FebruaryMarch2016IndianaOutdoorNews

FebMarch16.qxp_OctNov15 2/9/16 4:12 AM Page 1

Indiana’s Choice for Outdoor News & Information • Since 1994

FEBRUARY-MARCH OUTDOOR CALENDARS - PAGE 3

VOL. 2016 • No. 2

INSIDE:

HUNTING PAGE 6

TRAVELING WITH FIREARMS PAGE 8

GADGETS & GEAR PAGE 10

FISHING PAGE 12

GONE AFIELD PAGE 15

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY HONORS STATE PARKS’ 100TH FEBRUARY-MARCH 2016

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DNR - The Indiana General Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a concurrent resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Indiana State Parks system.

The resolution recognized State Parks for “contributions to the health, recreation, and outdoor education of Indiana’s citizens and guests, and its commitment to the conservation of the State of Indiana’s unique natural and cultural resources held in trust in those state parks.”

Rep. Sean Eberhart (RShelbyville) authored the resolution (CR 13) in the House, and Sen. Sue Glick (R-LaGrange) was the Senate sponsor.

The resolution congratulated Indiana State Parks

for “its continued commitment to providing outstanding outdoor experiences for all of Indiana’s citizens, and to maintaining excellence in stewardship of the natural and cultural resources with which the system is entrusted.”

DNR director Cameron Clark, who spoke to both the House and Senate on the measure, expressed appreciation for the General Assembly’s support of state parks.

“It was an honor to stand before both houses while they recognized the importance of our state parks to Indiana,” Clark said. “The reception we received was truly humbling.”

DNR State Parks division director Dan Bortner

said: “I am very appreciative of the General Assembly taking time out of its busy schedule to recognize the partnership that began a century ago when they created the Indiana State Parks system. While time has passed, the affection Hoosiers have for these special places has not, and that was evidenced by the warm reception we experienced today.”

State Parks were established in 1916 when McCormick’s Creek (Owen County) and Turkey Run (Parke County) were presented as gifts to Indiana citizens in celebration of 100 years of statehood.

At the time, state parks advocate Col. Richard Lieber said: “The chief purpose of State Parks is to

refresh and strengthen and renew tired people, and fit them for the common round of daily life … I hope and trust that the small beginning we have made will have laid the foundation for a comprehensive system of State Parks which will not only stand forever as a token of the past, but which will bring health, wealth and happiness to our own generation and the many that will come after us.”

Since then, the DNR Division of State Parks has grown to 32 properties, including 24 state parks and eight U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs, as well as seven State Park inns. Together they annually attract an average of 15-16 million visitors.

DNR - Hoosier Prairie Nature Preserve, one of the best remaining grasslands in the state, will benefit from the generosity of a lifelong conservationist in northwest Indiana.

Myrna Newgent of Portage has established an endowment through the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation to help pay for the long-term stewardship of the 719-acre property in Lake County.

Owned and managed by the DNR Division of Nature Preserves, Hoosier Prairie is a large remnant of the prairie landscape that was once common in northwest Indiana. It features a wealth of plant diversity due to a wide range of moisture conditions that are affected by slopes and swales. It is also an excellent place to birdwatch.

The endowment may fund labor by summer interns and temporary workers, contracts to perform land stewardship, and

site improvements such as parking lots, trails, fencing and signs, according to DNR Nature Preserves director John Bacone.

“Myrna’s generosity will help keep Hoosier Prairie Nature Preserve in a natural ecological condition,” Bacone said. “Visitors will continue to be able to enjoy a piece of the ‘original Indiana,’ as it was in 1816.”

The DNR and the Natural Resources Foundation are hosting a public event with Newgent at 1 p.m. CST on Jan. 26 at the Schererville Town Hall to recognize Newgent and provide information about the endowment, including how people can contribute.

Newgent is a longtime member, past-president and life trustee of the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, which works on land conservation in northwest Indiana. In her positions with the Heinze Land Trust, Newgent worked collaboratively with the Division of Nature

Preserves to identify and protect a number of dedicated nature preserves in northwest Indiana.

Newgent also has volunteered with the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore for 35 years, and served for 15 years as a volunteer with the American Cancer Society. She has been a resident of northwest Indiana for more than 50 years.

The Indiana Natural Resources Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that exists to promote, support, assist, sustain and encourage the charitable, educational and scientific programs, projects and policies of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Information is at dnr.IN.gov/3240.htm.

NEW ENDOWMENT WILL HELP HOOSIER PRAIRIE NATURE PRESERVE

COMPLIMENTS OF:

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

February-March 2016

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February-March2016

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

Indiana Outdoor Calendar February thru March 2016

February 1: Dog Running (Raccoon, Opossum) season opens and runs through October 25 February 11: Gypsy Moth Treatment Public Meeting, Kosciusko County February 20-21: Spring Mill State Park hosts Civil War winter battle renactment March 4: Eastern Fron WWII Military Battles, Fort Harrison State Park March 5: Youth Put and Take Pheasant Hunt, J.E. Roush Fish & Wildlife Area March 12: Go FishIN Crew Captain Workshop at the Golden-Burke Sciut Center, Indianapolis For more details on the events listed above, visit www.in.gov

A variety of Hunter Education courses are offered around the state this month. For details, visit www.in.gov/dnr/lawenfor/4812.htm.

Check http://www.ducks.org/indiana/events/ for a complete list of Ducks Unlimited events throughout Indiana this month.

Check http://www.nwtf.org/indiana/hh_banquets.html for a complete list of National Wild Turkey Federation banquets in Indiana this month.

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F E B R A U A R Y 01 Mon 02 Tue 03 Wed 04 Thu 05 Fri 06 Sat 07 Sun 08 Mon 09 Tue 10 Wed 11 Thu 12 Fri 13 Sat 14 Sun 15 Mon 16 Tue 17 Wed 18 Thu 19 Fri 20 Sat 21 Sun 22 Mon 23 Tue 24 Wed 25 Thu 26 Fri 27 Sat 28 Sun 29 Mon

A.M. Minor 12:30 1:26 2:21 3:17 4:10 5:02 5:29 6:34 7:15 7:54 8:32 9:09 11:25p 11:25p 12:31 1:35 2:34 3:28 4:17 5:01 5:40 6:16 6:48 7:19 7:48 8:18 8:49 11:15p 11:15p

A.M Major 5:28 6:15 7:03 7:54 8:47 9:41 11:07p 12:02 12:56 1:50 2:44 3:37 4:31 5:26 6:20 7:15 8:09 9:01 9:51 10:40 11:02p 11:02p 11:47p 12:31 1:14 1:57 2:40 3:23 4:08

P. M. Minor 11:23a 12:00 12:42 1:30 2:24 3:24 4:29 5:36 6:46 7:57 9:07 10:16 9:48a 10:28a 11:12a 12:00 12:51 1:46 2:43 3:42 4:41 5:39 6:37 7:33 8:29 9:25 10:20 9:22a 9:57a

P.M. Major 5:54 6:41 7:31 8:22 9:16 10:11 10:37a 11:32a 12:27 1:21 2:15 3:09 4:02 4:56 5:51 6:46 7:40 8:33 9:25 10:14 11:04 11:26a 12:11 12:55 1:37 2:20 3:03 3:48 4:33

Sunrise 7:53 7:52 7:51 7:50 7:49 7:48 7:47 7:46 7:44 7:43 7:42 7:41 7:40 7:38 7:37 7:36 7:35 7:33 7:32 7:31 7:29 7:28 7:27 7:25 7:24 7:22 7:21 7:19 7:18

Sunset 6:03 6:04 6:06 6:07 6:08 6:09 6:10 6:12 6:13 6:14 6:15 6:16 6:18 6:19 6:20 6:21 6:22 6:23 6:25 6:26 6:27 6:28 6:29 6:30 6:31 6:32 6:34 6:35 6:36

Quality Fair Poor Poor Poor Bad Fair Great Excellent Good Poor Bad Poor Fair Fair Fair Fair Bad Bad Poor Fair Great Excellent Good Good Poor Bad Bad Poor Fair

All times are for the Eastern Time zone and are calibrated for Indianapolis

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01 Tue 02 Wed 03 Thu 04 Fri 05 Sat 06 Sun 07 Mon 08 Tue 09 Wed 10 Thu 11 Fri 12 Sat 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed 17 Thu 18 Fri 19 Sat 20 Sun 21 Mon 22 Tue 23 Wed 24 Thu 25 Fri 26 Sat 27 Sun 28 Mon 29 Tue 30 Wed 31 Thu

A.M. Minor 12:10 1:04 1:58 2:49 3:37 4:23 5:06 5:46 6:25 7:04 7:44 8:25 11:19p 12:26 1:28 2:25 3:16 4:01 4:41 5:17 5:50 6:20 6:50 7:20 7:50 8:22 11:03p 11:03p 11:57p 12:50 1:40

A

A.M Major 4:55 5:43 6:34 7:27 8:20 9:15 10:40p 11:36p 12:31 1:27 2:22 3:19 5:15 6:10 7:05 7:58 8:49 9:37 10:23 10:44p 10:44p 11:28p 12:11 12:54 1:37 2:20 3:04 3:50 4:37 5:26 6:17

P. M. Minor 10:37a 11:21a 12:10 1:06 2:07 3:13 4:22 5:33 6:45 7:58 9:09 10:19 10:09a 10:57a 11:48a 12:42 1:39 2:36 3:34 4:32 5:29 6:26 7:22 8:17 9:13 10:08 8:56a 9:34a 10:16a 11:02a 11:54a

