Notes from around Chicago outdoors.
FIELD NOTES
LAST WORD
“One of my favorite things on earth, a tamarack bog changing color in October.’’
Howard Bass, on a North Woods trip
BIG NUMBER
1869: Year of publication of “Adventures in the Wilderness; or, Camp-Life in the Adirondacks,’’ written by young minister William H.H. Murray, which led to the birth of camping in the United States as told in a wonderful Smithsonian.com story
BUCK OF THE WEEK: UNPLUGGED
Eddie Pasiewicz of Waukegan photographed this young buck Oct. 11 at Illinois Beach State Park Campground.
Buck of the Week: Unplugged, a celebration of live big bucks around Chicago outdoors, runs when 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
Q: “Do have have good gun repair shop recommendations around the southwest suburbs?’’ Glenn Kondziolka
A: Freddie Bear Sports (freddiebearsports.com/) in Tinley Park has a gunsmith. I would start there, though it is the south suburbs.
WILD TIMES
HUNTER SAFETY
(Click here for full package of northeast Illinois hunter safety classes)
Oct. 28-29: Tinley Park, (708) 532-8698.
Nov. 2-3: Dyer, Ind., BOOKING@FIRSTSHOTDYER.COM
Nov. 28-28: Chicago, carryinillinois.com/hunter-safety-course.html
FISH GATHERING
Wednesday: Capt. Ralph Steiger on multispecies on southern Lake Michigan, Walleyes Unlimited, Gurnee American Legion, 7 p.m., walleyesunlimitedusa.org
ILLINOIS SEASONS
Saturday: Central zone duck and Canada goose hunting begins . . . Crow hunting begins
Sunday: Fall shotgun turkey hunting ends
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)