New Athens trio strikes again on Kaskaskia

The team of Jason Foster, Brendan Litteken and Bill Dawson is proving hard to beat during bowfishing tournaments on the Kaskaskia River.

The New Athens trio won its second bowfishing tournament in the past two months, pocketing $230 and the title Saturday at the Southern Illinois Outdoors (www.siloutdoors.com) Bowfishing Tournament. The winning stringer weighed in at an estimated 40 pounds.

In June, the trio won the Kaskaskia River Bowfishing Championship.

Bob Rutkowski, who runs the Southern Illinois Outdoors Web site, said 15 boats and 35 shooters participated in the event. The group shot just over 330 pounds of trash fish, about 100 fish total.

Foster won Big Fish honors, which paid $165, for shooting an 18.5-pound bighead carp.

The tournament was a big 10 format, meaning the 10 biggest "rough" fish could be weighed. In Illinois, only nonsport fish can be legally taken by bowfishing. That means no bass, bluegill, crappie or catfish, just all species of carp, buffalo, gar and sucker and bowfin.

Changes in youth hunt at Kaskaskia River SFWA

The special Illinois Department of Natural Resources youth deer hunt on the Baldwin Lake rest area at Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area during the youth deer hunting season (Oct. 10-11) is being tweaked.

Brian Mahan, IDNR district wildlife biologist, said spots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. In the past, youth deer hunters had to mail a postcard to be entered in a drawing for one of the 26 hunting locations.

The special hunt area is between Baldwin Lake and the Doza Creek Waterfowl Management Area. The main gate at Baldwin Lake is open until 9 p.m. on Oct. 9 for the youth hunter and his/her accompanying adult to come select a deer hunting location and erect a deer stand. The youth hunter and the adult are to wear blaze orange while doing this task.

"Sunset is around 6:30 p.m., so there are a couple of hours to pick a spot for the next day's hunt," Mahan said. "Plus, participants will be able to come the next morning or any time during the special hunt to select a location and hunt if there are any empty spots."

As usual, hunting must be from an elevated stand at least 6 feet high and within 10 yards of the selected signed and numbered hunting location. Additional rules about the hunt and maps of the special hunt area and hunting locations will be available at the check station next to the Baldwin Lake office.

Mahan said the special hunt area straddles two counties, so the youth must have either a St. Clair County or Randolph County youth deer season hunting permit. He or she can only hunt in that particular county.

According to statewide regulations, each youth deer hunting season permit holder must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or responsible adult who possesses a valid FOID. Card. The adult is not allowed to hunt.

Mahan reminded those interested in the youth deer hunting season that the rest of Kaskaskia River SFWA and Turkey Bluffs SFWA south of Chester also are open.

Call Mahan at 295-2877 for more information.

Dove hunt for sportsmen with disabilities

Hunters can call to sign up for a dove hunt designed to assist sportsmen with disabilities at Carlyle Lake on Sept. 1-2 from noon until sunset.

Handicapped accessible blinds are nestled among sunflowers, proso millet and wheat in the Stein's Field Access. The field will open to the general public starting on Sept. 3 from noon to sunset.

The seven handicapped accessible dove blinds are available by reservation only and are limited to permanently non-ambulatory or semi-ambulatory hunters. An assistant -- who will be allowed to hunt -- must accompany each disabled hunter. Hunters are also encouraged to bring a dog to retrieve harvested birds.

Each hunter must possess a valid 2009 Illinois Hunting License, a State Habitat Stamp, and a Firearms Owners Identification Card (FOID). Out-of-state hunters are not required to have an Illinois FOID card. Harvest Information Program (HIP) numbers can be obtained by calling 1-800-WETLAND. Refer to the back of your hunting license for more information regarding your HIP number.

Each hunter may request a specific day to hunt or both days. A lottery will be used to determine hunting days and blind allocations. Reservations will be accepted by phone or in writing. The reservation deadline is Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. Successful hunters will be contacted by phone.

For more information, contact the Carlyle Lake Project Office by phone at 594-2484. Request in writing at: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Carlyle Lake Project Office, 801 Lake Road, Carlyle, IL 62231.

Smitty's catfish tournament

Smitty's at the Marina in New Athens will be hosting its annual all-night catfish tournament Friday. Take off is between 7 and 9 p.m., with weigh-in at 8 a.m. Saturday.

One-, two- or three-person teams can participate. The $40 entry fee includes a breakfast buffet at the weigh-in. Call 475-2223 for more information.