November '12 ION

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VOL. 2012 • NO. 10

Inside:

FIRST GREAT LAKES

WOLF HUNTING SEASONS UNDERWAY IN NEARLY 40 YEARS

By Josh Lantz --

RIVER MONSTERS PAGE 5

SHOOTING PAGE 6

After decades of protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), gray wolf populations in the Western Great Lakes states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin have exceeded long-term recovery goals established by those individual states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

wolf populations in Wisconsin or on the Michigan mainland at that time, and Minnesota’s population was at an historic low of approximately 1,000 animals.

History Bounties were placed on wolves by most states where they existed throughout much of the early and mid 20th century. As a result, gray wolves were USFWS Photo extirpated from their historic ranges in Michigan’s Upper Populations Return The gray wolf has recovered in Peninsula and the State of Wisconsin by the late 1950’s. its Western Great Lakes range, Wisconsin ended wolf hunting in thanks to nearly 40 years of protec1957 and Michigan followed suit in tion under the ESA. The FWS suc1965. Hunting for gray wolves cessfully delisted the gray wolf continued in the State of Minnesota from the ESA in December of 2001 until 1974, when the species was and returned full management of afforded federal protection under wolves to the states where they the ESA. There were no sustaining exist.

SPECIAL ANTLERLESS DEER HUNT OPPORTUNITY DNR Report --

GONE AFIELD PAGE 7

CURVES IN CAMO PAGES 8-9

The Department of Natural Resources is planning a management deer hunt at Olin Lake Nature Preserve during the special antlerless deer firearm season from Dec. 26 through Jan. 6. Olin Lake is about six miles south of LaGrange.All regulations of the antlerless season will apply.

Deer numbers continue to be excessively high at the LaGrange County nature preserve, where over Megan Smith Photo browsing threatens the long-term health of the property. Deer feeding has been especially damaging to white trilliums and other spring wildflowers.

Ten hunters will be selected by drawing for the first six days of the special antlerless firearm season. A different set of six hunters will be drawn for the second six days of the season. No more than 10 hunters at a time will be given permits to hunt on the 116 acres of DNR property that will be open to hunting.

Applications must be picked up at one of the following locations.

None will be mailed.

Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area Office: 8310 E. 300 N. Mongo, IN 46771 (260) 367-2164

EARLY ICE PAGE 11

NOVEMBER, 2012

LaGrange County Department of Parks and Recreation Monday through Friday 8 am to 3:30 pm 0505W 700 S. Wolcottville, IN 46795 Phone: (260) 854-2225 Applications are due by Nov. 26 and the drawing will be Nov. 27.

Wisconsin and Michigan wolf populations were most recently surveyed in the winter of 20102011. These surveys reported populations of approximately 800 wolves in each state.

Minnesota’s wolf population was most recently surveyed in the winter of 20072008 and reported a population of approximately 3,000 wolves.

Return to State Management Each Western Great Lakes state where wolves exist -Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin -are required to closely monitor their wolf populations and maintain individual wolf management plans which identify desirable wolf population targets based upon available habitat, carrying capacity, public sentiment and other factors. As a result, these states are afforded the opportunity to manage their wolf populations in accordance with their

Continued on Page 2

MIGRATION TIME

Mitch, R.J. and Deuce take time from a LaPorte County waterfowl hunt for a happy snapshot. We think this shot says just about everything! Waterfowl hunting begins in earnest this month, as duck and goose seasons open in Indiana’s various zones. To find out what season opens when and where, check out the Indiana Outdoor Calendar in OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS on page 11. Then keep your eyes trained skyward.

Mid-late November traditionally brings the peak of the mallard migration through Indiana. Good hunting, and send your photos to submit@raghorn.com.

DNR seeks harvest, reporting of ear-tagged deer The Department of Natural Resources is advising hunters to be on the lookout for ear-tagged deer in Jackson County and the neighboring counties of Bartholomew, Jennings and Scott, and to harvest them if possible.

Hunters who harvest an eartagged deer in these counties or anywhere else in Indiana are asked to immediately call DNR Law Enforcement at (812) 837-9536. Anyone who strikes and kills an eartagged deer with a vehicle is asked to call the same number.

