Dale Bowman
@bowmanoutside.bsky.social
Former outdoors columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Excellent ending to a serious all-day conference on restoration & conservation, Wild Things 2026, first time Downstate in O'Fallon. Biologist Tony Gerard ended the day with a half comedic/half serious examination on the worldwide phenomenon of Bigfoot. Something to mull on my 4 1/2-hour drive home.
January 31, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Excellent ending to a serious all-day conference on restoration & conservation, Wild Things 2026, first time Downstate in O'Fallon. Biologist Tony Gerard ended the day with a half comedic/half serious examination on the worldwide phenomenon of Bigfoot. Something to mull on my 4 1/2-hour drive home.
Joel Greenberg, Tom Schrader & I tried to spot a golden eagle today. Even without,we had a great time. Here's 2 of the 300 bald eagles we saw in NW Illinois; 250, came at Lock & Dam 13 on the Mississippi. Along the way, we saw a rough-legged hawk & a coyote walking the frozen Mississippi.
January 30, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Joel Greenberg, Tom Schrader & I tried to spot a golden eagle today. Even without,we had a great time. Here's 2 of the 300 bald eagles we saw in NW Illinois; 250, came at Lock & Dam 13 on the Mississippi. Along the way, we saw a rough-legged hawk & a coyote walking the frozen Mississippi.
Sun-Times Metro editor and I eat lunch around the city every couple months. Today was Peach's, corner of 47th and MLK. I had catfish fillets, like freaking butter so soft and perfectly cooked, greens and cheesy grits. Saji went shrimp and cheesy grits. We shared duck bacon. That's right duck bacon.
January 28, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Sun-Times Metro editor and I eat lunch around the city every couple months. Today was Peach's, corner of 47th and MLK. I had catfish fillets, like freaking butter so soft and perfectly cooked, greens and cheesy grits. Saji went shrimp and cheesy grits. We shared duck bacon. That's right duck bacon.
Love the new marketing that TightRope finished just in time for the Chicagoland Fishing Expo in Schaumburg. Try to find the Play Pen in the collage. It feels different to be here not to write, but just to wander around, buy a few things and talk to a ton of people.
January 22, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Love the new marketing that TightRope finished just in time for the Chicagoland Fishing Expo in Schaumburg. Try to find the Play Pen in the collage. It feels different to be here not to write, but just to wander around, buy a few things and talk to a ton of people.
We need more whimsy like this in our museums (and lives). We're at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
January 18, 2026 at 5:15 PM
We need more whimsy like this in our museums (and lives). We're at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
In Baltimore on the first leg of our long Edgar Allan Poe weekend. On a tour at the graveyard of Poe's final resting spot, after several moves. He gives special meaning to it's complicated.
January 17, 2026 at 6:55 PM
In Baltimore on the first leg of our long Edgar Allan Poe weekend. On a tour at the graveyard of Poe's final resting spot, after several moves. He gives special meaning to it's complicated.
Finally made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time. Good Lord, we should have allotted a lot more time. You literally could spend the whole day here. I'm determined to find the Warren Zevon exhibit before we go.
January 16, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Finally made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time. Good Lord, we should have allotted a lot more time. You literally could spend the whole day here. I'm determined to find the Warren Zevon exhibit before we go.
Capt. Ernesto (Thin Blue Line Fishing) & I double at Riverside Fishing Club tonight. His brother Leo Garza, (14.3-pound lakefront walleye), may also show. Meeting begins 6:45 p.m., Ernesto after 7, me around 8. My topics include lakefront, perch & Fox River dams. Berwyn Moose Lodge, 3625 S. Harlem.
January 8, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Capt. Ernesto (Thin Blue Line Fishing) & I double at Riverside Fishing Club tonight. His brother Leo Garza, (14.3-pound lakefront walleye), may also show. Meeting begins 6:45 p.m., Ernesto after 7, me around 8. My topics include lakefront, perch & Fox River dams. Berwyn Moose Lodge, 3625 S. Harlem.
