Dale Bowman

Former Chicago Sun-Times outdoors columnist

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

Mature bucks are on the move.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

Oak savannas to wetlands, Hackmatack NWR on IL/WI border is an impressive conservation piece. 4-hr tour today at Chicago Wilderness Alliance Congress. Nuggets? Mike Weaver Drain Tile Museum in Seneca County, NY, beaver deceivers. Yet, Kankakee NWR stays stalled by misinformation.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

Thought I'd save time and vote early. Instead I was in line 50 mins at Prairie State Col. before voting. When I walked out, line to check in to vote was even longer than the voting line. Some will be there for an hour and a half or two. It ran smoothly, even with all the waiting.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

@ricktelander I like Cinderella's connection to the natural world, there's a lot of other things though that bother me

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

The women in my life--daughter's fiance Rachel, daughter Sara, granddaughter Julia, wife Karyn-and our oldest son, whom all love dressing up for Halloween a helluva lot more than I do, setting out. As an old English major, not sure about her trekking off in the Cinderella story.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

Chuck Campbell & I explored Thorn Creek, emitting faint odor of urban industrial waters, yesterday. First slack area (boot-sucking muck/washed-out banks) gave a bluegill. Chuck suggested above the bridge. Looked like northern WI or MI. Six creek chubs off side of main riffle.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

@GaryCinChicago Puffballs, big but not huge

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

Unexpected beauty this morning while back home and rambling with Lady. Really surprised me, considering the weather the last week and a half.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

Grilled a wild goose breast, which I bagged with Jeff Norris's Fox Valley Guide Service in January. Used MeatEater's game marinade, topped with Amish black raspberry jam. Plated with cucumber & tomato slices from Van Der Griend Farm Stand in Lynwood. Paired with mid-range Malbec.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

@catedunlap I'd die for a story like that. Got a couple bear stories like that, but no elk or deer ones

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

Took a break from hunting y-day to find a fishing spot. On the way spotted a harem of elk cows/calves. Couple miles past saw this bull elk resting in a yard near Wharton in PA's elk country. First wild elk that I've seen up close. Inspired me to take a two hour elk tour this a.m.

[The New York Times @nytimes]

Breaking News: Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire and the former mayor of New York City, gave Democrats $80 million in a late push to help them take the House in the midterms, his team told The New York Times.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

I'm hunting near Cherry Springs, Pennsylvania, commonly known as the darkest spot east of the Mississippi River. Before my morning ramble, I was able to take this shot of Orion the Hunter, my favorite constellation. I guess I will find out if it translates to social media.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

On my morning ramble, I surprised the s*** out of Ezra along Lake Springfield. He was targeting blues with catfish rods, 65-pound braid, 30-pound mono leader circle hooks and either live bluegill or cut shad. As I circled back, he happily latched into his biggest of the fall.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

Classic example of why big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), a key prairie grass in Illinois, is known as turkeyfoot, at Rexroat Prairie in Downstate Virginia. Touring natural sites before state gathering of Master Naturalists in Springfield Friday. I love common names like that.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

@JeffAgrest Yes, and it wasn't just a one-second mention. They even spoke to a Fire honcho.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

@catedunlap And it would be a good one

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

After the last 20 hours or so of Chicago sports, I need to post a photo that shows I was in a very happy state just before the unraveling began. This is the sign at the north entrance to Snake Road in far southern Illinois.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

@Andy_FSTA2025 Slight shifting. Photo looks like I was closer than I was. I was below them.

[Dale Bowman @BowmanOutside]

Adult and juvenile water moccasins were the photo of the morning. Found them in a crevice at the base of a bluff along Snake Road in far southern Illinois.