Is it a jet or a bird: Images and notes around Chicago outdoors

Notes from around Chicago outdoors.

FIELD NOTES

WILD OF THE WEEK

Billy Miller sent this wonderful compare/contrast: Air Force Thunderbirds in the Air and Water Show passing the firehouse, then American white pelicans circling Heidecke Lake later while he fished.

Wild of the Week, the celebration of wild scenes 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. 10-11: Momence, (815) 388-3853 . . . Kankakee, (815) 935-2700

Sept. 17-18: Peotone, (708) 258-3343 . . . Joliet (815) 727-4811

Oct. 1-2: Elburn, phil-joanne@juno.com

Oct. 8-9: Mokena, (708 479-1020

FISH GATHERING

Thursday: Matt Schultz on Heidecke Lake, Riverside Fishing Club, LaGrange American Legion, 6:30 p.m., RiversideFishingClub.com

WINGSHOOTING

Sept. 17-18: Des Plaines Conservation Area, Wilmington, (217) 785-2262

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Thursday: Dinner by the restarted Silver Springs chapter, Whitetail Ridge Golf Club, Yorkville. Click here or contact Mike Anderson, (630) 864-8676; Anthony Neri, (630) 536-7054; Jon Rosenberger, (309) 253-1980

Friday: Fox River Valley dinner, Gaslite Manor Banquets, Aurora. Click here or contact Tim Tarran, (630) 768-4369; Tim Nobles, (630) 531-1688; Ron Bennett, (630) 653-1907

DALE’S MAILBAG

Comment: “My very non-scientific calculations come out just over 4 pounds a year [growth of blue catfish at LaSalle Lake.] Being that they had no [predators] when stocked, there’s definitely potential to grow some giant fish. It will be interesting to see if it can keep up the growth rate with all the giant fish it has now. Hopefully we won’t be catching stunted blue cats 15 years from now.’’ Mike Lynch

A: Lynch, a spoonplugger, was one of the first to successfully target the giant blues at LaSalle.

BIG NUMBER

8.5: Doves per hunter at Iroquois State Wildlife Area, best average for nearby public sites on opening day Thursday. Click here for a more complete breakdown of opening-day numbers

LAST WORD

“The public grounds dove opener is a wonderful hunt! Every Illinois hunter should take part. No, it’s not Argentina, or even Mexico, standards. On a good day though, it is an especially great hunting experience, and it’s FREE.’’

Mark Pawlowski, on the day before opening day