Hunters in southern Illinois are officially shut out of tens of thousands of acres of federal lands thanks to a partial shutdown of the federal government.
Fishermen looking to troll Rend Lake for crappies found closed campsites managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this week. The closures are a setback to the region. Southern Illinois has economic challenges and the area's recreation helps local businesses.
Since the shutdown, the Army Corps has barricaded off entry points to more than 56,000 acres of federal land in southern Illinois, much of it relished by deer hunters. But federal officials say that turf isn't fenced off, meaning hunters intent on using the acreage still can find ways to get onto it.
Shutdown Shuts Out Hunters, Fishermen
rendlake.com
