During the hunting seasons, the extended online version of the IHR, which appears most weeks during the hunting season in the outdoors page of the Sun-Times on Wednesdays, is usually posted here on Tuesdays. I am late today.

If you have suggestions, e-mail me at straycasts@sbcglobal.net or post in the comments.

DOVE SEASON

Even sitting in the shade Thursday afternoon was brutal. It hit 101 and felt every bit of it. Friday was more of the same. But there were some doves flying.

Dove reports were variable. Click here for the opening day numbers in northeast Illinois I pulled together. Kankakee River SP was the good surprise, most of the other surprises were on the down side.

I heard better reports on private land.

BUCK OF THE WEEK PHOTOS

I have started to get some trail cam photos, which are pretty cool. If I get enough, I may kick off BOTW, the celebration of big bucks bagged by hunters, a month or so earlier than most years.

BOTW runs Wednesdays around hunting seasons and BOTW: Unplugged on Sundays much of the year on the outdoors page in the Sun-Times.

E-mail nominations to straycasts@sbcglobal.net

EARLY CANADA GOOSE SEASON

Season runs through Sept. 15. I've heard some decent to good reports for those hunting water in the Chicago are and, according to Heartland Outdoors, for some in the Peoria area.

TEAL SEASON

Season runs through Sept. 18. Had some reports of birds seen on the Illinois from Facebook friends. Not a lot though. Heartland Outdoors had some slight reports, too.

SQUIRRELS

As of today, add Silver Springs SFWA and Kankakee River SP to Iroquois SWA as northeast Illinois sites open to squirrel hunting.

DEER

Resident and non-resident Illinois Youth Firearm Deer permits are available over-the-counter only from DNR Direct license and permit vendors.

WATERFOWL

The second lottery deadline for the Illinois 2011 Public Duck and Goose Hunting Area Permit program runs through Sept. 13 for those unsuccessful resident applicants from the first lottery, residents who didn't apply in the first lottery, and non-residents. All initial applications must be made online at www.dnr.illinois.gov/duck or www.dnr.illinois.gov/goose.

ARCHERY

Archery deer, turkey and firearm youth deer permits are on sale over-the-counter.

ILLINOIS HUNTING ONLINE

For IDNR hunting info, click here.

For the Illinois 2011-12 Digest of Hunting & Trapping Regulations, click here.

For the 2010-11 Illinois Public Hunting Areas Report, click here.

The 2011-12 edition of the Digest of Waterfowl Hunting Regulation is now online, click here.

For Illinois crop reports (generally posted Monday afternoons, holiday weekends are the exceptions), click here. After holidays, such as Labor Day, it comes out on Tuesday.