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P.M. Major 5:21 6:11 7:02 7:56 8:50 9:45 10:11a 11:06a 12:01 12:57 1:52 2:48 4:45 5:41 6:36 7:30 8:22 9:11 9:59 10:46 11:08a 11:52a 12:35 1:17 2:00 2:44 3:29 4:16 5:04 5:54 6:45

C

Sunrise 7:17 7:15 7:14 7:12 7:10 7:09 7:07 7:06 7:04 7:03 7:01 7:00 7:58 7:56 7:55 7:53 7:52 7:50 7:48 7:47 7:45 7:44 7:42 7:40 7:39 7:37 7:36 7:34 7:32 7:31 7:29

Sunset 6:37 6:38 6:39 6:40 6:41 6:42 6:43 6:44 6:45 6:46 6:48 6:49 7:50 7:51 7:52 7:53 7:54 7:55 7:56 7:57 7:58 7:59 8:00 8:01 8:02 8:03 8:04 8:05 8:06 8:07 8:08

H

Quality Fair Fair Fair Poor Bad Poor Fair Excellent Great Fair Bad Bad Fair Fair Fair Fair Poor Bad Bad Poor Good Great Excellent Good Fair Poor Bad Bad Fair Fair Fair

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M INNEHAHA F ISH TO C LOSE

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

AND

W ILDLIFE A REA

DNR - Minnehaha Fish and Wildlife Area, a 3,500-acre property in Sullivan County managed by the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, will close April 1.

M i n n e h a h a F WA w a s c r e a t e d i n 1 9 8 5 , w h e n D N R l e a s e d 1 2 , 5 0 0 acres to manag e for recreational use. Over the years, the size of the facility was reduced to its cur rent size.

On Jan. 12, American Land Holdings of Indiana, a subsidiar y of P e a b o d y E n e r g y, t e r m i n a t e d t h e l e a s e w i t h D N R , w h i c h w i l l r e s u l t i n the April closure. DNR staff members are working to remove Stateowned assets from the property and will be removing DNR signs prior to the closing date.

“Peabody Energ y has been a valuable par tner in making recreationa l l a n d s ava i l a b l e f o r p u b l i c u s e f o r m a n y y e a r s,” s a i d M a r k Re i t e r, D N R D i v i s i o n o f F i s h & W i l d l i f e d i r e c t o r . “ We w i l l r e m a i n i n c o m m u n i c a t i o n f o r p o s s i b l e f u t u r e p a r t n e r s h i p s.”

Despite the closure of Minnehaha, the DNR manages several other o p t i o n s i n t h e a r e a f o r o u t d o o r e n t h u s i a s t s — F a i r b a n k s L a n d i n g F WA ( S u l l i v a n C o u n t y ) , G o o s e P o n d a n d H i l l e n b r a n d F WA s ( G r e e n e C o u n t y ) , a n d C h i n o o k a n d Wa b a s h i k i F WA s ( V i g o C o u n t y ) . A l s o n e a r by are Greene-Sullivan State Forest, Shakamak State Park, and Redbird State Recreation Area.

F IREWOOD P ERMITS AVAILABLE AT T IPPECANOE R IVER S TATE PARK

DNR - The public is invited to cut certain downed, dead trees for firewood from picnic areas, roadsides, and campg rounds at Tippecanoe River State Park.

I n J a n u a r y, F e b r u a r y a n d M a r c h , h a z a r d o u s t r e e s a n d t h o s e damaged by the emerald ash borer (EAB) insect will be dropped a n d p l a c e d w h e r e t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c m a y c o m e i n , c u t u p, a n d h a u l it away as firewood at a cost of $10 per pick-up tr uck load. All revenue from these sales will be used to enhance the natural resource areas of the park.

A firewood per mit must be obtained for each load at the park o f f i c e b e t w e e n 9 a . m . a n d 3 p . m . , M o n d a y t h r o u g h F r i d a y, E S T. Wo o d m a y b e c u t a n d r e m o v e d b e t w e e n 8 a . m . a n d 4 p . m . , M o n d a y t h r o u g h F r i d a y, E S T. e r m i t s a l e s a n d c u t t i n g b o t h b e g i n J a n . 2 5 a n d e n d M a r ch 1 5 . Fo r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l t h e p a r k a t ( 5 7 4 ) 946-3213.

Firewood cut at Tippecanoe River State Park is for personal use o n l y. N o d o w n e d t r e e s w i l l b e r e m o v e d f r o m d e d i c a t e d n a t u r e p r e s e r ve s.

The ban on transporting ash between Indiana counties is being removed because the EAB insect is now widespread in the state.

Regulator y tools and funding will be directed to other potential t h r e a t s t o f o r e s t r e s o u r c e s.

Rules for bringing firewood to DNR proper ties remain in place a n d a r e d e t a i l e d a t f i r e w o o d . d n r . I N . g o v. T h e D N R d o e s n o t r e c o m mend long-distance movement of firewood of any species due to the potential for moving other insect pests and tree diseases b e yo n d l o c a l l y i m p a c t e d a r e a s. “ L o n g - d i s t a n c e m ove m e n t ” i s m ov i n g b e yo n d t h e i m m e d i a t e c o u n t y o r s u r r o u n d i n g c o u n t i e s.

Any ash firewood obtained at the proper ty should be bur ned before spring (mid-April to early May at the latest) to help limit EAB movement within your home area. EAB lar vae are generally dor mant in the winter—living under the bark—and emerge in late s p r i n g a s a d u l t b e e t l e s. S o, i f t h e f i r e wo o d i s a l l g o n e, n o E A B adults could emerge from the wood if the lar vae are present. If you cannot use all the wood before spring (mid-April to early May), keep it completely covered while storing it.

T i p p e c a n o e R i v e r S t a t e Pa r k ( s t a t e p a r k s. I N. g o v / 2 9 6 5 . h t m ) i s a t 4200 Nor th US 35 Winamac, 46996.

February-March 2016

F IREWOOD P ROGRAMS E XTENDED AT T URKEY R UN , S HADES S TATE PARKS

DNR - A program that allows the public to c u t c e r t a i n d ow n e d t r e e s a t Tu r ke y Ru n a n d Shades state parks for firewood has been e x t e n d e d t h r o u g h Fe b. 2 9 .

Some trees that have died naturally or have blown down during stor ms are available to cut and haul away for $5 per pickup tr uck load. The available trees are in design a t e d r o a d s i d e a n d p u b l i c - u s e a r e a s.

A firewood per mit must be obtained for e a ch l o a d a t t h e Tu r ke y Ru n S t a t e Pa r k office or gate house between 9 a.m. and 3 p . m . d a i l y, i n c l u d i n g w e e k e n d s . P e r m i t s a r e not available on obser ved state holidays, i n c l u d i n g J a n . 1 8 , M a r t i n L u t h e r K i n g ’s o b s e r v e d b i r t h d a y.

Per mit sales were originally set to end on Jan. 31. T his week, park officials decided to extend the program.

Wo o d m a y b e c u t a n d r e m o v e d b e t w e e n 9 a . m . a n d 3 : 3 0 p . m . d a i l y. F o r m o r e i n f o r m a tion, call (765) 597-2635.

F i r e wo o d c u t a t Tu r ke y Ru n a n d S h a d e s i s f o r p e r s o n a l u s e o n l y. A l l r e v e n u e f r o m firewood per mits will g o into a proper tyspecific fund for resource management. No downed trees will be removed from dedic a t e d n a t u r e p r e s e r ve s.

The ban on transporting ash between Indiana counties is being removed because the emerald ash borer insect (EAB) is now widespread in the state. Regulator y tools and funding will be directed to other p o t e n t i a l t h r e a t s t o f o r e s t r e s o u r c e s.

Rules for bringing firewood to DNR properties remain in place. The DNR does not recommend long-distance movement of firewood of any species due to the potential for moving other insect pests and tree diseases beyond locally impacted areas.

“Long-distance movement” is moving beyond the immediate county or surroundi n g c o u n t i e s.

Any ash firewood obtained at the property should be burned before spring (midApril to early May at the latest) to help limit EAB movement within your home area. EAB lar vae are generally dor mant in the winter—living under the bark—and e m e r g e i n l a t e s p r i n g a s a d u l t b e e t l e s. S o, if the firewood is all g one, no EAB adults could emerge from the wood if the lar vae are present. If you cannot use all the wood before spring (mid-April to early May), keep it completely covered while storing it.

Tu r ke y Run State ( s t a t e p a r k s. I N. g o v / 2 9 6 4 . h t m ) i s East Park Rd. Marshall, 47859.

at

Park 8121

FebMarch16.qxp_OctNov15 2/9/16 4:12 AM Page 5

E VEN A S G ROWTH IN O NLINE O UBACHE S TATE PARK S PORTING L ICENSE S ALES T REND O FFERS I NDIANA M ASTER U PWARD , B RICK - AND -M ORTAR S TORES N ATURALIST C LASS S TILL P LAY P RIMARY R OLE DNR - Learn more about nature and then

February-March 2016

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

SOUTHWICK ASSOCIATES, INC. - W hie a g rowing number of sportsmen embrace the availability and convenience of buying hunting and fishing licenses online, the longstanding tradition of standing in line at a local bait and tackle or sporting shop is alive and well. In f a c t , e ve n a s o n l i n e p u r c h a s i n g t r e n d s c o n t i n u e t o c l i m b, t h e m a j o r i t y of licenses are still purchased in brick-and-mortar stores according to recent sur veys conducted by A n g l e r S u r v e y. c o m and H u n t e r S u r v e y. c o m .

