Indiana Outdoor News

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VOL. 2012 • NO. 1

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FEBRUARY CANADA GOOSE SEASON TO CONTINUE

STOUT ON BASS PAGE 5

ICE FISHING PAGE 8

DNR REPORT -The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is again offering a late season for hunting Canada geese.

The season runs Feb. 1-15 in the following 30 counties: Steuben, LaGrange, Elkhart, St. Joseph, La Porte, Starke, Marshall, Kosciusko, Noble, DeKalb, Allen, Whitley, Huntington, Wells, Adams, Boone, Hamilton, Madison, Hendricks, Marion, Hancock, Morgan, Johnson, Shelby, Vermillion, Parke, Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, and Greene.

The late season helps control the population of the breeding “giant” subspecies of Canada geese around urban areas, a common issue in Indiana and surrounding states. Indiana has offered hunters a late Canada goose season in select counties every February since 2008.

In 2011, the state issued lateseason Canada goose permits to 3,906 hunters, and 2,577 of them hunted, DNR waterfowl biologist Adam Phelps said.

Indiana hunters harvested 6,500 Canada geese during the 2011 late season, 800 more than in 2010, according to estimates from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The total late season harvest for

Deer season may be winding down, but judging by our reader photos, it has been another great year for Indiana’s deer hunters!

Check out Gone Afield on page 12.

Late Canada goose hunting season will run Feb. 1-15 in select Indiana counties. Regular Canada goose hunting is still open for various dates in January in all zones. See page 17 for more information.

Indiana across all four years is estimated at 25,400 geese.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first granted Indiana a late season for Canada goose as a threeyear experiment with a requirement that at least 80 percent of geese harvested during that period needed to be giant Canada geese.

Even if Indiana’s season meets federal guidelines, the season may be closed in future years if local Canada goose populations are suffi-

PARK

HUNTS MAKE INROADS TOWARDS HABITAT RECOVERY

STRAIGHT SHOOTER PAGE 14

YOUR OWN BACKYARD PAGE 15

THE LAST THOUGHT PAGE 18

INDIANAPOLIS – Deer hunts at state park properties are achieving the intended result of habitat recovery, but analysis of information collected this year indicates deer numbers remain above desired levels at many locations.

Volunteer hunters harvested 1,546 deer during four days of controlled hunts at 21 state parks in November. That’s only the 10th highest total in 18 years of state park hunts, but biologists say harvest numbers alone have limited value in determining success.

Instead, their research shows a better indicator is harvest-tohunter effort (H/E). When the H/E ratio nears .22 to .20, vegetation and habitat begin to recover from deer overbrowsing. Another reliable target is a harvest of 12 to 16 deer per square mile.

The mean H/E ratio for all participating parks this year was 0.27—the second most successful on record. Seventeen parks experienced H/E ratios above target levels, and most parks were above the harvest per square mile target.

“Although some parks are more successful than others at achieving a maintenance phase, data continue to indicate habitat recovery as well as sustained deer populations,” said Mike Mycroft, chief of natural resources for the

JANUARY, 2012

DNR Division of State Parks & Reservoirs.

“It’s worth reiterating that park reductions are not intended to manage deer populations for optimal hunting,” he said. “The goal is to reduce the impact of browsing to a level that allows some of Indiana’s rarest and most unique natural communities to thrive.”

Mycroft noted that although abrupt browse lines and emaciated deer are a thing of the past at state parks, less obvious damage persists throughout the park system, and deer continue to impact rare and endangered flora, as well as key habitat such as oak forests.

Mycroft’s full report on the 2011 controlled hunts is available at StateParks.IN.gov. Look for the 2011 Deer Reduction Report link below the photographs.

The first two-day hunt was Nov. 14-15, and the second was Nov. 28-29. State parks included were Brown County, Chain O’Lakes, Charlestown, Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, Harmonie, Indiana Dunes, Lincoln, McCormick’s Creek, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe, Turkey Run,

Continued on Page 4

ciently reduced.

In addition to a valid hunting license, Indiana waterfowl stamp privilege, signed federal duck stamp, and an HIP (Harvest Information Program) number, a free late-season Canada goose permit is also required. The free permit is available at hunting.IN.gov , by phone (317-232-4200), or at any state Fish & Wildlife Area, field office, or reservoir during regular hours in January.

Steelhead fishing can be good on Indiana’s Lake Michigan tribs this month if you fish on warming days. Above, Jacek Gawlinski shows a nice steelie he caught on the Little Calumet River.

USFWS DELISTS WESTERN GREAT LAKES GRAY WOLVES USSA REPORT -The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced late last month that gray wolf populations in the Western Great Lakes region have exceeded recovery goals and should no longer be protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Once official, this move will return wolves to state management in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and some portions of adjoining states.

In an even bigger victory for sportsmen, the Service also announced that it has reversed its previous view that two wolf species exist in the Western Great Lakes region. This previous stance by the Service, that two separate wolf species were present in the region, could have easily derailed any delisting of the wolves. The announcement recognized that the scientific evidence submitted during the comment period was crucial in reversing its position. In July and September, the USSAF submitted extensive comments supported by wolf and genetics expert Dr. Lisette Waits refuting the two wolf theory.

A two wolf position, which was not based on leading research, could have led to additional lawsuits from animal rights organizations aimed at preventing wolves from being returned to state management.

Continued on Page 9

COMPLIMENTS OF:

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

January, 2012 Edition

January, 2012 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

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“Expert” advice ® Volume 2012 • Number 1

JOSHLANTZ Over two years have passed since the Lantz family said goodbye to our old friend, Layla. At fifteen years of age, she lived a long life for a small dog.

I obtained Layla as an additional “benefit” of marriage to my lovely wife, Joyce. She was a tiny, spoiled, pomeranian puppy who I merely tolerated at first, but eventually came to understand and care for. Layla was a lot of things, but weighing in at less than 4-pounds at adulthood, she was never the hunting dog I had always wanted -although I did threaten to take her muskie fishing on more than one occasion. I’ll also admit her luxurious, cream-colored underfur adorned more than one streamer in my fly box.

I have a strong tendency to put things off, so many of what I now consider the best things in my life have come about through my wife’s persistence. I mull things over to make sure we don’t make rash decisions. But left to myself, I’d talk myself out of just about anything.

She pushes until some sort of action takes place. Isn’t the way our spouses compliment us one of the greatest things about marriage?

Our recent decision to bring a new pup into the family is a good example.

Little Man Kona Kong has been in our home for about a week now. He’s a smart, little, silver Labrador retriever who is showing wonderful promise as a family companion and skilled hunting partner. Of course, now, I’m wondering now why I ever waited so long for a new puppy.

I’m an editor and a fishing guide, not a dog trainer, so I’ve sought out help and advice on training Kona from several experts --

including longtime friend and fellow guide and writer, Jay Anglin of Anglin Outdoors. Jay has owned four different Labs over the nearly thirty years I’ve known him and has self-trained all of them -- primarily using the techniques and methods assembled and outlined by Richard Wolters in Game Dog and his other best selling books. I’ve had the great pleasure of hunting with each of Jay’s dogs many times and have admired each of them. They have become the standard to which I will compare any retriever I ever hunt with, and I’ll be thrilled if Kona becomes half the hunter that Ruggles, Aggie, Stanley and Duece have been.

Of course, working in the outdoor field, I’m blessed to have many other friends owning considerable success and experience in training great hunting dogs. Make no mistake. I’ll be speaking with each of them.

My initial foray into training a retrieving dog for upland and waterfowl duty has been eye-opening. So much has been written about all aspects of our outdoor lifestyles and passions, it can numb the mind. The good news is that tips and opinions are almost always at our fingertips. The bad news?

Well, let’s just say there’s plenty of bad advice and information from folks who are more ego than expert mixed in there as well. As a rule, I’ve learned it is usually a poor choice to simply follow any one person’s opinion on anything these days.

We’re headed into the heart of the outdoor show season over the next few months. These shows are entertaining, but they are also great ways to obtain knowledge and improve our skills as outdoorspeople. And there’s typically enough real experts on hand that you can sort through all of it and garner some really solid advice.

