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Hunting and fishing opportunities on base

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joshua Eikren
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The Illinois hunting season began Tuesday at Scott Air Force Base for hunters who obtained base permits, and Outdoor Recreation offers a fishing program at Scott Lake.

Every year on Aug. 1, the base sells 100 hunting permits for members interested in bow hunting on base.

"The intended purpose of hunting on base is to keep the deer population down so they don't come out onto the flightline and ramps," said Ralph Texter, acting base game warden. "Letting people hunt at Scott is part of a program similar to the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program."

Scott hunters have access to the wooded area from Scott Lake to the Superior Street railroad west of Silver Creek.

Season dates and times are determined by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and this year the season lasts through Jan. 19, 2014. Hunters will also be required to wear orange during the Illinois Shotgun Season, which runs Nov. 22-24 and Dec. 5-8.

In addition to hunting, the base offers a fishing program that is available to Scott members interested in fishing the base lakes.

Outdoor Recreation sells two types of yearly permits: a family pass for $7 or a single pass for $5. These passes are good for a year from the date of purchase.

Members must adhere to rules and regulations from the Outdoor Recreation that regard safety when using the lake.

· Fish from banks only
· Fishing poles and hand lines only
· One pole per person
· No live bait including minnows, goldfish or carp
· No fishing from a boat
· No swimming in the lakes
· No wading in the lakes
· No discharge of firearms, air or CO2 powered guns or bows of any type

The Scott Lake fish include catfish, bass, bluegill, carp and crappie. While there are no limits on crappie and bluegill, fishers are limited to five catfish per day, and all bass must be returned to the lakes.

For more information contact the Outdoor Recreation at 256-2067.