Chicago outdoors: City mink, nod to Illinois bucks from afar, tagged fish record and ‘safe ice’

Notes come from all over Chicago outdoors.

WILD OF THE WEEK

Paul Vriend made several spottings of American mink on the Chicago River and emailed, “It’s cool that they are in the city. Don’t know if this is your interest.” Oh it is. The wildlife section of the Forest Preserves of Cook County thought this one was a young female born last year. They also reminded that otter have been observed on the Chicago River.

WOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, runs most weeks 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

HUNTER SAFETY

March 13-14: Wheeling, huntersafety@sbcglobal.net

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

Next weekend, Feb. 22-23: “About Boating Safely,” Cabela’s, Hammond, Ind., (708) 960-4040.

SHOWTIME

Click here for the master list of shows, classes and seminars.

Saturday, Feb. 22: DRiFT’s 27th annual Fly Fishing Auction, Villa Park VFW, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Next weekend, Feb. 22-23: Fish On, Woodland Park, Portage, Ind.

Through today, Feb. 16: Bedford Sales 50th Anniversary Open House, Morris. . . . Chicago RV & Camping Show, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont. . . . Muskie Expo Milwaukee, Washington County Fair Park, West Bend, Wis.

Through Feb. 23: Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show, Indiana State Fairgrounds

FISH GATHERINGS

Tuesday, Feb. 18: Andrew Ragas, “Ten Keys to Monster Bass,” Arlington Anglers, Poplar Creek Banquets, Hoffman Estates, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 20: Capt. Ralph Steiger, “Early Spring Fishing on Lake Michigan,” Fish Tales Fishing Club, Worth Township offices, Alsip, 7 p.m.

SHEDD FREE DAYS

Monday, Feb. 17, to Friday, Feb. 21: Illinois residents only, click here for info

BIRDING

Through Monday, Feb. 17: Great Backyard Bird Count

DALE’S MAILBAG

“How is ice safe in Will County, but not Cook?’’ John Phillip Kudia on Tuesday

A: “Safe ice’’ depends on the size and depth of a lake or pond, shoreline shade, springs, wind protection. Especially this time of year, I have seen open water on one water and nearby there’s fishable ice. Pablo Bleens also added that Canada geese have become a factor in keeping water open.

BIG NUMBER

9,507: World-record number of days (26 years) that a tagged freshwater fish spent at liberty. The Australian bass was tagged Jan. 20, 1994 and recaptured on Feb. 9, 2020, according to Fisheries Research and Development Corporation via fishworld.com.

LAST WORD

“In the past, we’d expect that quality of trophy hunting in Saskatchewan or Illinois, not in Massachusetts.”

Mark Blazis, in the Worcester Telegram, recapping the deer season in Massachusetts