CHICAGO MUSKIE SHOW: The opening show for Chicago outdoors is the Muskie Show, and it begins today. What can i say, I just love this photo of Jim Saric's daughter Callie, who got into it big time four years ago. Speaking of big, she's older now, obviously.

The show runs through Sunday at Harper College in Palatine. Go to chicagomuskieshow.com

OUTWARD BOUND SPORTING SHOW: I think this is the second year for this show at Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene in Kankakee on Saturday. Go to outdoorlifeadventures.org

ICE FISHING: Weather put a damper on it. I have not heard yet what impact the snow had on ice in the Chicaog harbors, but I doubt that it was good.

EAGLE WATCHING: It's been a relatively slow build of the bald eagles at Starved Rock, but maybe this will finally be the weekend where good numbers show up. . . . Farther afield, today through Sunday is Bald Eagle Days at the QCCA Expo Center in Rock Island, Go to qccaexpocenter.com

HUNTING NOTES: Today is the end for hunting rabbit, pheasant, quail and partridge in Illinois' north zone. . . . Saturday is the end for hunting Canada, snow and white-fronted geese.

FISH GATHERING One last spillover from the Muskie Show: Lake Kinkaid guide Chad Cain will speak at the Chicagoland Muskie Hunters chapter of Muskies Inc.at the Park Ridge VFW at 7:30 p.m. Tueday. Call Dean Rosset at (847) 677-0017 or go to www.chicagolandmuskiehunters.org/

TURKEY DEADLINE: Monday is the deadline for second lottery for spring turkey hunting. Arghh, I don't know how this can happen but a week or so ago I found out I had been rejected for every possibility of my first lottery application. Go to http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/turkey.htm

PERSONAL PICKS: I had hoped to make the Chicago Muskie Show today, because i wanted to see the video seminar by Don Schwartz, but weather left me with unexpected kid duties, so that's unlikely. So Saturday,or Super Star Saturday, as I like to call it, will be my day for visiting the Muskie Show.

UPCOMING SHOWS:

Chicago Boat, RV & Outdoors Show, Wednesday-Jan. 17, McCormick Place North, www.ChicagoBoatShow.com

All-Canada Show, Thursday-Jan. 17, Pheasant Run, St. Charles, http://www.allcanadashow.com/html/chicago/.

Musky Road Rules Cabin Fever Clinic, Jan. 16, Holiday Inn, Elk Grove Village, muskyroadrules.com

Musky Road Rules Cabin Fever Clinic, Jan. 17, Hilton Garden Inn, Rockford, muskyroadrules.com

Hammond Outdoor Sports Show, Jan. 23-24, Jean Shepherd Community Center, Hammond, Ind. sportsshow.gohammond.com

America's Outdoor Show, Jan. 27-31, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, americasoutdoorshow.com

Strictly Sail Chicago, Jan. 28-31, Navy Pier, www.strictlysailchicago.com

Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo, Jan. 29-31, Pheasant Run, St. Charles, greatwatersflyfishingexpo.com

Chicago RV & Camping Show, Feb. 10-14, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, thervshow.com

Tinley Park Fishing & Outdoor Show, Feb. 13-14, Tinley Park High School, tinleyparkfishingshow.com

[LATE ADD] Henry Decoy Show, Feb. 14, Henry-Senachwine High School, Henry. Contact Susan or Bruce Bauter at (309) 364-4104 or bbauter@mchsi.com

Our World-Underwater, Feb. 19-21, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, www.ourworldunderwater.com

Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic, Feb. 26-28, Interstate Center, Bloomington, deerinfo.com/illinoishome.asp

Chicago Maritime Festival, Feb. 27, Chicago History Museum, chicagomaritimefestival.org

Northwest Indiana Steelheaders Spring Fever Outdoor Show, Feb. 27-28, Expo Center, Valparaiso, Ind., nwisteelheaders.org

Lake Home & Cabin Show, March 5-7, Schaumburg Convention Center, www.lakehomeandcabinshow.com

Rockford Boat Show and companion Fishing & Outdoor Expo, March 5-7, Indoor Sports Center, Rockford, showtimeproduction.net o click here for the expo and click here for the boat show

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show, March 10-14, Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, Wis., www2.jsonline.com/sportsshow

Canoecopia, March 12-14, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, www.rutabaga.com/canoecopia

Indoor Fishing Flea Market, March 13, Rolling Meadows High School, by the Chicagoland Muskie Hunters and the RMHS Choral Boosters, www.muskiesinc.org/chapters/03/indoorFishingFleaMarket.asp

Travel and Adventures Show, March 20-21, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, adventureexpo.com

Great Outdoors Expo, March 27-28, Woodstock North High School, Woodstock, greatoutdoorsexpo.net

National Antique Decoy and Sporting Collectibles Show, April 23-24, Pheasant Run, St. Charles, midwestdecoy.org