Notes from around Chicago outdoors.
MOREL OF THE WEEK
Lee Sczepanski messaged on Monday from Northwest Indiana, “Yesterday and today’s and got to see the eaglet today, too.” 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 normally have to be careful about nesting geese, but didn’t see a single nest or a goose on one. Instead I came across two pairs of geese with goslings following them around. Seems kind of early, but my timing might be off.” Ken Gortowski, wandering Fox tributaries
A: I am around nesting geese every day this time of the year and ours are running about 10 days later than usual. What I find amazing is how fast they go from gosling to half-grown.
BIG NUMBER
16-9: Pounds-ounces of North Dakota record walleye 32 1/2 inches) caught April 21 by Tom Volk from shore along the Heart River in Mandan, according to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
LAST WORD
“The red-tailed hawk’s long, raspy call is often heard on TV and in movies when a bald eagle is shown. In reality, the bald eagle has a chittering, high-pitched call, which apparently doesn’t sound imposing enough to go along with its tough appearance.”
American Bird Conservancy, Bird of the Week for April 19 on red-tailed hawks. Click here for more details on calls of eagles and red-tailed hawks and TV.
WILD TIMES
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Turkey hunting: North zone, third season, through Wednesday, fourth, Thursday-May 8; South, fourth, through Wednesday, fifth, Thursday-May 9
Now: Remaining spring turkey permits on sale over the counter, click here for more info
Through Tuesday, 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)
Friday-Saturday, May 3-4: Bartlett, (847) 608-3118 (Sofia)
Saturday-Sunday, May 4-5: Ingleside, go.fishfry@gmail.com . . . Momence, (815) 472-4900
SHOWTIME
(Click here for the list of shows, classes and seminars)
Saturday, May 4: Midwest Morel Festival, Jordan Black Park, Ottawa
DUCKS UNLIMITED
(Click here for the general list of Illinois DU events)
Thursday, May 2: Naperville dinner, White Eagle Golf Club, Bill Lehman, (312) 841-9259, Steve Hoffman, (630) 728-8432
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
(Click here for full listings of classes in the area)
Saturday, May 4: About Boating Safely, Bolingbrook, Darryl Haefner, jlyrrad@comcast.net . . . GPS for Mariners, Waukegan, Curt Schumacher, curts402@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)
