SPRINGFIELD – Chuck Martin, a lifelong upland bird hunter, conservation advocate and local author, is the Illinois Recreational Access Program's (IRAP) 2023 Landowner of the Year, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced today. Three area land owners were also recognized: Jonna Krueger, Macoupin County, Gary Kronable, Jersey County and Steve Zaubi, Macoupin, Christian and Menard Counties. Others recognized were: Craig Walter, Lee County Brad Petersburg, Jo Davies County The Landowner of the Year award is presented to a landowner enrolled in IRAP who has demonstrated outstanding habitat improvement and conservation practices while allowing public access on their private property through the IRAP initiative. Martin first enrolled in the program in 2016 and now allows youth hunting, third- and fourth-season turkey hunting, archery deer hunting, and pond fishing on his IRAP-leased property in Christian County. He said his decision to become a land steward was
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