One of the first, great shows on this year’s calendar is Indiana on the Fly -- a unique fly fishing and wing shooting exposition scheduled for January 7 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indy.

I call myself an “expert” in

precious few pursuits, but fly fishing is one of them. I’ve been fly fishing for over 30 years and a professional guide for 13. I’ll be giving a fun and informational seminar on what I’ve learned about fly fishing for largemouth bass over the years at this year’s Indiana on the Fly Show, so come on out, sit in and say hello! Of course, there will be plenty of other experts on hand to answer your fly fishing questions as well, in addition to a variety of upland hunting pros. The entire show follows a “cast and blast” theme, and is very unique in that respect. Among other attractions and features, this year’s Indiana on the Fly will have a Gun Dog Doggie Park, where attendees can talk with owners and trainers about various hunting breeds and meet them up close and personal. Dog lovers will also be treated to “Puppy Training 101” by Hoosier Boys Kennel. Yep. That’s a seminar I’ll be sitting in on for sure.

I hope to see you there. Be sure to speak up if you have any dog training or fly fishing tips of your own. I’m all ears. And who knows? I may just show you how to tie the Pomeranian Prawn.

For more info on Indiana on the Fly go to www.freewebs.com/reelwomen/indi anaflyfishingshow.htm. For more info on all our area’s great upcoming outdoor shows, watch the Outdoor Calendar on the Outdoor Essentials page in every edition of ION or visit www.ION4U.net.

Publisher: Brian E. Smith Assistant Publisher: Mark C. Smith Editor-in-Chief: Joshua D. Lantz Sportsmen’s Rights Editor: Rick Story Field Editor: John Martino, Central Indiana Field Photographer: Bill Konway Graphic Design: graphics@ION4U.net Layout & Editing: Sand Creek Media Office Manager: Shannon E. Smith Advertising Sales: (877) 251-2112 E-Mail: contact@ION4U.net Web Site: www.IndianaOutdoorNews.net Business & Publication Office: Mailing Address: P.O. Box 69, Granger, Indiana 46530 Phone: (877) 251-2112 • Fax: (800) 496-8075 INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS® is the official publication of Raghorn Incorporated, and is published monthly at the address listed above. For home delivery and subscription rates, look for the subscription card in this publication. Editorial contributions may be submitted to the above address. No material can be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self addressed envelope.

Photographs are accepted and greatly appreciated. All materials submitted become the property of Raghorn Incorporated and are subject to editing to meet the objectives of this publication. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors, not the editors, staff or any other representative of RAGHORN’S INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS or Raghorn, Inc. “Raghorn’s Indiana Outdoor News” is a registered Trademark of Raghorn Incorporated. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be used or copied without prior written consent of Raghorn Inc. Violation of copyright laws will be prosecuted.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RAGHORN’S INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS, P.O. Box 69, Granger, Indiana 46530.

Copyright© 2012

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

Crosley FWA to host Jan. 7 squirrel hunt Crosley Fish & Wildlife Area will host its fourth annual youth squirrel hunt Jan. 7. The event, a joint effort with the Hoosier Tree Dog Alliance and Clifty Creek Coonhunters, matches youths with experienced hunters and their squirrel dogs on a guided hunt.

The youth hunt is open to ages 17 and younger. Children 12 and younger must have an adult with them. Older youth are also welcome to bring their parents or another adult. Participants of all experience levels are welcome, especially those looking to try hunting for the first time. Squirrel hunting with a dog is a great way to get interested in hunting and the outdoors.

The youth squirrel hunt requires either a youth license, which requires completion of a hunter education course, or an apprentice license for youth who have not completed a hunter education course. Youth attending the squirrel hunt are encouraged to

bring their favorite squirrel rifle or shotgun. Firearms will be provided to those who are new to hunting or who need to borrow equipment.

Participants must bring a regulation hunter-orange garment.

Attendees should arrive at 9 a.m. at the Crosley FWA office,

2010 S. State Route 3, North Vernon. Participants will listen to a short safety talk and then proceed to the woods. After the hunt, lunch will be provided and some door prizes will be handed out.

Call (812) 346-5596 by Jan. 2 to register or ask questions.

Firewood available at Pokagon State Park ANGOLA -Members of the public, with a permit, may collect ash firewood from Pokagon State Park. Collection of firewood is normally prohibited at all Indiana State Parks, but destruction of ash trees by the emerald ash borer insect caused a change in policy at Pokagon.

Permits to collect firewood are available at the Pokagon park office on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cutting and hauling may take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park entry fees also apply.

Permits cost $5 per pickup truck load. Larger vehicles will be charged accordingly. Purchasers must agree to not take it out of emerald ash borer infested areas. Learn more about where the emerald ash borer is at dnr.IN.gov/entomolo, clicking on emerald ash borer, and clicking the Indiana link under the maps of quarantined sites link.

All proceeds from the sale of timber and the sale of firewood will get funneled back into a program to restore the park with new trees of a variety of species. For more information, call (260) 833-2012.

January, 2012 Edition

Park Hunts -- Continued from Cover Versailles, and Whitewater Memorial. Cave River Valley, a satellite site at Spring Mill, also was included.

Weather was marginal statewide for both sessions. Temperatures were warm on the first two-day session with high winds, rain and thunderstorms scattered across much of the state. Second-round weather was cooler with gusty winds and a mix of rain and snow.

Another influencing factor was no-shows, meaning hunters who were drawn for participation but did not participate at all, or participated only one day. Just over 6,000 hunters were selected in the initial draw. Standby drawings were conducted at four parks on a trial basis to fill spots left vacant by originally drawn hunters.

Parks requiring reductions in 2012 will be listed and made available along with online applications in July 2012 at dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/5834.htm.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

Page 5

Could the Alabama rig work here?

LOUIESTOUT MOUNT IDA, AR When I saw the gaggle of lures hanging on the end of Scott Rook's 7-foot, 6-inch St. Croix fishing rod, I could only shake my head.

What will bass fishermen think of next?

When he heaved the carousel of soft-bodied baits into the water, it sounded like someone had just pitched their garbage into the lake.

“That is absolutely crazy,” I said through laughter.

But Rook's bizarre looking rig, called the Alabama Rig, is no laughing matter. It's the hottest new trend in bass fishing, producing amazing catches in tournaments across the south over the past two months. Anglers are catching more than one fish on a rig - and big ones.

Rook and I were fishing Arkansas’Lake Ouachita. It was a raw, cold-front day and not conducive for active bass, yet Rook caught one fish on the rig and had several other strikes while demonstrating the A-Rig. What is it?

www.zolmantire.com

Essentially, it's an umbrella rig, primarily used for saltwater and striped bass fishing. It consists of a lead head that has five lightwire arms branching from it onto which lures can be attached. It looks like a miniature umbrella without the overhead protection.

With five swimbaits attached to the rig, it gives the appearance of a school of baitfish swimming together.

The rig was created by a small Alabama luremaker who has since been overwhelmed by angler demand, despite its hefty $25 price tag. There were reports of them being sold on eBay for as much as $150 each.

The A-rig has since been purchased by Mann's Bait Company.

Because of angler buying frenzy, the rig is back-ordered by as many as five weeks. Other companies are developing their own versions and you'll see several knock-offs within the next couple of months.

I saw enough of Rook's demonstration to see why it's effective. It got me thinking about how - or if - it will work on Michiana lakes.

Or, will it be legal?

Indiana's law says each line cannot have more than two hooks or two lures. But is the Alabama Rig just one lure with several parts?

DNR officials are studying that to determine the rig's legal status.

If they decide that you can only run two hook-bearing lures on one rig, could you run three others without hooks to retain the rig's schooling fish appearance?

Michigan's law states you can't use more than six hooks or lures at one time, therefore one could assume it would be legal there. Of course, those laws are open to interpretation and will likely be reviewed if the A-rig catches on in Michigan.

Mark Zona, a Michigan Michiana angler and popular TV fishing show host, believes it could fit some conditions, but may not be as practical as it is in southern states.

