Led by WILD OF THE WEEK, Sunday notes from the Sun-Times outdoors page.
FIELD NOTES
WILD OF THE WEEK
Emil Baumbach came through with a male house finch (above), photographed at the Chicago Botanic Garden last weekend. The Great Backyard Bird Count continues through Monday.
Wild of the Week, the celebration of wild scenes 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).
HUNTER SAFETY
Feb. 27-28:Essex, (815) 458-3568
March 5-6:Joliet, (815) 727-4811
March 12-13: Bridgeview, (708) 594-1818 . . . Momence, (815) 388-3853
March 19-20: Manteno, (708) 259-9483
PHEASANTS FOREVER
Saturday: South Cook County banquet, Lansing Knights of Columbus. Contact Gary Shackleton at (219) 629-0136 or shackman725@att.net
FISH GATHERING
Thursday: Chris Riebe, Fish Tales Fishing Club, Oak Forest Community Center, 7 p.m., fishtalesfishingclub.com
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Monday, Feb. 15: Deadline, spring youth turkey special hunt area permit applications, click here
Monday, Feb. 15: Rabbit and squirrel hunting ends
DALE’S MAILBAG
E: “I was looking around outside [on Sunday] and I saw my daffodils beginning to poke through the soil. There were actually quite a few and in different locations as well. I doubt that they will be doing much growing for a while but they are there nonetheless. . . . What a strange winter this is turning out to be.’’ Ed Buric
A: Strange indeed. Bet the shoots were in shock a few days later when winter returned. Buric inspired me to check my wife’s gardens and I could not find any daffodil shoots.
BIG NUMBER
1: Hour that the sturgeon harvest season lasted on Black Lake in Michigan when seven fish were harvested. Biggest was a 70-inch, 96-pound female.
LAST WORD
“I’ve got bucks on my mind! Now is the time to start looking for shed antlers!’’
Indiana DNR Law District 10 on Facebook
