il.us/orep/c2000/assessments/
OR, by sending an Email to the following address:
clearing@dnrmail.state.il.us
Until next time, I'll leave you with this:
"No one person has to do it all but if each one of us follow our heart and our own inclinations we will find the small things that we can do to create a sustainable future and a healthy environment". - John Denver
About the Author
Mike is a passionate outdoorsman/photographer with one of the most comprehensive websites in America-
HeartlandOutdoorsman.Com
FREE Spring Photo Contest!
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Outdoor Illinois magazine to publish final issueThe State Journal-RegisterBy CHRIS YOUNG The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will discontinue publication of its Outdoor Illinois magazine after the March issue. Outdoor Illinois, a full-color, slick-paper monthly magazine with a circulation of more than 26000, ...and more » |
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Outdoors: Castle Rock is worthy of its nameMerced Sun-StarBy Adam Blauert A place with a name like Castle Rock State Park inspires the imagination. Names aren't always a guarantee, but Castle Rock certainly lives up to its evocative title. The "Rock" is a fortresslike sandstone landmark at the top of the ... |
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California Outdoors for the week of 2/8/2012Plumas County NewspapersQuestion: I have been searching for any regulations specifically regarding slingshots but have found no clear reference to them within the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) hunting regulations. As written, slingshots are not a legal method of take for ...and more » |
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Virginia gathers input for Outdoors PlanTasley Eastern Shore News16 in Accomac to gather regional input for the 2013 Virginia Outdoors Plan. Meetings will be at 3 and 7 pm at the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission, 23372 Front St., Accomac. Residents are invited to share their thoughts on the area's ...and more » |
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