Chicago outoors: Poop & invasives, a Blackhawk on salmon, downward coyote yoga pose, Tinley buck

Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.

WILD OF THE WEEK

Mike Prombo emailed a series of photos last Monday from the middle of Palatine, explaining, "Had a coyote in our backyard this morning doing a downward dog yoga pose." There are so many levels of joy in this that I don't know where to begin. Maybe I should be glad he caught it.

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).

FISH OF THE WEEK

Wilmette native and Chicago Blackhawk defenseman Alex Vlasic is an avid fisherman who caught a Chinook his first time salmon fishing on Lake Michigan. It came by the R4 buoy on a five-color lead line with a Kevorkian Magnum spoon, emailed Brian "Wolfie" Wolf. They were fishing on the Zamboati (love the name) out of Montrose Harbor, skippered by long-time friend and teammate Dave Fournier. Pictured are Wolf (left), Vlasic and his dad John, sporting a vintage fishing vest. Wolf and John Vlasic are teammates on the Chicago Grayhawks hockey club. Alex Vlasic was just back from the gold-medal winning team USA hockey at the 2025 IIHF World Championship.

FOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, now runs most weeks in the 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).

BUCK OF THE WEEK: UNPLUGGED

Roy Wick emailed from Tinley Park last Sunday, "I had four nice bucks in my yard last week." It is a nice buck and that time of the year."

BOTW Unplugged, the celebration of live big bucks around Chicago outdoors, runs as apt 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

"Read your splendid article on animals vs buckthorn. A question: Will the sheep or llamas spread seeds of buckthorn in their stool? The berries from buckthorn have a hundred small seeds in each berry. All the seeds are viable!" Nadine Beales

A: Brilliant question that I wish I had thought of when doing the column on prescribed grazing at Chain O’Lakes State Park. Dave Griffith, the district forester for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources who originated the test grazing, emailed, That is a good question. One I didn’t really think about, so I’m really glad it was raised. A study from the University of Minnesota determined that buckthorn viability is reduced by 98%. The 2% that make it through intact, their ability to germinate is greatly reduced. So, it’s way better than doing nothing, and if used on a larger scale, would, theoretically, greatly reduce the plants ability to reproduce. NATURALLY!!! That’s the key word, I suppose."

WILD TIMES

FISHING COMMITTEE

Thursday, July 17: Chicago Fishing Advisory Committee, 31st Street Harbor, 10 a.m., chicagofishingadvisory@gmail.com.

FISH GATHERING

Tuesday, July 15: Fish Tales Guide Service's Ken Kuhnle, "Summer Gamefish Tactics," Arlington Anglers, Poplar Creek Banquets, Hoffman Estates, 6:30 p.m.

FISHING IN THE DARK

Saturday, July 19: Fish Hidden Lakes Under the Stars, Hidden Lakes Trout Farm, Bolingbrook, 6-10 p.m., free, all ages, (815) 722-4121

WINGSHOOTING

Aug. 16 & 17 (three separate sessions): Waterman, email hunterwsclinic@gmail.com to register.

HUNTER SAFETY

Thursday and Saturday, July 17 and 19: Newark, davidpaulinski@gmail.com

Aug. 9-10: Morris, https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/230848

Aug 14 and 16: Bonfield, (847) 635-3198

Aug. 23-24: Wilmington, https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/230303

The full state listing is at dnr2.illinois.gov/SafetyEd/SafetyEdClassByCounty

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

Saturday, July 19: Boat America, Waukegan, Dave Colen, education@waukeganaux.com.