Led by Wild of the Week, Sunday notes from the Sun-Times outdoors page.
FIELD NOTES
BUCK OF THE WEEK: UNPLUGGED
C.J. Raephotographed “this guy (photo above) blocking the hiking trail at Veterans Acres Park in Crystal Lake. He completely ignored me, all of his attention was on a doe just off the path.’’
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
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
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
31st Street Harbor on a clear day in November.
Credit: Dale Bowman
DALE’S MAILBAG
Q: “Was wondering if we would be able to ice fish in 31st Street Harbor–looks promising!!’’ Martin Melin on Facebook
A: It would be promising, but, as of now, 31st is off-limits to ice fishing and is not on the list of harbors for the pier pass program, which the Chicago Park District offers for $6 at Henry’s Sports and Bait.
BIG NUMBER
109: Years that Michigan’s smallmouth bass record stood, before Oct. 18 when Greg Gasiciel (shown right in a Michigan DNR photo) caught a 9.33-pound, 24.5-inch smallmouth from Hubbard Lake.
LAST WORD
“I did some checking and heard back that IDNR biologists put in a solid proposal in consultation with waterfowl biologists from outside the Department and were basically over-ridden.’’
A top wildlife professional and former Illinois Natural Resources Advisory Board member, on NRAB’s politically motivated recommendation counter to those of the IDNR’s wildlife professionals on waterfowl zone lines. IDNR director Wayne Rosenthal must make his most telling choice by Tuesday.
