Sandhills & Sunday notes: Chicago outdoors

Led by Wild of the Week, Sunday notes from the Sun-Times outdoors page.

FIELD NOTES

WILD OF THE WEEK

Bill Peakcame through with outstanding photos last month when sandhill cranes started arriving at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area southeast of Valparaiso.

Send WOTW nominations on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or by email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).

WILD TIMES

FISH GATHERINGS

Tuesday: Phil Gutmann on Lake of the Woods, Chicagoland Muskie Hunters chapter of Muskies Inc., Guiseppe’s La Cantina, Des Plaines, 7:30 p.m., (847) 256-9322 or chicagolandmuskiehunters@hotmail.com

Tuesday: Top three boats on what worked, Salmon Unlimited, Elk Grove Village VFW,, 7 p.m., salmonunlimitedinc.com

Wednesday: Ken Jackson, Fox River Valley chapter of Muskies Inc., Schaumburg Golf Club, 7 p.m., frvmuskie.com

Thursday: Tod Todd on ice fishing, Riverside Fishing Club, LaGrange American Legion, 6:30 p.m., RiversideFishingClub.com

ILLINOIS SEASONS

Friday:Rail hunting ends

Saturday:First season, dove hunting, ends

Through Nov. 24:Hunters may apply online for site-specific permits for designated IDNR Special Hunt Areas for the Late-Winter and CWD Deer Hunts, dnr.illinois.gov

Through Dec. 1:Resident hunters may apply, first lottery, spring wild turkey hunting, dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/turkey

Through Dec. 6:Remaining firearm and muzzleloader deer permits available over-the-counter

DALE’S MAILBAG

E: “I noticed this wild asparagus while taking the dog on a walk thru the local forest preserve prairie in Naperville. I bet if you were to locate patches of this on your hikes or while hunting, you could return in the spring to harvest.’’ Paul Bleers

A: I look all summer and fall for new spots, by doing just that: spotting flowering asparagus.

BIG NUMBER

9: Ranking all-time of pintials counted in aerial surveys along the Illinois River, by Aaron Yetter on Nov. 2.

LAST WORD

“For all Americans who love trout, beer, and a nice glass of water, today is a great day.’’

Steve Moyer, Trout Unlimited’s vice president for government affairs, in thanking the senators who voted down “The Federal Water Quality Protection Act,’’ S.1140, which would have stripped Clean Water Act protections from some waters and nullified a rule to clarify protections for others