ION Feb '12

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VOL. 2012 • NO. 2

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POSEY COUNTY HUNTER TAKES GIANT WHITETAIL

has

By Alan J. Garbers

finally

ION Correspondent

ARRIVED?

FISHING REPORT PAGE 6

SHOOTING PAGE 8

“WE CAN DO THIS” PAGE 9

POSEY COUNTY -The adages patience is a virtue and good things come to those who wait are mantras that many have a hard time following. Not huntress Audrey Sharp. She followed them to a tee last November and took a massive buck on opening day of Indiana’s firearms season.

Audrey had patiently waited years for a nice buck and passed on many other deer. “I could have shot something every year,” she says, “but I'm picky.”

However, as this past season approached she also thought how a deer, any deer, would help put food on the table. Still, she heard rumors of a monster roaming the area, but the trail cameras never gave any hints to its size, much less its existence.

Audrey had done everything right to prepare, from good camouflage clothing to total scent control.

She had practiced and was familiar with her firearm of choice, an H&R Handi Rifle in .44 magnum topped with a red dot style scope.

On opening morning of firearms season 2011, dawn's first light found Audrey sitting in her stand.

Next to her was her father and hunting mentor, Tim Ostrander.

As the sun came up Audrey heard something coming through the woods. “My dad doesn't hear very well so I nudged him and whispered that I heard something moving,” Audrey said. Tim looked over and saw the deer coming in and hissed back, “That's a nice one!”

Audrey readied her .44 rifle and turned on the red dot scope, but the intensity was too high. “The glare was too bright in the low light and made it hard to see the deer in the brush”, she says. Audrey quickly adjusted the intensity down but for Tim, it wasn't fast enough. The trophy buck could bolt at any moment.

“Shoot him, Audrey!” he hissed.

“My heart was pounding like crazy and I thought it was going to burst through my chest!” Audrey said.

“But the buck seemed to wait for me as I adjusted the scope.”

In seconds, Audrey leveled the rifle at the buck and centered the red dot on his kill zone. The report

WINTER

There is no such thing as safe ice, but fishable ice has finally come to much of Indiana. Get out and enjoy it while it lasts. Read more on pages 6 & 12. Josh Lantz photo.

Plenty of hunting opportunities remain across Indiana this month.

Red and gray fox season is open until Feb. 28 and coyote season remains open through March 15.

Audrey Sharp and her father, Tim Ostrander, pose with the monster non-typical buck she harvested in Posey County during opening morning of Indiana’s 2011 firearms deer season. Photo provided. of the rifle rang loud in the morning air as the buck kicked up his heels and took off. “We could hear him running through the woods,” Audrey said, “then it was silent.”

Audrey was excited and confident in the hot she had made. She wanted to go look for her trophy right away, but Tim urged her to sit tight. “He didn't want to scare the buck onto someone else's property,” she said.

As they sat and waited, Tim spotted something.

He quietly motioned to Audrey. “Do you see that white thing?” Audrey got out her binoculars but there was too much brush in the way to get a clear picture of

Continued on Page 10

www.HowardCommunications.com

NRC GIVES FINAL ADOPTION TO URBAN DEER ZONE REG CHANGES DNR Report

BIRDING PAGE 10

FEBRUARY, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS -New deer rule changes that the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) gave final adoption to this fall took effect last month and extended Indiana’s Urban Deer Zone seaon until Jan. 31, 2012.

The final, approved changes summarized below are now in effect.

• The urban deer zone season now lasts from Sept. 15 through Jan. 31.

Previously, the urban deer zone ended the first Sunday in January.

and the nonresident urban deer zone license is $150. Resident youth hunt/trap, lifetime comprehensive hunting, or lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license or those exempt from needing a license, do not need to purchase urban deer zone licenses.

• The urban deer zone in Lake and Porter counties now includes these entire counties.

• Hunters that are using an urban deer zone license must harvest at least one antlerless deer before harvesting an antlered deer with an

urban deer zone license; a.k.a, “earn-a-buck.” The earn-a-buck program only applies to the urban deer zone season.

• Crossbows can now be used during the urban deer zone season.

The bag limit for the urban deer zone remains the same at 4 antlerless deer (one per license), or with the new “earn-a-buck,” 3

antlerless deer and 1 antlered deer (one per license). Urban deer zones were established to provide hunters opportunities to harvest deer in specified areas in addition to regular bag limits. Urban deer zones are for archery and crossbow hunting only. This provision does not override any local ordinances restricting bow and arrow or crossbow use.

Continued on Page 16

COMPLIMENTS OF:

• A new urban deer zone license is required and replaces the old requirements of needing an extra archery license, bonus antlerless, or regular archery license. The resident urban deer zone license is $24

GONE AFIELD PAGE 13

Joe Boisvert’s 2011 firearms season buck had an inside spread of 21” and weighed a whopping 260 lbs.

POSTMASTER: Please deliverby Feb. 6.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

February, 2012 Edition

February, 2012 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

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DNR steps in HSUS trap ® Volume 2012 • Number 2

JOSHLANTZ Most hunters and trappers know exactly who and what the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is. The highly organized group is the largest and most well-funded anti-hunting group in the nation. Yet due to the organization’s clever and highly misleading advertising campaign, much of mainstream America wrongly believes HSUS gives it’s priority in funding and other significant resources to help stray, abandoned or abused cats and dogs.

Wayne Pacelle, the President and CEO of HSUS has quoted the group’s agenda perfectly, telling members of the Associated Press, “If we could shut down all sport hunting in a moment, we would.”

And, indeed, they have been trying, filing multiple lawsuits against various wildlife management agencies in an unrelenting and almost surgical attack on various forms of legal hunting, trapping and other forms of proven and beneficial wildlife management practices in courts around the nation. Yet at the same time, the organization continues to bombard mainstream America with its campaign of emotionally charged and misleading ads intended to increase their monetary warchest.

The United States Sportsman’s Alliance (USSA), one of our nation’s premier sportsmen’s rights organizations, announced it’s annual “Dirty Dozen” list of the top anti-hunting organizations in January. Once again, the HSUS topped the list, with USSA calling HSUS onto the carpet for -- among other things -- “sharing only one percent of the total $187,515,301 HSUS raked in during 2010 with actual animal shelters”. Details of the USSA’s 2011 report on HSUS

can be found online at www.ussportsmen.org/page.aspx?pid=2954 Enough background. Like I said, most hunters, trappers and anglers know the truth behind who and what the HSUS really is. So if we know, why would our Indiana DNR send out a press release last month suggesting a partnership between their Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) and the number-one anti-hunting organization in the nation?

Yes, you read correctly.

Myself and other outdoor writers who received the press release on January 5 from DNR Director of Communications, Phil Bloom, couldn’t believe it either.

Here’s the context.

A federally endangered whooping crane was found shot and killed in Jackson County in late December. The critically endangered whooping crane doesn’t resemble any legal game bird here in Indiana, so it is safe to say that this horrible, inexplicable act was deliberate and criminal -- not the case of waterfowl misidentification or any other plausible scenario involving a hunter.

Almost immediately, the DLE, working with Indiana’s Turn-In-APoacher/Polluter (TIP) Citizen’s Advisory Board, created what they called the Whooping Crane Fund and committed a $2,500 reward “to motivate citizens to come forward with any information that will lead to the quick arrest and expeditious prosecution of the perpetrator”.

The DNR-issued January 5 press release also stated that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) immediately matched the amount with another $2,500 donation.

Great. That’s $5 grand to anyone who turns in the bad guy.

All of this makes wonderful sense to sportsmen, most of whom care as much about the welfare of non-game species as they do game animals -- especially since the overwhelming funding source for wildlife management programs benefitting both game and nongame species alike comes from the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses and the special taxes

sportsmen pay on firearms, ammunition and other sporting equipment. That is, it made sense until I read the entire paragraph in the press release. Here it is as released by the DNR: TIP launched the Whooping Crane Fund with a $2,500 commitment, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service immediately matched it with a $2,500 donation. The Humane Society of the United States and its Humane Society Wildlife Trust Fund also added $2,500.

What? Really?

Now, killing a federally endangered crane is a deplorable act and an insult to anyone calling him or herself a conservationist, but nobody has been able to convince me of any legitimate reason why our DNR should enter into any relationship --real or implied -- with the HSUS or any group like it.

Unfortunately, instead of admitting they had made a PR blunder at best, the DNR Communications Department chose to attempt to defend and justify their action. But when the scope of their misstep escalated, they began back peddling.

Other outdoor writers and I contacted the DNR’s Director of Communications within a day of receiving the press release. Initial replies out of that office firmly focused on the criminal nature of the act itself, not the requested explanation of how and why our DNR would possibly take money from or align itself in any way with the HSUS. In a January 5 email response to a handful of outdoor writers who had expressed concerns and requested that the DNR clarify its position on the HSUS, DNR Director of Communications Phil Bloom stated: With all due respect, this situation is not about hunting or DNR hunting programs, or even illegal hunting for that matter. Instead, it has everything to do with the senseless

Continued on Page 16

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

House Bill 1265 revisits high-fence hunting in Indiana ION STAFF REPORT -At press time, HB 1265, authored by Representatives Matt Ubelhor (Linton), Bob Heaton (Terre Haute), and Bob Morris (Fort Wayne), has passed committee and is awaiting second reading in the Indiana House. If passed into law, the proposed bill would legitimize at least four existing high-fenced hunting operations in the state of Indiana and open the practice to additional, new operations as long as certain conditions are met.

The bill seeks to reverse Indiana’s 2005 legislative action which shut down all hunting and shooting of privately-raised cirvids (deer, elk and similar animals) inside fenced enclosures and spurred ongoing legal action.

Several sportsmen’s organizations oppose the bill, primarilly citing concerns over the possibility of privately raised cervids contaminating Indiana’s wild deer herd with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and other forms of disease. The Indiana Bowhunters’ Association has posted the following statement on its website: “After more that a year of exhaustive research and objective fact-finding, we have came to the conclusion that Captive Cervid Shooting Preserves are not a wise thing for our state, and should be eliminated at the earliest opportunity”. The Indiana Wildlife Federation is also urging it’s diverse membership of hunting and non-hunting interests to actively oppose HB 1265.

Proponents of HB 1265 argue that the bill affords wild deer adequate protection due to proposed licensing and inspection requirements. They also point out that the proposed bill specifies a minimum permitted size of 200-acres for any proposed, new fenced hunting operation, as well as language requiring that any fenced game animals have adequate area and cover to elude hunters. For these reasons, they object to the term “canned hunting” as used by many of the bill’s opponents and claim the facilities allowable under the new bill meet the definition of fair chase.

