Notes from around Chicago outdoors.
FIELD NOTES
WILD OF THE WEEK
Jim McGowan sent backyard photos of hummingbirds last weekend in Alsip.
Wild of the Week, a celebration of wild scenes around Chicago outdoors, runs as 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: ‘‘Your reader [Saul Lipsistic’s] view on invasives was only partly correct. [Native Americans] had domesticated wolves before the Europeans came. Corn is a New World grain, peccaries are New World pigs and, of course, we had bison (New World cattle). It all depends on what type of plant and animal communities we wish to support and sustain. Since we cannot rid our country of invasives, if we deem them harmful, then let’s control them to the best of our abilities.’’ — John Kudia, Orland Park
A: I think Kudia’s last sentence captured the core. I also would suggest we consider more carefully than we have the introduction of non-native species, plant or animal.
BIG NUMBER
378
Moose in the western Upper Peninsula, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ survey, up from 285 in 2015.
LAST WORD
‘‘Sportsmen and anglers have flocked to the resort for many years, and it is imperative that the resort get up and going again. Outdoor sports tourism is one of the largest draws to southern Illinois, and we need to ensure that our park infrastructure is modernized.’’
— State Sen. Paul Schimpf (R-Murphysboro), on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources issuing a request for proposals for a new operator for the Rend Lake Resort and Conference Center
WILD TIMES
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Through June 30:Applications may be made for second lottery, firearm and muzzleloader-only deer permits. Click here for details
June 30: Deadline, online applications, resident hunters, first lottery, Illinois free dove-hunting permits at select sites, www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/dove/Pages/OnlinePermitApplication.aspx.
WINGSHOOTING
June 24-25: Elburn, (847) 309-1093 joemigalla5@gmail.com
HUNTER SAFETY
(Click here for full package of northeast Illinois hunter safety classes)
June 27-28: Chicago, carryinillinois.com/hunter-safety-course.html.July 11, 13, 18, 20: Downers Grove, (630) 963-1300 class 171009-01
July 13-15: Newark, (815) 210-4995
July 15-16: Bolingbrook, willcohunt@aol.com.
DUCKS UNLIMITED
(Click here for the general list of Illinois DU events)
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION
(Click here for general list of banquets and events)
PHEASANTS FOREVER
(Click here for general list of Illinois PF events)
