Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
WILD OF THE WEEK
“The killdeers have returned to Chicago’s ponds, beaches, and rivers, and this one landed in front of me on a ridge in Rosehill Cemetery,” Paul Vriend emailed. “I always like capturing the details of small birds, and the red eye ring of this bird and double breast band always stands out. These are the birds known for their “broken wing” trick used to lead predators away from their young.”
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).
DALE’S MAILBAG
“They actually caught a couple that day.” Wayne Hankins on the gold-colored rainbow trout caught at Wolf Lake opening week.
A: Gold or yellow colored trout are rare bonuses of Illinois’ trout season. They are simply color variations of rainbows, not golden trout, a different species from California.
WILD TIMES
FISH GATHERINGS
Tuesday, April 15: Capt. Doug Kloet, “Early Season Muskies on Geneva,” Arlington Anglers, Poplar Creek Banquets, Hoffman Estates, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 16: Dale Bowman, “The Great Divides,” Oak brook Trout Unlimited, Central Park West of the Oak Brook Park District, 1500 Forest Gate Rd, Oak Brook, 7 p.m. (doors open at 6), obtu.org
BANQUET
Thursday, April 17: National Wild Turkey Federation’s Fox Valley Flydowns Gun Bash, McHenry VFW
SHOWTIME
Next Saturday, April 19: South Side Muskie Hawks swap day, Village Sportsman’s Club, Alsip, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
The master list of outdoors shows, classes, swap meets and major ice fishing events is at https://chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/2024/11/28/outdoors-shows-master-list-for-2025-around-chicago-and-beyond
ILLINOIS SEASONS
Monday-Friday, April 14-18: First spring turkey season, north zone
Through Thursday, April 17: Second spring turkey season, south zone
Friday, April 18: Third spring turkey season, south zone, begins
Saturday, April 19: Second spring turkey season, north zone, begins
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
Next Saturday, April 19: Boat America, Willowbrook, Terry Paggi, uscgaux3725@gmail.com
Next Saturday, April 19: Waukegan, Dave Colen, education@waukeganaux.com
LAUNCH PARTY
April 29: Chicago No Limits Fishing, St. Gregory Auditorium at St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church, Chicago, 5:30-8:30 p.m., suggested donation $60
WATERFOWL
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.
HUNTER SAFETY
April 25 & 27: Peotone, 708-258-3343 or peotoneparkdistrict.com
The full state listing is at dnr2.illinois.gov/SafetyEd/SafetyEdClassByCounty