Tamarack bog, BOTW: Unplugged, gun repair: Notes, Chicago outdoors

Notes from around Chicago outdoors.

FIELD NOTES

LAST WORD

“One of my favorite things on earth, a tamarack bog changing color in October.’’

Howard Bass, on a North Woods trip

BIG NUMBER

1869: Year of publication of “Adventures in the Wilderness; or, Camp-Life in the Adirondacks,’’ written by young minister William H.H. Murray, which led to the birth of camping in the United States as told in a wonderful Smithsonian.com story

BUCK OF THE WEEK: UNPLUGGED

Eddie Pasiewicz of Waukegan photographed this young buck Oct. 11 at Illinois Beach State Park Campground.

Buck of the Week: Unplugged, a celebration of live big bucks around Chicago outdoors, runs when warranted on Sundays on the Sun-Times outdoors page. Send nominations by Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).

DALE’S MAILBAG

Q: “Do have have good gun repair shop recommendations around the southwest suburbs?’’ Glenn Kondziolka

A: Freddie Bear Sports (freddiebearsports.com/) in Tinley Park has a gunsmith. I would start there, though it is the south suburbs.

WILD TIMES

HUNTER SAFETY

(Click here for full package of northeast Illinois hunter safety classes)

Oct. 28-29: Tinley Park, (708) 532-8698.

Nov. 2-3: Dyer, Ind., BOOKING@FIRSTSHOTDYER.COM

Nov. 28-28: Chicago, carryinillinois.com/hunter-safety-course.html

FISH GATHERING

Wednesday: Capt. Ralph Steiger on multispecies on southern Lake Michigan, Walleyes Unlimited, Gurnee American Legion, 7 p.m., walleyesunlimitedusa.org

ILLINOIS SEASONS

Saturday: Central zone duck and Canada goose hunting begins . . . Crow hunting begins

Sunday: Fall shotgun turkey hunting ends

DUCKS UNLIMITED

(Click here for the general list of Illinois DU events)

PHEASANTS FOREVER

(Click here for general list of Illinois PF events)

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

(Click here for general list of banquets and events)