“It works well in the south because the bass feed on balls of shad, which we don't have in most of our waters,” he explained. “But if you can dress it up with perch or bluegill-like imitators, and fish it around schools of bass, it's probably gonna catch 'em.”

Good examples would be during the pre-spawn period, or when bass are holding on deep weed edges, or during early fall when bass are roaming in wolf packs.

“I think it will be more effective in the stained lakes,” said Zona. “On clear lakes where you

have to finesse them, this rig might intimidate the fish. On the other hand, it might be a killer rig on windy days when the fish are bunched up.”

Lure-wise, he believes 4-inch size soft-bodied lures will be best, and believes natural colors (smoke or watermelon) are best suited. He plans to try it with Strike King's Caffeine Shad baits attached.

One thing is for sure - the Alabama Rig is intriguing, but we won't know until next spring if it works here - or if it will be legal.

But it's something to think about as we pass through the long winter days.

Scott Rook shows off the Alabama rig fashioned with five swimbaits. (Photo by Louie Stout)

Classic Set Speaking of bass fishing, it's been announced that the 2013 Bassmaster Classic will be held on Grand Lake o' the Cherokees near Tulsa, Ok. Feb. 20-24, 2013.

It marks the first time the Classic has been held in Oklahoma.

This year's Classic will be held on the Red River near Shreveport, La. Feb. 24-26 and will include Hoosier Matt McCoy of Indianapolis who qualified through the Federation Nation events.

No one from Indiana has ever won the Classic. Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich. is the defending champion

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

JIMBIDDLE Welcome to 2012! I guess I can officially say, Happy New Year. I don’t know what this year is according to the Chinese, but to fishermen every year is the year of the fish! Thank goodness fisherman are by nature eternal optimists because this report doesn’t paint a pretty picture for fishing this month. Most of my contacts had the same comment- we need some ice. However, with that said there are a few bright spots out there. So keep your chin up and head out to the water and keep in mind that a challenge is a good thing as it makes you try harder.

Saint Joseph River Dick Parker from Parker’s Central Bait & Tackle in Mishawaka says the water’s clean and the steelhead fishing is great from Twin Branch Dam to the state line. The guys are using hot and tots or spawn to get them.

Lake Michigan Mark Starcevich at Mik-Lurch Tackle in Hammond says they are still getting some perch on min-

nows around the hole in the wall in East Chicago and from the reefs to the rocks in Portage. Crappie are being taken in the corn channel on Wolf Lake. The area streams are still good for steelhead using spawn. Wolf Lake is also producing some nice walleye.

North Central Indiana Ray Kindle at Ye Old Tackle Box in North Webster told me anglers are still taking some crappie and bluegill in the local waters and that you might still get a muskie on Webster. Some largemouth are being taken on tip ups.

Central Indiana Katy McCalla at the Bait Barn in Indianapolis tells me the folks are still taking crappies, especially on Geist. Katy expects good catches once they get some ice.

Maybe this would be a good time to stop in and get your reels relined and pick up some spikes and mousies so you’ll be ready when that ice gets here. Katy has everything you need for ice fishing so as she says, “come on down.”

Southwest Indiana Rick Shedd from the Fishin Shedd in Bloomington says you might take a walleye on Lake Monroe trolling shiners or hook a wiper using a jig. Rick said many of the smaller lakes in the area such as Lemon, Griffy and the Yellow Lakes were good bets for

January, 2012 Edition

crappie and bluegill.

East Central Indiana Ed Gipson at Peacepipe Bait & Tackle at Andrews says nothing’s going at the moment. Ed reminded me that folks in his area were ice fishing last year by mid December. Hopefully the ice will be on soon and then crappie and bluegill action should come on strong!

West Central Indiana Charley Raines from Twin Lakes Fish & Game in Monticello reports extremely high water levels and tough fishing conditions.

You can still take some crappies and smallmouth on lakes especially near the rivers. Crankbaits would be your best bet to land some. Try casting along rocky banks for the best action with smallmouth. Since the water levels are so high, fishing below the dam isn’t the best idea at this time.

Southeast Indiana Tag Nobbe of Brookville Lake Guide Services in Brookville says everything is biting now if you fish deep. You can catch smallmouth, stripers, catfish and everything in between if you fish at the 35-40 foot depth. Since the fall turnover the deeper water is oxygenated and the fish are all together at those depths. Use jigs, bass minnows or spoons and keep your lure in contact with the bottom

Need some angling inspiration this month? Luke Holland caught his big largemouth in Elkhart County last November. fishing straight down over the side of the boat. No casting necessary!

I know it’s a rather dismal report but remember the old adage, don’t shoot the messenger. Hey, we all know the ice will come and the fishing will be great so just hang in there and make the best of the situation. Think of good things like how much you are saving on heating cost so far this winter.

While you are waiting for the ice take a ride to your local bait shop. Don’t let those folks get lonely. They love talking about fishing! I suggest you take a look

at some of the new lures while you are there and buy a couple as these folks need the business and we sure don’t want them to close up shop for lack of it-they would be missed.

Well, I’ve done my best to cheer you up and get you to think positive so go to an outdoor show this month or read about fishing in one of the outdoor magazines as you keep your eye on the weather.

And remember what OL’ JB always says, “tough times makes you stronger.”

Good luck and I’ll see you next month.

January, 2012 Edition

Law enforcement officers near Jeffersonville were desperate in their search for a missing man.

From a note left in an abandoned car, the man was determined to kill himself.

Time was against the searchers as the man may have been lying wounded and in need of help. The area was wild and overgrown along the Ohio River. The underbrush, vines, and ravines made effective searching impossible. The officers even tried thermal imaging to peer into the dark vegetation along the river. The residual solar heating off the large rocks foiled the attempt.

It was in this hour of need that someone arrived that gave the searchers a glimmer of hope. He and his partner were well known to their peers. His friendly eyes, curly hair, and big nose made even the most hardened searcher smile but it was his knack to find what others could not that made him a legend.

Resource Protection Dog (RPD) Apollo was on the case.

Even though it had been almost twenty-four hours since the man disappeared, they hoped Apollo would find a scent to track.

Using an article of clothing owned by the victim to give the dog the scent Apollo circled the car, picked up the track, and headed down a narrow trail into the thick woods.

The scent led the team to the banks of the Ohio and to the hidden body of the victim. The case was resolved in five minutes and a grieving family received closure thanks to the abilities of Apollo.

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

Apollo is part of a team that works for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The other half of the team in Gary Pennington, an Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO). While most of the skill on Apollo's side is natural, it takes a great deal of work and training for Gary be able to understand what Apollo is trying to tell him. In this case, Apollo went from tracking scent on the ground to picking up scent in the air.

While Apollo couldn't tell Gary the body was nearby, Gary could tell

by Apollo's sniffing at the air that they were very close. “I have to learn to read my dog when I do a man-track of any type,” Gary said.

On another case, juveniles had been burglarizing homes in Floyd County. Two K-9 units were called to a recent break-in. To keep from complicating the tracking, Apollo was held in reserve as another dog started following the scent of the burglar. “As we were waiting,” Gary recalled, “we received a call that another home had been broken into about a half-mile away.” Gary and Apollo immediately went to the other home. “We started the track at the point where the individual tried to gain entry into a garage.” Apollo quickly went on track and several officers accompanied them as they headed into nearby woods. “We made about a halfmile semi loop and pushed the individual back out to the road. He ran behind some houses and across a field, right to a waiting officer.”

The juvenile was apprehended.

Apollo the Wonder Dog ALANGARBERS In many cases the dog tracks the scent of the individual. Each person has an individual smell that a tracking dog can discern. In other cases, the dog tracks the difference of a smell. For instance, if someone wears scent-free boots, like many hunters wear, little human scent will exist. However, if the person walks across a lawn or field, the weight of the person crushes, tears, and grinds the plants under their feet. Those plants then put out a smell, like a freshly mown lawn. To humans, the small scent difference would be indiscernible, but to a dog it would be as plain as tracks in fresh snow.

