Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
WILD OF THE WEEK
Jason Langford messaged that ramps and asparagus were in “full swing” last weekend and sent photos of his son Ace, who turns 4 in June, helping with the foraging. May is the big month for spring foraging and beyond just hunting for morel mushrooms.
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 Sunday. To make submissions, email BowmanOutside@gmail.com or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside), Instagram (@BowmanOutside). or Bluesky (@Bowmanoutside).
BIG NUMBERS
More than $6 million: Gross from Guyette and Deeter’s annual spring decoy and sporting art auction in conjunction with the North American Decoy Collectors Association Show in Lombard April 24-25. That made it the third highest grossing decoy auction of all time.
WILD TIMES
WATERFOWL
Wednesday, May 7: Illinois Department of Natural Resources open houses for waterfowl hunters, 5:30 to 8 p.m., James “Pate” Philip State Park, Bartlett, click here for the statewide release and more information.
FISH GATHERING
Thursday, May 8: Tim Rumlow, shore fishing specialist specializing in trophy salmon and trout, Riverside Fishing Club, Berwyn Moose Lodge 424, 6:45 p.m.
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Through Wednesday, May 7: Fourth spring turkey season, north zone
Through Thursday, May 8: Fifth sand final spring turkey season, south zone
Tuesday, May 6: First lottery, fall shotgun turkey permits, opens
Thursday, May 8: Fifth spring turkey season, north zone, opens
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
Saturday, May 10: Boat America, Bolingbrook, Darryl Joseph Haefner, jlyrrad@comcast.net
HUNTER SAFETY
May 31-June 1: Morris, Call Earl at (815) 693-8344
June 7-8: Wilmington, https://islandparkdistrict.activityreg.com/
The full state listing is at dnr2.illinois.gov/SafetyEd/SafetyEdClassByCounty