Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
BUCK OF THE WEEK: UNPLUGGED
“My daughter Julia [Plous] shot this photo [on Tuesday] as we were walking our dog along the left bank of the North Branch in the Bunker Hill Forest Preserve,: F. K. Plous emailed. “It appears to be a 10-point buck. He was remarkably calm and let Julia approach to about 15 feet before he began to edge away. Even then he did not bolt, just withdrew a little (until our little bulldog, Toby, decided to give chase).”
BOTW Unplugged, the celebration of live big bucks around Chicago outdoors, runs as apt 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).
WILD TIMES
SCI
Sunday, Dec. 8: Annual Christmas Brunch, Safari Club International, Illinois & Chicago chapter, $60 adults, $40 for 5-12, 4 and younger free, Drury Lane Theater, Oakbrook Terrace, RSVP by Wednesday, Nov. 27, https://sci-illinois.com/christmas-brunch/
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Through Sunday, Nov. 24: First part of firearm deer season
Monday, Nov. 25: Final day, applications for deer Late-winter/CWD Special Hunt Area permits
BIG NUMBER
More than 70,000: Acres held by the Forest Preserves of Cook County, a landmark made possible Tuesday by the “Forest Preserves’ Board of Commissioners by voting to add a 68-acre plot of land to the Preserves along Deer Creek in unincorporated Cook County.” It’s at Glenwood Dyer Road and Ridge Road. FPCC now holds 70,042 acres.
LAST WORD
“Most tree stand accidents can be avoided by using a functional and trustworthy fall arrest system and thoroughly examining every tree stand component prior to use. The consequences of falling from a tree stand can have a lasting impact on hunters and their loved ones. The Illinois Conservation Police strongly emphasize prioritizing safety in all hunting endeavors.”
Jed Whitchurch, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resource’s Office of Law Enforcement