Bears/Packers impact, nursing fawn, pure gas, more acres around IL’s biggest tree: Notes, Chicago outdoors

Trail cam photo of a nursing fawn. | Provided by John Hull

Here are notes around Chicago outdoors.

WILD OF THE WEEK

“I have a trail camera on my wife’s land in Wisconsin to watch for trespassers,’’ John Hull emailed. “Needless to say we get pictures of animals as well. The enclosed series surprised me because I thought a fawn would be weaned by August. The time stamp is about 1:20 a.m. so it’s an infrared picture. Thought you might like them. This duo likes to use this access road and spent a lot of time grazing in front of the camera.’’

Not sure what is the usual time for weaning, but I have observed fawns nursing on mid-winter backpacking trips when I was young. And I still find night trail camera photos cool.

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 Saturday. Send nominations to @BowmanOutside on Twitter or Instagram, to Dale Bowman on Facebook or email BowmanOutside@gmail.com.

HUNTER SAFETY

Oct. 11-12: Dyer, Ind., (219) 515-2197
Oct. 12-13: Joliet, (815) 727-4811

WINGSHOOTING CLINICS

Sept. 21-22: Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area, Wilmington. (815) 423-5326 or go to https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/wingshooting/Documents/Letter-Forms%20-%20DPCA%209-21-22-2019.pdf

FISH GATHERINGS

Tuesday, Sept. 10: Mark Anderson of Dave’s Reel Service, Chicagoland Muskie Hunters chapter of Muskies Inc., North Branch Pizza & Burger Co., Glenview, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 10: Capt. Ralph Steiger, Salmon Unlimited, Elk Grove Village VFW,, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 11: Steve Sarley, Fox River Valley chapter of Muskies Inc., Schaumburg Golf Club, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 11: Andrew Ragus, “Multi Species Fishing--Vilas County, Wis.,’’ Lake Geneva Fishing Club, Poplar Creek Bowl, Hoffman Estates, 6 p.m.
Thursday, sept. 12: Jim Crowley on fall pike and muskie, Riverside Fishing Club, LaGrange American Legion, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 12: Capt. Ralph Steiger, Midwest Musky Club, Village Sportsmen’s Club, Alsip, 7:30 p.m.

ILLINOIS PERMITS

Through Saturday, Sept. 14: Applications for second lottery for public duck and goose hunting area permits, https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/waterfowl/Pages/OnlinePermitApplication.aspx
Through Sept. 30: Applications to lottery for bobcat permits, $5 non-refundable fee, https://www.il.wildlifelicense.com/start.php.

DALE’S MAILBAG

“Here’s a way online for boaters to find stations without ethanol at all. Not many left. I know one off I-57 towards Kankakee.’’ Kevin Van Cleave

A: The site he mentioned is https://www.pure-gas.org/.

BIG NUMBER

Chloe Sweet of the Arbor Day Foundation celebrates a “grand’’ tree, an eastern cottonwood that is Illinois’ Big Tree Champion.

220: Acres added to Byron Forest Preserve District’s Bald Hill Prairie Preserve, home of Illinois’ Big Tree Champion, through an $837,600 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.

LAST WORD

“Members. The Bears vs Packers game is September 5th. We thought it best to move the meeting to the 12th.’’

Midwest Musky Club

Adrian Amos’ interception sealed the Packers win over the Bears Thursday.