Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
WILD OF THE WEEK
Paul Vriend has “been photographing birds on a pile of brick, concrete, and rebar refuse that has been dumped in an unused part of a cemetery near my house. The birds take any habitat and perch they can get.” Here’s his favorite, an American kestrel.
WOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, runs most weeks in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. To make submissions, email BowmanOutside@gmail.com or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or Instagram (@BowmanOutside).
DALE’S MAILBAG
“He posed for a few photos before accepting my ride on a finger to eye level, where we exchanged a few pleasantries and reminisces of my old acquaintances with his family. Then he decided that eye level was an excellent platform for a return to his travels — so much better than grass — and launched to fly off into the darkness.
“I haven’t encountered a mantis in years, but they are as delightful as I remember, with a curiosity that completely overwhelms any fear of a much larger creature that most animals would usually just assume to be a threat.
“We could learn from that.” Email from Donald Ayres
A: That stands on its own and naturally captures the time of year.
WILD TIMES
HUNTER SAFETY
Oct 7-8: Frankfort, (708) 429-4903
Oct. 12-13: Chicago, carryinillinois.com
Oct. 21-22: Mokena, info@FrankfortSportsmanClub.com
PHEASANTS FOREVER
Thursday, Oct. 5: DuPage County’s Sportsmen’s Banquet, Abbington Distinctive Banquets, Glen Ellyn,
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
Next Saturday, Oct. 7: Paddlers Guide to Safety, Bolingbrook, Darryl Joseph Haefner, jlyrrad@comcast.net
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Today, Sept. 30: Final day, applications for bobcat permit
Today, Sept. 30: Woodchuck season ends
Sunday, Oct. 1: Snagging season for salmon opens
Oct. 1: First-come first-served duck/goose permit applications
Oct. 1: Archery deer and turkey seasons open
WINGSHOOTING CLINICS
Oct. 7-8: Elburn, question, email cscwingshooting@gmail.com or call (815) 901-2365; register by clicking here.
MARITIME FUNDRAISER
Oct 26:Maritime folklore and fundraising, Chicago Maritime Museum, Chicago photographer, Barry Butler, and Tall Ships captain, Tom Kastlle host, chicagomaritimemuseum.org/events.html
LAKE MICHIGAN FISHERIES MEETING
Nov. 1 (virtual meeting Nov. 9):Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s Lake Michigan meeting, including tracking fish with acoustic telemetry, emerging research on PFAs in Lake Michigan fishes and Indiana DNR fisheries report, Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk classroom, Portage, Ind., 6-8:30 p.m. register at purdue.ag/fall-2023-fisheries