Upland gamebird hunting preserves, which have long operated on a firm, legal basis in the State of Indiana, are also included for additional regulation under the proposed bill - a move opponents say is a calculated attempt on the part of high-fence cervid hunting operators to attempt to legitimize their operations by comparing themselves to operations that have apparent similarities to the public, but offer none of the same environmental threats to wildlife.

Indiana Outdoor News will continue to keep readers informed on the status of HB 1265. We welcome your coments and opinions on the matter on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/IndianaOutdoor-News/103176674707, or via email at Contact@ION4U.net.

Cabela’s Outdoor Fund awards grant to national youth program COLUMBUS, OH -The Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, with a mission to promote conservation and hunting, fishing, camping, boating and other outdoor sporting and recreational activities, has awarded a $225,000 grant to the Trailblazer Adventure Program.

Trailblazer, a program of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, introduces youth and their families to shooting, fishing, and other conservation programs through an annual series of events held coast to coast.

A check presentation of the Cabela’s Outdoor Fund award was made at the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) show during a meeting of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA).

“The Cabela’s Outdoor Fund was established to support programs such as USSAF’s Trailblazer Adventure which helps ensure the youth of today will carry on the traditions and legacies of our forefathers,” said Tommy Millner, Cabela’s Chief Executive Officer. “This program makes a difference in communities across the nation. And, the Trailblazer Adventure Program’s purpose aligns with the goal of The Cabela’s Outdoor Fund of protecting and promoting our outdoor heritage.”

The Trailblazer Adventure Program began in 2001 with a single event near Atlanta. Since then, nearly 600 events have been held in 46 states with 1.3 million participants making it the largest program of its kind in the United States.

At each Trailblazer event, youth and their families shoot bows, air and other rifles, shotguns, and fish for various species. There are also other outdoor oriented activities, such as game calling, wildlife identification, and demonstrations, such as retriever dog and fox hunting. Trailblazer also partners with numerous state wildlife agencies, other conservation organizations, and youth serving agencies such as the Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brother Big Sisters, and many other organizations.

“We are thrilled that the Cabela’s Outdoor Fund is supporting Trailblazer with this vital grant,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSAF president and CEO. “These funds allow us to continue to reach hundreds of thousands of youth and families each year and also expand the program into new and different areas. We cannot thank the Cabela’s Outdoor Fund enough for their generosity.”

About The Cabela’s Outdoor Fund The Cabela’s Outdoor Fund is a tax-exempt organization dedicated to the promotion of conservation and hunting, fishing, camping, boating and other outdoor sporting and recreational activities. The Fund engages primarily in lobbying and advocacy for these activities. The Fund is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to the Fund are not deductible as charitable contributions under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Bill to align motorboat, vehicle intoxication statutes passes full Senate

Owl Prowls offered at Paynetown SRA, Feb. 13 and 16 DNR REPORT -Owl lovers will have two days to join in the fun with an owl prowl at Paynetown State Recreation Area on Feb. 13 and 16. Both programs begin at 6 p.m.

During an owl prowl, recorded or imitated calls are used in an attempt to attract a real owl. When successful, owls may swoop overhead, perch in a nearby tree, or respond with their own call.

Mid-February is mating season for native owls. “Mating season is a great time to call for owls,” said Jill Vance, interpretive naturalist who will be leading the owl prowls. “Owls are generally quick to respond to the call of a potential mate.”

Each owl prowl is limited to just 15 people. Registration is required by Feb. 9. To register, contact Vance at (812) 837-9546 or jvance@dnr.IN.gov.

Participants should meet in front of the Paynetown SRA office building, located at 4850 S. SR 446 in Bloomington. There is no entrance fee charged at Monroe Lake during the winter months.

February, 2012 Edition

ION is saddened to announce the passing of our friend, Eric Corey.

Hunter, conservationist and founder of the Eric Corey Foundation with parents Doug and Carol, Eric lost his long battle with ALS last month at 25 years of age, but not before sharing his passion for hunting and the outdoors with hundreds of other disabled hunters through his innovative Turkey Tracks Program.

Contributions to The Turkey Tracks Eric Corey Foundation may be made c/o the Community Foundation, PO Box 807, Rochester, IN 46975.

NSSF files appeal in multiple sales reporting case NEWTOWN, CT -The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, has filed a notice of appeal in response to a federal court's denial of its lawsuit challenging ATF's demand for firearm retailers to report multiple sales of certain semiautomatic rifles.

The lawsuit, NSSF v. Jones, was filed last August in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) had sent demand letters to nearly 8,700 federal firearms licensees and pawnshops, including law-abiding NSSF members, located in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas requiring them to report multiple rifle sales information.

NRA-backed plaintiffs, the firearm retailers J&G Sales Ltd. and Foothills Firearms LLC, also filed a notice of appeal.

NSSF disagrees with the district court's reasoning that ATF did not overstep the authority granted it by Congress by issuing demand letters and mandating that retailers provide the rifle sales records.

"The decision places our industry on a 'slippery slope,'" said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. "The district court's ruling will allow the ATF to demand whatever information it wants from any law-abiding retailer anywhere in the country for any reason ATF wants simply by sending a letter demanding information.

"Though NSSF understands ATF's motivation is to try to curtail violence in Mexico, Congress simply has not granted ATF regulatory carte blanche."

Keane stressed that the firearms industry abhors the criminal misuse of firearms, whether on the streets of El Paso, Texas, or in Juarez, Mexico. "Notwithstanding our appeal, NSSF is continuing to encourage all retailers -not just those along the border -- to cooperate with law enforcement and report any suspicious activity to the ATF," said Keane. "Members of the firearms industry take great pride in their longstanding cooperative relationship with ATF. Retailers have long been considered by ATF to be a vital source of information for law enforcement in combating illegal firearms trafficking."

NSSF's notice is the first step toward having its appeal heard in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. "NSSF looks forward to having the appellate court review the district court's flawed decision," said Keane.

STATEHOUSE -State Sen. Brent Steele’s proposal to align motorboat and vehicle intoxication statutes passed the full Senate late last month with a 50-0 vote.

Steele (R-Bedford) said Senate Bill 154 now moves to the Indiana House of Representatives for further action. His legislation would create a Class C misdemeanor penalty for operating a motorboat while using a controlled substance, punishable by a sentence of up to 60 days in prison and a maximum fine of $500. He added that the bill sets a Class A misdemeanor penalty if this intoxication leads to impaired operation of the motorboat.

“Regrettably, it took a fatal 2010 boat crash on Lake Monroe to

bring an inconsistency in motorboat and vehicle offense laws to legislators’ attention,” Steele said.

“While operating a motor vehicle, like a car, under the influence of drugs is prohibited in our state, operating a motorboat while impaired by these controlled substances is not. It’s unfortunate that a tragic incident had to bring this gap in our state statute to light, but this is unacceptable and must be fixed. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and moving this bill to the governor’s desk.”

SB 154 targets intoxication by Schedule I and II drugs, like marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin. Operating a motorboat with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or greater is already a Class C misdemeanor offense.

February, 2012 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

Page 5

So, what will 2012 bring us?

LOUIESTOUT It's that time of year when I like to look back at last year's outdoors issues and look ahead to what may lie ahead.

The past season had its highs and lows for Michiana sportsmen, much of which was predicated by weather, DNR management practices and public attitude.

So, as we look ahead, here are some seasonal leftovers to ponder as we head into 2012: Will we pay for the late ice season by getting stuck with frozen lakes through March and early April?

Now that South Bend and Mishawaka is full of steelhead, will this spring's fishery produce the kind of results St. Joseph River anglers have dreamed about?

Is there a finer launch facility in northern Indiana than the one that opened last year at the 6 Span Public Access site near Elkhart on the St. Joseph River?

Can we expect to see more keeper-size walleyes caught at Lake of the Woods (Bremen) as a result of changes the Indiana DNR made in stocking programs?

www.zolmantire.com

Will the Michigan DNR tighten its liberal deer bag limits in southwest Michigan to give hunters reason to smile again?

Is it likely that Indiana hunters will begin to see a downward trend of fewer deer as the result of heavy hunting pressure on antlerless deer the past few years?

Did we see that trend beginning last fall, or was the fewer deer sightings hunters reported the result of weather, too many crops in the field or some other matter of concern?

How long will it be before we start seeing wolves in Michigan's Lower Peninsula?

Now that Michigan acknowledges the presence of cougars in the northern part of the state, will rumored sightings in northern Indiana and southern Michigan be validated?

Could we see changes in Indiana bass size limits on some of the lakes where there appears to be an over-population of smaller fish?

What happened to the burgeoning northern pike population that showed up on the St. Joseph River a few years ago?

Was last fall's high number of coho that returned to South Bend a fluke or a sign of the future?

Is Lake Michigan's forage base still dwindling or is it stabilizing?

Does anyone really know?

Have we seen the last of the EHD disease that has killed south-

ern Michigan deer, or will it return this year and spread into northern Indiana?

Will Michiana trappers continue to see the rise in international demand for fur that has resulted in improved pelt prices?

Does the Michigan DNR really care what area anglers think about the mess its engineers created at the Juno Lake boat launch? Why hasn't it responded to petitions submitted by local businesses?

Have we lost Eagle Lake access/parking for good?

Will native aquatic vegetation return at Lake Manitou and bring back gamefish populations to what they were prior to the DNR's lakewide nuking of exotic hydrilla plants?

Is there a better bass and bluegill fishing lake in Indiana than what we have at lakes Syracuse and Wawasee?

Will we ever see a sufficient public parking area for Lake Maxinkuckee boaters?

Will Hoosier deer hunters embrace this fall's crossbow season, the first full year of legalized crossbow hunting?

Could it be that the general public has wised up to the scam of the anti-hunting movement and realized that hunting and trapping are valuable to wildlife management practices?

Will the DNR decide to go forward with its proposal to initiate a

slot limit on river smallmouth bass?

Will we see bigger bass? What will the anglers say?

Can Indiana's walleye fishery on the St. Joe continue to subsist on every-other-year stockings of 10,000 fingerlings?

Is the hot new bass fishing trend of “Alabama Rigging” capable of producing phenomenal bass catches in Michiana as it has in southern waters? Will it be declared legal in Indiana?

Are we going to see more trophy-size muskies caught from the St. Joe even though they haven't

been stocked there?

How cool is it that Indiana is converting old prison grounds into manageable game bird habitat areas open to public hunting?