The same happens on pavement. If the same person that just walked across the grass came to a parking lot, minute particles of the grass would be deposited, and the tracking dog would then follow the smell of the bruised grass across the pavement. The same can be true for freshly exposed dirt and normal dirt. It is like the difference in

freshly baked bread over stale bread to the keen nose of a dog.

Tracking dogs can even distinguish different tracks by the same person but made at different times.

Along with tracking humans, many RP dogs are trained to detect scents commonly found in law enforcement work. Drugs, marijuana, deer, turkey, waterfowl, ginseng, firearms, ammunition, and gun powder are just a few of the smells they can detect when aiding their human partners to enforce the law.

One November evening two juvenile hunters

Page 7

were leaving their stands after legal shooting hours. Across the cornfield they spotted shadows and thought they were deer. Taking careful aim, one of the boys fired his 20-gauge slug gun at the shadows. Tragically, the shadows were other neighboring hunters heading home for the night, and the slug slammed into the back of one of the hunter's legs, wounding him.

While the man recovered, an investigation was done on the accident. For the investigation, the spent shotgun hull had to be located. Considering the size of the field and the massive amount of corn stubble in the area, the prospects of finding the little yellow shotgun hull appeared dim.

In retrospect, it was child's play for Apollo. “I took Apollo out there and took him off the leash,” Gary told me. “He immediately raised his nose, took a sharp left, and went right to the shotgun hull.”

Gary gives Apollo all the credit in every case. “I have to brag on my dog,” Gary laughed. “We (humans) could have gone out there all day picking though the cornfield looking for a little yellow hull, and may never have found it.

Apollo found it as soon as he was turned loose!”

RP dogs can also help in poaching, trespassing, and theft cases. Several years ago a private land owner reported that someone had poached a deer on his property and stolen a tree stand. The perpe-

Continued on Pg. 9

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

ICE FISHING Few see them. Others either dismiss the sightings as hooey or are cursed to believe but never catch a fleeting glimpse. These freshwater poltergeists can be as common as the ghosts of missing mariners on pirate vessels, but still scarcely witnessed. Believers see them. Brian “Bro” Brosdahl sees them, and then catches them like genies in a bottle.

Bro is haunted by humungous panfish. They keep him awake at night. Cause him to swerve to the shoulder daydreaming on the way to find them. Difference between Bro and other ghost hunters, though, is his success rate. Bro captures them on hook and on film.

And then like any steward of bluegill-building programs, he releases everything over 8-inches.

“Most viable panfish lakes have them,” Bro asserts, “but not everyone has the knowhow to catch them. Even bodies of water that are overrun with small panfish usually hold a few monsters.” To increase the capture rate, says Bro, a willing angler must evolve their conventional fishing techniques.

Bro talks about these older, sagely fish. “They're veterans seen most every presentation out there. Think about it. In northern natural lakes, a bull bluegill has seen a lot of birthdays. They only grow about an inch a year, making a legitimate pounder ten years old.

Football perch don't get that length and girth until age eight or nine.

Crappies grow faster, but have still spent years in the lake before achieving Facebook posting size.”

Bro continues. “They laugh at black braided line and three season old 8-pound test. Literally, sonar

January, 2012 Edition

Ghosts of the Lake pings can spook the bruins. And the parade of anglers walking over their heads is a thing of the past.

Educated panfish avoid those parade routes, and find peaceful places to live.”

Suddenly, Bro touches the brakes while citing his laundry list of do's and don'ts. The freshwater philosopher goes back to the subject of fishing line. “You know, I just can't leave the topic of line hanging out there. There's another issue that isn't addressed often spinning. Crappy, coiled line makes your jig spin like a Spirograph.”

(To the younger set of anglers, that's a whirling tabletop toy from the 70's that produced psychedelic paintings.)

“In real life,” says Bro, “waterlife - panfish food - doesn't twirl like a top. Zooplankton pulse and propel through the water, but don't' act like a kid trying to get dizzy. To panfish, especially seasoned specimens, that's a turn-off.”

Spinning is common with junk spinning reels, particularly when paired with over-weighted or ancient, coiled fishing line. Smooth turning reels like those on Frabill's Bro Series Combos don't have a Twizzler effect on the line. But if Bro really wants his jig balanced on a tightrope, he employs the Straightlining technique, which requires specialized equipment.

Frabill's Straight Line Combo takes up line like rolled carpet on its flyfishing-styled reel. Likewise, the line lets loose like a pulley, no twists or turns. Easy on, easy off.

With the line tamed, the joystick is now in Bro's hands. He controls every twitch of the jig. “The micro movements are mine, or the

effects of one too many mugs of morning coffee.”

“The real action of the jig and jigger come to life,” says Bro. “I can make the bait move, or not move. Prey will go dead still sometimes. Baitfish freeze. Zooplankton hang in suspended animation.

Imitating that non-action is simply impossible with twisted line.

“The spin stops here.” It's application time. For brutish bluegills, Bro's internal radar immediately scans for the deepest standing greens in the lake. There, bluegills are like croutons to a salad. Being the perfect place to live means 'gills of all shapes and sizes live amongst the foliage. If you're getting bothered by anklebiters, mark the hole. Consider those fish the scouts. Later, especially nearer the bookends of the day, the big dogs will come through.

For said operations, Bro reaches into the pocket tackle box of candies for his fave, his namesake, the Northland Bro Bug. “Thing's surefire,” says Bro. “With a bright Lady Bug pattern or more subdued Grasshopper pattern in the mix, I bust out either maggots or waxworms. Maggots are my first choice, loading the single hook up with as many as it will handle.

Waxies go on in pairs, tail hooked.”

A secondary Straight Line Combo lies in waiting, it sporting a Bloodworm from the Bro collection. “That slinky little tail flicks with the slightest movement of the rod tip. And like the Bro Bug, another horizontal bait, anti-spinning is mandatory. Sit and spin in front of a veteran bluegill and you might as well start digging around

By Noel Vick with Brian “Bro” Brosdahl

Doctorate level bluegills aren't easily duped. The right spot, zero line twist, and a natural presentation like straightlining, however, can combine to conquer even an educated fish. Photo by Bill Lindner Photography, courtesy of www.frabill.com. for a stick of dynamite.”

Jig hung below the hole with care, Bro activates the micro motions, inching ever so slowly through the water column. Inch or two followed by that nervous twitching action. A bite, or more like the Dyson-ish suck of a greater 'gill, and the only indicator might be line movement incongruent with your jigging strokes. Or, the rod tip might momentarily go static. Set the hook. And in Bro-speak, it's a “sweep,” not a lean-into-it hookset.

Adding a Frabill Spring Bobber to the rod tip makes the system that much more sensitive, especially for anglers on the learning curve of trophy bluegill hunting.

Lakes will give up the ghost, but not to just anyone. Fish like the bull in the China shop and your future is filled with three-to-apound bluegills. Get with it. Get the right gear. And you can go from storyteller to ghost buster.

January, 2012 Edition

Wolves -- from Cover “This announcement is a major victory for sportsmen, conservation, and wildlife management,” said Rob Sexton, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation senior vice president. “We applaud the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their decision to recognize the scientific facts regarding wolves in the Great Lakes region. This is how the Endangered Species Act is supposed to be implemented. When animal populations recover, those species should be removed from the list and returned to state management. This has been a long, hard fought battle and is not likely over as we expect the animal rights lobby to turn to the courts to stop

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012© the delisting. We will be ready.”

Wolf populations have far exceeded recovery goals and have become an increasing threat to other wildlife, livestock, and hunting and other dogs.

The delisting rule will become effective 30 days after it has been published in the Federal Register.

Official publication in the Federal Register is expected to take place next week.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation has been on the front lines working to ensure that wolves in the Western Great Lakes region were removed from the ESA and rightfully returned to state management.

In May of 2010, the USSAF and its partners petitioned the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service to delist wolves in the Western Great Lakes region. After the Service failed to respond to the request as required by law, USSAF notified the Service that if it did not act on the wolf petition USSAF and our partners would file a lawsuit. Subsequently, the Service started the delisting process which led to today’s announcement of its intent to delist gray wolves in the Western Great Lakes region.

