GO WILD

With autumn fast approaching, it’s time to think about heading into the woods, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is here to help. Every few years, the department gathers up stuff that has been either confi scated – think fi shing rods taken from poachers – or found somewhere on public land and puts it up for sale. The last time this happened, in 2009, the state raised more than $29,000. As those who should be more vigilant about cleaning up the attic or garage well know, stuff piles up, and in the case of the state, more than 600 animal traps, boats, fanny packs, tents, bows, deer-hunting stands, tackle boxes, duck decoys and other items have accumulated. No fi rearm transactions. It will all go on the auction block on Sept. 14 at the Jack Perschbacher Service Center, 505 10th Street in Pawnee. Gates open at 7 a.m. so you can look at treasures up close before putting in a bid at the sale scheduled to start at 9 a.m.