Notes from around Chicago outdoors.
FIELD NOTES
WILD OF THE WEEK
Bruce Czajkowski photographed this buck outside his back door in Westchester.
Wild of the Week, the celebration of wild scenes 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).
BIG NUMBER
46
Estimated years of age of a lake trout surveyed in Lake Superior in early November by the Wisconsin DNR. The 35.5-inch laker first was surveyed in 1981 (then 27.3 inches and estimated at 10 to 12 years old).
DALE’S MAILBAG
Tweet: ‘‘Taj is great, but the original ‘Fishin’ Blues’ by Henry Thomas — https://twitter.com/Lotdesert/status/926561886061121543 — is, too. Love the pipes!’’ — Larry Rand
A: Henry ‘‘Ragtime Texas’’ Thomas originally recorded ‘‘Fishin’ Blues’’ in 1928. On YouTube, there are many versions done by Taj Mahal. I was glad to hear the original by ‘‘Ragtime Texas.’’
LAST WORD
‘‘I liken smelt fishing to 16-inch softball: It is a Chicago tradition. I would hate to see it go away.’’
— Chester Kropidlowski, during a discussion of lakefront issues at the Mayor’s Fishing Advisory Committee meeting Thursday
WILD TIMES
HUNTER SAFETY
(Click here for full package of northeast Illinois hunter safety classes)
Tuesday-Wednesday: Chicago, carryinillinois.com/hunter-safety-course.html
FISH GATHERINGS
Tuesday: Tackle rep night, Arlington Anglers, 6 p.m., Cabela’s, Hoffman Estates, arlingtonanglers.com.
Tuesday: Capt. Ralph Steiger, Fishing Friends Club, special meeting moved to Bass Pro, 6:30 p.m., Portage, Indiana.
ILLINOIS SEASONS/PERMITS
Through Dec. 1: First lottery, spring wild-turkey permits, dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/pages/turkeyhunting.aspx.
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)
