Natural Resources
There are many on-the-ground projects happening throughout the year on the Shawnee National Forest. Visitors can expect to see Forest activities in various stages of treatment as we strive to promote healthy forest ecosystems. For safety reasons, visitors who encounter employees or contractors working along roads or in the forest should heed all safety signs, posted notices, and/or barricades and avoid the work area.
Forest Habitat Restoration
The conservation impact on the Shawnee involving the NWTF has been astounding. Through a variety of forest management techniques, including timber stand improvement, crop tree release and invasive species removal, the NWTF has enhanced over 4,000 acres across different regions of the national forest.
NWTF Disabled Vet Hunt
Years of work, collaboration and thousands of acres of habitat management on the Shawnee culminated recently when disabled veterans harvested three birds out of the forest on the week of the Illinois spring opener, part of an NWTF Wheelin’ Sportsmen hunt. The hunt was made possible thanks to the Illinois NWTF State Chapter, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Forest Service and the Illinois Chapter of The Fallen Outdoors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering veterans by connecting them to the therapeutic benefits of the great outdoors. The Shawnee National Forest was recently award a 2025 NWTF Making Tracks award. The Conservation Education award for the Wheelin’ Sportsmen Turkey Hunt recognizes excellence for substantial involvement in the planning and execution of conservation education programs over multiple years that highlight wild turkey restoration, management and conservation.
