Chicago outdoors: Suburban wild turkey and tagged Chicago River largemouth
Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
WILD OF THE WEEK
Tom Britton photographed this tom turkey wandering around Britton's Lake Barrington home in early April. The tom eventually met up with another turkey. "Lake Barrington has more interesting wildlife and it gets better every year!" Britton emailed.
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 Sunday. To make submissions, email BowmanOutside@gmail.com or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside), Instagram (@BowmanOutside). or Bluesky (@Bowmanoutside).
DALE'S MAILBAG
Q: "I caught a tagged bass at River Park [former] dam and I have a tag number but I don't know who to call?" Nate Toranzo emailed in late March
A: Email Austin Happel at AHappel@SheddAquarium.org. Happel, a research biologist--urban freshwaters for the Shedd Aquarium, has an ongoing study on tagged largemouth bass in the Chicago River. "If they find a tag that is different from mine I can try to find who is responsible," he emailed. "I haven't heard from folks in a little while. Another round of tagging will occur in middle-May."
WILD TIMES
DUCKS UNLIMITED
Friday, April 25: Marengo Dinner, The Venue at Goebbert's, Pinegree Grove
SHOWTIME
Tuesday-Saturday, April 22-26: North American Vintage Decoy & Sporting Collectibles Show, Westin Chicago Lombard
The master list of outdoors shows, classes, swap meets and major ice fishing events is at https://chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/2024/11/28/outdoors-shows-master-list-for-2025-around-chicago-and-beyond
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Through Wednesday, April 23: Third spring turkey season, south zone
Through Thursday, April 24: Second spring turkey season, north zone
Thursday,April 24, to April 30: Fourth spring turkey season, south zone
Friday, April 25, to April 30: Third spring turkey season, north zone
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
Saturday, April 26: Suddenly In Command, Chicago, Deborah Leja, d.leja.uscgaux@gmail.com
Next Sunday, April 27: Weekend Navigator, Chicago, Jennifer Angone, uscgaux3511@gmail.com
Next Sunday, April 27: Boat America, Des Plaines, Bridget Darrey, bridget.darrey@9wr-uscgaux.org
HUNTER SAFETY
Friday and next Sunday, April 25 & 27: Peotone, 708-258-3343 or peotoneparkdistrict.com
May 31-June 1: Morris, Call Earl at (815) 693-8344
The full state listing is at dnr2.illinois.gov/SafetyEd/SafetyEdClassByCounty
LAUNCH PARTY
April 29: Chicago No Limits Fishing, St. Gregory Auditorium at St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church, Chicago, 5:30-8:30 p.m., suggested donation $60
WATERFOWL
May 7: Illinois Department of Natural Resources open houses for waterfowl hunters, 5:30 to 8 p.m., James “Pate” Philip State Park, Bartlett, click here for the statewide release and more information.