One thing going for brothers Steve and Terry Wunderle is they’ll never have to argue about who is the best outdoorsman in the state.
Both officially own “Illinois Sportsman of the Year” titles.
Terry won the first statewide contest two years ago in Springfield, and Steve took top honors last year in his hometown of Carterville. Because neither is eligible to compete again, a new champ will be crowned during the National Hunting and Fishing Days celebration Sept. 24-26 at Silver Springs State Park near Yorkville.
Because this will be the first time competition takes place in northern Illinois, a strong turnout is expected from this area.
The winner not only gets bona fide bragging rights, but also a cash prize of $1,500, a lifetime hunting and fishing license and possession of the Director’s Cup, which may be the most unusual trophy in the land.
This champion will have earned the most points accumulated through 10 tests of outdoor skills and knowledge arranged by some of the more diabolical minds in the Department of Conservation.
This year’s battery of true-or-false and multiple-choice tests covers Fish Biology, Wildlife Identification, Natural Wonders, Conservation Law and Trapping.
The skill events involve Precision Casting, Archery, Sporting Clays and Shotgun Slugs. The top 10 finalists then advance to a supersecret test designed to separate true outdoors folk from mere wannabes.
For example, finalists two years ago were given tools and fuel to make a campfire from scratch. They were timed in their ability to bring a pot of water to a boil.
Last year’s contestants were issued a 5-gallon bucket, a wooden stand with an alligator clip and a sack containing a bottle of clear nail polish, three feet of thread, four long-shanked bronze hooks, a bobber, 20 feet of fishing line, a few sinkers, two dove feathers, scissors and a cane pole. They were told to make a fly good enough to please a panel of judges before they could be issued a container of red worms. Then they had to try to catch a fish with fly and worms-all within an hour.
“I can’t tell you what we’re going to spring on them this year,” said Bob Ruff, the DOC’s competition chief. “But I’ll say this: It’s going to be different and interesting.”
The contest was the creation of the DOC’s Ron Allen and Gary Thomas, who wanted an unusual event to highlight the state’s annual celebration of outdoor sports.
“We thought we could build something that gave people a lot of fun, that tested legitimate skills and also might have a lasting effect,” Allen said.
One result so far has been the nearly wholesale absence of fishing and hunting guides, or even men and women known for special outdoor skills. Perhaps they dare not risk competitive exposure?
Ruff hopes savvy sportsmen in time will want to know how their pricey guides and club heroes fared in such tests of universal skills. If more top people put their skills on the line, this will become a contest worth following.
Even contestants who don’t carry off the overall title can cover themselves in glory. Medals and $50 cash are awarded champions of each individual category-including the knowledge events-giving specialists a chance to shine.
Ruff sees possibilities for expanding the contest in future years to comprehensive game calling, boat control, tracking, birding and other specialties. He eventually wants separate divisions for men, women and youngsters, with sports clubs entering their top performers.
State conservation chief Brent Manning peers even farther. He wants the contest to spread to other states so he can host a playoff between, say, the top five finalists from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri.
“That would be worth paying to see,” he said.
Ruff thinks expansion will be possible if he lands more commercial sponsors to foot expenses. Right now he has the Safari Club of Illinois and WCFC-Ch. 38 Chicago picking up some tabs.
He believes the game will grow when clubs not only enter their champions, but also volunteer to help put on the show, much like outside golf club members become marshals, etc., at major tourneys.
For starters, Ruff needs more women to compete. So far this year, only one has had the courage to enter. He needs many more spirited bodies to fill the field at $20 per entry-and whet the appetites of all by putting their skills to a courageous and joyful test. Call 217-785-8955 for entries.
