For the past 26 years, families have traveled to the campus of John A. Logan College on the fourth Friday of September. They attend the Southern Illinois National Hunting and Fishing Days, an event designed to teach hunting and fishing skills as well as the ethics, safety and conservation issues associated with them.
The event is arguably the largest of its kind in the nation. Upwards of 40,000 people attend the event in the southern Illinois community of Carterville. This year the event takes place on September 28-29. The hours will be Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission and parking is free as are the activities. Vendors will be present supplying food and outdoor products.
Children’s activities will include a youth goose calling contest at 8:30 am on Saturday as well as archery, shooting sports and fishing. Free bait and tackle is available for the later. There is adult supervision and instruction for all activities.
Dogs and waterfowl activities figure prominently in the celebration. Handlers provide demonstrations by dock dogs, agility dogs, retrievers, search and rescue dogs, police dogs as well as coon and fox hounds.
The waterfowl calling series will begin with the Don Gasaway Youth Goose Calling Contest on Saturday at 8:30 am. Both male and female youth callers are welcome. There will be two divisions, 12 years and under as well as those 13 to 16 years of age. There is no entry fee.
The youth contest is followed at 11:00 am by the Fun “Team” Goose Pit Calling Contest. Here 3-man teams will compete for all of the $20 entry fee purse. At 1:00 pm the Illinois State Open Duck Meat Calling Contest will begin. First place will receive $1,000, Second $500 and Third $250. Entry fee is $40.
On Sunday at 1:00 pm the Tim Grounds Southern Illinois World Open Goose Calling Championship. Entry fee is $40. First Place will receive $1,250, Second $750 and Third place gets $250.
Other activities planned will include wildlife and nature art show, seminars on fishing, game preparation and outdoor cooking as well as a buck skinner’s village with tomahawk throwing area. Displays will include Taxidermy, ATV, RV, boats, deer antler measuring, trapshooting, archery, and a special fishing display.
This year the activity is sponsored by, John A. Logan College, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Crab Orchard Refuge, AISIN, Marion Toyota and Toyota Tundra, Williamson County Tourism Bureau, and McDonalds. Others sponsors include: Southern Illinois Bowhunters, Sams Club, Winchester Ammunition, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bank of Marion, Southern Illinois Bank, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, McKinneys Western Store Natural Gear, Tim Grounds Calls, Drake Waterfowl Systems, Higdon Decoys, Marion Chamber of Commerce, Budweiser Golden Eagle, and Farmers State Bank.
Further information is available on line at: or by calling Dwight Hoffard at 618-985-3741, ext 8208. Vendors seeking information can contact Ron Allen at 217-725-7602.
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