Notes from around Chicago outdoors.
FIELD NOTES
MOREL OF THE WEEK
Jack Hennessy, who does “Braising the Wild,” texted this last Sunday. Of course, he lives in Kansas. With that, we will begin MOTW for this spring. MOTW, the celebration of photos and stories of morel mushrooms 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
“I just wanted to share few bird photos from the local cemetery pond. (Wood duck photo below.) Some hummingbird sightings have been reported in the area, time to clean those hummingbird feeders hang them up.” Jim McGowan, Alsip
A: Did it an hour after receiving McGowan’s note.
Wood duck on cemetery waters.
Provided by Jim McGowan
BIG NUMBER
16.0625: Inches of the longest turkey beard of a bird harvested in Illinois, according to National Wild Turkey Federation records. Joseph Winter bagged his turkey April 26, 2009 in white County.
WILD TIMES
FISH GATHERING
Wednesday: Andy Schiera of T-Bone Guide Service, Walleyes Unlimited, Gurnee American Legion, 7 p.m.
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Turkey hunting: North zone, second season through Thursday, third, Friday-May 1; south, third, through Wednesday; fourth, Thursday-May 1.
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 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
SHOWTIME
(Click here for the list of shows, classes and seminars)
Tuesday-Saturday, April 23-27: North American Vintage Decoy and Sporting Collectibles Show, Pheasant Run, St. Charles
Saturday: April 27: Riverside Fishing Club swap meet, LaGrange American Legion
ARCHERY
Saturday-next Sunday, April 27-28: IBO Illinois State Championship/ World Qualifier, Blackhawk Field Archers, Rockton, contact Dave Lee, (708) 476-0305
DUCKS UNLIMITED
(Click here for the general list of Illinois DU events)
Friday: National Area chapter dinner, Concorde Banquet Hall, Kildeer. Contact Dan Peterson, (847) 438-0298 or Bill Johns, (847) 638-8347
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
(Click here for full listings of classes in the area)
Saturday, April 27: About Boating Safely, Chicago, Dan O’Connell, cgaux.doc@gmail.com . . . GPS for Mariners, Des Plaines, Chas. Hague, sailnrails@aol.com
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION
(Click here for general list of banquets and events)
PHEASANTS FOREVER
(Click here for general list of Illinois PF events)
