Notes from around Chicago outdoors.
FIELD NOTES
BUCK OF THE WEEK: UNPLUGGED
Pat Schenck sent a “northern Wisconsin curiosity’’ from the Merrill area of an odd buck that “seemed like he wanted to stand me and the two dogs off! Curious or tuff guy or what?’’
Buck of the Week: Unplugged, the celebration of live big bucks around Chicago outdoors, runs Sundays on the outdoors page as warranted. Send nominations by Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).
WILD TIMES
HUNTER SAFETY
Aug. 20-21: Kankakee, (815) 935-8438
Sept. 8 and 10: Newark, (815) 210-4995
Sept. 10-11: Momence, (815) 388-3853 . . . Kankakee, (815) 935-2700
Sept. 17-18: Peotone, (708) 258-3343 . . . Joliet (815) 727-4811
Sept. 23-24: Arlington Heights, huntsafely.webs.com
DUCKS UNLIMITED
Thursday: Northwest Suburban Dinner, Cotillion Banquets, Palatine. Contact Lisa Wente, (847) 438-8733; Jeff Lanaghan, (630) 258-5273
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Monday: Second lottery deadline, fall wild turkey shotgun season permits, online
Thursday: Applications accepted for remaining Illinois free dove hunting permits. Click here
Through Aug. 31: Applications may be made online for the free upland Gram permit program, click here
DALE’S MAILBAG
E: “We have had rabbits in the area for a little while and now they have been stopping in the yard to eat and rest [see photo at the top]. After taking some pics and looking at them, I noticed a stuffed tick in the ear of the rabbit and it look as if there are several other bites. I never noticed ticks by me before.’’ Ron Wozny
A: A report from Chicago’s North Side that only a photographer with the skill of Wozny could get.
BIG NUMBER
13.5: Millions of mallards projected in the fall flight index of the 2016 Trends in Duck Breeding Populations, which compares to 13.8 million last year.
LAST WORD
“There’s so many little perch out here, if they grow up, I will be so happy I can’t contain myself.’’
Stacey Greene, proprietor of Park Bait at Montrose Harbor, hopin’ and wishin’ on the big perch hatch in 2015
