Gretchen Mueller Steele: Blog

Running Traps AKA The Name and Shame Game

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Fri, 06 May 2016 08:32:00 GMT

Yesterday I was out running my traps, listening to an outstanding interview with Rita Dove on NPR, thinking about a very to the point post a friend had made on face book, and feeling pretty...

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EPA Alleges Illegal Discharge of Livestock Waste From Illinois Cattle Facility

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 03:57:00 GMT

Illinois EPA Refers Vermilion County Cattle Farm Operator to Attorney General for Enforcement SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Lisa Bonnett has referred an enforcement...

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Hunters, Landowners Encouraged to Report Suspected Cases of EHD

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 18:47:00 GMT

IDNR has received 47 EHD reports from 17 Counties so far in 2015 SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has received reports of 47 suspected cases of Epizootic...

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KenLake State Resort Park Opens New Archery Range

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 06:06:00 GMT

I've recently had the very good fortune to spend some time at KenLake State Resort Park, in Aurora Kentucky. My first visit was during the Bowfishing Association of America's World Championship -...

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Boaters: Don’t Let July 4th Be Your Undoing

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 09:13:00 GMT

BoatUS: Nation’s Birthday Requires Special Caution photo courtesy of BoatUS ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 25, 2014 – A long day on the water exposed to the elements combined with crowded waterways and...

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Time to Speak Up; Time to Speak Out

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 05:48:00 GMT

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April Is Awesome For Foragers

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 05:11:00 GMT

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Still "Chasin' Birds" !

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 07:05:00 GMT

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Brain Fog Friday

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 09:08:00 GMT

Sheesh..it's certainly been foggy around here the last few days, and I don't mean the kind that hangs low across a frosty field. Brain FOG - one of the darnedest, most frustrating symptoms of living...

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Are We Ensuring the Health of the Illinois Whitetail Herd?

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 08:42:00 GMT

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Enough is Enough – Time For A New Direction!

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 07:20:00 GMT

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Bald Eagle Numbers Soaring in Illinois

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 10:07:00 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, IL – A record-setting number of American bald eagles was reported during the annual Illinois Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey coordinated by the Illinois Audubon Society. Volunteers...

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Alliance Forms to Tackle Illinois Deer Management Issues

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 05:53:00 GMT

A group of Illinois deer hunters formed the “Illinois Whitetail Alliance” to promote proactive deer management in Illinois. This group met with Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)...

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Get Geared Up For the Great Backyard Bird Count!

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 05:39:00 GMT

New York, N.Y. and Ithaca, N.Y. —From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, bird watchers from more than 100 countries are expected to participate in the 17th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), February...

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A Perfect Baselayer! The WoolX X-Plorer - Soft, Silky, Warm, Merino Wool

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 05:27:00 GMT

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I Am Outraged!

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 05:02:00 GMT

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IDNR Sets the Stage for Conservation Congress 2014

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 04:42:00 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is gearing up for Conservation Congress 2014: Charting a Course to Protect & Preserve Our Natural Resources with a series...

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There's a Storm Coming...And We Need It

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 04:05:00 GMT

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You'll Be There

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 05:40:00 GMT

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A Cozy Camo Bedding Set

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 11:09:00 GMT

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The Fish Boil - A Wisconsin Tradition

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 04:51:00 GMT

My introduction to the great state of Wisconsin began with a pre AGLOW conference media opportunity trip (AKA a FAM or Familiarization tour) in beautiful Walworth County for three days. I...

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Renewed, Revitalized, and Ready to Rock and Roll

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 08:12:00 GMT

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The River's Divide – An Unconventional and Visually Rich Hunting Film.

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 06:35:00 GMT

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PRÓIS TURAS™ SLEEVELESS SHIRT – THE ULTIMATE SUMMER SHIRT FOR ANY OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 05:06:00 GMT

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St. John’s Wort – Gather Now for Winter Use

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 09:51:00 GMT

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Wildflowers Blooming At Pyramid State Park

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:04:37 GMT

The creek bottoms are beginning to burst forth with all manner of bright spring blossoms!

Birds, Birds, Birds!

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 06:33:00 GMT

Spring is springing! Birds are singing! Birds are also migrating through southern Illinois, and the local resident birds are beginning their courtship displays. I confess - I've barely been able to...

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The Scoop On Snipe

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:55:00 GMT

Whoever said snipe hunts were a wild goose chase, didn't chase the right goose. Yesterday I wrote about the long standing rite of passage, the snipe hunt. While many of us have...

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Successful Snipe Hunting in 10 Easy Steps

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:19:00 GMT

With out the snow, it would be next to impossible to see the snipe feeding in the ditch line. At last, I have found and documented the mythical snipe! For many rural youngsters a snipe hunt is a...