I'll kick off Wilderness Wednesday for the Illinois Extension Service at 6:00 tonight. I'll be talking about public wild spaces along the Kankakee River basin. It's free but you need the zoom link, so register at illinois.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
January 7, 2026 at 2:53 PM
I'll kick off Wilderness Wednesday for the Illinois Extension Service at 6:00 tonight. I'll be talking about public wild spaces along the Kankakee River basin. It's free but you need the zoom link, so register at illinois.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Made Garfield Park Conservatory just in time for the last day of the winter flower show. We took the photo here so that we had Dale Chihuly's glass lilies in the background. I'm never sure what I think of the glass lilies.
January 4, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Made Garfield Park Conservatory just in time for the last day of the winter flower show. We took the photo here so that we had Dale Chihuly's glass lilies in the background. I'm never sure what I think of the glass lilies.
We did our First Day Hike at Walnut Point State Park. First time I've been there so I knocked one more IDNR site off my list to hit them all. We had the place to ourselves. I had to chuckle about the name since I didn't notice any walnuts, but saw plenty of shagbark hickory and white oak.
January 1, 2026 at 7:05 PM
We did our First Day Hike at Walnut Point State Park. First time I've been there so I knocked one more IDNR site off my list to hit them all. We had the place to ourselves. I had to chuckle about the name since I didn't notice any walnuts, but saw plenty of shagbark hickory and white oak.
I only retired from the Sun-Times in early November, so I offered to do the year-end wrap on outdoors stories. Enjoy. Chicago is a wonderful place for outdoors. chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/202...
2025 Year in Review: An ode to the outdoors
Our top 10 stories run the gamut from a huge walleye to a site change for IHSA bass fishing to piping plovers.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I only retired from the Sun-Times in early November, so I offered to do the year-end wrap on outdoors stories. Enjoy. Chicago is a wonderful place for outdoors. chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/202...
My favorite service of the year, the Christmas Eve candlelight service at Flossmoor Community Church. With four adult children, it's special when everyone's together.
December 25, 2025 at 5:33 AM
My favorite service of the year, the Christmas Eve candlelight service at Flossmoor Community Church. With four adult children, it's special when everyone's together.
I finally drew a permit for Saybrook Pheasant Habitat Area Thursday. Despite wind & rain, we rousted a two dozen pheasants (got 2) before heavy rain ended it. After slogging through wind, rain, leftover snow and thick habitat for 3 1/2 miles, we earned a good feed at Blue Star Cafe in Gibson City.
December 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I finally drew a permit for Saybrook Pheasant Habitat Area Thursday. Despite wind & rain, we rousted a two dozen pheasants (got 2) before heavy rain ended it. After slogging through wind, rain, leftover snow and thick habitat for 3 1/2 miles, we earned a good feed at Blue Star Cafe in Gibson City.
Had a wonderful time this afternoon hiking 3 miles around Montrose harbor and the bird sanctuary with Bob Mazzoni, who most frequently edited my outdoors column for the Sun-Times. We talked history and life. I took my usual photo because it looks different every time from the harbor's south side.
December 15, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Had a wonderful time this afternoon hiking 3 miles around Montrose harbor and the bird sanctuary with Bob Mazzoni, who most frequently edited my outdoors column for the Sun-Times. We talked history and life. I took my usual photo because it looks different every time from the harbor's south side.
Well I think the inaugural meeting of the Chicago West Green Drinks went well with Alex Parker of the Green Beer Project. Fascinating topic on the impact climate change is having on beer. Yes I am having fun with my newfound time.
December 9, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Well I think the inaugural meeting of the Chicago West Green Drinks went well with Alex Parker of the Green Beer Project. Fascinating topic on the impact climate change is having on beer. Yes I am having fun with my newfound time.
This kind of story pulls me temporarily out of retirement and away from bear hunting. chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/202...