Will the conspiracy theorists who believe the Michigan DNR is intentionally poisoning deer from helicopters ever give up that silly notion?

Are Michiana fly fishermen up to the task of tying more than 13,030 flies during the St. Joseph River Valley Fly Fishers' annual Tie-A-Thon benefit in early March and beat last year's record?

Efforts to stock larger walleye appear to be paying off, but are the numbers being stocked enough to sustain a good fishery? (Photo provided)

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

JIMBIDDLE This could be one of my shortest columns yet! The only consistent information my contacts give me is, we have bait but the fishing is pretty slow.

Everyone is wanting good ice. A lot of areas still don’t have ice and those that have it want more.

So far this has been the winter that wasn’t. It seems we just bounce around between the teens and the upper forties. A lot of folks are happy with the lack of cold weather but ice fishermen aren’t in this category. All I can say is, if you can’t go fishing go to one the sports shows and keep your spirits up. As the old saying goes, this to will pass.

Of course, I’m writing this the last week in January, so the way the weather has been it could be 5 below by the time you read this. If that be the case, get out there and nail those fish.

Lake Michigan Mark Starcevich at Mik-Lurch Tackle in Hammond expects some good steelhead action in the creeks as the water levels drop. Mark

says they have been taking some whitefish around the Michigan City area. Willow Slough is still a good bet for bluegill and crappie.

Wolf Lake is a good spot to go for a pike or a walleye with a sucker or golden roach. Things have been extremely slow on Pine and Clear Lakes in LaPorte. The DNR reports that an angler went through on Clear in late January, so use good judgement wherever you’re fishing.

Saint Joseph River Dick Parker from Parker’s Central Bait & Tackle in Mishawaka says you can get a steelhead with a Wiggle Wart or Hot-n-Tot by trolling about 100 feet behind the boat anchored in the current or moving slowly upstream.

East Central Indiana Ed Gipson at Peacepipe Bait & Tackle at Andrews expects good crappie and bluegill action if they could only get some ice. If they do get ice you should be able to take some nice slabs with jigs and bee moths.

Southern Indiana Rick Shedd at the Fishin Shedd in Bloomington echoes other contacts - we need ice!

Folks in the area are taking some bluegill and crappies from local small ponds. Rick, like every-

February, 2012 Edition

body else expects thing to pick up if the ice arrives. Of course fish need to eat so, throw something at them and hope for the best.

North Central Indiana Jim Housman from Ye Old Tackle Box at North Webster says they do have some ice and the fishing is pretty good. Jim says they’re fishing the north channels on Lake Wawasee and taking some nice bluegills and crappies on spikes and minnows. Maxie was a real hotspot for slab bluegill a little over a week ago. You know there are more there, so have it.

They are in the weeds.

West Central Indiana John Raines at Twin Lake Fish & Game at Monticello had the same lament. John is hoping what little ice they have melts and cold conditions produce some good ice.

If it freezes over now it is going to be some real rough ice and not really trustworthy. On the brighter side John says, “spring is coming.”

Northwest Indiana Kathy Valentin at Country Bait in Valparaiso tells me that the fishermen haven’t been telling her much lately regarding their catch, but she says the shop has been selling a lot of bee moths, spikes and crappie minnows. I think we can assume those folks are catching some bluegills and crappies

Trip Kelleher caught and released this 22” brown trout on a black wooly bugger at the Whitewater River tailwater below Brookville Reservoir on January 5th. The next time someone catches this bruiser it will be even larger! Nice fish, Trip! from area lakes like Flint, Loomis, Spectacle and Mink.

Like I said in the beginning ,the outlook is not great. I do want to stress that with this up and down weather, please be cautious and stay safe. As my editor says, “if in doubt don’t go out.”

Believe me, there isn’t a fish out there worth a plunge into an icy lake. So kick back and relax.

Things will pick up. In the meantime re-read you sports magazines, attend all the spots shows, clean out your tackle box and be ready

when things get better. I read in some of the mags that the trend in lures is for more realism. I guess we are going back to trying to imitate nature more closely. Of course the fish might be so used to some of these weird looking lures that they won’t recognize something that looks like the real thing.

Hey, have faith and remember what Ol’ JB always says, “ if people concentrated on the important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles.”

Good luck and I’ll see you next month.

February, 2012 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

Page 7

Hogging in the Lone Star State

D.L.SMITH Curves in Camo I was fortunate to garner my share of firsts in 2011; my first big boss tom, my first 10 (11 if you count the kicker) point buck and my first hog.

Chilly weather and high winds were not what I imagined when I packed my bags for south central Texas. We were headed down to film the devastating effects of Lightfield Shotgun Ammunition on feral hogs.

Upon landing in San Antonio, we collected our gear and headed for the ranch. It was good to be back in Texas where the people are always welcoming and hospitable.

Due to the unique nature of hog hunting in Texas, it is important to choose an ammunition that stands up to the task. I chose Lightfield Lites for several reasons.

First, I needed an accurate slug to deliver a clean kill. Second, I didn't want the slug to pass through. In a Texas ranch hunting situation, many other animals are often in the area of your target. The last thing I wanted to do was wound another animal with a pass through. Third, we had to limit the number of firearms we traveled with, so I’d

share a gun with my husband, Mark.

I am 5'4 and petite. Mark is 6'5” and not petite. We shared a 12 gauge Tarhunt Designated Slug Gun (DSG). Mark opted to hunt with the Lightfield Hybred Elite 3inch rounds. Personally, I have no macho need to prove I can take a battering from my gun. All I need to prove is the fact that I can hit my target accurately. Lightfield Lites, with their reduced recoil, and same sight accuracy, fit the bill -- without tearing up my shoulder. Both of us were able to use the same slug gun with deadly accuracy and no need to re-sight between users.

Texas, by far, has the densest population of feral hogs of any of the 36 states in which they are now found. When Spanish settlers first began inhabiting the Americas, they brought swine with them.

Through the years, the highlyadaptable hogs have adjusted and thrived. Feral hogs are a nonnative species with few natural predators and the ability to inhabit widely differing climates. To the hunter, this adds up to an exciting opportunity to reduce an invasive and destructive species by harvesting an animal that is also quite tasty.

I immediately found Texas hunting to be a completely different experience, and I learned how challenging feral hogs can be during our very first night out. They are fast and unpredictable. Most of the smaller hogs travel in groups, while the mature males tend to travel alone. High winds and cold temperatures had them moving and for-

aging. We were set up in a blind next to a water hole and a feeder.

As the sun began to descend in the sky, a rustling came from the brush to the left of the feeder. A group of hogs came in to feed.

They moved rapidly around the bait station, intimidating some of the larger animals with their aggressive posturing. The excitement of seeing the hogs got my blood pumping. I found myself getting more excited than when I killed my big buck this year. I didn't expect that.

As I stated earlier, with so many animals around it is important to wait until a single hog provides a clear opportunity to shoot.

A cinnamon colored hog stepped to the outside of the group. I zeroed in, but several others stepped into the line of fire in the blink of an eye. I waited. A black medium sized hog fed to the left side of the group. I quickly signaled to Mark that I would take him. I dialed in the Hawke scope on the DSG and, calming my breath, I squeezed the trigger evenly. The Lightfield Lite found its home and took the hog out at 88 yards. It flipped onto its back, legs straight out.

When I agreed to go on the trip my plan was to take a small-tomedium-sized hog to cook for Christmas dinner. I had achieved that goal in less than 6 hours on the ground in Texas.

The next morning brought more uncharacteristic weather, and a heavy frost covered the ground.

Mark, Host of Lightfield Wild Adventures TV, was hunting and I was running the camera.

The sun rose and the animals

began moving.

Snorting and rustling came from the brush as it had the night before, signaling the arrival of a group of hogs. A large group moved into and around the bait station.

A cinnamon colored hog was larger than the rest. Mark signalled his intentions and we waited for the opportunity. It stepped to the outside and Mark quickly fired. The hog went straight down where it stood while the other hogs scattered. We sat patiently in our raised blind and watched as the boldness of the remaining hogs overrode their sense of survival. They came back in to feed. Mark signaled he would take a large, black one on the outside of the group and again raised his DSG. He sent another Lightfield Hybred Elite on its way and took his second hog just minutes after the first.

An estimated 4-6 million hogs now reside in the U.S., and the damage they inflict on personal property and crops is estimated at around $1.5 billion annually. Many states don't even require permits to hunt them. States like Missouri even ask that you shoot them on sight. Hunting however, is not enough to curb growing hog populations. Feral hogs can breed up to one-and-a-half times per year, and litters average between 4-6 piglets. Given ideal conditions, they can produce litters of up to 12.

Feral hog hunt-

ing was exciting, and I enjoyed it far more than I expected. They are nothing like their barnyard cousins.

Their build and demeanor make them exciting game. Of course, taking the hogs with the Lightfield Slugs made for some dramatic and convincing kills. But best of all, my hog made a delicious Christmas Eve dinner for my family. I can't wait to get back out and go hogging again soon.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

February, 2012 Edition

2012 SHOT Show Review

The Straight Shooter BRENTWHEAT I just flew in from Las Vegas and boy, are my arms tired (Rimshot!). Bad but obligatory jokes aside, I just returned from our annual visit to the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoors Trades (SHOT) Show in Sin City, U.S.A. SHOT is one of the largest trade expositions in North America, a combination Super Bowl, Paris Fashion Show, Indianapolis 500, Easter and Christmas for the firearms and hunting enthusiast.

Sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Federation (NSSF) and open only to business and media, the event packs 60,000 people shoulder-to-shoulder to browse 1500 booths offering the latest, greatest and occasionally not-sohot products the shooting world has to offer.

This columnist, along with Indiana Outdoor News publisher Brian Smith, was among the over 2000 accredited media personnel to cover the show.

While space makes it impossible to give an indepth account of SHOT, we'll hit a

few of our noteworthy finds.

Somewhat surprisingly, there were fewer new products announced at the show. Though there were media events and press conferences galore, the New Product showcase was visibly smaller than in past years. Despite the fact that the firearms industry is in the middle of a noteworthy boom cycle, it would appear that companies are either unable to finance the launch of new products or simply won't take the chance in these otherwise economically troubled times.

One very hot trend is the Zombie craze. Around every corner there were weapons and accessories outfitted in various shades of florescent green, ready to do battle with the mythical undead. Cruising the aisles we found rifles, handguns, handgun grips, ammunition, knives, choke tubes, targets and cleaning kits for the zombie-hunting shooter. Personally, we're not sure why someone would really need an Otis Technologies Zombie Gun Cleaning System but they are available if you are in the market.

