Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
WILD OF THE WEEK
Howard Bass emailed the photo above and explained, “Went for a walk along Manitowish River with friends this week. Watched the northern water snake snatch the bluegill, inhale it and slink back for another all in under five minutes.”
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).
BIG NUMBER
1st: Larry Powell caught the first returning to shore salmon of the season at 63rd Street earlier this week, according to BoRabb Williams.
WILD TIMES
FISH GATHERINGS
Tuesday, Sep 10: Capt. Erik Lennartz of Tactical Angling Guide Service seminar on Geneva Lake and Pewaukee, Chicagoland Muskie Hunters chapter of Muskies, Inc., North Branch Pizza & Burger Co., Glenview, 7:30 p.m., http://chicagolandmuskiehunters.org/meetingschedule.asp
Tuesday, Sept. 10: Salmon Unlimited, Thornwood Restaurant & Lounge, Wood Dale, free, 7 p.m., https://www.salmonunlimitedinc.com/
Wednesday, September 11: Brian Skaife, Angling Anarchy, “Capturing a Geneva Muskie . . . And Some Memories,” Lake Geneva Fishing Club, Poplar Creek Bowl, Hoffman Estates, 6 p.m., http://www.lakegenevafishingclub.com
Thursday, Sept. 12: Artist Paul Dominguez on central Wisconsin fishes, their characteristics as shown in his art, and simplicity as key to fishing, Riverside Fishing Club, Berwyn Moose Lodge 424, 6:45 p.m., http://www.riversidefishingclub.com
BIRDING FESTIVAL
Friday, Sept. 13, to Sept. 15: First citywide festival, guided trips, registration opened Saturday, https://www.theurbanbirdingfestival.org/
BEER IN THE WOODS
Sept. 21: LaBagh Woods, 1-5 p.m., fotfp.org/event-item/8th-annual-beer-in-the-woods/
HUNTER SAFETY
Sept. 21-22: Diamond, (815) 907-7345, diamondtrap@indoor-range.net
Sept. 26 & 28:Newark, davidpaulinski@gmail.com
Oct. 5-6: Wilmington, islandparkdistrict.activityreg.com/selectactivity_t2.wcs
Full state listing is at dnr2.illinois.gov/SafetyEd/SafetyEdClassByCounty
WINGSHOOTING
Sept. 21 or 22: Hunter clinics, Des Plaines SFWA, Wilmington, (815) 423-5326
Nov. 9: Youth clinic & youth pheasant hunt, Iroquois SWA, Beaverville, (815) 933-1383