Joining the USSAF in these efforts are the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association, Dairyland Committee of Safari Club International Chapters of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Hunters Rights Coalition, Whitetails of Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Firearms Owners, Rangers, Clubs, and Educators, Inc.

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Behind the Badge -- from Pg. 7 trators used an ATV to carry the stolen property and poached deer from the scene. Since the big tires of the ATV left little in the way of sign, the trail was lost.

The ICO working the case asked for help from Apollo. Once on the scene, Apollo had several scents to follow, the scent of deer, blood, and the two poachers. The scent track led through the woods to a barn almost a mile away, and in it was everything the ICOs needed to solve the case and prosecute the criminals.

Considering everything Apollo has done, and will do in the years to come, it is fitting that his

name comes from the Greek deity.

Like the Apollo of mythology, he does bring true healing to those that need his powers…plus it tickles when he licks your face!

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

January, 2012 Edition

Tri-State Great Outdoors Sportsma

By Rick Story

I

n the dead of winter hunting and fishing is on the back burner for most Indiana, Michigan and Ohio sportsmen. However those in the know will be doing some hunting for bargains and fishing for expert information at the region's best and fastest growing outdoor sports exposition.

The 2012 Tri-State Great Outdoors Sportsman Expo, February 10-12, 2012, is on its way to becoming perhaps most complete outdoors show in the Midwest. Formerly called the Michiana Great Outdoors Sportsman Show and held in Howe, Indiana, the newly overhauled event in 2012 will come to the Auburn, Indiana Auction House in northeast Indiana, near Fort

Wayne.

The huge show, which will host an estimated 10,000 show patrons, will feature hundreds of outdoor sporting goods manufacturer and vendor booths and a full slate of outdoors seminars taught by nationally known hunting and fishing experts. It will also feature a series of competitive events and will be topped off by a massive gun auction featuring over 100 guns.

If all this sound like a place you should be on a brisk February day, Indiana Outdoor News and all the sponsors of the Tri-State Great Outdoors Show invite you to be part of one of the greatest outdoors shows in the Midwest! Other show sponsors include Total Value RV, R & S Boats, The Bear 98.9 radio, Windows Doors & More The Tri-State Great Outdoors

Sportsman Expo is a production of JW Promotions and offers everything of interest to today's hunter, angler, trapper, archer, boater, camper and hiker. The show has it all -- from camo to ammo, campers to RVs, kayaks to canoes, guns to gear, bows to fishing poles, tackle to traps and duck calls to deer blinds.

“We intend to make the TriState Great Outdoors Sportsman Show the biggest and best outdoor exposition in the Midwest,” said show organizer Jody Whitly of JW Promotions. “We've been working hard all year and believe we have on tap the finest series of booth displays, events, games and speakers ever offered at an outdoors show, particularly in our region.”

Whitly said that well over 100 booths and other exhibitors will be at the show, offering everything from hunting gear and fishing tackle to boats, RVs and camping gear.

A large assortment of vacation destination exhibitors will be in attendance, so bring your calendar to plan next year's hunting and fishing adventure!

“A few booth spaces are left,” Whitly said, “So if any readers have an outdoors oriented business they'd like to promote at the show, they should contact me at JW Promotions.”

Competitive Events Will Challenge Sportsmen A series of competitive events, most open to members of the public who register early, will highlight the Tri-State Great Outdoors Sportsman Show. Tri-State Archery of Kendallville, Indiana is sponsoring a series of archery and bow hunting-oriented competitions.

Other competitions will recognize excellend in other outdoor endeavors.

• Bow Baseball: If you and three of your buddies are hot shot archery marksmen, you should think about registering to compete in the Bow Baseball tournament competition.

Bow Baseball is a fast growing archery game that features a combination of archery target shooting and baseball rules. The game is a

blast and prizes will be awarded.

To register, contact either JW Promotions at (740) 397-7788 or Tri-State Archery at 260-3182354.

• Archery Skeet: Tri-State Archery will also be hosting an Archery Skeet completion. Shooters will fling arrows at moving discs, not unlike clay birds used in shotgun skeet.

Again, contact JW Promotions or Tri-State Archery at the phone numbers above.

• Taxidermy competition: Taxidermy artists from throughout the three-state region will compete in various species and other categories to determine who is the top gun taxidermist in our area. It's always a pleasure to see the work of true masters who know how to recreate lifelike wildlife and outdoor scenes through the art of taxidermy. Contact JW Promotions if you are interested in participating.

Other Attractions to Delight Outdoorsmen and Women For the first time, the Tri-State

January, 2012 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

an Expo Comes to Auburn, Indiana Great Outdoors Sports Show will feature paintball and archery paintball-like booths! The public can strap on protective gear and join in the paintball wars! “ A company called Crazy Pinz has developed a paintballstyle range for archery gear,” said Whitly. “We're really excited about it and think the show-goers are going to have a ball!”

The famous “Hawg Trough,” with it's display of lunker bass and other game fish, will be on hand and will serve as a stage for the various fishing seminars.

A chain saw carving exhibition will feature true forest art. Artisans will be availalble to answer questions about their creations and the process by which they are crafted.

The fishing seminars promise to be just as informative and entertaining for young and older anglers alike. Seminar speakers will address fishing for bass, panfish, walleye, salmon and more. There will be ice fishing seminars and boating displays. The kids fishing program presented by Dan Armitage is a definite crowd pleaser. Parents and kids who love to fish won't want to miss these seminars! The first 150 kids each day will receive a FREE cane fishing pole courtesy of JW Promotions and South Bend Tackle.

Gun Auction to Finish Off the Fun The Tri-State Great Outdoors Sportsman Show's marquee event will be the Sunday, February 12 gun auction. Show-goers will be able to view the auction items,

from hand guns to fine rifles and shotguns, during the Friday, Feburary 10 and Saturday, February 11 show hours. Then, at noon on Sunday, Randy's Gun Center's auctioneer will begin to auction off the firearms.

“We're really excited about the gun auction,” said Whitly. “There are going to be some really hot

Page 11 Eric Hale of Outdoor Channel’s Legends of the Fall is among this year’s seminar speakers.

deals to be had!”

Show hours are Noon - 8 p.m. on Friday, February 10; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 11; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 12. Adult admission is $10, but adults can purchase a twoday pass for $15. Children under 12 are free. Parking at the Aurora Auction House lot is $5.

Outdoor Seminars: Tips You Can Use! A highlight of the Tri-State Great Outdoor Sportsman Show is the fine assembly of seminar speakers and their programs that will appear every hour. Fishing and hunting seminars will run concurrently at two separate locations within the Aurora Auction Center facility. Seminar speakers and their topics include:

Chuck Adams:

Chuck is a living legend in the archery world and perhaps the most successful bow hunter of all time! He was the first bow hunter to take every species of North American big game with bow and arrow. He is a dynamic public speaker and has addressed sports shows, sportsmen's and wildlife management organizations throughout America and the world. Chuck will thrill Tri-State Great Outdoor Sportsman Show attendees with tales of his exploits in the field from Alaska to Florida and virtually every state in between!

Eric Hale: Eric is a principal cast member of Outdoor Channel's Legends of the Fall program. The Virginia native, a life-long hunter, has taken 41 bucks on video and his total grows each year. Three of his bucks have grossed over 170 inches. His best was a Kansas boomer that scored over 181. He'll share some of his hunting knowledge with seminar attendees and will be available to answer questions.

Tom Mesnard: A professional wildlife ,manager, Tom consults with over 75 properties a year on growing deer and big bucks. He teaches “Whitetail Boot Camps” for over 200 hunters, annually and is a full time hunting guide in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky. He will conduct seminars for landowners on managing for big bucks and for public land hunters on finding trophy whitetails on public land.

Alex Vedrinsk: A turkey call manufacturer and gobbling competition champion from Ohio, Alex's line of Chestnut Ridge calls is well known among Midwestern gobbler hunters. But, his knowledge of the outdoors doesn't end with turkeys and turkey calling.The well-known hunting guide's seminar, “Rut Hunting for Anything That's in Love,” focuses on the behavior of many species , what they're doing and how they react to hunters' calls, scents and other attractants during breeding seasons.

