Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
WILD OF THE WEEK
George Matysiewicz photographed this aged morel mushroom in May, noting, “Found at the back of the eighth hole tee box at Burnham Woods Golf Course. Not a good spot.” One, he perfectly captured an image symbolizing the end of morel season. Second, his observation, “Not a good spot,” is spot on. Picking morels on golf courses or similar areas heavily treated with herbicides and pesticides is a bad idea.
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 NUMBER
No. 1: Pickleball courts were the most added amenity by private campgrounds in 2024, according to Dyrt, the camping app. Of private campgrounds that added amenities in ’24, 17 percent added pickleball courts; next closest was Wi-Fi (9.8 percent). Wi-Fi remains the most popular amenity at private campgrounds (71.5 percent).
LAST WORD
“We want people to be more aware of their surroundings and to be safe. This goes for anywhere, not just in the forest preserves. Our officers do check on vehicles and educate people when they see valuables left in plain view, but we can’t be everywhere.”
Deputy Police Chief David Barrios Jr., on the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s “Put Your Junk in the Trunk” campaign to help stop vehicle break-ins at preserves.
SHOWTIME
The Chicago lakefront again has a boat show. The Windy City Boat & Yacht Show is set for June 11-14 at Burnham Harbor. Info is at windycitybys.com
WILD TIMES
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Next Sunday, June 1: Groundhog season opens
Next Sunday, June 1: First lottery, site-specific dove sites, opens . . . First lottery, site-specific, youth dove hunting, opens
HUNTER SAFETY
Saturday-next Sunday: 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
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
Wednesday, May 28: Paddlers Guide to Safety, Wilmington, Mckenna Capwell, mcapwellipd@gmail.com
Next Sunday, June 1: Boat America, Hammond, Indiana, Joshua Zajac, uscgaux3511@gmail.com
Next Sunday, June 1: Boat America, Des Plaines, Bridget Darrey, bridget.darrey@9wr-uscgaux.org