Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
FISH OF THE WEEK
Kevin Matos doubled up on trophy fish on downtown Chicago on Oct. 16. “Got my first 5-pound smallmouth bass and first northern pike over 30 inches the same day right downtown on crankbaits,” he emailed.
FOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, now runs most weeks in the 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 OF THE WEEK
John Cuculich photographed this belted kingfisher on a wire “while traveling the wilds of Kane County on Route 30, I saw a kingfisher on a wire. I was surprised to see it, since they are pretty shy and usually can’t get close to them, and since they usually hang around water. No major ponds or rivers were nearby.”
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).
SHOW TIME
The Early Show, presented by the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance and the DuPage Rivers Fly Tyers, opens show season next Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook. Admission is $10 (12 and younger, free) for the area’s only all fly fishing and tying show.
YOUTH HUNTING
Deer harvest during Illinois youth deer hunt, Oct 11-13, was a record 4,714, compared to the 4,097 last year. NOTE: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources noted, “Youth hunters with an unfilled, valid youth deer permit may still hunt with the permit during the upcoming firearm deer seasons Nov. 21-23 and Dec. 4-7, the first year unfilled youth permits are valid for both segments of the firearm season.
HALL OF FAME
Dave Gannaway of Downstate Morton (brains and legwork behind Illinois’ ground-breaking high school bass fishing) leads nine inductees into the 2025 Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame class by the Illinois Conservation Foundation. Chicago-area inductees are Capt. Steve McClone of Moonpie Outdoors (West Dundee), Suzanne Entress Morris (Lake Forest), Stacy Iwanicki (Wonder Lake), Larry Lucas (Chicago) and Frank Hyla (Lemont).
DALE’S MAILBAG
Jonathan Schlesinger, Chicago coordinator for the Illinois Urban and Community Fishing Program, messaged on Oct. 17, “I saw a bald eagle soaring above the Museum of Science and Industry this morning. I wish the bird would have stuck around for our fishing event with the University of Chicago Outdoor Adventure Club.”
A: Speaks for itself.
WILD TIMES
PHEASANTS FOREVER
Thursday, Nov. 6: Kane County banquet, Lincoln Inn Banquets, Batavia, https://events.pheasantsforever.org/events/kane-county-banquet/fdf3a684-f6ad-4147-b44a-30d1d0b0781a
DUCKS UNLIMITED
Friday, Nov. 7: Northeast Illinois banquet, Antioch VFW, https://ducksunlimited.myeventscenter.com/event/Northeast-Illinois-Ducks-Unlimited-Banquet-115484
FISH GATHERING
Wednesday, Oct. 29: Jim Crowley, “Smallmouth Bass Top to Bottom,” Walleyes Unlimited, Gurnee American Legion, 6 p.m.,
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Today, Oct. 26: Fall turkey, shotgun season, ends
Tuesday, Oct. 28: Crow season opens
Tuesday, Oct. 28: Online applications begin for late-winter antlerless and CWD seasons
Next Sunday, Nov. 2: First Canada geese season, central zone, ends
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
Tuesday, Oct. 28: Boat America, Des Plaines, Jerry Miarecki, boatsafe@coastguardchicago.com
HUNTER SAFETY
Dec. 13-14: Essex, https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/235806
The full state listing is at https://www.register-ed.com/programs/illinois
YOUTH HUNTING
Nov. 8: Youth clinic and pheasant hunt, Iroquois County State Wildlife Area, Beaverville, https://dnr2.illinois.gov/WingshootingClinics/