Bass are America’s favorite sportfish and also the most accessible. Whether they’re the largemouth, spotted or smallmouth variety, bass…
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Spring is finally here, which means sunshine and warmer temperatures aren’t far behind. But before you hit the trail for your first hike,…
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Most turkey hunters will openly admit that every male turkey they encounter in spring is different. Just as no two hunts are the same, no two…
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Spring may be just around the corner, but many parts of the country are only now starting to thaw out from a long, cold winter. If you’re…
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Wild turkeys can be alternately the easiest and most available game animals to hunt and also the most elusive and diabolically maddening. They live…
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Catching bass is never an easy proposition. As winter gradually morphs into early spring, however, it becomes less of a challenge. Dynamic changes…
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Last year’s turkey season treated me very well, with four longbeards falling to my arrows in three different states. A bit of luck certainly…
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Hunters who consistently kill turkeys on public land each year have adapted their own set of tactics through trial and error. After five years of…
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Canoe camping transforms a regular old camping trip into a more adventurous excursion, but it's pivotal to take the steps to properly prepare. You…
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Taking your family on an antler hike puts a new twist on spring day hikes and sharpens everyone’s abilities to observe what’s around them…
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Time was that hunters went after gobblers with No. 2 lead shot and whatever shotgun they owned. And for those just getting in to turkey hunting,…
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Now that spring is in the air and warmer temperatures are nearly upon us, it’s time to start thinking about that first camping excursion of the…
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ATVs—shorthand for “all terrain vehicles”—are one way to explore areas of land that you might not otherwise be able to…
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Working out at the gym can get mundane for outdoor enthusiasts, so many decide to pursue invigorating hikes in nature. From rock formations to scenic…
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There once was a time when carrying electronic devices with us into the great outdoors was pretty much unthinkable. Fragile and expensive, such…
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Learning how to properly pack a backpack is a true art form that every outdoor enthusiast should master. Whether you’re heading into the…
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One of the hottest trends in hiking and backpacking over the past few years has been the shift toward going ultralight on the trail. Typically, this…
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Sprawling across thousands of acres with twinkling lakes and lush vegetation, Fox Ridge State Park is the ideal escape. Whether you’re looking…
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Scenic hikes are relaxing, inspiring, and invigorating for both new and experienced hikers. There are hundreds of hiking trails throughout Illinois…
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It’s nice to have company along when you’re heading out for a day or two of fishing, and is there any better companionship than your dog?…
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ATVs are off-road vehicles, designed to allow access to trails and other hard-to-reach areas. The earliest designs from the 1970s were three-wheeled.…
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Illinois’ diverse natural landscapes and abundant state parks have led to the many great hiking trails around the state. With thousands of…
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Treestands are one of the most popular and effective methods of deer hunting throughout the eastern half of our country. Being perched high in a tree…
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Have you ever watched a professional archer shoot a brilliant set of arrows, and wondered how they did it? We asked five top archers how they started…
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Nothing beats running on a nature trail through wilderness. Illinois offers hundreds of running trails, all of which boast scenic views around every…
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There are so many perfect spots for adventures with your pup in the great state of Illinois. The state has an abundance of dog-friendly trails and…
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Here’s the picture: you’re sitting around a campfire, roasting weenies and telling ghost stories as the night closes in around you.…
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It’s sweltering out, and the air conditioning is beckoning, but you’re longing to get away on just one more camping trip of the summer.…
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There are a lot of fishing opportunities out there that may seem exotic or hard to come by at first. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll…
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There is nothing quite like a spring or summer camping trip to help us reconnect with nature and recharge our batteries. The warmer weather is a…
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The best time to go fishing is whenever you can. While that old maxim has merit and speaks to the value of fishing just for the fun of it, there are…
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Choosing a list of top 10 favorite deer hunting cartridges is no easy task, particularly since there are so many suitable cartridges that could make…
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Fishing with the family is always funs, but not everybody who lives under your roof may like to fish 24/7. And if you have teens, they might…
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When it comes to fishing with kids, conventional wisdom says to find a place where they can catch any fish with a high level of frequency and…
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It’s hot, it’s humid and the dog days of summer are living up to their billing. But bass don’t stop biting just because the heat…
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Illinois is home to hundreds of bird species thanks to the diverse habitats throughout the state. The preservation of these wetlands, prairies,…
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Hunting knives come in a mind-boggling array of shapes and sizes. New hunters often think a 10-inch Bowie-style survival knife is all they need to…
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Mountains have them, municipalities have them, so why shouldn’t waterways have them as well? I’m talking about trails that keep you on a…
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The end of the trail is near, at least for today. As you walk into your campsite and remove your pack from your back, the breeze feels good after a…
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For most of us, fishing conjures up images of a lazy day on the water, occasionally reeling in some finned beauties which are then proudly displayed…
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The names of some bass fisheries resonate with anglers on a national scale: Okeechobee, Kentucky Lake, Guntersville, Havasu, Clear Lake, Lake Fork,…
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Fuel prices are a lot like the weather: Lots of folks talk about them, but there’s not much you can do about them. The price at the pump…
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If you’ve been on a vacation to an outdoor destination in the past few years, you’ve likely noticed a new phenomenon: cycle paths, single…
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Do you know these 10 essential camping skills? Learn them and they are bound to improve all your…
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There is a misconception that fly-fishing has taken over trout fishing and that if you’re not toting a whippy seven-foot rod and looking to…
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Years ago, our Scout troop headed out on a weekend backpacking trip. And while the troop leaders warned the boys (and their parents) not to wear…
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There is no better time to hit the trail than late summer/early fall. Trails really open up once the kids head back to school, leaving trails…
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What if I told you about a hunting opportunity that’s happening right now, which offers abundant access to productive land, requires a minimum…
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There was a time when camp food for a weekend overnight revolved around hot dogs, canned goods, and tasteless dehydrated dinners. Fortunately, those…
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Picture this camping scene: you wake up from a night sleeping peacefully under the stars and reach for a cup of joe, but instead of cowboy coffee,…
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