Smokey McNichols: A Professional trapper by trade, Smokey McNichols is also an expert deer hunter and has been making his own lures and baits for various species for over 20 years in the hills of West Virginia. He makes the first and only real whitetail preorbital gland lure available.

Join Smokey at his seminar to find out what makes these products work and learn firsthand the way to combine them for the best results! Smokey and his Lures have won the Ohio Valley Big Buck contest three years in a row.

Trinity Oak Labs: Trinity Oak Labs is home to FIVE Hunting Retriever Champion title dogs, and holds its place as one of the TOP training and breeding kennels. It's speakers will cover various tricks and techniques for getting the most from your favorite canine hunting companion.

Dan Armitage:

Dan has published articles in Outdoor Life, In-Fisherman, Ohio Outdoor News, Ohio Game & Fish and Ohio's Country Journal magazines and is the host of the weekly radio program “Buckeye Sportsman with Dan Armitage,” syndicated in 18 Ohio markets His seminars at the Tri-State Great Outdoors Sportsman Show will focus on taking kids fishing and ice fishing.

Page 12

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

January, 2012 Edition

THIS MONTH’S WINNER!

5

6

7 4

Clockwise from below. . .

1) Angela Serafini, Owen Duax and Joe Serafini had a great day in the field; 2) Tab Casper and George Tubbs enjoyed a super preserve hunt; 3) Hoosier Outdoor Writers President, Brandon Butler took this nice buck during the firearms season with a Lightfield Hybred EXP slug; 4) 13-year-old Carly Terwiske shot this nice 10-pointer on December 4 while hunting with her Dad, Dion; 5)Mark Dieckman of Plainfield knocked down his very first duck on a DNR-organized hunt at Stillwater Marsh near Bloomington; 6) Don Barbour of Mishawaka took this awesome, 24-point, St. Joseph County buck on November 12 with a single shot from his .44 mag. Don has been hunting over 40 years. “I was due”, Don told us; 7) 12-year-old Madison Edwards harvested this 8-point buck on December 3 while hunting with her Dad, Chris.

1 2 3

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.

January, 2012 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

January, 2012 Edition

Hide That Thing

The Straight Shooter BRENTWHEAT Taking a much-needed breather from hunting season, we are long overdue for a short discussion about something that boggles my mind every time I see it: “open carry” protests.

Across Indiana and the country, there seems to be a minor but spreading movement to openly and defiantly carry handguns where such actions are legally permissible. While researching the topic for this column, I’ve seen that opencarry protests are being conducted across the country including one in New Hampshire where a topless woman was arrested for carrying a firearm in order to make a point.

I would have been happy to consider her...wait for it...points.

Junior-high-school entendre’ aside, there have been similar actions in Indiana over the past year. The participants, when interviewed by the media, bray earnestly about their perceived oppression and that the public doesn’t understand how gun owners are safeguarding liberty while protecting

them, ect.

Here’s a novel idea: just stop talking and hide that thing!

In Indiana and many other states, if you hold an unlimited personal protection permit, it is legal to carry a pistol openly where ever a gun can legally be carried.

However, our pointy little brain fails to see how these types of “in your face” open-carry actions are winning friends or influencing people in a positive manner.

I am all about the Second Amendment.

Throughout my entire journalism career I have vigorously supported the inalienable rights enumerated in the Second Amendment along with all those other civil liberties listed by that most radical of political documents, the U.S. Constitution.

Heck, the sacred verbiage is even printed on the back of my business card. The point I’m trying to make is that I LOVE the Second Amendment and, more importantly, the right to self-defense that it confers.

However...

Can someone coherently explain how your life, or my life, is made better by unnecessarily carrying a firearm in the open?

Unless you are hunting, target shooting, piddling around your own property or working in a uniformed armed profession, there aren’t many good reasons that your gun needs to be proudly displayed for everyone to see.

Try to follow me here.

According to an ABC News Poll (not the most firearms-friendly reference source), 73 percent of Americans agree that the Second Amendment supports the right of individual Americans to legally bear arms.

With even a cursory study of public opinion polls, it should be obvious that getting 73 percent of Americans to agree on anything is a fairly noteworthy achievement. In other words, we have already won the hearts and minds of the public.

Granted, we shouldn’t rest on our laurels nor take anything for granted. However, especially in light of recent legal successes, gun owners have no reason to feel like members of an oppressed and victimized minority. We have the support of our fellow citizens in regards to gun ownership along with the blessing of the United States Supreme Court (see District of Columbia v. Heller, et al.) and 49 state legislatures who have listened to their constituency.

We’ll leave our poor, downtrodden friends in downstate Illinois alone on that particular topic. They’ve already suffered enough at the political hands of the Peoples Republic of Chicago.

So why, in light of all these positives, do a few people feel the need to prance around with a “hawgleg” strapped to their hip while bleating about their “rats” to the local television station?

I have a theory about activists.

I don’t mean good folks who write

letters to the editor and call their local political representatives on matters which they feel strongly about but rather, the people who stage stunts such as chaining themselves naked to inanimate objects or, yes, wear guns to the local SuperMegaMart store as a sign of protest.

It’s all about the basic human need to be recognized. Rather than channeling the desire to advance firearms rights into productive avenues such as letter writing, speaking engagements, joining organizations and other worthwhile endeavors, this small subgroup of gun owners really wants to walk around alienating and/or angering people. This action doesn’t seem like a genuine desire to positively influence opinions but rather as a way to either draw attention to oneself or possibly “flip the bird” at society.

In either case, I find the whole thing infantile and rather pathetic.

If someone is against the right to bear arms, figuratively thrusting a gun in their face is only going to anger them and possibly galvanize them into further action that will ultimately hurt our cause.

Worse yet, those who are undecided or lukewarm in the debate will witness such actions and become annoyed at the implied threat of an openly displayed handgun and eventually decide that perhaps Sarah Brady and Al Gore have a point: maybe a majority of gun owners are too irresponsible to own

firearms.

There are plenty of good reasons to openly carry your firearm but wearing it around simply to make a point is, at best, a juvenile display of irresponsibility and at worst, a public sign that you have some serious internal issues regarding self-esteem and confidence.

I strongly support your right to carry a gun in the open. However, with rights comes the inference that we have the wisdom and intellect to utilize that given authority properly.

Please help demonstrate that gun owners are worthy of the tremendous responsibility with which we are entrusted: just hide that thing!

The gun owners paradox: a fine quality pistol in a great holster deserves to be hidden.

January, 2012 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

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Hunting With the Stars: Orion He draws his bow against the night sky, hoping for bear, bull or rabbit. High in the southeastern sky, this winter constellation is relatively easy to find. The body of Orion-The Hunter, is an hourglass shape.

You may spot the three stars in a line that form his belt.

Nature’s Almanac Hanging from his belt are three more stars that are not as bright. The middle one appears fuzzy in a telescope because it Don't pitch those fireplace isn't a star at all. It's the Orion Nebula, a sort of star factory ashes. They make great fercreating new stars. tilizer for your iris plants.

Orion is anchored by some of the brightest stars in the winter sky including Sprinkle them on your potato Betelguese (“BAY-tell-jewz”). If you imagine the hunter facing you, this reddish plants in summer to get rid of star is his right shoulder. Diagonally down to Orion's left knee or foot is Rigel flea beetles. (“RYE-jel”). There are only five stars in the entire night sky that outshine Rigel.

According to Greek mythology Orion was killed when he stepped on Red tail hawks pair up in Scorpius, the scorpion. The gods felt sorry for him, so they put him and his comwinter, and can be seen cirMake Snow Goggles panion dogs, Canis major and Canis minor, in the sky as constellations. They cling in flight on milder winplaced animals he hunted near him. Scorpius, however, was banished to the In places like Greenland, northern Canada and Alaska, ter days. opposite part of the sky so Orion would never be hurt by it again. In fact where snow may blanket the land year-round, the native Scorpius does not rise above the horizon until spring, when Orion disappears. people wear snow goggles to protect their eyes from the According to NOAA, the brightness reflecting off the snow. Originally carved from coldest temperature ever whalebone or wood, you can make a set from cardboard.

