Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.

Crappie in Chicago is the theme this week. BoRabb Williams texted Monday, “For the 1st time EVER, we fished for crappie in the Chicago RIVER and we were SHOCKED, catching Slab crappie 12-14 inches, thick ones averaging 1 1/2 pounds, big bluegills and some nice bass and catfish that we threw back. Impressed.” In the photo, Nolan Martin holds a pair of big crappie from the Chicago River.

Must have been a good weekend for crappie. A couple hours later Jason “Special One” Le texted about catching a 15-inch crappie at Montrose Harbor.

A pair of deer munching their way through Beverly.

A: Between nesting eagles, established coyotes, a stray mountain lion and wild turkeys arriving, not much in Chicago outdoors stuns me anymore. A wolverine would.

Wednesday, June 18: Chain O’Lakes Gun Bingo , Fox Lake American Legion, 5:30 p.m.

Through Monday, June 16: Illinois free fishing days, no licenses or stamps required, other regulations apply.