Fo r h u n t e r s, t h e p r a c t i c e o f p u r ch a s i n g l i c e n s e s o n l i n e h a s g r ow n 12 percent from what was reported in 2011, the first year H u n t e r S u r v e y. c o m a s k e d t h e q u e s t i o n . I n t h a t s a m e t i m e f r a m e , s a l e s at local retail locations have dropped only two percent. So what locations have lost out as online purchases climb? License purchases at g overnment offices and at "other" locations not specified in the survey have each dropped five percent in that same time period.

On the fishing front, online license purchases have climbed 14 percent since 2011 with retailers taking a bigger hit in license sales from their angling customers than from hunters with 11 percent fewer s p o r t s m a n b u y i n g f i s h i n g l i c e n s e s f r o m r e t a i l e r s. T h a t s a i d , l o c a l shops and big box store locations still account for half of total fishi n g l i c e n s e s a l e s. I n t h a t s a m e t i m e, g ove r n m e n t o f f i c e s a r e s e l l i n g one percent fewer licenses and "other" locations are selling four perc e n t l e s s.

Southwick Associates is working with state agencies to help redesign their licenses and set better prices that boost agency reve nu e s a n d p r ov i d e a n g l e r a n d h u n t e r s w i t h b e t t e r l i c e n s e o p t i o n s.

"Online license sales will naturally continue to grow as more and more hunters and anglers take advantage of the convenience technolog y offers," says Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, w h i c h d e s i g n s a n d c o n d u c t s t h e s u r v e y s a t H u n t e r S u r v e y. c o m , S h o o t e r S u r v e y. c o m a n d A n g l e r S u r v e y. c o m . " B u t f o r l o c a l r e t a i l e r s a n d even larger chains that sell sporting licenses the opportunity to make additional sales of products that appeal to or are needed by hunters and anglers when they visit those locations to buy a license is still huge and will likely continue to be for some time."

To h e l p c o n t i n u a l l y i m p r o v e , p r o t e c t a n d a d v a n c e h u n t i n g , s h o o t ing and fishing, all spor tsmen and spor tswomen are encouraged to p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e b i - m o n t h l y s u r v e y s a t H u n t e r S u r v e y. c o m , S h o o t e r S u r v e y. c o m a n d / o r A n g l e r S u r v e y. c o m . E v e r y o t h e r m o n t h , participants who complete the sur veys are entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates to the sporting g oods retailer of their choice.

P RESCRIBED F IRE P LANNED FOR 123 A CRES OF C LARK S TATE F OREST

DNR - The DNR will conduct a prescribed fire on 123 acres of C l a r k S t a t e F o r e s t i n C l a r k a n d Wa s h i n g t o n c o u n t i e s i n l a t e w i n t e r o r e a r l y s p r i n g.

T h e b u r n w i l l t a ke p l a c e b e t we e n Fe b r u a r y a n d M a r ch , d e p e n d i n g o n we a t h e r a n d o t h e r va r i a b l e s.

The prescribed fire area was involved in a tornado in 2012 a n d c o n s i s t s o f l a r g e a m o u n t s o f wo o d y d e b r i s.

T he main objective of the bur n is to consume the debris, reduce wildfire risk and carry out resource management.

All DNR prescribed fires are conducted under controlled conditions by qualified wildland firefighters from throughout the DNR.

Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l D a r r e n B r i d g e s, D N R s t a t e f i r e c o o r d i nator, at (765) 342-4701.

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Page 5

share your knowledge with others by becoming an Indiana Master Naturalist through O u a b a ch e S t a t e Pa r k t h i s s p r i n g.

Ouabache State Park has par tnered with F r i e n d s o f O u a b a c h e S t a t e P a r k , We l l s C o u n t y P u r d u e E x t e n s i o n , We l l s C o u n t y YMCA and Limberlost State Historic Site to host an Indiana Master Naturalist class from March 16 through May 11.

S e s s i o n s a r e o n We d n e s d a y s f r o m 6 - 9 : 3 0 p. m .

The Indiana Master Naturalist Program (IMNP) is an educational/volunteer prog ram developed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Purdue University Extension. The mission of IMNP is to bring together natural resources specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of I n d i a n a ’s p l a n t s , w a t e r , s o i l s a n d w i l d l i f e and to promote volunteer ser vice in local c o m mu n i t i e s.

Ouabache State Park proper ty manag er Dustin Clark said he hopes graduates of the Ouabache class will use their newly learned skills as volunteers for the park and the Fr i e n d s g r o u p.

C l a s s s i z e w i l l b e l i m i t e d t o 3 0 s t u d e n t s.

The fee for the class is $75. Registrations a r e d u e by Fe b. 2 3 .

To g e t a r e g i s t r a t i o n f o r m o r t o l e a r n more about the prog ram, contact Jody Heaston, Indiana State Parks volunteer c o o r d i n a t o r, a t j h e a s t o n @ d n r. I N. g o v o r ( 2 6 0 ) 4 3 7 - 8 6 5 0 , o r v i s i t We l l s C o u n t y Purdue Extension at 4-H Park in Bluffton.

The standard park entrance fee will be wa ive d f o r s t u d e n t s d u r i n g c l a s s t i m e s.

Ouabache State Park ( s t a t e p a r k s. I N. g o v / 2 9 7 5 . h t m ) i s a t 4 9 3 0 E .

St. Rd. 201, Bluffton, 46714.

C AMPGROUND H OSTS N EEDED AT I NDIANA S TATE PARKS

DNR - Indiana's state parks are looking for volunteers to ser ve as campg round hosts in exchange for free camping during their ser vice.

Hosts work a minimum of 20 hours per week. T he volunteer period varies at sites, based on the number of applicants and on the amount and type of work required.

Properties are looking for dedicated campers who enjoy working outdoors, with people and with DNR staff.

Properties needing volunteers for hosts a r e B r o w n C o u n t y, C l i f t y F a l l s , O u a b a c h e , Po k a g o n a n d Po t a t o C r e e k s t a t e p a r k s, a n d M o n r o e a n d H a r d y l a ke s.

Campground hosts are also needed at S t a t e Fo r e s t c a m p g r o u n d s.

A complete list of site availability and detailed information about hosting duties is a t s t a t e p a r k s. I N. g o v / 2 4 0 4 . h t m o r c o n t a c t t h e proper ty where you would like to ser ve as a host.

Completion of a volunteer application is r e q u i r e d t o a p p l y. D o w n l o a d a v o l u n t e e r application form at s t a t e p a r k s. I N. g o v / 2 4 4 3 . h t m

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

HUNTING Feral hogs are more of a problem in Indiana than you may realize. Present in numerous southern counties, their destructive nature hurts our state scientifically and economically. Leaders from federal and state agencies recognize the problem and are working together to eradicate feral hogs. However, they can’t solve this problem without the support of citizens.

Like most wildlife issues, humans are to blame for our feral hog problem.

Parker Hall, an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service scientist with the USDA, said, “Gooseneck trailers are one of the biggest problems we face with feral hogs.”

What Hall means is, people are using trailers to haul hogs to other parts of the state where they release them to create populations for hunting.

The people doing this either don’t understand

February-March 2016

Hunting Not the Answer for Feral Hogs By Brandon Butler

the destructive nature of feral hogs, or simply don’t care. Either way, it’s illegal and must be discouraged.

We don’t want a feral hog population in Indiana.

We need to wipe out the feral hogs that are already here, but hunting is not the answer to eliminating them. In fact, research has proven that hunting hogs actually increases their numbers. Now I know that may leave a few of you scratching your heads, but you have to understand the problem. Hogs are elusive, they multiply rapidly and they roam large areas.

Trapping is the best way to significantly impact hog populations, but it takes time and a lot of work. First, the large, corral style traps must be built. Then they must be consistently baited for several days or weeks to attract the targeted group of hogs. You want to catch as many hogs as possible at once. It takes weeks to build the trust of

the entire group at a bait site. If a hunter comes in there and disrupts the hogs just once, the whole set may be blown.

It takes weeks of work to trap hogs when everything goes right. But if hunters chase hogs or disrupt a bait site, then they’ll scatter and move to new areas. As a result, trapping efforts have been wasted and feral hogs have expanded into new areas.

Hunting is a huge part of my life. I work everyday to support the rights of hunters and the privilege of hunting. So it’s against my nature to say hunting isn’t the answer to solving an unwanted wildlife population, but in this situation, hunting is not the answer. Trapping is the right thing to do for our landscape, native wildlife species and agricultural operations.

Although there is already a small contingent of hog hunters in Indiana, we do not want a wide-

Research has proven trapping is the best way to eliminate feral hog populations.

spread culture of hog hunting to be established, because if there is a culture of hog hunting, those hunters will want hogs on the landscape. A desire for hogs impedes the need to completely eradicate them from the state.

Feral hogs cause over $1 billion dollars a year in damage across North America, including $800 million in damage to farms. Hogs are voracious eaters and can decimate

Legislature Celebrates 100 Years of Indiana State Parks By Brandon Butler

an agricultural field overnight. They also hurt populations of native wildlife, like deer and turkeys, by competing for food. Hogs consume acorns and other critical food sources for deer and wildlife species. Hunters and wildlife enthusiasts should want hogs eradicated from our landscape.