Did you know? recorded in Indiana was -36 Astronomers say Betelguese is a superYou'll need: degrees Fahrenheit in New giant star that has burned most of its • One sheet of thin cardboard (you can use a cereal box) Whiteland on January 19, fuel and will eventually explode into a • Heavy duty scissors to cut the cardboard 1994. supernova. When it does, it will even be • Pencil visible in the daytime. No one knows • Utility knife (an adult should help with this) There are highways in the when this will happen.

• Hole punch snow! Voles and other small • Two pieces of string, 18 inches long rodents often tunnel through • Stickers, glue, sequins, markers the snow, below its surface, where they can't be seen by Cut the cardboard into an hourglass shape, wide enough to fit your face, over your eyes. Hold the mask hunting hawks or owls. over your face, and have a partner with a pencil mark where your eyes are. With a utility knife, and adult help,

JANUARY

Hands On Nature:

lay the hourglass on a cutting surface and cut a horizontal slit for each eye. Punch a hole on each side of the mask and tie on the string.

Personalize your goggles by adding stickers, sequins, or decorating with markers.

Try your goggles on a bright winter day. Do they make a difference? When you take them off do you have to squint? (Do not look at the sun!)

Conservationist and author of Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold was born on January 14, 1887.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

EVENTS FORT WAYNE It won't be long before the winter blues kick in and you will start thinking about that next fishing trip, hunting excursion or vacation with the family. Maybe it's time for a new 'toy' and this is the year your spouse gave the 'ok' for a boat, RV, ATV or motorcycle to fill that empty space in the driveway.

Now that you cleaned out the garage, wouldn't that back corner be perfect for a new kayak, canoe or mountain bike? All that old fishing tackle, camping gear and grandpa's tent sure could stand to be replaced for the upcoming season.

The annual Outdoor Sports, Lake & Cabin Show, March 16-18 at the Allen County Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne is the place to make it all happen.

With over 10,000 outdoor enthusiasts gathering each year, you will find more than a hundred exhibitors, attractions, seminars and clinics featured in the following feature areas: • Vacation and Travel • Hunting and Fishing Outfitters • Log Cabin, Timber Home and Cottage Living • RVs and Motor Sports • Camping & hiking Gear • Boating and Water Sports • Biking and Fitness “Last year's show was another huge success, but it's time to take it to another level with even more new product demonstrations, trips & prizes to win and hands on fun for the entire family!”, says show organizer, David Marquart. “Our attendees have requested more deals on fishing and camping gear so we have expanded those areas to

January, 2012 Edition

Start 2012 with Fun & Adventure at THE Outdoor, Sports, Lake & Cabin Show bring the latest must-have products to the Ft. Wayne area”, he continues.

Features you won't want to miss include:

the kids how to shoot a rifle? The National Wild Turkey Federation is providing a free shooting range with safety lessons right on the show floor. Not to be missed!

• Let's catch some fish. Yes, this year we provide the rod, the reel and two pools full of live fish. Try your luck at reeling in a trout or bluegill. Leave the show with your own fishing 'tall tale'.

• Bring your own deer mount for free admission, and your mount will be displayed in a special area.

As an added benefit for sharing your hunt, you will automatically be registered to win a muzzle loading rifle.

• Finally time to build that dream log cabin or timber frame home?

This is the place. Dealers, manufacturers, builders, architects and suppliers from all over the country will be onsite to help get you started on your dream log or timber home.

• Two of the country's largest portable pools will be onsite - over 25,000 gallons each. Always wanted to 'test drive' a kayak or HobieCat fishing floats - this is the place. Hope you don't get wet.

• Does the deck need some new furniture? This show will have handcrafted rustic wood furniture from all over the country. It's one of a kind and priced to sell.

• Can you surf the waves? Try your luck on our giant surfing machine.

It's the 'bucking bronco' of the waves.

• Duck calling contest. It is Ducks Unlimited’s 75th anniversary this year and they will be hosting a calling contest and also have a huge raffle of valuable hunting gear and trips to help with the great environmental support of DU. • Want a safe indoor place to teach

• Giant 'outfitter world' with great deals on tents, backpacks, hiking equipment and all the camping gear you will ever need • Seminars, demos, and more.

Listen and watch fishing and archery professionals, master hunters, log and timber-frame home designers, leading travel experts and more as they educate visitors on a wide variety of topics on several stages throughout the show. FREE! • Door prizes given away every hour, every day! Every attendee will receive coupons and store bucks from Dick's Sporting Goods and Gander Mountain. Every hour, at least one lucky showgoer wins a fabulous prize or trip - even an inflatable HobieCat! FREE! • Massive 40-foot video game arcade will offer free play to all attendees, including multi-player hunting and fishing games. FREE! • Learn all the secret mushroom tricks and places from the Morel Mushroom Man. •

Be a part of the Ft. Wayne

Chamber of Commerce's Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting ceremony and luncheon Friday March 16th at noon. Thousands of local business owners have been invited. Contact the Chamber for details.

• Fun activities for children. Back by popular demand, we are bringing the beach to your childreninside the Coliseum! Kids will have the opportunity to build sandcastles as they play in the 400 square-foot “indoor beach”.

FREE! • Climb the Coliseum! Guests of all ages can get a workout while practicing their rock-climbing skills with the return of the climbing wall - and it's FREE provided by your local US Army recruiters.

Again this year, tickets are valid throughout the entire weekend. “Get the most bang for your buck by coming out to the show early!”, Marquart said.

Showgoers can obtain $3 discount coupons at the Fort Wayne Gander Mountain and Dicks Sporting Goods Stores. Starting February 1, half price discount coupons ($5 off) will be online at our website with VIP registration for a limited period of time.

All visitors to the Outdoor Sports, Lake & Cabin Show will receive valuable coupons, be entered to win thousands of dollars in prizes and trips, along with a free subscription to Log Cabin Homes magazine, and complimentary copy of Indiana Outdoor News magazine.

Mark your calendar and save the date - March 16-18, 2012 For more information on THE

Outdoor Sports, Lake & Cabin Show, call 317.227.7419 or log on www.sportsandcabinshows.com.

Booth space and sponsorship opportunities are still available but going fast. Reserve your space today!

Coliseum Productions is a team of seasoned consumer event management and sales professionals that produces top-notch shows across the country. Their management team has more than 25 years of experience with more than 3,000 events in 250 cities in the US and Canada.

January, 2012 Edition

2012 Jan 01 Sun 02 Mon 03 Tue 04 Wed 05 Thu 06 Fri 07 Sat 08 Sun 09 Mon 10 Tue 11 Wed 12 Thu 13 Fri 14 Sat 15 Sun 16 Mon 17 Tue 18 Wed 19 Thu 20 Fri 21 Sat 22 Sun 23 Mon 24 Tue 25 Wed 26 Thu 27 Fri 28 Sat 29 Sun 30 Mon 31 Tue

A.M. Minor 11:41 12:01 12:42 1:23 2:05 2:50 3:37 4:26 5:18 6:11 7:05 8:00 8:54 9:49 10:43 11:37 12:03 12:55 1:48 2:41 3:35 4:28 5:21 6:12 7:03 7:53 8:42 9:29 10:16 11:02 11:48

A.M Major 5:31 6:12 6:53 7:35 8:18 9:03 9:50 10:39 11:31 12:00 12:53 1:48 2:42 3:36 4:30 5:24 6:17 7:10 8:03 8:56 9:49 10:42 11:33 12:01 12:52 1:42 2:31 3:19 4:05 4:51 5:37

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

P. M. Minor ----12:23 1:04 1:47 2:30 3:16 4:03 4:53 5:44 6:36 7:30 8:24 9:19 10:14 11:09 ----12:31 1:25 2:18 3:11 4:03 4:55 5:46 6:36 7:26 8:15 9:03 9:51 10:38 11:25 -----

P.M. Major 5:52 6:34 7:16 7:58 8:43 9:28 10:16 11:06 11:57 12:24 1:17 2:12 3:07 4:01 4:56 5:51 6:45 7:39 8:33 9:26 10:18 11:09 11:59 12:24 1:15 2:04 2:52 3:40 4:27 5:14 6:00

Sunrise 08:06 08:06 08:06 08:06 08:06 08:06 08:06 08:06 08:06 08:05 08:05 08:05 08:05 08:04 08:04 08:04 08:03 08:03 08:02 08:02 08:01 08:01 08:00 07:59 07:59 07:58 07:57 07:56 07:56 07:55 07:54

Sunset 05:28 05:29 05:30 05:30 05:31 05:32 05:33 05:34 05:35 05:36 05:37 05:38 05:39 05:40 05:41 05:42 05:43 05:45 05:46 05:47 05:48 05:49 05:50 05:52 05:53 05:54 05:55 05:56 05:58 05:59 06:00

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

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Indiana Outdoor Calendar - January Ohio River Zone Canada Goose Hunting Season Open All Month.

