STAFF: James L. Fulgenzi, office director; Gary Thomas, editor; Liz Pensoneau, managing editor; John Alien, staff writer; P.J. Perea, staff writer; Adele Hodde, chief photographer; Chas. J. Dees, staff photographer; Charles J. Copley, design & layout; Cheryl Gwinn, production coordinator; Vera Lynn Smith, circulation.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Internet Address: http://dnr.state.il.us

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Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois PRT3216173-28,395-7/01 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with soy-based ink.

Illinois Department of
Natural Resources

What'sInside

2 To Catch a Fish
Thousands of anglers head to the Kankakee River each June in search of a few special fish.

5 Yesterday's Catch
Guest writer Joe McFarland has figured out how to be a successful angler.

6 Camping 101
Our primer on camping in Illinois: where to go, what to bring, what it costs and simple rules to make your stay more enjoyable.

10 The Grand Illinois Trail
See the state from a different vantage point.

14 Prairie State Gobblers
The wild turkey's return is a spectacular success story, thanks in part to the NWTF.

18 Search and Scents
Chief Wakolbinger answers readers' questions.

20 NewsFront
Governor Ryan's dedication of the Cullerton Complex, urban fishing clinics, waterfowl habitat projects, the Family Fishing Fair, the youth deer hunt, the Conservation Foundation's golf benefit and waterfowl blind drawings are among the stories found in this month's NewsFront.

On the cover...
Running along Chicago's magnificent skyline, the Grand Illinois Trail gets a lot of use. DNR photographer Adele Hodde took this photo of early morning trail users in May of this year.

June 2000

Illinois
Department of

http://dnr.state.il.us

Natural Resources

524 South Second Street, Springfield, Illinois 62707-1787 George H. Ryan, Governor • Brent Manning, Director

May 15,2000
The Hon. Dennis Hastert
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Speaker:
It was a great moment for conservation in America when HR 701—the Conservation and Reinvestment Act—passed the U.S. House of Representatives on May 11th. On behalf of conservationists throughout Illinois, I want to express appreciation for your role in making this victory possible. Despite heavy pressure from CARA opponents to keep the bill bottled up, you made sure that the legislative process would move forward unimpeded and that the pros and cons of the bill would be debated on the House floor in our country's time-honored tradition. For agreeing to call HR 701 to a vote, we extend sincere thanks.
This landmark Act would direct millions of dollars annually to conservation programs in Illinois and across the nation. Governor Ryan, in concert with other members of the National Governors' Association, has been a leading proponent for CARA. It is supported by the governors of the other 49 states, thousands of grassroots organizations and individual citizens, and nearly all the Illinois Congressional Delegation.
CARA promises stability in conservation funding year after year. It will allocate our state approximately $56 million annually, including $13 million for Lake Michigan shoreline protection and restoration, $16 million for parks and recreation, $8 million for urban parks and $2 million for historic preservation. More than $13 million is earmarked for nongame wildlife management and conservation education. These are the goals of the original Teaming with Wildlife initiative, which attracted widespread support and gave rise to CARA.
Brent Manning