Notes from around Chicago outdoors.
FIELD NOTES
WILD OF THE WEEK
John Cuculich achieved his “Holy Grail” of nature photos, a photo of an owl, on holiday break in the western suburbs. 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
“I used to fish for goldfish in the pond from Riverview. Canned biscuit dough was the trick. . . . I remember this old guy that fished there almost every day. He set us up. There used to be some nice ones in there. Rumor has it the people used to dump them in there after they won them.” John Mannerino
A: One of the memories jigged up from looking for Riverview remnants by the Wednesday column.
BIG NUMBER
57,237: Deer harvest during Illinois archery season through Tuesday; it was 55,599 for the same period in the 2017-18 season. Click here for details.
LAST WORD
“Smoked carp tastes just as good as smoked salmon when you ain’t got no smoked salmon.”
Patrick F. McManus, writing truth in 1984 in “Never Sniff A Gift Fish,” long before Silverfin, the rebranding of Asian carp
WILD TIMES
FISH GATHERINGS
Monday: Jim Crowley, Oswegoland Fishin’ Fools, Allied First Bank, Oswego, 7 p.m.
Tuesday: Sean Bermingham, Chicagoland Muskie Hunters chapter of Muskies Inc., North Branch Pizza & Burger Co., Glenview, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Salmon Unlimited, Elk Grove Village VFW,, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: MuskieFIRST founder Steve Worrall, Fox River Valley chapter of Muskies Inc., Schaumburg Golf Club, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Capt. Doug Kloet on Lake Michigan harbors, Riverside Fishing Club, LaGrange American Legion, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday: Green Bay guide Kevin Pischke, Midwest Musky Club, Village Sportsmen’s Club, Alsip, 7:30 p.m.
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Tuesday, Jan. 8: Final day, north zone pheasant, quail and partridge
Wednesday, Jan. 9:Final day, second dove season
Friday, Jan. 11: Deadline, second lottery for spring turkey
HUNTER SAFETY
(Click here for full package of northeast Illinois hunter safety classes)
Saturday & Sunday, Jan. 12-13: New Lenox, tjhuntersafety@gmail.com
Jan. 19-20: Palatine, palatineparks.org
SHOWTIME
(Click here for the list of shows, classes and seminars)
Wednesday-Sunday, Jan. 9-13:Chicago Boat, RV and Sail Show, McCormick Place South
Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 10-13: All-Canada Show, Pheasant Run, St. Charles
Friday-Sunday, Jan. 11-13: Lake Home & Cabin Show, Schaumburg Convention Center
Saturday & Sunday, Jan. 12-13: Chicago Travel & Adventure Show, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont
DUCKS UNLIMITED
(Click here for the general list of Illinois DU events)
PHEASANTS FOREVER
(Click here for general list of Illinois PF events)
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)