Trapping is the best way to make this happen.

See you down the trail…

To celebrate Indiana’s 100th birthday in 1916, citizens were gifted the Potato Creek State Park. My love affair with paddling canoes began with a trip down Sugar Creek while camping at Turkey Run State Indiana State Parks system. A 100 years later, our state parks are Park. Running down the steep dunes at the Indiana Dunes State Park, some of the finest in the nation and serve millions of visitors per hoping to make it all the way to the water without tumbling face first year. into the sand from too much speed. Wildlife watching with my young State Parks offer citizens so many opportunities for outdoor daughters at O’Bannon Woods State Park helped me instill an apprerecreation. Camping, hiking, fishing, swimming, picnicking and so ciation of nature in my children. many more pastimes are available to visitors. With minimal entrance Camping is the highlight of most of these properties, but each fees, state parks offer affordable recreation for families from all state park has its own special attribwalks of life. utes and attractions. Visitors can Colonel Richard Lieber is credited as the expect each park to be held to the father of the Indiana State Park System. In highest standards of cleanliness, the book “Hoosiers and the American accessibility and amenities. Tent Story,” Lieber is quoted as saying, “Our campers and RV enthusiasts will find parks and preserves are not mere picnicking Indiana State Parks welcoming and places. They are rich storehouses of memoenjoyable. ries and reveries. They are guides and counWith incredible state parks spread sels to the weary and faltering in spirit. all across the state, it can be difficult They are bearers of wonderful tales to him to distinguish a few as superior to the who will listen; a solace to the aged and an rest, but there are some very unique inspiration to the young.” state parks in Indiana. One of This week, the Indiana General Indiana’s premier state parks is the Assembly passed a concurrent resolution Indiana Dunes. It is located on Lake honoring the 100th anniversary of the Michigan and features an unparalleled Indiana State Parks system. The resolution beach along the lakeshore. The park recognized State Parks for “contributions to the health, recreation, and outdoor educa- Horseback riding is just one of the many outdoor opportunities available at Indiana offers miles trails through the dunes and costal habitat. Indiana Dunes tion of Indiana’s citizens and guests, and its State Parks.

State Park is truly a unique destination that draws people from all commitment to the conservation of the State of Indiana’s unique over the country. natural and cultural resources held in trust in those state parks.”

Indiana is often called a fly-over state, leaving folks from the According to a press release issued by the DNR, State Parks divicoasts to wonder why they would want to visit. One trip to any of sion director Dan Bortner said, “I am very appreciative of the our scenic and accommodating state parks will answer that question, General Assembly taking time out of its busy schedule to recognize and will surely leave camping enthusiasts eager to explore more of the partnership that began a century ago when they created the Indiana’s amazing state parks.

Indiana State Parks system. While time has passed, the affection For more information or to make reservations for camping at an Hoosiers have for these special places has not, and that was eviIndiana State Park, visit http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/ denced by the warm reception we experienced today.”

I have so many precious memories from time spent at Indiana State Parks. I caught my first largemouth bass from the boat ramp at See you down the trail…

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February-March 2016

Get Real

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

Page 7

Snow goose guru, Scott Buttz, on the changing game of light goose hunting By Jay Anglin

The air was crisp and still under an indigo sky. Heavy hoar-frost blanketed the stubble corn. It was early March in southwest Nebraska, and winter was slowly releasing its grip on the eastern edge of the Rainwater Basin. In our midst, roughly one thousand snow goose windsock decoys hung lifeless on their stakes.

Soon, they would come to life in the stiffening morning breeze.

Shortly after legal shooting time, a single adult snow goose descended from the stratosphere into the decoys.

My partner and I rose and fired simultaneously dropping the gorgeous adult snow goose in the decoys only a few feet away.

That lone bird made the adventure worthwhile and kick-started my passion for the sport.

That was over fifteen years ago. It was the first time I witnessed the “smoke” on the horizon, as hundreds of thousands of snow geese approached and eventually streamed past in a raucous northbound parade. I was hooked. I vowed to never miss the spectacle of the spring snow goose hunting season.

Over the next few years, my hunting buddies and I invested in a few hundred snow goose decoys to build our spread. We also begged and borrowed a hodgepodge of well-used windsocks, along with a few shells. We hit the road every spring to hunt for a few days in Nebraska, South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas or Arkansas. Running and gunning — largely ill-equipped – we killed birds with varying degrees of success. And as we strived to learn the basics of spring snow goose hunting, the game was undergoing a transformation…

Historically, snow geese would decoy to just about anything that resembled a goose. In those days, the cheap “Texas Rag” was standard equipment for many hunters, some hunters even resorting to newspapers, diapers or paper plates scattered in the grain stubble.

When the continental snow goose population began to explode, the birds got smarter, rendering such thrifty options much less effective – if not obsolete.

As snow goose numbers proliferated, the oldest birds became virtually impossible to fool. Traditional light goose hunting seasons and methods were failing to control the runaway North American snow goose population.

A new order and a new era Congress passed the Arctic Tundra Habitat Emergency

Conservation Act in 1999.

The Act resulted in a gradual build-up of increasingly liberal hunting regulations propagated by the U.S. Fish Wildlife Ser vice and (USFWS) over the following several years, all designed to bring light goose populations under control and abate destruction of the fragile, Arctic tundra breeding grounds – critical habitat used by a multitude of wildlife species, but being dominated and destroyed by light geese.

The Light Goose Conser vation Order (LGCO) was a critical all-out assault on burgeoning lesser and greater snow goose, as well as Ross goose populations – all considered “light geese”. Bag limits were eliminated, shotgun capacity restrictions were lifted and hunting hours extended.

Electronic calls were also legalized. Season dates continue to vary by state, but as a rule, spring snow goose season begins as early as February 1st and may run well into May. Some states also simplified their license requirements to boost snow goose hunting participation, further sweetening the deal for hunters.

As expected and intended, snow goose hunting pressure increased exponentially. The geese responded, rapidly acquiring PhD’s in hunter evasion. They started flying higher, and grew increasingly suspect of all but the most convincing decoy spreads. Ironically, the liberal regulations enacted through the LGCO to help hunters kill more snow geese have resulted in making them harder to kill than ever.

Changing tactics Savvy hunters adapted.

As their tactics became more advanced, so did the tools they’d use. While some hunters continued to deploy spreads of thousands of windsock decoys, many came to the realization that using fewer, more realistic decoys would work better much of the time. Even a couple hundred full-bodies could get the job done on many days.

This was a huge shift in strateg y for many snow goose hunters who were familiar with hauling around Canada goose spreads of similar size. And while the first generation of modern full-body snow goose decoys were good, they weren’t great. There was definitely room for improvement.

A surprising number of snow goose hunters made the considerable investment in full-body decoys. The demand resulted in improvements in design and function.

One of the companies on

the cutting edge of full body snow goose decoy design and manufacturing is AvianX. Elite waterfowler, wellknown call and decoy designer, Fred Zink, and Waterfowl Obsession TV’s Scott Butz developed AvianX. Not only do these decoys portray snow geese with striking realism, they are extremely durable and will not crack or shed paint.

What’s more, Avian-X’s simple and innovative motion stakes can be hammered into hard or frozen ground, so drilling isn’t required, which makes set-up much more efficient.

Scott Butz on snow geese Butz is a snow goose junkie from North Dakota.

Today, he owns Snow Goose Warehouse, which sells the Avian-X full body snow decoy exclusively. This guy has very little interest in ducks or even dark geese. He is dedicated to hunting snows, and his admiration for them cannot be overstated. Butz truly respects light geese and possesses a biologist-like understanding of the birds. I ran into him a few years ago while hunting an adjacent field in Arkansas, and was dumbfounded by his regimented approach to hunting these birds. His trailer was impeccably organized and clean, and his seasoned decoys still looked new out of the box.

I recently discussed snow goose hunting with Butz. In particular, I wanted to know how he sets himself apart from other hunters. Not surprisingly, like many elite snow goose hunters, he is constantly adapting to overcome the increasing challenge of har vesting snow geese over decoys.

There remain two competing philosophies when it comes to snow goose decoys – sheer numbers vs realism. It should be no surprise that Butz preaches the realism strateg y, as he regularly deploys three to four hundred full-body Avian-X snows in his lean and mean decoy spread.

“Fred and I worked on them for a couple years before they hit the market, and when we were done, I knew we had a homerun,” Scott explained. “We don’t flood the market with them, so we out run every year…

They are definitely the ultimate full-body snow,” he added.

Snow goose hunting has become big business, and while many legitimate outfitters and guides exist, unfortunately, there is an amazing number of less experienced outfits doing business as well. Scott is adamant that these numerous “uneducated guides” have had a negative

All in a day’s work - Bob Shelby, Scott Butz, Fred Zink, Lee Henery are all smiles after a classic snow goose shoot. Photo provided by Plano Synergy

impact on everyone else’s hunting success.

“There are a lot of hunters and guides out there making all kinds of mistakes,” said Butz. “They park their vehicles too close to their spreads, use too much motion and hunt stubble that is the wrong height so birds can’t land. These poor decisions lead to even more mistakes… like taking stupid shots at smart birds. Guys just need to educate themselves and understand the birds better. That’s half the battle.”