Perhaps the weapon that drew the most comment was the Caracal pistol. This 9mm polymer handgun looks like the illegitimate offspring resulting from a one-night-stand between a Glock and an HK pistol but according to many sources, its fit and function are second to none.

The gun is the first ever made in the United Arab Emirates

(UAE), which was enough to give this correspondent pause as we believe it highly questionable to send our hard currency into a region that traditionally isn't stable and generally unfriendly toward the United States. While UAE is certainly one of the more benign regimes in the Persian Gulf, I still wonder if our dollars might someday be returned as a car bomb. The opposing viewpoint was represented by a friend who mentioned, “If that bothers you, then you shouldn't own any H&K weapons either, because they were shooting at us 70 years ago.” A reasonable point, though I haven't come down off the fence yet.

The guns are certainly interesting. One unusual feature is the optional combat rear sight which is located in front of the ejection port.

Those who shot the gun during Media Day said the configuration is certainly fast during close-range shooting but the shorter sight radius might prove to be a hindrance at longer distances.

Current U.S. availability is virtually nonexistent but based upon the huge marketing effort Caracal put forth in Las Vegas, it seems likely that the pistols will start showing up at your local retailer

The author shoots a Doublestar Firearms AR-15 rifle during the 2012 SHOT Show media day near Boulder City, Nevada.

sometime soon.

Price range is comparable to other brand-name polymer-frame defensive pistols.

One gun that also created a stir was the XDs subcompact .45 ACP

by Springfield Armory. The gun is a single-stack magazine downsized version of their XD models that carries 5+1 rounds and offers serious fight-stopping power in a pistol that isn't much bigger than many .380 compacts.

We fired the gun on the range and found it functioned reliably in our limited test. Fit, trigger and handling were fine though the aggressive polymer grips tend to dig into your hand after repeated rapid fire. This isn't necessarily a fun gun to shoot but it more than makes up for robust recoil with light weight and ease of concealment. With an integral grip safety

that offers a little more piece of mind than other striker-based pistols, we would love to carry one of

Continued on Page 16

The subcompact .45 ACP Springfield Armory XDs: much firepower in a small package!

February, 2012 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

“We Can Do This”: A Blind Man Really Can Hunt Some of my fondest memories growing up in Missouri's Ozark Mountains are of deer camps, gun ranges and being in the woods with my Grandpa Simmerman, mom, dad and brother. But when I was 10 years old I knew there was a problem with my vision. My dad and I were coon hunting one night and had just turned the coon hounds loose. I waited by the truck and listened to the hounds make their beautiful music in the crisp night air, but realized I couldn't see a thing. That week began the horrible task of doctor visits and tests to find out what was happening to my sight.

I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP); a degenerative eye disease. From 1984 to 1990 I lost 80% of my vision. My night vision loss was the most noticeable and my peripheral vision gave way to tunnel vision. I always compare it to looking through two straws. While this was certainly traumatic to a young child, I cannot recall a time I was told to stay home because I couldn't see good enough. In fact, I was simply told to hold on tight so I wouldn't be left behind.

By the time I was sixteen, I had lost enough vision to keep me from obtaining a driver's license.

This didn't stop me from riding ATVs all over the country near my parents' home. I can still tell you the location of a few trees I became all too familiar with.

As my teenage years were swiftly passing, my appreciation grew for the outdoors and all the critters that call it home. I still recall the words of a family friend, Sam Wilson, telling us boys to “turn that light out so I can hear

something.” Even in the middle of the day I am able to hear the distinct prance, step and turn of a whitetail as its hooves dig into the mud; or hear the scurry and quick, sudden movements of a squirrel in the fall leaves and its small nails grabbing the bark of an oak tree as it played with another squirrel.

There is a beauty to the song of leaves gently falling as the acorns create a rhythm and beat as they hit soft layers of moss, blankets of leaves and downed logs. Even the smell of damp, rotting wood and the heavy musk of a skunk became pleasant and comforting. There is so much that fully sighted folks are missing out on.

Now I am grown, married and have three wonderful kids.

Although I have never laid hands on the antlers of a buck I harvested myself, I never once thought of myself as unsuccessful. All I think about is doing what I can to share the outdoors with my family. I hope they will grow to have the same love and appreciation I do for God's creation. I only hope their fondest childhood memories will be sitting with me in tree stands, ground blinds and trekking through the high country sharing our time together.

I thought I would never hunt again myself. I had accepted this perceived reality, but it would not stop me from doing what I could for my kids. All hunters will tell you how huge a thrill it is when your child harvests their first animal. Every hunter would gladly lay down their bow or gun for a season to take their child on an outdoor adventure. I am thrilled to do the same for my children permanently.

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By Chris Peltz

I was also blessed to have friends like Dale Price, Mark Alexander, Virgil Gooselaw and Robert Adkins who invite me to tag along and share in their hunting experiences.

Then, in December 2010, I met Dick Dodds.

Dick is the owner of Elkhorn Outfitters in Craig, Colorado. After asking Dick about youth hunts, he spoke briefly with my son, Jacob, and then turned his attention to me.

By this time I had lost all the vision in my left eye and had minimal light perception in my right eye. In other words, I really am blind in one eye and can't see out of the other. Dick asked me if I would like to hunt. It seemed like time stood still; a deafening silence in my mind like a moment of dramatic emphasis in a critical movie scene. The next part of the conversation I remember is Dick saying, “We can do this.”

These words rang through my head over and over.

From December of 2010 to October of 2011 I was like a five-year-old boy waiting for Christmas. Not only was I going to be the hunter, I was going to hunt something I had never hunted before, elk.

Let's pause for just a moment so I can explain exactly what took place. This was not just an outfitter letting some blind guy kill an elk.

My family and I were made a part of the Elkhorn family. It is not possible to express within one article every aspect of our adventure together or the development of our relationship without gross understatement, but I will do my best to get across just how successful this season has been.

With such an awesome oppor-

The author (left) and Elkhorn Outfitters’ Dick Dodd display the reward of courage, trust and determination. Photo provided. tunity before me, I asked my brother, Joe, to come with me. Joe and I had not been in the woods together in over 20 years. We arrived Sunday night, October 2, and got settled into the lodge. I would be surprised if I slept one hour in anticipation of 4 a.m. and what lay in store for the first day.

Dick set up a Thompson Center 7mm mag with a red dot scope for our hunt. While I shoulder the gun, Dick would stand behind me, look through the scope and line up the target.

Once we arrived at our destination, I placed my hands on Dick's shoulders and followed step for step. It felt so great moving through the sage, scrub oak and aspens. The elk were bugling hard and we soon found ourselves close

to a mad, screaming bull doing all he could to protect his harem of cows. Of all the hunting shows I have watched over the years, none of them did justice to the actual experience. As we maneuvered through the rugged terrain, Dick and I developed a rhythm. I could feel his shoulders when he was lifting or holding branches at head level so I could raise my elbow to block them from hitting my face.

With each step he took, I knew if we were going up or down. Dick would simply hesitate slightly and lightly tap his left leg on a down log as he stepped over to let me know what I was about to find with my feet. Without a word we moved as we stalked my first potential bull.

Continued on Page 16

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

BIRDING What is a birder's best friend?

Their binocular, of course!

Whether you're a beginning birder or a seasoned expert, your binocular is the crucial tool needed to bring in the details of birds for closer inspection. Since part of the fun of birding is to study and identify birds, a high-quality binocular allows us to see and appreciate what we can't see with the naked eye.

When recommending binoculars for the beginning birder, we first consider size and specifications. With a wide variety of shapes and sizes available, the choices can seem daunting. Beginning birders may be tempted to get a compact binocular, something small and inexpensive, or think they're not worthy of a large binocular yet.

Before you buy, it's good to educate yourself about the basic concepts of optics.

Magnification Let's start with the numbers on a binocular. What do the numbers mean? The power and size of a binocular is defined by numbers. A full-sized 8x42 binocular is by far the most popular choice for birders, for several reasons. The first number, 8, refers to the magnification, which in this case enables you to view something 8 times closer than you would with the naked eye.

While some birders may prefer a 10-power (10x) magnification for more detail, there are tradeoffs. The 10x is harder to hold steady and is less bright than the 8x42 of the same model. That's why we give the nod to 8x42 for those new to birdwatching.

Binos for Beginning Birders

IDNR/Outdoor Indiana magazine photo.

Magnification also greatly affects the field of view, the distance seen from side to side through the binocular. Field of view is built into the optics of the binocular, but generally speaking, the higher the magnification, the more narrow the field of view will be. A wide field of view is beneficial when trying to locate a bird or follow its movement.

Objective Lens Size The second number, in this case 42, is the size of the objective (front) lens, measured in millimeters. The objective lens is the light gathering lens; the bigger the lens, the brighter the image. That brings me back to the newcomer with the low-quality compact: the small lens of a compact binocular gathers less light, making it difficult to see details, especially in low light conditions. Remember, birds are more active during dawn and dusk. Also, birding often takes place in the woods or under a canopy of trees where sunlight is diffused.

Features Eyeglass wearers, take note: If you want to use your binocular with

eyeglasses or sunglasses, look for one that offers 15mm or more of eye relief. Eye relief refers to the distance images are projected from the ocular lens to their focal point, and the measurement can vary from 10mm to 23mm.

Close focus is another feature to consider when buying a binocular. Many prefer a close focus (3'6') in order to observe butterflies, dragonflies, and wildflowers. For birdwatching, consider a binocular with a close focus of 10 feet or less.

Also, waterproofing and fogproofing are fairly standard in today's optics. We recommend buying a waterproof and fogproof binocular; you won't have to worry about using your binocular around water and in any type of weather.

While it isn't necessary to spend a lot of money on binoculars, be aware that the more you spend, the better the quality of the glass.

High-quality glass, lens coatings, and prism coatings afford a view with better resolution, allowing you to see more vivid colors, contrast, and a crisper, cleaner image. It makes sense to spend as much as you can afford.

February, 2012 Edition

Giant Whitetail -- Continued from Cover the white object. The anticipation was too much and they agreed that they would quietly check out the white object and if it wasn't her buck, they would climb back up in the stand and wait.

As luck would have it, they didn't need to get back into the stand.

The white object was Audrey's first buck -- an incredible buck.

Audrey was awestruck. “I knew he was a big buck, but I didn't know he was that big!”

The non-typical buck weighed in excess of 200 pounds dressed and had an amazing 24 score-able points, green-scoring an astonishing 247 7/8 (Boone & Crocket).

