Perch record redux, white squirrels, bobcat, doe: Notes on Chicago outdoors

Notes come from all around Chicago outdoors with much help from readers.

BUCK (DEER) OF THE WEEK: UNPLUGGED

Ken Gortowski stalked ``an old mama,’’ one of the wariest deer, last Sunday at a nature preserve in Plano.

BOTW Unplugged, the celebration of live big bucks (and occasionally other deer) around Chicago outdoors, runs as apt in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. Send nominations to @BowmanOutside on Twitter or Instagram, to Dale Bowman on Facebook or email BowmanOutside@gmail.com.

WILD TIMES

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Friday, Dec. 6: Windy City Holiday Party, New Polonia Club, Chicago. Contact Bill Fester, (847) 455-3304

ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS

Today, Dec. 1: Final day, applications, first lottery (residents only),

Monday, Dec. 2: Final day, woodcock hunting

Tuesday, Dec. 3: Spring turkey hunting, second lottery, applications begin.

Thursday, Dec. 5-Dec. 8: Second firearm deer season

OUTDOORS & ART

Through Jan. 5: ``Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum,’’ 50 acres of trees transformed with lights and music, $13-$23 for adults, $7-15 for children

DALE’S MAILBAG

``Hi Dale, opening weekend was slow for us in Bureau County, but seeing a very large bobcat and two kittens made my weekend in the woods. Pretty cool. Friday morning at 7:30 they appeared out of the thicket at 40 yards, the mother leading the way. Then the kittens went up to our old shed and almost went inside the open door. I think they were looking for mice. The mom figured something was up and they retreated the way they came.’’ ``Muskie Ed’’ Potocki

A: Tremendous story. I am still waiting to see my first wild bobcat

BIG NUMBER

Dale Bowman

40: Record-low number of albino gray squirrels in the fall count in Olney, according to the Olney Daily Mail. There were 58 in 2018. Story at https://www.olneydailymail.com/news/20191121/2019-squirrel-count-results-show-decrease-in-albino-and-gray-squirrels

LAST WORD

``I heard stories of guys who said they caught bigger ones. I am surprised it has stood this long. I keep thinking it is going to be broken.’’

Joe Grega, during a 2016 interview, on his Illinois-record yellow perch weighing 2 pounds, 8.75 ounces, he caught on Jan. 5, 1974 while fishing through the ice at Arrowhead Club in Coal City. The story on Grega is at https://chicago.suntimes.com/2016/6/24/18481005/illinois-fishing-surprising-life-of-yellow-perch-record