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There Is No Bad Light

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 06:36:00 GMT

I'm guilty - I freely admit that I am terribly guilty of uttering the phrase - "Acck the light's crappy. Not wasting my time." when it comes to deciding whether or not to head afield in search...

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Blossoms and Butterflies, Birds and Bison

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:08:00 GMT

Yesterday I posted about my recent trip the Sophia M. Sachs butterfly house for the Morpho Mania event. Blue Morphos weren't the only butterflies flitting around, and as always I couldn't resist...

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Blue Morph Mania

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 04:58:00 GMT

Earlier this week, five hardy gals from my community loaded up my friend's "camera car" with backpacks full of camera gear and set off to see what we could capture at the Sophia M, Sachs...

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Packin' Up My Prois

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:04:00 GMT

I'm busy packing up my Prois and getting ready to hit the road this weekend for some great fun with the Bootheel Boss Gobblers NWTF chapter. The ladies from the chapter generously...

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A Venue of Vultures

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 05:31:00 GMT

There I was, scurrying around getting things ready for the Retievers Unlimted Fun Hunt, when I heard suspicious rustling over head. Then a huge dark shadow went over, and when I looked up into...

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Meat Shoot? What's a Meat Shoot?

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 06:54:00 GMT

Yay me. I live in the only state in the nation that does not allow concealed carry. I also live in a state that has some of the most ridiculously strict firearms laws. And then there's that who...

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Runnin' The Dogs

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 04:19:00 GMT

Time to run the dogs! Of all the various hunting, angling, and conservation organizations that I belong to, perhaps my very favorite is Retrievers Unlimited HRC. Retrievers Unlimited is our local...

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Sharing the Secret Spots

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 04:02:00 GMT

Thanks to years and years of burning boot leather and wandering the public lands in southern Illinois I've been blessed to stumble into some pretty interesting and historical spots...

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I Survived!

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 03:08:00 GMT

I'd like to tell you that I survived some great outdoor adventure however that just isn't the case. Much more mundane. I survived the flu. I also realized while in the throes of a...

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From Daylight 'til Dark

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:25:00 GMT

I've just returned home from three days in Williamson County, Illinois. While I was there I had the pleasure of manning the Heartland Outdoors booth at the Southern Illinois Boat and Fishing Show and...

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I Have A Plan

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 08:01:00 GMT

Those of us that work in the outdoor industry are in the throes of "show season". When hunting seasons draw to a close, and the fishing season hasn't quite gotten off the ground, the...

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Feathers and Friends

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 06:23:00 GMT

I'm always anxious when I'm guiding other outdoor communicators, writers, and photographers. Despite the best planning, and patterning, I'm always afraid the creatures, the weather, and any number of...

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Our Common Ground

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 05:52:00 GMT

After a week of brain numbing press releases and information overload, it seems that most of my friends in the outdoor world are like me- dreading even checking e mail, Facebook, our feed readers,...

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Short-eared Owls Abound

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 06:27:00 GMT

Short-eared owl in flight The return every winter of the short-eared owls to the rolling strip pit hills of southwestern Illinois could be considered a mine reclamation success story. The...

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Sturgeon Stampede Here I Come!

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:16:00 GMT

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River Rats, Refuge Refugees, and Marsh Mutts

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 05:32:00 GMT

It's okay if you call me a River Rat, a Refuge Refugee, or Marsh Mutt; I take no offense at those titles. Really - it's OKAY. I'm acutely aware that most of my days are spent wet, muddy, messy,...

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Such Grumps are the Gulls!

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 05:59:00 GMT

It's no secret that along the rivers edges, the sloughs, the potholes those are my favorite places. I think even more so in winter when the birds hang out, looking for little spots of open...

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Ir's All About The Birds

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 05:31:00 GMT

I cringed in shame when I realized that it had been two solid months since I had taken the time to do a blog post. Literally felt my stomach flop over - because if there's one thing I have learned...

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They're Here! They're Here!!!

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:53:00 GMT

They're here! My beloved snows have made their annual return. Every November I wait.. and I wait.. watching the sky, listening for the sqeaky shrill cries before daylight and after dark that will...

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And This Is Why.....

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 19:28:00 GMT

This is why we do what we do. This why all along the flyways , in the wee small hours of this morning, we loaded up the trucks, the trailers, we loaded up the dogs, the decoys, and we set across...

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Photo Art Using Only Lightroom??

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:13:00 GMT

I have to admit while I am huge fan of digital/photo art when done by others; it's just not something I do very often. I'm a little too skittery and simply don't have the patience to sit in front of...

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Focus on Fall: How to Take Fabulous Fall Photos

steelephoto@gmail.com (Gretchen Mueller Steele) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 08:13:00 GMT

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