Butz believes a super realistic decoy with just the right amount of motion is key to consistently finishing snow geese inside thirty yards.

“Keep those decoys clean,” he advises. “Scrub them down if they get dirty, and repaint or replace them if you have to.” Avian-X snow goose decoys come with Bird Vision UV reflective paint technology, which is another reason they work so effectively. “I don’t care what anybody says, snow geese are not dirty as a rule and their vision is most definitely UV sensitive.”

Realistic calling is also critical in today’s snow goose hunting environment, and electronic calls are important tools – if not mandatory – when trying to reproduce the sounds of a few hundred geese.

“They’ve heard all kinds of crummy e-caller soundtracks,” said Butz, who advocates having a high quality caller that plays undistorted recordings of snow geese.

“I’ve spent a lot of money working on this, getting the frequency right, using the best sound recording equipment made and then having it mixed in a professional studio and now we stock a custom made caller with those sounds pre-loaded. It makes a big difference,” he said.

“Any edge you can give yourself is going to set you apart from other spreads in the area.”

Realistic motion is another key to any effective snow goose spread, and there are several good options out there. Of course, Butz is well known for his Reel Wings motion decoys, and believes they are the most realistic and effective motion decoys available. Reel Wings are a foam version of a spinning-wing decoy that behave much like a kite that is flown on a string and portrays the illusion of geese landing in the “kill hole”.

Obviously, some breeze is required so Butz manufactures two versions, including one for lighter breezes as well as the standard version that can handle stronger winds. Butz prefers 15 – 20 mph winds on sunny days, but he doesn’t stay home when the conditions aren’t perfect. Regardless the type of motion decoy employed, it’s important to adapt on any given day, depending on the weather and the attitude of the birds.

Spring snow goose hunting season has kicked off in select states in every flyway across the country. This unprecedented hunting opportunity yields some of the most memorable sights, sounds and shooting experiences. But the game remains challenging. If you are an experienced snow goose hunter, or even a guide, consider upping your game by enhancing the realism of your decoys and electronic calling.

The everyday hunter can certainly enjoy all the excitement and rewards the sport brings, too, and avoid its significant capital costs by hiring a reputable guide or outfitter. Dozens of top-tier snow goose outfitters exist.

Just be sure to do your research and ask plenty of questions about their hunting practices and tactics.

Guides or outfitters who fail to provide satisfying answers or appear annoyed by your questions probably aren’t the best choice.

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Traveling With Firearms INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

February-March 2016

Follow these tips from hunter and competitive shooter, Rich Yoder, for a safe and uneventful trip By Joe Balog Today’s hunters pull out all the stops in pursuit of their quarry. Turkey enthusiasts crisscross the country each spring in their individual quests for a “grand slam” – the successful harvest of each of the four North-American subspecies. Similarly, ardent deer hunters chase monster bucks from the furthest reaches of Canada to South Texas.

Waterfowl addicts often follow the migration for thousands of miles. Such travel can lead to the hunt of a lifetime, but isn’t without challenges.

Problems can arise from the complex logistics of packing and transporting a hunter’s necessary equipment. Guns and ammunition cause the greatest concerns.

While traveling anglers may be content to use rods and reels provided by their guides, an experienced hunter simply won’t leave home for a hunting trip without his or her trusted, personal firearms.

But traveling with a gun is no picnic.

Complex airline and highway rules coupled with the constant threat of damage can wreak havoc on the traveling hunter’s otherwise well-laid plans.

Rich Yoder knows all the pitfalls of traveling with firearms… and how to avoid them. He logs thousands of travel miles by land and air each year with firearms in tow. A veteran deer and waterfowl hunter, Yoder also competes in 3-gun competition – a fast-paced sport involving selfdefense-style shooting with shotguns, rifles and pistols. It’s a vocation that requires Yoder to transport multiple firearms and a small arsenal of ammunition whenever he competes. His traveling tips give insight into stress-free gun transport.

Guns On the Road When traveling the country in his truck, Yoder packs his unloaded guns away in premium

hard cases and buries them deep. “When driving with firearms, my experience has shown that guns are best stored in hard cases and kept relatively inaccessible,” says Yoder. “By this I mean they shouldn't be in the wide open.”

Yoder’s reasoning for burying the weapons is simple. Regulations for transporting firearms in a vehicle vary from state to state. Some are quite lenient, while others are much stricter. Within many states, gun transportation laws also vary considerably from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Of course, it’s always advisable to research the specific laws where you plan to travel, but the multitude of diverse and changing regulations can make a complete and total understanding of all laws you may encounter a fleeting prospect.

If possible, keep your gun cases locked in your vehicle’s trunk or truck bed, as long as your bed has weather-tight and lockable security. If your guns are outside the passenger compartment, in a case, unloaded, and kept separate from ammunition, you’ll be in compliance with all but the strictest of local and state gun laws. If your truck bed is not secure, or you drive an SUV or another vehicle without a separate trunk, you’ll need to do your best to keep the guns as “inaccessible” as possible, per Yoder’s recommendation.

In addition, Yoder points out that different law enforcement officials within the same jurisdiction may be on a different page when it comes to interpreting and enforcing firearms transportation laws.

“Unfortunately, not every police officer you may run into is a sportsman like you,” states Yoder, who also points out that officers can have differing opinions and outlooks on civilians with firearms.

His words are wise. With the tremendous pressure

being placed on law enforcement officers today, they are understandably careful, and are always likely to err on the side of caution. If pulled over with firearms, don’t do or say anything to give them a reason to doubt your intent.

For his highway shotgun and rifle transportation needs, Yoder selects Plano’s model 108191 All-Weather Double Scoped Rifle/Shotgun Wheeled case. Pistols go in Plano’s model 108021 All Weather Large Pistol Case. Inside these durable, hard cases, each gun is fully encased in custom-trimmed foam.

“These cases are capable of being loaded in the truck and then having a ton of gear piled on top of them,” Yoder says.

“They offer strong, lockable, all-weather protection.”

After guns are packed away, Yoder points out that it’s essential to pack and transport any ammunition with similar care, and away from the guns.

Most state laws require this, and it is essential to avoid any misperceptions of improper intent, should you be pulled over.

Yoder packs bulk ammo in Plano’s various rifle, handgun and shotshell ammo cases. These cases are small, flat, and can be easily stacked inside a larger lockable container, allowing ammunition to be transported in bulk, while in full compliance with the widest range of state and local laws.

Air Travel As tricky as hitting the highway with firearms can be, air travel presents hunters and shooters with even more challenges.

Guns must be unloaded, declared and inspected.

They must be locked in an airline-approved case, and, in some case, be partially broken down.

Similarly, ammunition must also be declared.

But the cumbersome inspection process is only

part of the concern. Of course, all firearms must travel as checked baggage, so once they are inspected and turned over, it’s anyone’s guess what torture a gun case – and the precious cargo inside – might go through in the hands of task-oriented baggage personnel.

When checking in at the airport, travelers need to declare that they are traveling with a gun. At that point, airline personnel will quickly advise the traveler of the need to open his or her case and inspect the firearm.

Always wait for the TSA inspector before unlocking or opening the case, and only do so when clearly directed to do so

by TSA personnel. Never take a firearm out of its case in an airport under any other circumstances.

Typically, you and your firearm will be taken to a special inspection room.

You have the right to remain with your firearm at all times during the inspection process. Never leave your firearm until the inspection is complete, the case has been re-locked, and you are in possession of the key or combination.

There are additional steps during international travel. Specifically, guns must clear customs in the destination country, and once again when entering back into the United States. Multiple government forms may need to be completed and carried with the firearm, like U.S. customs form 4457. Be sure to check into all

required paperwork well before traveling.

Although most forms are available at the airport, unnecessary delays can often be minimized or eliminated by first downloading and completing forms prior to travel.

As their name implies, Plano’s Field Locker Mil-Spec Cases meet rigorous military and law enforcement specifications for immersion, dust, vibration and transit drop, making them great choices for airline travel. Each of the three distinct long gun cases and three pistol cases in the series is waterproof and dust-proof, and secured with massive, draw-down style latches and multiple, steel-reinforced padlock hasps.

Heavy-duty handles are also oversized and padded. Larger models, like the model 109440 Tactical Case, have heavyduty axles and easy gliding wheels. Cut-to-fit padded interiors cradle firearms firmly and securely.

The thought of traveling with a firearm intimidates many hunters, keeping them tirelessly beating their home turf.

But there’s nothing to be afraid of, given the travel tips of our expert. What’s more, recent low fuel and airline costs make faraway hunting locales more accessible than ever. So start making your travel plans for the coming hunting seasons.

Pack your guns right and expand your reach. It’s easier than you think.

Plano’s All-Weather Gun Guard cases provide quality protection at an affordable price, and are great choices for all modes of travel. Photo provided by Plano Synergy

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February-March 2016

www.banksoutdoorsipc.com

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

February-March 2016

Aqua-Vu Aligns with ‘Electronics Doc’

Apart from most angling electronics today, learning to use an AquaVu underwater camera is simple. Deploy the optics and watch the screen.

The fish you see through the lens are the same fish you strive to catch—no guesswork necessary.

That said, the best anglers have learned to employ a full armada of electronics—sonar, GPS and underwater viewing—to gain the most complete aquatic perspective.

