Collared geese, big muskies, heads-up shed: Notes, Chicago outdoors

Notes from around Chicago outdoors.

FIELD NOTES

WILD OF THE WEEK

Faithful reader Jim Kulpa emailed, “Also found a deer skull like you Dale, but mine fortunately had antlers.’’ Beautiful find and I am envious. WOTW, the 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 BowmanOutside@gmail.net.

DALE’S MAILBAG

“19B & 14B [collared Canada geese] hanging out in Englewood on Garfield by Racine. They were friendly until I pulled out my phone.’’ Bill McCormick

A: Of course some one such as author/artist/activist Bill McCormick (founder of the much missed JaytheJoke.com) would find this in Englewood. I told him to do a report on reportband.gov and he did.

BIG NUMBER

172: Muskies (biggest 45.5 inches) captured in the spring netting survey at Kinkaid Lake.

WILD TIMES

FISH GATHERINGS

Tuesday: Awards night and Capt. Doug Kloet, “Early Season Tactics on Local Waters, Chicagoland Muskie Hunters chapter of Muskies Inc., North Branch Pizza & Burger Co., Glenview, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Pizza night and Capt. Arnie Arredondo, Salmon Unlimited, Elk Grove Village VFW,, 7 p.m.

Wednesday: Greg Fitch of Humminbird, Fox River Valley chapter of Muskies Inc., Schaumburg Golf Club, 7 p.m.

Wednesday: Bill Schultz, “Big Sturgeon Bay Smallies—All Season Long,’’ Lake Geneva Fishing Club, Cabela’s, Hoffman Estates, 6 p.m.

ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS

Today, April 7: Final day, second of two statewide youth spring turkey hunts

Monday, April 8-Friday, April 12: First season, south zone

Now: Remaining spring turkey permits on sale over the counter, click here for more info

Through April 30: Applications (limit of one) accepted for first lottery for resident firearm and muzzleloader deer hunting, click here for more info

HUNTER SAFETY

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

April 18-20: Bonfield, (815) 635-3198

April 27-28: Palatine, palatineparks.org . . . Coal City, (815) 634-4552

May 3-4: Bartlett, (847) 608-3118 (Sofia)

May 4-5: Ingleside, go.fishfry@gmail.com . . . Momence, (815) 472-4900

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

(Click here for full listings of classes in the area)

April 13: About boating safely, Skokie, Dan O’Connell, cgaux.doc@gmail.com . . . Hammond, Rich Persiani, richpersiani@gmail.com . . . Waukegan, Curt Schumacher, curts402@aol.com

DUCKS UNLIMITED

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

Friday, April 12: Three Rivers dinner, Diamond Hall, Diamond. Contact Leland Day, (815) 482-3736

Friday, April 12: Marengo dinner, Starline Factory, Harvard. Contact Ben O’Dea, (815) 739-6486

SHOWTIME

(Click here for the list of shows, classes and seminars)

April 13-14: Chicago Herpetological Society ReptileFest, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

(Click here for general list of banquets and events)

PHEASANTS FOREVER

(Click here for general list of Illinois PF events)