Led by Wild of the Week, Sunday notes from the Sun-Times outdoors page.
FIELD NOTES
BUCK OF THE WEEK: UNPLUGGED
Marcus Benesch,who contributes the regular fishing report on the Des Plaines River, photographed this big buck after it came out of the Des Plaines River last weekend.
BOTW: Unplugged, the weekly celebration of live big bucks around Chicago outdoors, runs Sundays on the Sun-Times outdoors page when apt. Send nominations on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or by email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).
WILD TIMES
FISH GATHERINGS
Thursday: Bobby Baits rep, Fish Tales Fishing Club, Oak Forest Community Center, 7 p.m., fishtalesfishingclub.com
ILLINOIS SEASONS/PERMITS
Friday-next Sunday: First firearm deer season
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: “Best opening day in about five years: 12 roosters. Hunted five different farms in Livingston and Ford counties. We saw more than 50 pheasants and a covey of quail. Also waxed three coyotes. Not too shabby for Illinois.’’ John Saban
A: Some credit goes to rapid crop harvest, virtually finished statewide. That’s a throwback day to the 1970s.
BIG NUMBER
3,100: Advanced growth walleye fingerlings (5 to 7 inches) stocked in Wolf Lake at Hammond on Saturday in the 18th annual Perch America Walleye Stocking.
The $5,000 came from BP, Hammond Port Authority, Lake County Fish and Game, Calumet Harbor Sport Fishermen, Mik-Lurch Fishing Tackle Outlet and fishermen.
That makes 114,000 fingerlings stocked.
LAST WORD
“[Beaver Island] has become a global destination for carp. People come from all over the world. They get upset when they catch a 3-pound smallmouth [bass].’’
Capt. Austin Adduci, of Grab Your Fly Charters, at The Early Show last weekend, on guiding summers around Beaver Island