Leo Garza reels in record walleye in Chicago
The walleye weighed in at 14.3 pounds on a certified scale
chicago.suntimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:08 AM
This kind of story pulls me temporarily out of retirement and away from bear hunting. chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/202...
Dawn popped the remaining color at Allerton on my morning ramble. The multitude of oaks helps with late color and also explains the 40 to 50 gray squirrels I saw on my two-mile ramble. The topper was two pileated woodpeckers, stunningly not making any noise, when I finished at the mansion.
November 16, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Dawn popped the remaining color at Allerton on my morning ramble. The multitude of oaks helps with late color and also explains the 40 to 50 gray squirrels I saw on my two-mile ramble. The topper was two pileated woodpeckers, stunningly not making any noise, when I finished at the mansion.
The process for obtaining a winter fishing pass at Navy Pier Marina opened on Friday. navypiermarina.com/fishing-pass...
Winter Fishing Pass Application | Apply Today
Join Navy Pier Marina's community by filling out our preferred vendor application. Ideal for charters, dealers, and boat clubs.
navypiermarina.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:03 PM
The process for obtaining a winter fishing pass at Navy Pier Marina opened on Friday. navypiermarina.com/fishing-pass...
Karyn and I broke up the drive to my youngest niece's wedding tomorrow by stopping at Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater over Bear Run just before dark today. Highly recommend it.
November 8, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Karyn and I broke up the drive to my youngest niece's wedding tomorrow by stopping at Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater over Bear Run just before dark today. Highly recommend it.
Orion the Hunter dominated the sky as I walked out before dawn bowhunting deer not far from Cherry Springs in Pennsylvania, one of the best night sky spots east of the Mississippi. Okay, I like the symbolic nature of Orion the Hunter dominating the sky as I go out to the blind.
November 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Orion the Hunter dominated the sky as I walked out before dawn bowhunting deer not far from Cherry Springs in Pennsylvania, one of the best night sky spots east of the Mississippi. Okay, I like the symbolic nature of Orion the Hunter dominating the sky as I go out to the blind.
Final notes package, as always with much help from readers and those who know. chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/202...
Chicago outdoors: Chinook draws a crowd, O'Hare buck, fall turkey harvest drop, Stray Cast
Raya Redding's Chinook at 31st drawing a crowd, Scott Richard Holm's O'Hare buck photo, the Stray Cast and an update on navigating the Fox Chain O'Lakes are among the notes from around Chicago outdoor...
chicago.suntimes.com
November 2, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Final notes package, as always with much help from readers and those who know. chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/202...
One of the three ravens at one of my favorite rest stops, the Chautauqua rest area on I-86 across Southern New York. I-86 is just a gem of a drive. I usually try to time it so I can take a lunch break or a rest here. About to disappear for five days to bowhunt deer in the Pennsylvania Wilds.
November 1, 2025 at 6:39 PM
One of the three ravens at one of my favorite rest stops, the Chautauqua rest area on I-86 across Southern New York. I-86 is just a gem of a drive. I usually try to time it so I can take a lunch break or a rest here. About to disappear for five days to bowhunt deer in the Pennsylvania Wilds.
When all four kids were home we had as many as 10 or 12 around the dining room table on Halloween night for Blood and Guts. Karyn would make three pans. Tonight, we barely dented the one pan she made. Time moves on. Good to see other parents out with kids tonight at our new home in Homewood.
November 1, 2025 at 12:51 AM
When all four kids were home we had as many as 10 or 12 around the dining room table on Halloween night for Blood and Guts. Karyn would make three pans. Tonight, we barely dented the one pan she made. Time moves on. Good to see other parents out with kids tonight at our new home in Homewood.
My final column. chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/202...
Dale Bowman, longtime Sun-Times outdoors columnist, escapes for new adventure
After a nearly 30-year run delighting readers at the Sun-Times, it's time to say goodbye.
chicago.suntimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:30 PM
My final column. chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/202...