Among a growing delegation of angling techheads, Dr. Bruce Samson likely leads the modern electronics charge. A longtime user of Aqua-Vu underwater viewing systems, Samson recently reconnected with the Minnesota based angling optics company, adding a critical component to his popular educational programs.

Doc Samson— a legendary tournament angler who conducts a series of comprehensive electronics seminars at retail locations as well as special on-the-water events—says an Aqua-Vu underwater camera is an indispensable element in his fish finding arsenal.

“Even with the amazing images displayed by modern sonar, every angler needs an Aqua-Vu to see what’s really down there; to confirm or refute what you think you’re seeing on sonar,” says Samson. “For species identification alone, an Aqua-Vu is a must-have tool.

“Most folks think cameras only work in clear water,” he adds. “But the truth is, even in heavily stained water in summer, an Aqua-Vu still clearly shows me the fish species I’m seeing on sonar.

And when fish are buried in vegetation or wood, it’s the only tool that clearly reveals what’s living there.”

Adding even more convenience, says Samson, is the modern ability to connect an Aqua-Vu camera directly to a video-enabled sonar unit. “Both

the Aqua-Vu Micro and the Multi-Vu Camera System attach directly to my boat’s main sonar, so I can view underwater video and sonar images side-by-side on the same bright, colorful LCD. It’s an awesome one-two fish-finding punch.”

Aqua-Vu president Ben Gibbs extols Samson’s strong presence in social and other media and notes a new cooperative concept called What Is It? “Doc has been a longtime supporter of Aqua-Vu, and we’re excited to partner with him on an official basis. His ‘What is it’ concept presents powerful, visual underwater images that help folks recognize why an Aqua-Vu is such an important fishing tool.”

Via Facebook, consumers are presented with a sonar image and asked to identify what’s on the screen (What Is It?). A week later, an Aqua-Vu video clip reveals the answer. The first to correctly identify the species or scenario wins a new Aqua-Vu underwater viewing system. To date, the contest has garnered thousands of entries from curious consumers, with plans to continue well into 2016.

“We recognize the growing demand for fishing electronics,” says Gibbs. “And the need to continually teach folks simple ways to use our underwater viewing technology to put more fish in their boats.

“Data from AnglerSurvey.com has revealed huge growth in sales of underwater cameras during the past two years,” adds Gibbs. “As Doc says, anyone who fishes needs an AquaVu to discover what’s really below the surface. Through great online, onwater and retail learning, anglers can get the most from our underwater camera technology.”

LA FREAK, C'EST CHIC: NEW FLEXTONE FREAK OUT 2-PACK EASILY PLAYS ALL A GOBBLER'S FAVORITE DANCE TUNES

Calling turkeys is an integral part of turkey hunting, and is as old as the sport itself. When the first Native Americans started to hunt these birds, they observed favorable responses from well-timed yelps, cutts, clucks and purrs. They used their mouths and “bone flutes” made from turkey wing-bones to finish turkeys in their laps for easy kills.

As turkey calls evolved, the modern diaphragm became the go-to call for many avid hunters. While most expert turkey hunters know that different days call for different options, the vast majority of them will use a diaphragm much of the time. Turkey diaphragms have a reputation for being a little more difficult to master and, sadly, many hunters avoid them due to this ill-founded reputation. While diaphragms may take a little time to figure out, once they are used proficiently no other call is as versatile or foolproof.

With all the options out there, it’s nice to know that some diaphragm calls are easier to blow than others. Whether you’re new to mouth calls or simply appreciate killer calls that are easy to use, there’s a Flextone Game Calls diaphragm to fit your needs.

For 2016, the master turkey hunters at Flextone took two of their top-performing and easy-to-blow diaphragm calls – the Funky Hen and the Dirty Mouth – and packaged them up as the NEW Freak Out 2-Pack – a killer combination that any turkey hunter should have in his or her vest.

The double-reed Funky Hen sports two different reed thicknesses with precise “V” cuts. The “V” cut is without question one of the most reliable styles of diaphragm that savvy turkey hunters rely on season after season to bring long-spurred toms running. The result is a call that breaks over easily, creating seductive yelps, clucks and purrs, but still has enough backbone to deliver louder and more

aggressive cutts.

Need to turn up the freak factor? The Dirty Mouth has thicker double reeds sporting dual split cuts at each end. This call requires minimal airflow and delivers soft whines, purrs, clucks and early morning tree yelps. Like the gal over in the corner waiting for somebody to boogie with, the Dirty Mouth is quiet and unassuming. She whines, purrs and clucks softly. But now she’s moving towards the dance floor. By increasing tongue pressure on the Dirty Mouth, callers can easily turn up the volume.

Damp pots and soggy strikers? Don’t bother. The Dirty Mouth produces sick tree-yelps that will have roosted studs changing their flight plans, directly.

You know what they say: It’s the quiet ones you’ve got to watch. So when it’s time to take things from meek to freak, the Dirty Mouth plays his favorite song – hoisting its freak flag high with a “get on over here boy-eee!” fly-down cackle followed with sharp yelps and cutts.

Flextone Freak Out 2-Pack: Model #: FG-TURK-00107 UPC: 8-15097-00954-2 Includes easy to blow Funky Hen Includes versatile Dirty Mouth Both calls create soft or aggressive Hen talk MSRP: $9.99

If easy-yet-versatile mouth calls are what you are looking for, look no further than Flextone’s affordable Freak Out 2-Pack. Both the Funky Hen and the Dirty Mouth deliver soft and seductive yelps, clucks and purrs, as well as loud and aggressive cutts, cackles and yelps – a versatile repertoire that is sure to have any gobbler showing his freak side.

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February-March 2016

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

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PLANO'S NEW WOMEN'S SERIES SOFT TACKLE BAGS AND TOTES OFFER FUNCTIONALITY EXCEEDING THEIR CATCHY COLOR SCHEMES

Women are to men as sweet raspberry jam is to garlic-infused salami, yet the passions we share often go together like peas and carrots.

Take fishing, for example. Casting, trolling, still-fishing… it doesn’t matter.

Both sexes will obsess about it equally. In short: Fishing is not a gender-specific sport.

But men and women go about things a little differently on the water. What we bring and how we organize it is just one of the many distinctions. Yes, we’re talking gear and tackle storage here – something Plano has obsessed over for the last 63 years. So, when it came to producing an all-new line of women’s tackle storage bags, they did more than just candy-coat a series of tackle totes with hot-pink hues and slap the “ladies label” on the side.

Introducing the Plano Women’s Series of soft bags, three new totes offering all-new functional designs to maximize her enjoyment for a day on the lake, river or sea. And, yes, they come in fashionable shades of teal with light-pink trim.

“Plano has always made high-quality products,” says Plano Prostaffer Marianne Huskey— the first and only female “Angler of the Year” in professional fishing. “The new Woman’s Series of soft bags are not only attractive to the female eye, but are well thought out in design and functionality.”

First let us familiarize you with the Woman’s Series Tote, which can hold up to four 3600 StowAway Utility Boxes. Don’t need that many lures? Its main compartment is divided. Remove two Stowaways and use half the space for a light jacket or other fundamentals. Two oversized end pockets are perfect for storing water bottles, sunscreen or other large items, while two huge slip pockets provide additional utility. Inside, a zippered interior cell phone pocket sits near the top main opening for easy access. Two nylon straps fit comfortably in the hand for straightforward lift and carry.

Next up, the Woman’s Series Carrier offers softer, rounded edges and a smaller silhouette. This compact satchel can also handle up to four 3600 StowAway Utility Boxes in its main compartment, and has a double zippered opening at the top for wide open, super-easy access. Six convenient slip pockets can be found throughout the Carrier’s exterior, providing Plano-grade utility. Double nylon handles secure with a padded hook-and-loop grip as well a cushioned over-the shoulder strap make carrying long distances comfortable.

Last but not least, the Woman’s Series Tackle Bag offers female anglers a more traditional Plano tackle storage design, but in the unique colors ladies like. Four 3600 StowAway totes can be filled with true tackle tonnage, all held securely under a buckled top that’s a “snap” to open and latch. Four zippered and three mesh pockets give this ultimate women’s tackle bag ample storage

for essential fishing tools, sunglasses, pocketbooks and more. Two padded handles and cushioned shoulder strap are customary.

423600 Woman’s Series Tote 19.5”L x 5.25”W x 13”H Two 3600 StowAways included Holds up to four 3600 StowAways Divided main compartment Two end pockets and four slip pockets Interior zippered phone pouch MSRP: $29.99

423640 Woman’s Series Carrier 12.5”L x 8.5”W x 9”H Two 3600 StowAways included Holds up to four 3600 StowAways Compact silhouette Six exterior slip pockets Double zippered main compartment MSRP: $29.99 413630 Woman’s Series Tackle Bag 16.5”L x 11”W x 10”H Two 3600 StowAways included Holds up to four 3600 StowAways Classic design Easy-opening buckled top flap Four zippered and three mesh pockets MSRP: $29.99 Created from a clean slate with the needs of the female angler in mind, Plano’s new Woman’s Series soft bags are more than just soft, feminine colors. They are unique by design – a premium and distinctive line of innovative bags, each combining high-quality materials made to fully meet her boating and fishing needs. Learn more at www.planomolding.com

PLANO'S NEW WEEKEND SERIES TACKLE BAGS DELIVER SLICK GOOD LOOKS, EXCEPTIONAL CAPABILITY AND VALUE TO WORKING ANGLERS

The epic rock tune from the 80’s said it well, but probably should have incorporated at least one full verse about fishing: Yeah, we’re working for the weekend… and when it gets here we’re hitting the lake. And while we’re rewriting the song, let’s leave out that part about a new romance… although it does kind of rhyme with a few more bass.