Audrey and her buck became an instant sensation locally in Posey County and nationally on the Internet. Pictures leaked out and made their way onto hunting websites. Audrey would overhear others talking about the mystery huntress, not realizing it was her. On the Internet hunting forums, rumors flew that the hunter had been a sixteen-year old girl.

Others claimed that hunting superstores Cabela's and Bass Pro had offered Audrey tens of thousands of dollars for the rack.

The rumors proved to be false. Audrey isn't sixteen, she is the mother of two, and is happily married to her other hunting mentor, Jerry Sharp.

And, she tells Indiana Outdoor News that she will never, ever part with her once-in-a-lifetime trophy.

So what is next for Audrey? Audrey entered her trophy into a contest sponsored by local radio station WRAY 98.1. Her buck easily won the contest with the runner up having a measly 17 points.

Turkey season is just around the corner and Audrey thinks wild turkey would make great table fare, and a fan and beard would look great on the wall next to her buck. Audrey also has enjoyed archery since she was a young girl and now has a Matthew's Pink Passion bow that she plans on using for her next whitetail trophy.

Audrey and Jerry have two beautiful young daughters, Aurora and Keara, who want to hunt just like mom (and dad). No surprise, there.

Upon looking at Audrey’s accomplishment last season, who wouldn’t?

Alan Garbers is a freelance outdoor writer and ION Columnist from Martinsville, IN. Contact him at agarb84@bpl.coop.

February, 2012 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

Page 11

Creature Feature Cooper's Hawk

Hands On Nature: Winter water for Birds Birds need water in winter for drinking and bathing. A bird bath with open water will also encourage birds to come to your feeders. Some birds, such as bluebirds, do not eat seeds, but will visit a heated or thawed bird bath in winter. Here are three ways to provide water in winter. o Set out shallow plastic plant saucer each day. Bring it in when it freezes.

Not every bird that comes to dine at your feeders is there to eat seed or suet. Cooper's Craig Koppie / USFWS Photo Hawks come to stalk smaller birds as prey. Smaller than our common Red-tailed Hawk, they often visit bird feeders for an easy meal, especially when snow cover makes hunting in the wild more difficult.

You can age Cooper's Hawks by their coloration. Young birds have vertical rusty streaks on their breast with blotchy brown backs; adults have cross-wise orange hatching on their breast with slate gray backs. Even the eye color changes from yellow to red as the bird ages. The tail is long with wide bars.

Cooper's are a mastery of stealthy flight. They are skillful at flying through the woods, or skimming close to the ground, then up and over and obstacle to surprise their prey. But this style of hunting is not without risk. Cooper's Hawks often suffer wing or chest bone fractures.

Cooper's Hawks capture small birds with their feet and kill them by squeezing them. While medium sized birds are their most likely fare, they also capture mice, and other small rodents.

If a Cooper's Hawk begins to get conditioned to visiting your bird feeder, take your feeders down or leave them empty for a few days and the hawk will move on. Be sure to provide cover for small birds in the form of evergreens and dense shrubs, but keep your feeders several feet away from the shrubs, so visiting songbirds can see predators coming.

o Purchase a bird bath with a built-in thermostatically controlled heater. o Purchase a shallow plastic plant saucer, and place an immersion heater in the water. Most new models shut off if the water evaporates.

Be sure to clean out your bird bath about once a week and replace the water.

www.duncraft.com

Did you know?

Sharp-shinned Hawks (right) look almost identical to Cooper's Hawks (left) and identification is tricky for even the best birders.

Cooper's have stockier feet and a blocky head, while Sharp-shinned Hawks have slender feet and a rounder head.

Nature’s Almanac

FEBRUARY Time to tap the maple trees!

On average, a tap hole drilled into a Sugar Maple tree will yield enough sap to produce about one quart of maple syrup.

A sign of the end of winter!

Migrating Killdeer begin to move north through our area.

During migration they often stop in farm fields to search for insects.

There is a Full Moon on February 7 and New Moon on February 21. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, snow coming two or three days after the New Moon will remain on the ground for some time; that falling just after the Full Moon will soon go off.

Cardinals are more abundant at feeders this month and begin to sing as they strengthen their pair bonds between mates.

Photos courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service

Pass go and gain an extra day!

As with years divisible by four, 2012 is a Leap Year, with 29 days this month.

The Ducks Unlimited Story

Lindy River Rocker Lindy’s River Rocker runs and tracks true and has a curved profile and streamlined shape that produces a wide rocking wobble at a variety of speeds. Whether it is cast, trolled, or dropped back in the current when anchored, the exaggerated action of the River Rocker will draw strikes from a variety of species.

Designed and built for performance right out of the box, the extremely versatile River Rocker can be cast, flat-line trolled or used with downriggers, but it truly shines when utilized in fast-running waters.

The River Rocker comes in two sizes. The #3 series is a 3/16oz (2-3/8 inches) and the #5 series is a 5/16oz (3-1/8 inches).

We like the Orangeade, Pink Shiner, Tullibee and Purple Smelt colors for St. Joseph River steelhead. Learn more at www.lindyfishingtackle.com.

If you think you know everything about Ducks Unlimited, you're in for a surprise. DU's brand-new 75th anniversary book, “The Ducks Unlimited Story” offers a fresh look at DU's proud history and conservation legacy. The 208-page coffee table book by author Michael Furtman features never-before-seen photographs and documents unearthed from the DU archives, as well as information you won't find anywhere else such as firsthand accounts, the DU lineage of dedicated volunteers and everything you need to know about DU's more recent history. There's also a special full-color catalog of every single DU dinner gun and Artist of the Year print— perfect for the avid DU collector. From the birth of the organization in 1937 to its 75th year, from the first conservation work in Canada to rescuing the Duck Factory on the prairies, this book chronicles DU's proud history. But the theme of the entire story is passion: the passion of those who founded DU, as well as the passion of DU's volunteers today.

“The Ducks Unlimited Story” is available on the DU website for a donation of just $39. Order your copy at www.ducks.org.

Lightfield Zombie Blaster Ammo TM Lightfield Ammunition Corporation, the industry leader in big game hunting slug munitions, has announced the launch of a new line of Zombie ammunition. The new line is a non-projectile mega blank round thus called Zombie Blaster Ammo™. The Zombie Blaster is intended for close encounter combat with a Zombie (or several when the apocalypse happens). Don’t let the non projectile mega blank fool you, the new ammo packs a huge muzzle flash along with such an intense concussion punch it will deafen, blind and then knock the brains right out of a Zombie… guaranteed! Go to www.LITFLD.com and watch the video!

These rounds have also been tested by the Lightfield Law Enforcement division and we have found that the concussion is great enough to breach doors and knock out windows from automobiles” added Neil Keegstra, Director of Less Lethal Research (LLR) at Lightfield. “The muzzle flash and subsequent blast stands above and exceeds anything else we’ve ever seen on the market.” So, not only will you be able to kill a zombie, you will also be able to flush them out of hiding – all with one round.

No Zombie “bug out bag” should be with out it. Get ready for the apocalypse by purchasing some of these shells and practicing on Zombie targets at the shooting range. The Zombie Blaster comes in blister packs of 5 rounds in 12 gauge, 20 gauge and 410 and is available right now at www.LITFLD.com for immediate shipping (soon to be available in retailers everywhere).

New e-book Celebrates Turkey Hunting “Turkey Camp… and other turkey hunting stories,” is a new e-book that celebrates why we love the sport of turkey hunting.

At just $3.99, it will load your ereader, smart phone or computer screen with a dozen stories about this addicting sport.

Written and illustrated by Mark Strand, lifelong hunter and angler, longtime outdoor writer, photographer and filmmaker, who has embraced the new technology of digital publishing.

Wild turkeys cast a spell on those who love to hunt them, and this book celebrates these magnificent birds as well as any work of turkey hunting literature. It takes you on a cross-country adventure to many corners of wild turkey country, with creative, vivid descriptions and impressionistic images that mesh perfectly for a memorable read. If you love turkey hunting, and love reading about it, get a good dose for about the cost of one gallon of gas. And you can read it on your smartphone when you're out there in the woods and nothing's happening.

“Turkey Camp” is available directly from the author at www.markstrandoutdoors.com, as well as from all major e-retailers.

Search for it in the Amazon Kindle store, Barnes and Noble Nook store, iTunes book store, or Sony Reader store.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS Ž 2012Š

February, 2012 Edition

Drop Shot Winter Panfish

BABEWINKELMAN There are numerous baits and presentations that catch sunfish and crappies through the ice. Whether you're floating a jig & waxworm under a slip bobber or quivering a jigging spoon on a straight line, you'll typically manage to catch fish if they're beneath your hole.

But there are certain times when, for whatever reason, the fish are there but are very tight-lipped and difficult to catch.

When that situation presents itself, it's a perfect time to try a drop shot rig.

What is a drop shot rig?

Summer bass fishermen have long known the effectiveness of a drop shot presentation, because it keeps the bait in the "strike zone" so well. That same reasoning makes it a smart choice for ice fishing too.

From the rod tip to the end of your line, a drop shot rig goes like this: the line goes down to a bait tied with a palomar knot.

Beneath the bait, the tag end of your line goes down to a splitshot sinker. So, while fishing with a drop shot, the sinker is on the lake bottom while the bait is above it at a chosen distance (typically 1-3 feet).

No spin Why is drop shotting so effective on panfish that are in a negative mood? One of the main reasons is that a drop shot rig eliminates a spinning bait. When you dangle a jig under a straight line, it will almost always spin round and round because of line twist. If a panfish is in a non-aggressive mood, he will react negatively to a jig that's spinning in circles. He's much more apt to hit a nonspinning bait that's either barely moving or not moving at all.

Because a drop shot rig allows you to present the bait on a taut line (with the sinker on the bottom), it eliminates the spinning and helps you catch more fish.

Adjustability There is routinely a "sweet spot" in the water column where fish are most likely to feed. By using a split shot sinker with your drop shot rig, it's quick and easy to adjust the distance between your sinker and your bait. I mentioned earlier that the distance is generally between 1-3 feet. Sometimes the magic distance is more. For that reason, leave a generous amount of line beyond your bait so you can either have your bait way down deep or suspended wherever it needs to be in the water column.

Why a palomar knot?

With any drop shot rig, you want your bait exactly perpendicular to the line and sticking straight out. A palomar is the best knot to achieve this. If you don't know how to tie one, NetKnots.com has an easy-to-follow diagram to teach you.

Proven equipment For winter drop shot panfishing, begin with monofilament line in 2-4 pound test.

