Eagle on muskie, suburban eagles, Wisconsin wolves, weather impact on dove fields: Notes, Chicago outdoors

A bald eagle taking a muskie in northern Wisconsin.

Here are the notes around Chicago outdoors.

WILD OF THE WEEK

Howard Bass took a series of photographs of a bald eagle with a muskie in northern Wisconsin this spring.

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.

WILD TIMES

HUNTER SAFETY

July 9, 11, 16, 18: Downers Grove, (630) 963-1300 Class 371006-01

FISH GATHERINGS

Tuesday, June 18: Rob DiFatta, ``The Rapala Story,’’ Arlington Anglers, Poplar Creek Banquets, Hoffman Estates, 6:30 p.m., arlingtonanglers.com

Thursday, June 20: Dale Bowman on perch, salmon and Lake Michigan this spring, Fish Tales Fishing Club, Worth Township Offices, Alsip, 7 p.m., fishtalesfishingclub.com

FREE FISHING DAYS

Monday, June 17: Final day, free fishing days in Illinois, no license or stamps needed, other regulations apply

ILLINOIS PERMITS

Through June 30: Online applications, residents, first lottery, free dove hunting permits, select state sites. Go to https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/dove/Pages/OnlinePermitApplication.aspx. . . . Deadline, second lottery, firearm deer permits. Go to https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/DeerHunting.aspx.

WING SHOOTING CLINICS

Saturday-Sunday, June 22- 23: Youth/women, Elburn, (847) 309-1093 or scscwingshooting@gmail.com

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

Saturday, June 22: About Boating Safely, Dan O’Connell, cgaux.doc@gmail.com

DALE’S MAILBAG

``We just saw a bald eagle flying south just above the tree line at my parents’ house in Burr Ridge near Madison and 91st Street. What a sight! Confirmed by my stepfather, Charlie Murray, who was with me and a couple of others on the back deck around 5:45 p.m. Only the second time in my life that I’ve seen a bald eagle in person. First time was a few years ago while traveling south on 294 on the mile long bridge near Willow Springs.’’ Alex Bartkus, Chicago

A: Greatest part of my job is feeling the renewed wonder of nature.

BIG NUMBER

914-978: Wolves in Wisconsin’s overwinter count, similar to the 905-944 wolves detected during the 2017-2018 count.

Wolf photo from the Wisconsin DNR.

LAST WORD

``Wet cool weather has hampered the planting of sunflower and other dove attractants. Even some sites that got sunflowers in, they are slow growing due to moisture and coolness. Some sites still have not gotten all crops planted.’’

Wildlife biologist Bob Massey, with a dove fields update this week.