Notes come from all around Chicago outdoors.
WILD OF THE WEEK
Adam Bolt, at the urging of Andrew Richert, sent a photo of a white squirrel at George W. Dunne National Golf Club in Oak Forest. For some reason, there has been a spurt of white squirrels on the far South/Southwest Side and near south/southwest suburbs.
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. Submit nominations by message on Facebook (Dale Bowman), on Twitter (@BowmanOutside) and Instagram (@BowmanOutside) or email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com).
WILD TIMES
HUNTER SAFETY
Oct. 24-25: Joliet, (815) 935-2700
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Today, Oct. 18: Final day, youth waterfowl hunt, central zone
Monday, Oct. 19: North zone white-fronted goose (specklebelly) hunting opens
Tuesday, Oct.. 20: Over-the-counter firearm deer permits go on sale
Saturday, Oct. 24: Central zone duck and Canada goose open . . .. Fall shotgun turkey opens
DALE’S MAILBAG
“While I was canoeing [last week] on Lake Michigan off Rogers Park, I saw what I think might be a muskrat swimming along the shore just north of Leone Beach. I followed it along the shore for 10-15 minutes up to around Howard Beach. I last saw a muskrat in the lake about five years ago.” Larry
A: I am always curious why a muskrat would go to Lake Michigan when there are lagoons and ponds nearby.
BIG NUMBER
3,790: Sandhill crane count Tuesday (second of the fall) at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area, southeast of Valparaiso, Ind. Click here for the latest update on the sandhill count at Jasper-Pulaski.
LAST WORD
“It’s truly amazing the trophy fish that lake produces with the amount of pressure it receives. A testament to all those that help make it such.”
Ken “Husker” O’Malley, on Chase Rockstead catching a record walleye from Shabbona Lake, most intensely fished lake in Illinois and a lake receiving much volunteer assistance.
