Notes from around Chicago outdoors.
WILD OF THE WEEK
Dave Holmquist saved this imperial moth from a busy highway. `It really felt like I was in the presence of something special,’’ he texted. ``Been in the outdoors my whole life and this was the first one I’ve seen.’’
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
Aug. 24-25: Momence, (815) 472-4900
Sept. 6-7: Bartlett, Sofia at (847) 608-3118
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION
Thursday, Aug. 8: Windy City Longbeards banquet, Erie Street Cafe, Chicago. Contact Matthew Dunn, mdunn19834@gmail.com
CONSERVATION WORLD
Friday, Aug. 9-Aug. 18: At Illinois State Fair, Springfield. Click here for Conservation World info.
ILLINOIS PERMITS
Monday, Aug. 5: Online reservation system opens for controlled pheasant hunting at IDNR sites, dnr2.illinois.gov/controlledhunt/
WINGSHOOTING CLINICS
Aug. 17-18: Shabbona Lake State Park, (217) 524-5466
DALE’S MAILBAG
``I caught [a bass] on a fly rod and large deer hair popper in Lake Louise in Northwest Indiana . . . The large snapping turtle surfaced and came right up to my boat after I caught this fish which has never happened to me before. I’m no turtle expert, but this guy is a monster.’’ Anthony Pampalone
A: I’ve had some good turtle encounters, but never that. And it is a bruiser of a snapper.
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BIG NUMBER
4 pounds, 3 ounces: International Game Fish Association’s all-tackle record for yellow perch, caught May 1, 1865 in New Jersey by Dr. C. Abbot.
LAST WORD
``The ultraviolet water disinfection system at Oden State Fish Hatchery in Emmet County has been installed, meaning the facility is ready to welcome juvenile Arctic grayling.’’
Michigan DNR, announcing completion of one more step in the Michigan Arctic Grayling Initial to bringing grayling back to Michigan