Since we're discussing fish in a negative mood, smaller baits will outperform larger ones. So try really small hooks like #12s or #14s. These are hooks fly fishermen use to tie tiny nymphs and emergers.

On your hook, I recommend threading a micro plastic body with a dangling, quivering tail. Many tackle manufacturers like Northland, Lindy and Berkley make excellent mini grubs. Live bait like waxworms or Eurolarvae (colored maggots) work great too. Crappie minnows perform wonderfully too. Lip hook the minnow, keep your drop shot line taut and that minnow will constantly fight to get away - and attract the attention of crappies and sunfish.

Multiple depths Indiana and many other states allow up to two hooks or baits on a single line (except on Lake Michigan tributaries). You can rig multiple baits at different depths on your drop shot rig. Having not one but two big crappies or bluegills battling you simultaneously is a real thrill, and a fast way to fill the pail for dinner.

When panfish are active and aggressive, it's fun to pluck them from the school with jigs and spoons. But when the going gets tough and it just doesn't seem like they'll eat, give drop shotting a try. It can make the difference between going home happy instead of empty handed.

Good Fishing!

Babe Winkelman is a nationally-known outdoorsman who has taught people to fish and hunt for more than 25 years. Watch the award-winning "Good Fishing" and "Outdoor Secrets" television shows on Versus, Fox Sports, Texas Channel and many local networks. Visit www.winkelman.com for air times where you live and be sure to check us out on Facebook.

February, 2012 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

Page 13

THIS MONTH’S WINNER!

6 Clockwise from below. . . 1) Bill Konway of LeRoy, IN took a nice buck this past season with his Knight muzzleloader; 2) iphone app developer and owner of HuntGeek, Jeff Hughes of Warsaw, IL took this monster buck last season with his slug gun; 3) ION Publisher Brian Smith with a super Texas Dahl Sheep taken with his DSG while filming an upcoming episode of Lightfield Wild Adventures; 4) Ron Guappone of Indianapolisbased Evernham-Anderson & Associates took this black buck with a Savage DSG and a Lightfield Hybred Elite slug; 5) Kaleb Brady shot this buck on opening morning of firearms season in Marshall County at 125 yards with his Remington 20 gauge; 6) Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show organizer Kevin Renfro took this super buck last season. Be sure to come out to the show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds the 17th-26th of this month.

4 5

3 2

1

This months answers From Puzzle on Page 17

Gone Afield monthly photo contest. . .

It’s EASY! It’s FUN! Fill out this form and send it in with your favorite outdoor photograph.

A winner will be randomly selected each month to win a great outdoor prize!

Entry Information: Person submitting the photo: Name(s) of person(s) pictured: Other information describing the photo: If I’m selected as this month’s random winner, please send my prize to:

Send your photos to: Gone Afield P.O. Box 69 Granger, IN 46530 E-mail submissions welcome at: www.contact@ION4U.net.

If mailing photos, please include a SASE if you’d like us to return them to you CONTEST RULES: Raghorn, Inc. shall retain the right to publish or not publish any images submitted in any of it’s media outlets. Winners chosen at random. Prizes are subject to change and contest may cease without notice.

Page 14

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

Meet Me in Fort Wayne for Unique Outdoor Adventure!

EVENTS During the time of year when we’ve had all we can stand of weekends spent indoors, outdoor TV shows, magazines and organizing the tackle boxes, the outdoor shows return to reignite our outdoor passions and give us something to truly get excited about. Whether it’s fishing, paddling, turkey hunting, backpacking, boating, camping or outdoor travel, the very best outdoor shows give us more than a simple excuse to get out of the house -- they deliver everything we need for the coming outdoor season while offering enticing features and attractions the rest of the family will enjoy as well.

One of Indiana’s best outdoor shows is Coliseum Productions’ Outdoor Sports, Lake and Cabin Show, held at Fort Wayne’s Allen County Memorial Coliseum. This year’s show is scheduled for March 16-18, and promises to be well worth the drive, so mark it on your calendars now.

Those of us who attend a number of outdoor shows each late winter season know that we often see a lot of the same features from venue to venue. Some of these features and attractions are simply too popular to keep out, and show-goers return to see them year after year.

But we also expect to see plenty of the new and unique, and this is the primary reason I enjoy the Outdoor Sports, Lake and Cabin Show.

Here are a few of the show’s features I consider unique among the outdoor shows in our area.

There is no better walleye fishing destination in the world and it is only a short drive from anywhere in Northern Indiana. The Outdoor Sports, Lake and Cabin Show has the best Lake Erie captains offering special deals on walleye fishing charters for up to 6 people at a time -- perfect for families, groups of friends or entertaining clients or business associates.

Muskie Magic Indiana’s Kosciusko County muskie fishery is incredibly unique in terms of the high densities of fish available to anglers. It is a treasured outdoor resource enjoyed by hundreds of do-it-yourself anglers each year along with many more who choose to experience the world class fishery with a knowledgeable guide. Most of these waters are located less than an hour from Fort Wayne, and the Outdoor Sports, Lake and Cabin Show offers visitors literally anything and everything they need to catch the Indiana muskie of their dreams. From exhibitors offering the latest custom muskie rods, lures, tackle and accessories to Indiana’s best and

Walleye Captains Northern Indiana loves its walleye fishing -- the world class walleye fishing in neighboring Lake Erie’s Western Basin, that is.

most respected muskie fishing guides, this show has more muskie magic than you can shake a stick at... make mine an 8-foot, heavy power, fast action stick, please.

Plenty for Kids The Outdoor Sports, Lake and Cabin Show offers a variety of features and attractions that appeal to kids and adults alike, but goes the extra mile by providing several exciting attractions especially for kids. But don’t worry, parents.

Nobody will care if you want to try too!

The JAKES Take Aim Program gives kids the opportunity to enjoy a free indoor inflatable shooting range and gun safety course provided by the National Wild Turkey Federation. How cool is that?

Allow your kids to burn off a

little of that extra energy while testing their skills on the giant Climb The Coliseum climbing wall, courtesy of the US Army. It’s free!

Tired of waiting on the weather to go fishing again? Don’t!

Bring your own rod or try one of theirs. Wet a line in the specially constructed fishing pond and land yourself a real, live lunker! They’ll have the bait, too. Awesome.

Listen to this, race fans. Put yourself in the “driver’s seat” as you race a 1/10th scale NASCAR replica racecar around the JAM RC Speedway at scale speeds of up to 200 mph. You can’t do that at home on the couch!

with Josh Lantz Northern Indiana & Southwest Michigan Less than 3 hours from Indianapolis, 2 hours from Fort Wayne & Chicago, 30 minutes from South Bend.

All equipment provided. Catch & release only, please. Fly fishing specialist, but all forms of light tackle welcome. I have twelve years experience as a professional, licensed fishing guide to ensure you enjoy your day!

Multi-Boat Trips Available

St. Joseph River System August - April / Book now for best spring dates!

Trophy Largemouth Private water / All tackle April - October

Come out and talk with Josh at the Outdoor Sports, Lake & Cabin Show March 16-18 at the Allen County Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne Call Today!

Smallmouth Bass April - October / All tackle

Trout

Muskie

St. Joseph River System April - November

North-Central Indiana April - November Licensed, Insured & Inspected

Salmon St. Joseph River System October

WWW.GOFISHN.COM/JOSHLANTZ

219-728-8996

And as if that’s not enough, the Outdoor Sports, Lake and Cabin Show invites kids of all ages to try an awesome display of Free Hunting & Fishing Video Games and more in a 40-foot long video arcade, right on the show floor.

Free Prizes and Giveaways Another unique aspect of the Outdoor Sports, Lake and Cabin Show is their extensive list of door prizes and giveaways. These giveaways aren’t raffles that take place once or twice or at the conclusion of the show. They take place every hour. From all manner of guided fishing trips to gear and equipment like a Hobie Mirage Drive Kayak, attendees at the Outdoor Sports, Lake and Cabin Show stand a great chance at winning some great prizes.

I’m a fan of most all outdoor shows, but for truly unique outdoor adventure, it’s hard to beat the Outdoor Sports, Lake and Cabin Show. I’ll see you there!

World Class Fly Fishing

Steelhead

February, 2012 Edition

By Josh Lantz

Show Features...

The Outdoor Sports, Lake and Cabin Show will offer visitors more than a hundred unique exhibitors plus a full range of exciting attractions, seminars and clinics -- a lot more than we can fit into this single article.

The show will thoroughly cover the following areas...

• Outdoor Vacation and Travel • Hunting and Fishing Gear, Guides & Outfitters • Log Cabin, Timber Home and Cottage Living • RVs and Motor Sports • Camping & Hiking Gear • Boating and Water Sports • Biking and Fitness ... and much more!

Visit www.sportsandcabinshow.com for the very latest information on exhibitors, features, attractions and show hours.

Seminars...

From Small Boat Fishing on Lake Michigan to How to Train and Select a Hunting Retriever, to How to Design and Build a Timber Frame or Log Home, the Outdoor Sports, Lake and Cabin Show will offer attendees a full slate of informative daily seminar options. No matter what your particular interests, you’ll find something new and exciting on one of three seminar stages.

Attend one of my seminars on Saturday or Sunday and learn just about everything you need to know about Fly Fishing for Steelhead on Indiana’s Lake Michigan tributaries, then stop by my booth and say hello.

Let’s talk fishing! For updated seminar schedules, go to www.sportsandcabinshow.com.

February, 2012 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

Page 15

Page 16

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

Deer Rule Changes --Continued From Cover Urban Deer Zones are Lake County, Porter County, Vanderburgh County, Fort Wayne (the portion of Allen County within the bounds of Interstate 69 and Indiana 469), Indianapolis (all of Marion County, Hendricks County east of Indiana 267; southeast portion of Boone County bounded by Indiana 267, Interstate 65, Indiana 32; and the portion of Hamilton County south of Indiana 32), Lafayette (the portion of Tippecanoe County north of Indiana 28, Michigan City (the portion of LaPorte County north of Interstate 94, and Warsaw (the portion of Kosciusko County within the corporate limits of Warsaw).

A variety of other approved changes will also affect deer hunters next fall. Some of these these new laws are summarized below.

• At least 144 square inches of hunter orange material that is visible from any direction is now required on a ground blind used while deer hunting during a season when a hunter is already required to wear hunter orange.

• A variety of new, deer hunting license “bundles” will now be sold.

• Changes the archery season to a single season that runs from October 1 through the first Sunday in January.

