Chicago firefighters who donned fishing rods for the kids, the late Fred Bear on ‘respect,’ a goldfinch at Little Red Schoolhouse NC, and a commentary on the hours by captured Chinook are among the outdoor Chicago notes and beyond.

Ratings come from Chicago Outdoors and beyond.

WILD OF THE WEEK

Marc Kasick photographed an American goldfinch on Sunday at the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center. He used a Nikon D7200, 300mm f4, with a 1.7 teleconverter (roughly a 500mm lens).

WOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, takes place most weeks in the special two-page outdoor section of the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. To make submissions, send an email [email protected] or contact me on Facebook (Dale bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutdoor) or Instagram (@BowmanOutdoor).

WILD TIME

HUNTER SAFETY

October 2-3: Elburn, [email protected] . . Moment, (815) 472-4900

October 30-31: Elgin, [email protected]

LUNCH CONFERENCE

Monday September 27: Iyana Simba, Director of Drinking Water Policy at the Illinois Environmental Council, Bridgehouse Museum on Chicago Riverwalk, free, noon to 12:45 p.m., bridgehousemuseum.org/events

THE STORY

Monday September 27: “What Ever Happened to Beaver Lake”, Michael Dobberstein, Purdue English teacher, Newton County Government Center, Morocco, Ind., 7pm

WING CLINICS

October 9-10: Elburn, click here to register, info at [email protected] or (847)309-1093

ILLINOIS PERMITS / SEASONS

Today, September 26: The teal season is coming to an end.

Friday October 1: Archery seasons for deer and turkeys are open.

Friday October 1: Chinook salmon and coho salmon fishing season is opening in some locations.

Friday October 1: Over-the-counter permits (first come, first served), public areas for ducks and geese

Next Saturday, October 2: Early trout catch and release season opens at a few select sites, the closest being Rock Creek in Kankakee River State Park

DALE MAIL BAG

“Ten years ago we would go to Burnham Harbor and catch three or four [Chinook] per person in one evening. Dale Rehus Tweeter

A: Rehus is a famous fisherman, but I think he remembers 20 or 30 years ago. I would love if the Illinois Natural History Survey had data going back decades for September catches per hour of effort for returning chinook.

LARGE NUMBER

5: Firemen on Engine 109 / Truck 32—Chris Nechvatal, Jimmy Johnson, Santiago Alvarez, Ali Abdolazadeh, John Reany– who helped string 150 fishing rods in a pinch two days before Chicago Family Outdoor Day last Saturday.

LAST WORD

“Leave with a good attitude, respecting the wildlife you hunt and the forests and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will purify your soul and make you a better person.

Fred bear, the late legendary bow hunter, with a quote on fredbear-online.com