Well, the point is that serious anglers who work for the weekends need serious gear to help maximize their enjoyment once those precious days roll around. Thankfully, Plano’s all-new Weekend Series includes 11 different tackle cases and bags, providing working anglers with visually exciting and highly practical tackle storage options that are true to the Plano name. And courtesy of super affordable prices, when the weekend does get here, we’ll have plenty of extra money left over for a few new baits to add to the bag.

The new Weekend Series Tackle Bags are the largest in the Weekend Series and provide the greatest storage capacity and organizational capability. Available in staple 3600 and 3700 sizes, both bags incorporate a top-flap lid design that covers the main zippered compartment and bag front, providing ultra clean looks. The easy-opening buckles securing the flap are user friendly for any size hands, and provide quick access to the Weekend Series Tackle Bags’ accommodating main compartments.

Inside, anglers will find ample room for up to four aptly sized Plano StowAway Utility Boxes – enough capacity for a load of favorite lures. Two additional large, zippered pockets exist on each end of these bags, while two more are protected beneath the flap on the front – perfect for stashing copious bags of soft plastics, spare spools and other essential gear. An extra measure of welcomed storage for pliers, sunglasses and such comes courtesy of three mesh utility pockets – one on each end and one along the back.

A reinforced top-carry handle ensures reliable transport, while a padded shoulder strap is also provided for longer hauls to and from the truck or garage.

An affordable tackle bag doesn’t have to be an ugly bag.

Both 3600 and 3700 size Weekend Series Tackle Bags are available in attractive red, blue or green color schemes with contrasting accent panels and trims that match other product offerings in the Weekend Series.

Plano Weekend Series Tackle Bags Durable construction Easy-opening buckles for large hands Available in Blue, Red or Green color schemes Available in 3600 or 3700 sizes Includes two StowAway Utility Boxes in corresponding size Holds four StowAway Utility Boxes in corresponding size Four exterior zippered pockets plus three mesh pockets Padded shoulder strap and reinforced top carry handle for easy and reliable transport Model Numbers, Colors, Exterior Dimensions & MSRPs Model No. 413620: 3600 / Blue (16.5”x9”x8.75”) / MSRP $29.99 Model No. 413600: 3600 / Red Model No. 413610: 3600 / Green Model No. 413720: 3700 / Blue (19.5”x9.5”x10”) / MSRP $34.99 Model No. 413700: 3700 / Red Model No. 413710: 3700 / Green Plano’s new Weekend Series Tackle Bags provide enhanced access tackle storage, exceptional durability and great looks at affordable prices – hallmarks of Plano’s all-new Weekend Series, which includes multiple sizes and colors of Tackle Bags, Softsider Tackle Bags, Tackle Cases, Speed Bags, and Worm Speed Bags, allowing anglers to build an overall customized tackle storage system for their specific needs. Learn more at www.planomolding.com.

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FISHING Hybrid striped bass, known as “wipers,” are the result of a genetic cross of striped bass and white bass.

The resulting wiper is silver bodied with horizontal black stripes and a black back. Wipers are very aggressive carnivores feeding mainly on baitfish, and are some of the toughest fighting pound-for-pound freshwater fish anglers can catch.

Unable to reproduce naturally, wild populations of wipers are the result of rearing at fish hatcheries and stocking programs.

Wipers feed heavily on gizzard shad, making them popular amongst both sport fishermen and biologists.

Wipers are found in rivers and reservoirs across the state of Indiana.

The Tippecanoe River has a large population of wipers and continues to produce monster-sized fish.

Wipers in the Tippecanoe River have reached the twenty-pound mark. The Indiana state record hybrid striped bass is listed at

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

February-March 2016

Winter Wipers at Oakdale Dam By Brandon Butler 22lb. 2oz. David Coffman caught it out of the Tippecanoe River in Carroll County.

Below Oakdale Dam, which is at the southern end of Lake Freeman, the Tippecanoe Rivers continues it’s southern journey to its confluence with the Wabash River at the tiny town of Americus. The water level below the dam fluctuates depending on the release from the lake, but it’s usually fishable. Public access is available on both sides of the creek.

Wipers congregate around dams due to the influx of baitfish slipping through from the lake. When an aggressive water release is taking place, meaning a lot of water is flowing through the dam, you can expect good fishing.

Oakdale Dam is an exciting place to fish, because it almost always produces some sort of a catch. Just because you’re targeting wipers, doesn’t mean that’s what you’re going to reel in. Every species of fish

that swims in Lake Freeman has slipped through the dam into the river. Besides wipers, some of the more popular species caught in the tailwater are walleyes, bass, and crappie. Catfish also thrive in the river. You just never know what may end up on the end of your line.

This spot is far from a secret, but it’s rarely crowded. Fisherman spread out on the rocks along the shore, and pitch just about every kind of bait into the moving water. With baitfish pouring through the dam, fish stack up for an easy meal. Minnows are probably the most popular bait amongst the regular fisherman, but nightcrawlers and plastics swimbaits are used a lot. With the water moving rather fast just below the dam, minnows may be fished dead or alive. Spinnerbaits and shallow running crankbaits will also produce on a consistent basis.

The property on the west side of the river directly

Former Indiana DNR fisheries biologist Kevin Hoffman holds a nice hybrid stripped bass, also called a wiper. below the dam belongs to the Jefferson Township Conservation Club. I used to fish this property years ago when I was a student at Purdue. The club is a membership based non-profit organization that maintains a family oriented facility for fishing and other diverse uses. The club caps its membership at 1,000 members per year. If you plan to fish the river below Oakdale Dam, then joining the club is something you should consider. You can

find out more through the club’s website www.jtcconline.com.

Once you’re finished fishing, or if you need to take a break for a bit, the Oakdale Dam Inn is a great restaurant and bar. Their motto is, “Best Catfish by a Dam Site.” The catfish is good, but I’m more of a fan of the smelt appetizer, which I usually couple with the Bluegill dinner and a frosty mug of Miller Light.

See you down the trail…

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February-March 2016

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

Aim for the O2

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Move regularly, change offerings often: you’ll crack midwinter’s code By Mitch Eeagan

Bro doesn't save lives or build rockets, but it's his own brand of deep-thinking that locates and lands fish in the dead of winter. Photo by Bill Lindner

Imagine your home growing darker by the day, to the point you haven’t seen sunlight in over a month. Moreover, your surroundings are growing colder by the day. In fact, it’s so frigid that your muscles have become rigid; to the point it’s all you can do to muster moving a few feet…even to eat. And you’re hungry.

Oxygen is diminishing, too. Some areas are completely void of oxygen, while other pockets have just enough to sustain life. So you migrate to where respiration is still an option.

To say life’s registering a zero on the fun-ometer is an understatement.

And with that lowly scenario in place, you now know what it’s like to be a fish living in the Ice Belt during the dead of winter. It’s been a long time since light penetrated the surface and temperatures are at the coldest they will be all year. To boot, the lack of vegetation, rain and wave action have oxygen levels

dwindling rapidly.

And it’s this combination of factors that make midwinter a difficult time to catch fish.

But if you’re game to put in the time, find those oxygenated zones, rewards are paid in bites and fillets.

Heavy Breathers Minnesota Ice-

“I drill a lot of holes and check every one for any signs of life,” said Bro. “If fish are right under me I’ll see ‘em on the ‘Bird, and, because of the ultra-sensitivity settings on the Humminbird ICE HELIX 5, I can put my jig right in their faces.

“But I’ll also lower my Aqua-Vu Micro DT down every hole, as well; especially if I am not marking anything. Fish might be just inches under the ice during the heart of winter, following the oxygen.

The camera is able to spy those fish.”

Paying close attention to the underwater viewing system’s screen the moment its camera hits the water, Bro starts spinning the lens right

Custom Jigs & Spins' new Rotating Power Minnow (RPM) has been fully weaponized. In the dead of winter, the ballistic-bait is best aimed at active fish, especially ones in well oxygenated waters. Photo by Bill Lindner

Fishing Guide Brian “Bro” Brosdahl is no stranger to fishing shallow, heavily snow-covered lakes. The Grand Rapids, Minnesota resident moves around a lot.

And uses specialized electronics to find panfish other anglers often overlook.

The safest place to avoid suffocation is sometimes right under the ice. In the bowels of winter, if oxygen levels are critical, crappies, bluegills and perch could be hanging right under your feet. Photo by Bill Lindner

the bottom of the hole.

Oftentimes, panfish will be literally inches away, curiously inspecting the corded device. Once fish are revealed, Bro removes the camera, strips off a couple feet of line and lowers his jig—tipped with either spikes, wax wor ms or mousies.

“A lot of anglers have no idea those fish are even there,” Bro added. “These suspended fish get totally overlooked this time of year.

It’s cool when you can see your jig and watch a fish swim over and gobble it up.”

If there are a lot of fish just under the surface, Bro will operate out of his Frabill flip-over.

The darkness not only allows Bro to see the fish better, but also camouflages the fact he’s above by muting his silhouetted movements.