• Allows a crossbow to be used by any hunter during the archery season with a special crossbow license.

The full language of all approved and adopted deer hunting rule changes can be found at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2362.htm. The DNR will summarize this information and include it in the new Hunting Guide that will be released in June or July.

“We Can Do This” -- Continued From Page 9 After about 2 hours we set up for a shot. The gun was shouldered and on shooting sticks, Dick stood behind me and called as the bull charged in to within 15 yards. The bull stepped forward exposing his neck within a small window of opportunity in the brush. Dick lined me up and told me to shoot. It was a moment I never imagined myself in again. My heart was racing as I squeezed the trigger and the gun fired.

I immediately turned to Dick to find out if I just harvested my first elk.

For the first time in my life I was not disappointed to hear that I had missed my target. It may sound strange, but I had just been given the time of my life. We began our hike back to the Bobcat and discussed what we just accomplished together. The adventure was truly just beginning.

We returned to the lodge for lunch and shared stories with the other hunters in camp. It was fun to compare experiences and joke around as we built friendships. We were even able to raz one hunter about how I had missed at 15 yards and can't see, but he had missed at 12 yards and can see. This is what hunting is all about.

My favorite story to hear Dick tell is how I could hear the elk walking. After bedding down a bull one morning, we decided to go back that evening and bugle him in.

It was cold and raining hard. I never knew misery could be so fun.

Dick worked his magic and set us up perfectly just beyond a small rise and began calling. The bull bugled and headed our way as if on a rope.

Joe and Dick saw the bull coming and I was already set up on the shooting sticks patiently waiting. The bugling got louder and the hair on my wet neck began to tingle. I soon heard hooves on loose rock and sliding in mud; as though the bull slid on the hill in front of us and stopped.

Minutes later he bugled again. It was obvious he turned and walked away from us. My brother Joe spotted the bull at 80 yards and he did not appear interested in Dick's attempts to call him back. Dick was ready to move to another spot when I told him I heard footfalls. He assured me they saw our bull going away. But just then I heard another step and told Dick there was another elk just to our right. Sure enough, a bull was standing there looking at us no more than 30 yards away. We tried to adjust our angle, but he took off. Wow, what a hunt!

All week long we are making memories and becoming closer friends. One of my favorite memories is of crossing a creek and crawling on our bellies uphill. All the time I was grabbing Dick's ankle as we inched our way to the crest and set up for a shot, only to find a dozen cows and only one small spike. The week had ended, but not our adventure.

The following month, my family and I were back at Elkhorn Outfitters for Thanksgiving. My wife, two girls and son all made the trip. The memories we made at hunting camp will last a lifetime.

Dick and I took my son Jacob out for a mule deer hunt. What a day it was. Within a short period of time, Jacob spotted three bucks and a doe. I stayed put while they worked their way up to within 20 yards.

Jacob shouldered his .270 and took his shot offhand. One shot. One kill. I heard them jumping and hollering. Within a few minutes they drug a nice 5x4 muley down the hill. I was nearly knocked over by a boy who could not stop grinning from ear-to-ear.

Dick and I went out early on Thanksgiving Day. We were joined

by Jen from Wildlife Pursuit TV, Billy, a guide for Elkhorn Outfitters, and Brad, another hunter in for the week. Dick spotted a large herd and we make our way toward them. As we get closer, Dick instructed everyone on the game plan. We were going to split the herd. It all happened so fast.

We set up with half the herd on our left and the other half on our right. The shooting sticks were up and I shouldered the gun. Dick and I had a difficult time getting the red dot on the target while Billy was cow calling in an attempt to stop the herd from running. Finally, a beautiful spike bull stood broadside at 150 yards. Dick told me to shoot and I squeeze the trigger. Instantly, I heard Dick scream, “Hammer down, he's down!”.

We screamed, hugged and even cried. I remember calling my wife to tell her. She asked what I got and I had no idea other than what I had shot at was down. When I finally laid my hands on this bull, it was truly amazing. This wasn't just a spike, it was a trophy bull in the truest sense.

I will never forgot Dick’s words the first time we spoke. “We can do this.” Well, we did it. I've never been one to say, “I can't”, and thanks to Dick Dodds and Elkhorn Outfitters I can say “I have” and “I will”.

February, 2012 Edition

DNR -- Continued From Page 3 killing of a federally endangered animal that people from all walks of life care about. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources, as well as our federal partners with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, believe this reprehensible act was as wrong today as it was with a similar occurrence two years ago. As a result, DNR Law Enforcement worked with the Turn In A Poacher/Polluter board to establish the reward fund outlined in the news release and is encouraging any interested group, family or individual to contribute to this fund with the singular goal of finding the criminal(s) who are responsible. TIP kicked it off with a generous donation, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service followed suit.

HSUS's willingness to contribute financially to the effort says nothing more than it agrees with us that this behavior is wrong. It does not diminish the DNR's mission nor does it represent any sort of "merger." It simply shows that people who in many ways have opposing philosophies can, on occasion, see things in the same light.

Despite the fact that nobody had disputed the fact that shooting the crane was“senseless”,”wrong”, or “criminal”, this is what the first 2/3 of the DNR response chose to focus on -- not the question of why they were apparently accepting donations from HSUS, and who inside the DNR organization had given the green light on the matter as they had been asked. It wasn’t until several days later and a call to IDNR Director, Robert Carter -who told ION staff that he vehemently opposes the HSUS -- that the DNR actually denied it had accepted HSUS money in the actual Whooping Crane Fund..

A follow-up response was received from the DNR’s Communications Department on January 10. Again, 90% of the response focused on information that was not in dispute. It did, however, finally indicate that while HSUS did contribute $2,500 in reward funds, the HSUS funds were never donated to the DNR’s Indiana Whooping Crane Fund. It was finally clarified that HSUS would be “managing its reward through its established program”.

It read as follows: First, thank you for the emails with respect to reward money being offered in the case of the whooping crane that was killed in Jackson County, Indiana. The topic and the concerns you expressed deserve some amplification and clarifica-

tion. One thing that can’t be stated often enough is that the killing of this crane was a criminal act. DNR Law Enforcement and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have one goal – identify, capture and prosecute the person(s) responsible for the senseless killing of a federally endangered animal. Offering rewards for information in criminal cases has a long and productive tradition.

Indiana’s Turn In A Poacher/Polluter program has been a potent tool in helping DNR Law Enforcement perform its duties. In this particular case, DNR Law Enforcement established the Indiana Whooping Crane Fund that was referenced in last week’s news release. The purpose of the fund is to provide groups or individuals who wish to add to the reward payoff with their financial support. As you know from the news release, TIP kick started the effort with a $2,500 donation and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service matched it. Additional donations have been received from private individuals. (By the way, you or your organization is welcome to donate to the effort by sending a check payable to Indiana Whooping Crane Fund, c/o Lt. William Browne, DNR Law Enforcement, 402 W. Washington St., Room W255-D, Indianapolis, IN, 46204.) At the same time, the Humane Society of the United States notified DNR it planned to offer a $2,500 reward, just as it has for poaching cases in other states.

However, HSUS did not donate its money to the DNR’s Indiana Whooping Crane Fund but instead is managing its reward through its established program. The intent of the initial news release was to make known the overall reward possibility in hopes it will prompt someone to come forward with information that helps solve this criminal case. If/when information is received through TIP that leads to an arrest, DNR Law Enforcement will pay the informant from our Indiana Whooping Crane Fund and also let the informant know how to contact HSUS so he/she can collect that group’s offer. Whether it’s $5,000 from our fund or $2,500 from someone else’s fund, helping solve this case still carries a potential reward of $7,500 … or more. Sorry if it caused any confusion.

Okay, so despite the language from the January 5 press release suggesting the contrary, the DNR never actually took money from HSUS and the HSUS funds were never actually co-mingled with

SHOT -- Continued From Page 10 these little beauties. The only problem is that as of this writing, no one knows the suggested retail price. According to Springfield representatives, the gun was so secret that only three people knew of its development and none of the representatives knew the final price point. However, unless Springfield does something outrageous on the price tag, the XDs looks like a major winner.

Our surprise find of the show was Doublestar Firearms, based in Winchester, Kentucky. We fired several of their AR platforms along with full-size 1911 pistols and found them to be solid, accurate, well-performing weapons. The interesting part is the fact that most of their guns are less expensive than comparable “mid-range” firearms. If you were considering a Colt or Rock River AR rifle, a Doublestar rifle would save you several hundred dollars without sacrificing quality.

Finally, one of the coolest products we saw was the archery trapthrowing machine from Laporte Archery Company. This launcher is similar to the clay-target-throwing machines we all know on the skeet range but instead launches large reusable foam disks. If archery skeet shooting becomes a popular new sport, the command “Pull!” might take on a whole new meaning.

those of the DNR or TIP Citizens’ Advisory Board. This is the simple answer sportsmen were looking for -- not additional spin doctoring and certainly not the sarcastic suggestion that hunters should just get their checkbooks out contribute more money to the Whooping Crane Fund than they already have.

But why did it take the DNR’s Communications folks three business days and a weekend to simply say so?

Most sportsmen I‘ve spoken to are amazed that the DNR would even afford a group like HSUS the perceived credibility that comes from being mentioned in one of their press releases. After all, this is an organization that indirectly steals sportsmen’s dollars intended for wildlife conservation by filing lawsuits against our wildlife management agencies -- agencies like our very own Indiana DNR -intended to stop, limit or otherwise interfere with lawful hunting and functional wildlife management policies and programs.

A call to Mike Faw, Communications Director with the U. S. Sportsmen’s Alliance revealed some possible insight into how this may have happened.

“The Humane Society of the United States will try anything it can to increase their group’s perceived legitimacy as an animal welfare organization as opposed to the lobbying group they really are”, says Faw, who’s organization has seen a recent trend of the HSUS attempting to make relatively small donations of cash rewards or equipment to various law enforcement agencies. “They (HSUS) know that many of our wildlife law enforcement agencies are strapped for cash, so they step in with small donations like robo deer and other needed equipment”, he says.

“Remember, this is an organization that raised $187 million last year, so a couple thousand dollars here and there is a great PR investment for them”, he continues. “As long as the law enforcement agency doesn’t mind making a deal with the enemy, HSUS gets to align themselves with the good guys”, he continues.

So, given this background information, perhaps someone from our Indiana DNR simply stepped in a well placed trap. I hope that’s the case, and I hope they have learned that Indiana’s nearly one million sportsmen and women who pay most of their salaries won’t stand for any such alignments or missteps in the future. Of course, I also hope that they catch the creep who shot the whooping crane.

