Notes come from all around Chicago outdoors.
BUCK OF THE WEEK: UNPLUGGED
Paul Yambrovich spotted a buck that had already dropped his antlers last week. “Time to start shed hunting,” he emailed. “My big buck buddy is still sporting his, though. Would love to find those sheds!” So would I.
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 Saturday. To make submissions, email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com) or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or Instagram (@BowmanOutside).
IN MEMORY
Jack Ehresman, 87, Illinois’ greatest outdoors writer, died Dec. 30. An original inductee in the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame, Mr. Ehresman covered the outdoors, sometimes with daily columns, for the Peoria Journal Star for 30 years and spread love of Illinois outdoors for decades in national magazines through pen names. Our careers overlapped briefly, but I’m honored to have received some of his memorabilia. Memorial donations may be made to Ducks Unlimited, the American Heart Association or Hooked on Fishing Park in East Peoria. His family plans a celebration of life in the future.
WILD TIMES
HUNTER SAFETY
Feb. 18 and 20: Bonfield, (815) 635-3198
BIG NUMBER
100th: Anniversary of Abu Garcia, noted for innovation in high-quality rods and reels since its founding by Carl August Borgström as AB Urfabriken in 1921 near the Mörrum River in Svängsta, Sweden.
LAST WORD
“I tell fishermen this all the time: When you hold a fish out of the water, hold your breath and when you can’t take it anymore, neither can they! Get them back into some water.”
Biologist Frank Jakubicek, on his basic rule on how quickly to release fish