When oxygen levels are low, and fish lethargic, Bro uses tiny jigs

throughout the water column. Subsequently, Brumbaugh likes larger, heavier jigs that can move up and down quickly.

Bladebaits are one of Brumbaugh’s go-to lures in stained water as they

Walleye Pro Mark Brumbaugh holds a hefty perch taken on a Custom Jigs & Spins’ Lightnin’ VertiGlo Spoon late in the winter season. Photo by the author

with a slow fall. His preferences are Northland’s new Impulse Helium Mayfly, Stonefly and Waxyfly. Custom Jigs & Spins’ Nuclear Ant, Ratso and Shrimpo are another trio of lifelike lures that sink slowly.

Goin’ with the Flow When Walleye Tournament Pro Mark Brumbaugh targets pike, walleye and jumbo perch late in the season, he searches out river and creek mouths.

“Anywhere water’s flowing into a lake there will be more dissolved oxygen,” the Brownstown, Ohio, resident said. “And because fish spawn in these same rivers, they’ll be here staging to reproduce, too.”

Because there’s more dissolved oxygen near inlets, fish will be spread

produce a lot of vibration. Reef Runner’s Cicada is one of his favorites. He also employs Custom Jigs & Spins’ B3 Blade Bait and new Rotating Power Minnow (RPM) swimming bait.

Take a Deep Breath As avid anglers will tell you, late winter can be one of the toughest times of the year. But maybe that’s because they weren’t looking in the right places.

Some fish might be right under foot; literally, mere inches under the ice. If this is the case, use light lures with a slow flutter and fall. In waterways with inlets, search out the entire water column with lures that sink fast so you can get the lure to fish before they turn tail.

When fish are tucked tight to the ice, Bro employs Aqua-Vu optics and fishes in real-time with an AV Micro DT in a Micro-Mobile Pro-Vu Case. Photo by Bill Lindner

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

Well-balanced Presentations Trigger More ‘Ice’ Fish

February-March 2016

Role of the rod and line in ice-fishing success, plus late-ice tips By Mark Strand T h i s w i n t e r, w e ’ v e focused on what Dave Genz considers the keys to presenting a bait to fish under the ice.

A b o u t t h e e ff e c t i v e n e s s of horizontal jigs, knot positioning, and cadence of the present a t i o n . To t i e a b o w around the topic, a bit about the crucial role the rod and line play in your ability to execute Genz pounding the presentation and experiment with cadence.

Line The line you use for ice fishing has to be fresh, and has to match up well with the weight of your bait. Everything e l s e y o u d o c a n b e p e rfect, but if your line is too thick (“heavy”) for t h e b a i t , “ i t w o n ’t h a n g straight,” says Genz. “ E v e n i f i t ’s j u s t a l i t t l e t o o h e a v y, i t r o b s y o u of the feel you need to fish the bait and detect bites.”

Genz is meticulous about his line, changing i t f r e q u e n t l y, a n d o f t e n hand-stretching the first 20 feet or so at the s t a r t o f t h e d a y, t o remove any tendency for the line to coil when lowered down the hole.

Fresh, limp line matched well with the bait provides you with a direct connection between the rod and the b a i t . “ Yo u c a n m a k e that bait do what you want it to,” he says, “when your line is hanging straight and d o e s n o t h a v e m e m o r y.

I f i t ’s t o o h e a v y a n d h a s c o i l s i n i t , y o u c a n ’t feel much and the bait doesn’t react to what you’re doing with the rod.”

Rod Genz has spoken many times about his rod preferences for ice fishing.

“They need to function,” he says, “like long rods in miniature.”

Genz prefers ice

rods that are relatively s t i ff a n d “ v e r y c r i s p , ” so that the bottom of each jigging cycle can be felt in his hand.

“The right rod,” he says, “allows me to do anything from hard p o u n d i n g t o a s o f t e r, s l o w e r, s m o o t h e r p r e s entation.”

I t ’s w e l l k n o w n t h a t Genz does not like spring bobbers, because of how they smooth out and slow down cadence in presentation.

“If a s l o w e r, smoother presentation is what the fish want,” he says, “you can easily do that with a good graphite rod. And there are ways of detecting light bites by watching as much as feeling; you’re watching the rod tip all the time, and you can see when the line moves slightly to the left or right, or if the r o d t i p d i p s s l i g h t l y.

When that happen, you set the hook.”

On light-biting fish, if you miss on the first few hooksets, Genz advises, try dropping the rod tip when you s e e a b i t e o c c u r. D r o p the rod tip, hesitate, then set the hook. The time, and slack line, often allows the fish (if it is so inclined) to take that “second bite” and get the hook into its mouth. “A lot of times,” says Genz, “the fish will just kind of softly suck at it the first time, and the bait is touching on the outside of the mouth. When you drop the rod tip, if they decide they want it, they will suck it in and you can catch them.”

On most days, a rapid cadence, giving o ff g o o d v i b r a t i o n , w i l l attract and trigger more f i s h t h a n a s o f t e r, m o r e muted cadence. After all these years of fishing almost every day all w i n t e r, G e n z h a s c o n cluded that the biggest mistake anglers make is slowing down or stop-

ping their jigging motion when fish show up. “ Yo u s h o u l d k e e p the movement going,” he says. “I see most of the spring-bobber people stop when a fish swims up to it. They just hold it still and watch for the spring to move. But when you do that, if your line has any twist, the jig starts to spin. Most of the t i m e , t h e f i s h d o n ’t l i k e a spinning jig.

“When you’re using a rapid cadence, and keep it going after the fish comes in, the lure d o e s n ’t s p i n . A n d i f y o u doing what keep brought the fish in, and experiment with raising or lowering the jig as you keep it vibrating, it gets more of the fish to bite. And they tend to b i t e d o w n o n i t h a r d e r, because they tend to chase it more, and work harder at getting it all the way into their mouth.”

After each fish or missed bite, when you reel up to put on bait or rotate the knot on the eyelet of the jig, take a few seconds to let the line ‘un-spin’ to further minimize the curse of the spinning jig.

As we head into prime late-ice panfish t i m e , h e r e ’s o n e e x a m ple of a well-balanced setup, featuring a new rod Genz designed in the Ice Te a m Professional series.

Match the 26-inch bluegill rod with 2- or 4-pound-test line, and the new Dave Genz Drop-Kick tungsten jig.

Any size jig in the series will match up well with this system.

M a rc h I c e F i s h i n g We w o n ’t l e a v e y o u hangin’ when it comes to late-ice panfish action. Here are key tips from Genz for catching fish during some of the nicest days o f t h e y e a r.

When he’s figuring out how to trigger fish, Dave Genz experiments with how fast he ‘pounds’ the jig, and where his knot is positioned on the jig’s eyelet, before tying on a new bait. When he gets it right, the fish ‘tell him’ by biting. (Photo: davegenz.com)

* First, be safe out there.

Across the Midwestern Ice Belt, the landscape varies from ice-free on the southern fringes to thick and sturdy ice in northerly strongholds.

Regularly check ice conditions, and wear a life jacket. * This is the time of winter when shallow water comes alive, as oxygen returns and water temperatures warm.

Daylength increases and the sun eats away at snow c o v e r, especially around shorelines. Sun penetrates the ice, and weeds can even begin to grow again. As a result, shallow spots that held no fish at midwinter can be teeming with life. * L a rg e r l a k e s t e n d to be better than smaller lakes, because, all things being equal, fish come out of the midwinter doldrums in better condition and tend to be more active. * Head for bays on the north side of these l a rg e r l a k e s . A b a y o n the north side receives southern exposure, which means it gets more life-pumping sunshine on an average d a y, a s l a t e w i n t e r p r e pares to give way to early spring.

“During the transition between midwinter

and late ice,” says Genz, “look for fish to start moving toward the shallows. They might s t i l l b e i n d e e p e r w a t e r, but they might be staging close to the shall o w s . T h a t ’s w h y t h i s can be a tricky time, so you have to look, keep moving, and drill enough holes to find where they are.”

If you don’t find fish deep, look shallowe r. I f y o u d o n ’ t f i n d them s h a l l o w, look d e e p e r, e s p e c i a l l y c l o s e to large south-facing bays, inflowing creeks and rivers, manmade inlets and canals. Be extremely careful around current, as you always should.

But get out there and take part in one of the best portions of the icefishing season.

Note: Dave Genz, known as M r.

Ice Fishing, was the primary driver of the modern ice fishing revolution. He has been enshrined in the N a t i o n a l F r e s h Wa t e r Fishing Hall of Fame and Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport. For more fishing tips and to order his new info-packed book, Ice Revolution, go to w w w. d a v e g e n z . c o m .

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February-March 2016

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2016©

Photo Information, clockwise from left. . .

1) Duane Rauch caught this 22-inch, 8-pound largemouth bass on Lake Wawasee. 2) Kristin Monroe of Wisconsin and the Marshall County, IN deer she took while in the field with her children. 3) Brian Smith, Assistant Publisher of ION, with his beautiful Starke County harvest. 4) ION Assistant Editor Josh Lantz with his awesome Starke County 8-pointer. 5) ION Publisher Megan Smith with her firearm opening day harvest. 6) Blake Bennet of Culver, IN with a beautiful 8-pointer.

Join thousands of other Indiana outdoorspeople & follow Indiana Outdoor News on Facebook. Submit your photos & posts there, or at the best online source for Indiana’s outdoor news & info, INDIANAOUTDOORNEWS.net.

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