Notes from around Chicago outdoors.
FIELD NOTES
BUCK OF THE WEEK: UNPLUGGED
Jim Lukancic took this photo and posted, “I didn’t know deer eat lily pads.’’ When I first saw another one of his wonderful photos, I immediately thought of moose wading in the Boundary Waters.
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
Sept. 17-18: Peotone, (708) 258-3343 . . . Joliet (815) 727-4811
Sept. 30-Oct. 1: Zion, takeakidhunting@aol.com
Oct. 1-2: Elburn, phil-joanne@juno.com
Oct. 7-8: Arlington Heights, huntsafely.webs.com
Oct. 8-9: Mokena, (708 479-1020
DUCKS UNLIMITED
(Click here for the general list of Illinois DU events)
Thursday: Lake Forest sponsor dinner, Onwentsia Club.
Thursday: North Shore Chicago Season Kick-off, Little Ricky’s Rib Joint, Winnetka
Saturday: Marengo Flyway DU- Guns’N Gear Event, Joe’s Place.
FISH GATHERINGS
Tuesday: Bill Schwartz on fall trolling, Chicagoland Muskie Hunters chapter of Muskies Inc., Giuseppe’s La Cantina, Des Plaines, 7:30 p.m., chicagolandmuskiehunters.org/meetingschedule.asp
Tuesday: Jim LaFortune on fall kings, Salmon Unlimited, Elk Grove Village VFW,, 7 p.m., salmonunlimitedinc.com
Tuesday: [Note time, day and site changes] Biologist Luke Roffler, Lake Geneva Fishing Club, Big Foot Archers, Lake Geneva, Wis., 5:30 p.m., lakegenevafishingclub.com
Wednesday: Wisconsin fisheries biologist Ben Heussner, Fox River Valley chapter of Muskies Inc., Schaumburg Golf Club, 7 p.m., frvmuskie.com
WINGSHOOTING
Sept. 17-18: Des Plaines Conservation Area, Wilmington, (217) 785-2262
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Thursday, Sept. 15: Final day, early Canada goose season
Sunday, Sett. 18: Final day, teal season
DALE’S MAILBAG
Q: “I live in Willow Springs. We have seen and heard a bobcat here. Haven’t heard coyotes in a while. Is that related?’’ Vince Hall tweet
A: I enjoyed the question enough that I emailed Bob Bluett, wildlife diversity biologist for the Illinois DNR, and added a question of my own on who would win in a bobcat vs coyote battle. I found both responses from Bluett interesting and informative, so I included his long form answer below for the online version:
Dale- SIU conducted a landmark study on distribution of predators in IL [Spatial and Temporal Structure of a Mesocarnivore Guild in Midwestern North America’’]. There was no evidence of bobcats excluding coyotes from areas (or vice versa). Cases of coyotes killing bobcats have been documented in other parts of North America, so I guess I would place my bet on the coyote. Probably a rare occurrence given the bobcat’s timid nature (i.e., they generally avoid confrontations), ability to climb trees, and defensive behavior when cornered.
I found his answer to my hypothetical question different than what I expected. I would have put my money on the bobcat.
BIG NUMBER
17.8 cm: Listed maximum length, by USGS, for a round goby in the United States (Swear I’ve seen bigger)
LAST WORD
“A lot of time and effort are put into duck hunting each summer/fall only to have it partially ruined by a wildly fluctuating river.’’
Aaron Yetter, on Illinois River flooding, in his blog after the first aerial waterfowl survey of the 68th season by the Illinois Natural History Survey. Click here for general info on the aerial surveys and to find out many other matters related to waterfowl research.