Raccoon and Opossum Hunting and Trapping Seasons Open All Month.

Fox and Coyote Hunting and Trapping Seasons Open All Month.

Squirrel Hunting Open All Month.

Rabbitt Hunting Season Open All Month.

Quail Hunting Open All Month (South of SR 26 Only).

Upland Preserve Hunting Season Open All Month.

More info at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2711.htm Jan. 1: Last Day of Late Archery and Urban Archery Deer Hunting Seasons Jan. 7: Indiana On The Fly Show at Indiana State Fairgrounds (http://www.freewebs.com/reelwomen/indianaflyfishingshow.htm) Jan. 7: Last Day of Fall Turkey Archery Hunting Season Jan. 8: Last Day of North Zone Canada Goose Hunting Mid Split Season Jan. 12: Last Day of South Zone Duck Hunting Late Split Season

Jan. 13-15: Chicago Muskie Show, Harper College in Chicago. More info at www.chicagomuskieshow.com.

Jan. 14-15: 14-15: Northwest Indiana Steelheaders’ Spring Fever Outdoor Show, Marquette Mall in Michigan City, IN. More info at nwisteelheaders.org.

Jan. 14-17: North Zone Canada Goose Late Split Season Jan. 15: Last Day of Quail Hunting Season (south of S.R. 26) Jan. 22: Last Day of Ohio River Zone Duck Hunting Late Split Season Jan. 26: Last Day of South Zone Canada Goose Late Split Season Jan. 26: Last day of White Fronted Goose (Speck) Hunting Season (Statewide) Jan. 27: Last day of Snow Goose and Brant Hunting Seasons (Statewide) Jan. 31: Last Day of Squirrel Hunting Season • 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

DOWN

1 Good area to look for rabbits 6 Used for bait at times 9 A concealment for small game 10 Use a leech for this fish 11 Icefishing equipment 12 Male pheasants 13 Line grommet on a rod 14 A sight on shotguns 15 A Gun Organization 17 A wild pig 18 The rugged method of fishing 20 A good wood for arrow shafts 22 Used in frying fish over fire 23 A buck's mating ritual 25 Valuable part of game 26 Name for a type icefishing lure 28 Important fur animal 30 Rings can reveal this 32 An excellent beaver bait 33 A quick-to-erect type tent 34 Angler's gear 38 A group of decoys 41 The ring_____ pheasant 42 To constuct a fly fishing lure 43 a game bird 44 A casting method 45 Act of removing pelt flesh 46 A shooter's protective covering

1 Predators to small game 2 A species of wild sheep 3 Cloth used to sharpen fish hooks 4 Shotgun model, ____ and under 5 Wild turkey calling sounds 6 Common name for the brook trout 7 Expert fishermen earn this title 8 A young cod 9 Name for a certain trout 13 Large on the muley 14 Anything that attracts fish, game, fowl 16 To analyze game trails 19 The hunter's aid 21 A fuel for camp stoves 22 Type drive to push game toward hunters 24 This pelt is black and white 27 A good food bait for traps 28 A good scent bait for traps 29 Another scent bait for traps 31 A cousin to the moose 34 A game pathway 35 Duckhunter's lure 36 Part of the trap that holds bait 37 Type arrowhead for bowfishng 38 Name for a very large sturgeon 39 The fur seeker's device 40 Cause for an arrow to drift

Answers on page 12!

BASS • STEELHEAD • SALMON • MUSKIE

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Page 18

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

January, 2012 Edition

Your Own Catch-of-the-Day

The Last Thought MIKESCHOONVELD Imagine you are a trained chef, or perhaps you worked your way up from bus-boy, to cook’s assistant to sous chef to head of a large kitchen. Imagine you love to cook good food and start a restaurant to serve your gourmet preparations to an endless parade of patrons.

Now imagine it’s 5 or 6 years later and time to go to work. Your

menu has the same dozen or so entrees you cook everyday. No doubt you can turn out a mouth watering appetizer, a to-die-for dessert and you can grill, fry or bake the menu items in your sleep.

Other than the hustle and bustle, it’s boring–just another stress-filled job.

Imagine you are on a trip to some other part of the country.

Maybe it’s California, the East Coast, central Texas, who knows where–or why. Few places around this country don’t have some sort of fishing available. Many places around this country have great fishing! I’ve caught trophy striped bass in sight of the Statue of Liberty, grouper and snappers just off Miami’s beach. With a little planning and extra effort, any destination can be a fishing destination.

Fishing is fun, just for the fishing. So don’t let the fact you are on a business trip, just passing through or don’t have access to facilities to store and keep your catch dampen the idea of going fishing. You can always catch and release. Snap a photo and take home a memory.

Or, you can do what I often do on out-of-town trips. I use the

A morning away from "business" put the author's kingfish on the dinner menu.

“imagined” scenarios above to my advantage. From some of the most expensive hotels in Atlantic City, to upscale restaurants in the Florida Keys and even at tourist resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean, I’ve managed to turn my personal catchof-the-day into the star attraction for myself and other guests.

All you have to do is ask.

And be reasonable.

On a recent business trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I decided to break up the return leg of the trip into two days instead of one long journey. I checked into the Ramada Plaza hotel in downtown Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in early afternoon, then....Well then, to shorten a long story, dinner arrangements were made at the Wendt’s on the Lake Restaurant, just north of Fond du Lac, after which I met up with professional walleye guide and tournament angler, Jim Hughes, for a short afternoon of fishing on Lake Winnebago. There would be four of us dining that night, so the first four walleyes we boated went into the boat’s live well. The rest went back into the lake along with a few white bass, perch and sheephead we caught. It was a fun quick trip on a lake I’d never fished previously.

I handed the bag of fileted walleye to Chef Haley at Wendt’s and in short order, we had a memo-

rable meal of freshly caught fish.

She breaded the walleyes and deep fried them to perfection. There’s no better way to enjoy that fish.

But it doesn’t always come out so “common.”

In Montego Bay, Jamaica, the chef roasted my “catch of the day” with vegetables and spices taught him by his mother. Who’s grin was larger? Mine with the first taste, or his when I heaped praises on his mom’s recipe?

In Atlantic City, the head chef handed each of his sous chefs some of the fish I’d caught and pointed them to the kitchen. It was an Iron Chef contest in the Tun Tavern.

Though I was the judge, I was also

the winner!

At Wendt’s, our reservation was for 7:30 and we ate after 8PM. In other locations, I’ve scheduled my “catch-of-the-day” feast prior to the normal dinner rush. You can’t expect the restaurant to abandon it’s regular customers to make your special order. You can expect the chef to absolutely knock him or herself out to serve you the best recipe they know. When he asks how to cook your catch tell him, “Chef’s choice.”

Many say a shore lunch on a rocky island in a remote Canadian lake to be the best meal ever. I have a different opinion--proven over and again.

The author had a Jamaican feast on his catch-of-the-day snapper.

January, 2012 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

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