Afterall, this Web log is named for the Stray Cast, which has snapped off the end of the outdoors column in the Sun-Times on Wednesdays since April 2, 2003.

Here's today's:

I'll give the many bowhunters on the Cubs over the years this: They never missed being in the stand for the start of the rut. (Pitchers and catchers, either side of town, can't report fast enough for me.)