Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
WILD OF THE WEEK
Michael Dodd photographed two hairy woodpeckers at his feeder. When I asked if it was love or one trying to steal from other, he replied, “No, one feeding the other.”
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. To make submissions, email BowmanOutside@gmail.com or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or Instagram (@BowmanOutside).
DALE’S MAILBAG
“Is it legal in Illinois to use bluegills as bait? Mike Wright
A: Short answer is yes, as long as legally caught. A more complete answer is at ifishillinois.org/FAQS/.
BIG NUMBER
8-6: Pounds-ounces of the New York record smallmouth bass caught June 15 from Cayuga Lake by Thomas Russell Jr.; announced June 29 by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
LAST WORD
“Fifty years ago, Congress responded to the urgent health and environmental threats facing our communities with a suite of bipartisan laws that serve as the bedrock of our nation’s environmental protections. This ruling makes the responsibility of this Congress just as serious.”
Marshall Johnson, chief conservation officer, National Audubon Society, on the Supreme Court ruling on June 30 curtailing the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate carbon pollution
WILD TIMES
FISH GATHERINGS
Tuesday, July 12: Jim Stepp, four-time Boat of the Year for SU, on fishing lake and brown trout, Salmon Unlimited, Thornwood Restaurant & Lounge, Wood Dale, 7 p.m., salmonunlimitedinc.com
Thursday, July 14: Ken “Husker” O’Malley, Riverside Fishing Club, LaGrange American Legion, 6:30 p.m., RiversideFishingClub.com
HALL OF FAME
Through Monday, July 11: Nominations accepted for the 2022 class to the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame, info@ilconservation.org, (217) 785-2003
WINGSHOOTING CLINICS
Aug. 13-14: Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, Rich Carlson, (815) 757-2949
SALMON-A-RAMA
Today, July 9-July 17: Headquartered at Reefpoint Brewing House parking lot, Racine, Wisconsin, salmon-a-rama.com
HUNTER SAFETY
Aug. 13-14: Kankakee, (815) 935-2700
BIOBLITZ/POLLINATORS
July 23: Family-friendly bioblitz on pollinators (limited capacity), The Wetlands Initiative’s Dixon Waterfowl Refuge, Hennepin, no fee but must register here
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
Next Saturday, July 16: Boat America, Chicago, Dan O’Connell, cgaux.doc@gmail.com
ILLINOIS PERMITS
Friday, July 15: Applications, second lottery, fall shotgun turkey, open
