Notes from around Chicago outdoors.
FIELD NOTES
WILD OF THE WEEK
Mike Rendak photographed this pair of fawns by the road in “Beautiful Forest Glen!’’ on the Northwest Side. Tempted to call it return of “Buck of the Week: Unplugged,” but will stick with WOTW.
Wild of the Week, a 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
“7640 Jackson Blvd, Forest Park, IL Fireflies Galore. Right off the Blue Line by the Community Center.’’
@bucklaw1 tweet
A: I’ve had dozens of acknowledgments that fireflies seem more numerous this year across the entire Chicago area, though one reader demurred.
BIG NUMBER
1-13
Pounds-ounces of Illinois’ record warmouth, caught May 22, 1971, by Wesley Mills from a Cumberland County farm pond
LAST WORD
“I noticed more fireflies this year also.
But stranger than that, we don’t have any cicada killer wasps this year. Had 50 last year and I saw all their hibernating burrows. Plus, I don’t hear any cicadas either. Maybe it’s too early yet, but I thought the wasps would be out by now.’’
@GreenLawnCare, tweet on fireflies and cicadas
WILD TIMES
FISH GATHERING
Tuesday: Capt. Matt Jones, catfish seminar, Arlington Anglers, Cabela’s, Hoffman Estates, 6 p.m., arlingtonanglers.com.
SHOWTIME
July 28-30: Illinois Deer & Turkey Expo, Peoria Civic Center, deerinfo.com/illinoishome.asp.
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Through Friday: Applications, second lottery, free online dove permits, dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/dove/Pages/OnlinePermitApplication.aspx.
Aug. 1: Squirrel hunting opens
HUNTER SAFETY
(Click here for full package of northeast Illinois hunter safety classes)
Aug. 12-13: Essex, (815) 458-3568
WINGSHOOTING CLINIC
Aug. 19-20: Shabbona Lake State Park, (815) 758-2773
DUCKS UNLIMITED
(Click here for the general list of Illinois DU events)
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION
(Click here for general list of banquets and events)
PHEASANTS FOREVER
(Click here for general list of Illinois PF events)