Coyote, perch guide, Coast Guard pay, Michigan outdoors: Notes, Chicago outdoors

Notes from around Chicago outdoors.

FIELD NOTES

WILD OF THE WEEK

Sandy Melovic photographed, with her zoom, coyotes across a pond while her husband, Steve, shot trap Naperville Sportsman’s Club. 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 straycasts@sbcglobal.net.

DALE’S MAILBAG

“Do you know any guides to take me perch fishing on the river or the lake this time of the year?” Pete

A: Capt. Douglas Stremplewski of Doug’s Charter Service–(219) 218-3357–is one who focuses on perch. “As long as there are no huge icebergs and it’s not too cold, I’m still fishing,” he messaged.

BIG NUMBER

171,000: Jobs created from hunting-and fishing-related purchases in Michigan, generating more than $11.2 billion annually and tops among Great Lakes states, according to a study by Michigan United Conservation Clubs partnering with Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business. Click here for the story.

LAST WORD

“While we understand the current debate over funding of the Department of Homeland Security is primarily about issues not directly related to the U.S. Coast Guard, we are concerned over the potential deterioration of its ability to fulfill its wide range of missions including search and rescue, boating safety regulation, and support for aids-to-navigation. We support your effort to ensure that USCG personnel will receive compensation notwithstanding the final passage of the DHS 2019 appropriation legislation.”

Chris Edmonston, vice president of BoatUS government affairs, supporting bipartisan efforts led by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) to restore pay to Coast Guard members.

WILD TIMES

ILLINOIS SEASONS

Today, Jan. 20: Final day, second late-winter and CWD deer seasons . . . Archery deer ends . . . Archery turkey ends. . . . Duck hunting, south zone, ends

HUNTER SAFETY

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

Feb. 5, 7, 12, 14: Downers Grove, (930) 963-1300

Feb. 23-24: Essex, (815) 458-3568

SHOWTIME

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

Today, Jan. 20:Final day, Muskie Expo Chicago, Pheasant Run, St. Charles . . . Greater Chicago RV Show, Schaumburg Convention Center

Thursday-next Sunday: Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo, Schaumburg Convention Center

Friday-next Sunday: The Pantagraph’s Fish & Feather Expo, Interstate Center, Bloomington

Saturday-next Sunday: Great Lakes Angler Super Salmon Schools with Capt. Dan Keating, Great Lakes Angler, Winthrop Harbor

PHEASANTS FOREVER

(Click here for general list of Illinois PF events)

Feb. 9: Lake County banquet, Antioch, VFW. Contact Doug Magno, (847) 401-2678

DUCKS UNLIMITED

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

Feb. 7: McHenry Fox Flyway dinner, D’Andrea Banquets, Crystal Lake. Contact Brian Diedrich, (815) 355-0803

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

(Click here for general list of banquets and events)

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

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