More Information Caracal Firearms www.caracalusa.com Doublestar Corporation www.star15.com Laporte Archery www. Laporteamerica.com NSSF Shot Show www.shotshow.org Otis Technology www.otisgun.com Springfield Armory www.springfield-armory.com

National Shooting Sports Foundation www.nssf.org

February, 2012 Edition

2012 Feb 01 Wed 02 Thu 03 Fri 04 Sat 05 Sun 06 Mon 07 Tue 08 Wed 09 Thu 10 Fri 11 Sat 12 Sun 13 Mon 14 Tue 15 Wed 16 Thu 17 Fri 18 Sat 19 Sun 20 Mon 21 Tue 22 Wed 23 Thu 24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed

A.M. Minor 12:10 12:55 1:41 2:27 3:14 4:02 4:51 5:42 6:35 7:30 8:27 9:26 10:26 11:25 ----12:49 1:41 2:32 3:19 4:06 4:51 5:36 6:22 7:09 7:57 8:46 9:36 10:26 11:16

A.M Major 6:22 7:08 7:54 8:40 9:27 10:15 11:04 11:54 12:22 1:17 2:14 3:12 4:12 5:10 6:08 7:03 7:56 8:45 9:32 10:18 11:02 11:21 12:11 12:58 1:46 2:35 3:25 4:15 5:04

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

P. M. Minor 12:34 1:20 2:06 2:53 3:40 4:28 5:16 6:07 7:00 7:55 8:53 9:53 10:54 11:54 12:23 1:18 2:10 2:59 3:45 4:30 5:14 5:58 6:44 7:31 8:19 9:09 9:59 10:50 11:41

P.M. Major 6:46 7:33 8:19 9:06 9:53 10:41 11:29 ----12:47 1:42 2:40 3:39 4:40 5:39 6:37 7:32 8:24 9:12 9:58 10:42 11:25 ----12:33 1:20 2:08 2:57 3:48 4:38 5:29

Sunrise 07:53 07:52 07:51 07:50 07:49 07:48 07:47 07:46 07:45 07:44 07:43 07:41 07:40 07:39 07:38 07:37 07:35 07:34 07:33 07:31 07:30 07:29 07:27 07:26 07:24 07:23 07:22 07:20 07:19

Sunset 06:01 06:02 06:04 06:05 06:06 06:07 06:09 06:10 06:11 06:12 06:14 06:15 06:16 06:17 06:18 06:20 06:21 06:22 06:23 06:24 06:25 06:27 06:28 06:29 06:30 06:31 06:32 06:33 06:34

Notes Fair Fair Poor Poor Fair Fair Poor Fair / Full Moon Fair Fair Fair Fair Poor Fair Fair / Waning Half Moon Fair Fair Fair Fair Good Good Good / New Moon Good Good Fair Fair Fair Poor Poor / Waxing Half Moon

Page 17

Indiana Outdoor Calendar - February Coyotye Hunting Season Open All Month.

Upland Preserve Hunting Season Open All Month.

Crow Hunting Season Open All Month.

Dog Running (Raccoon and Opossum) Season Open All Month.

Beaver, Coyote and Skunk Trapping Season Open All Month.

More info at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2711.htm Feb. 1-15: Special Late Goose Hunting Season in Select Counties - Permit Required (more info at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3570.htm) Feb. 3: DU Noble and LaGrange County Gun Bash (more info at www.ducks.org/indiana) Feb. 10-12: Tri-State Great Outdoors Sportsman Show (more info at www.tristatesportsmanshow.com) Feb. 11-12: Kokomo Outdoor Expo (more info at www.feathercastrods.com) Feb. 15: Last Day of Rabbit Hunting Season Feb. 17-19: 15th Annual Indiana Deer, Turkey and Waterfowl Expo (more info at www.indianadeerandturkeyexpo.com) Feb. 17-19: Michigan Deer and Turkey Spectacular (more info at www.deerinfo.com) Feb. 17-26: 58th Annual Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show (more info at www.indysportshow.com) Feb. 18: NWTF River Ridge Longbeards Chapted Hunting Heritage Banquet in Sellersburg, IN. Call Jim Warren at (812) 256-6881 or (502) 298-7231 for more info.

Feb. 18-19: Upper Wabash’s Eagle Watch Field Trip (more info at www.dnr.IN.gov/uwis) Feb. 25: Tipton County DU Banquet (more info at www.ducks.org/indiana) Feb. 28: Last Day of Red and Gray Fox Hunting Seasons • A variety of Hunter Education courses are offered around the state this month. For details, visit www.in.gov/dnr/lawenfor/4812.htm.

• For current information about Ducks Unlimited banquets and events throughout Indiana this month, visit www.ducks.org/indiana.

• For a list of National Wild Turkey Federation events in Indiana this month, go to www.nwtf.org/in_your_state/banquet.php.

A Marketplace for the Outdoor Enthusiast!

World Class Fly Fishing with Josh Lantz ACROSS 1 Valuable to the fur industry 5 A change in bottom where weeds end 9 A deer scouting method 10 A Canadian wildfowl 14 A top breed of retriever 16 A deer food source 18 Large on the muley 19 Estimating the freshness of tracks 23 Used on a reel to tire a fish 24 An outdoorsman's home 25 A grouping of fish in one spot 26 The snow____ rabbit 28 Launches thr arrows 29 The _____ Walton League 30 A very large bass 31 The bowstring fits in here 33 A species of duck 36 The trapper's quest 38 Brings a catch into the boat 40 The hunting area 41 Game having young 43 The grommet on a fishing rod 44 A game bird 45 Trapper's gear

DOWN 1 Wildlife's travel to a new region 2 To migrate to lay eggs 3 Oxidation on gun parts 4 To treat a hide 6 Said to be best lure color for fishing 7 The rugged type fishing 8 Very keen on the wild turkey 11 Deer have many of these for sensing 12 An antelope 13 Game runways 15 Trapped for the fur 17 Code for a type bullet 20 Letters for grain measurement 21 Where you find fly fishermen 22 A game search for food 25 A shore bird 27 Name for the whitetail of the North 30 To dress out a game 32 A type of gunsight 34 To herd game toward the hunters 35 Laws and ethics of the outdoors 37 Indian name for deer 39 A part of an antler 40 Hunter trys to read this of game tracks 41 A Gun Organization 42 Hunters give this TLC

Answers on page 13!

BEFORE I GIVE YOU THE FREE ESTIMATE, DO YOU SUFFER FROM HEART TROUBLE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR SUDDEN SHOCK SYNDROME?

BASS • STEELHEAD • SALMON • MUSKIE

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Fly fishing and light tackle angling for trophy bass, steelhead & muskie close to home in Southwest Michigan & Northwest Indiana.

Just an hour-and-a-half from Chicago, two hours from Fort Wayne and three hours from Indianapolis. Drift boat/wade fishing for steelhead, salmon and smallmouth bass.

Trophy largemouth bass & muskie trips are done from a well-equipped 19’ center console.

All forms of light tackle are welcome. Full or half-day trips. Equipment provided! Book now for March-April steelhead.

WWW.GOFISHN.COM/JOSHLANTZ 219-728-8996

Page 18

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

February, 2012 Edition

Animal Lovers Are Evil

The Last Thought MIKESCHOONVELD Animal lovers are evil. At least that’s what PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) would like us to believe. Why? Because so many of us are slave holders.

Strangely, I first heard of the concept on the TV show, Star Trek.

One of the characters was explaining the Enterprise’s food machine from which you could order anything from rice to roast beef and the synthesizer would create a perfect artificial version of the product. In his explanation he proclaimed, “Humans stopped enslaving animals more than a century ago.”

I found that comment quite unnerving. I’d never considered owning animals as evil or in the same context as owning slaves.

Evidently, some of the PETA people are “Trekkies” and are taking a cue from that episode.

The radical animal rights group recently sued SeaWorld claiming that killer whales kept by the company in Florida and California are “slaves.” PETA’s

attorneys argue that the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, applies to animals as well as people because the language does not specify that it only applies to people. The lawsuit is on “behalf” of the killer whales kept at SeaWorld’s San Diego and Orlando locations. Essentially, PETA is also claiming that the killer whales themselves can go to court and sue SeaWorld. I’m not sure how PETA feels about the dolphins and other creatures at SeaWorld.

We’re used to seeing these types of publicity stunts out of PETA, and common sense makes most people scorn them for their distastefulness or simply get a good chuckle from their outrageousness.

We dismiss stunts like these as crazy because no judge in their right mind would ever agree with them.

Right?

Certainly, we all hope that is the case. But what if it’s not?

This lawsuit highlights just how dangerous these well-funded and radical animal rights organizations can be. Animal rights organizations, like PETA and HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) spend huge amounts of money hiring attorneys to pour through federal and state laws looking for loopholes or vaguely worded laws they can use to file lawsuits

like this one.

We’ve all heard of rogue judges handing down unthinkable rulings. A couple of bad court decisions could mean that your dog, or your daughter’s guinea pig, could be filing a lawsuit against you.

Win or lose, these groups often win! They regularly bring lawsuits against the Fish and Wildlife Service and other state and federal agencies. Since the groups are registered as non-profit organizations with the feds, even if they lose the lawsuit, taxpayers are required to compensate the plaintiff for legal fees and costs of bringing the suit.

The lawsuit against SeaWorld may not directly affect you, but what if the same lawsuit was filed against the egg farm that supplies eggs to your supermarket - or a dairy, or livestock production hog farm? Even if the food producers win in court, they will still have to spend their own money hiring an attorney to fight the suit.

After a few of these lawsuits, the cost of your breakfast will go through the roof to offset the legal fees needed keep the farm “slaves”

producing the milk, eggs and bacon for your breakfast.

The main reason these groups file lawsuits is to make news headlines and bring in money. What we call a publicity stunt, the animal rights groups call fund raising.

Though I disagree with their stated goals, I respect their right to pursue their radical agenda. Of course, if the funds they raise truly went to animal welfare it would be easier to stomach. According to documents they are required to file to maintain their tax exempt status, most of the funds they raise go to pay their executive staff 6-digit salaries. The rest goes to attorneys, fund raising projects and advertising and the animals get zilch. After all, the animals are only slaves.

Is this puppy a pet, friend, slave or potential plaintiff?

Come visit with us in booth C-62 at the Ford, Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show Wed. Feb. 22nd through Sunday the 26th.

We look forward to speaking with you and sharing firsthand all that Daviess County has to offer!

February, 2012 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

Page 19