The focus on the four-county area is due to farm-raised deer that escaped from a captive cervid facility whose owner is cooperating with DNR. The deer may have been exposed to chronic wasting disease at a captive facility in another state before being transferred to Indiana. The DNR and the Indiana Board of Animal Health need to obtain the escaped ear-tagged deer to conduct disease testing.

Of particular interest are any deer with a yellow ear tag bearing the prefix IN 764 followed by another four numbers or any deer with a yellow ear tag and two numbers on it.

DNR staff will assist in transporting the deer carcass to Purdue University for testing at the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

DNR will replace the hunter’s license at no cost.

COMPLIMENTS OF:

VIDEO CLIP OF THE MONTH CLICK HERE......

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

November, 2012

The Right Reason to Fly-Fish

JOSHLANTZ Meet Hank Patterson! Your Fly-Fishing Guide had me in stitches. I was viewing the YouTube video on my client’s smart phone while watching her cast, rowing my boat and laughing uncontrollably all at once. I had to hand the phone back to her before I cracked my old Osprey drifter up on the rocks.

Fueled by an influx of quality, affordable gear and our society’s growing love affair with all manner of low-impact eco-recreation, flyfishing has enjoyed tremendous growth in recent years. It’s a great thing, but some folks who have been doing it for a while – like the creator of the Hank Patterson

videos – find the temptation to poke a little fun at some of the sport’s relative newcomers irresistible. Yeah, I laughed… a lot.

Truth is, fly-fishing in its highest forms is a complex game.

One can fly-fish for a lifetime and never learn half of what there is to know about things like entomology, knots, fly selection, casting mechanics and presentation. So anytime some hotshot with three thousand dollars worth of gear and two years of experience purports to be a fly-fishing expert, it’s pretty damn funny.

All of this said, there are just a few basics someone new to the sport needs to know to start down the path of a lifetime of fly-fishing enjoyment and satisfaction. So don’t let my sarcasm or anyone else’s stand in your way.

Nothing makes a fly-fishing guide happier than helping a humble client learn something new.

And it all starts with the admission

that no one knows it all; that every fishery is different; and, most importantly, that all that A River Runs Through It romance and intrigue isn’t very helpful when it comes to actually catching fish.

Don’t get me wrong. There is a place for solitude and introspection in fly-fishing. But I believe the same opportunities and rewards exist in all forms of angling.

Regardless of their experience, the best fly-fishermen don’t fly-fish because it is popular or therapeutic. They do it for the right reason. That is, because it is often a great way – even the best way – to catch fish.

Most fish eat bugs, and this is the underlying foundation of flyfishing. You simply can’t cast an imitation of a quarter-inch-long stonefly nymph or an adult mayfly with a spinning or casting rod.

Fly-fishing was conceived nearly two thousand years ago for this reason, but the sport didn’t mature for another thirteen hundred years until a handful of Europeans started writing about it. A few hundred years later – to the horror of dry fly purists -- wet fly-fishing was popularized by a group of fly anglers who discovered they could make and cast a fly to imitate small minnows and other swimming creatures as well.

Today, modern fly-fishers cast all manner of flies -- from tiny, size 22 trico mayfly imitations for trout, to fifteen-inch streamers for giant billfish. Of course, everything in between is fair game too.

I take clients fly-fishing for trout, salmon, steelhead, bass, panfish, Northern pike and muskie. I don’t do it because it’s popular, elitist or romantic. I do it because it consistently fools fish.

Thankfully, more people are fishing than ever before, but increased angler numbers also means more

Fly-fishing may be peaceful and therapeutic, but how is that different from any other kind of fishing?

Fly-fishing is a great way -- and sometimes the best way -- to catch fish. At left, the author sight fishes to pre-spawn Lake Erie smallmouth bass with a white bunny leech. Brandon Butler photo.

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pressure on our fish. Fly-fishing is a great way to show pressured fish – fish that have seen every other conceivable bait and lure – something new that looks alive and tasty.

Whether you tie your own or buy them, flies use natural materials like fur and feathers that come to life in the water, even when sitting still. Because of this, presentations are possible in fly-fishing that simply cannot be replicated with other forms of fishing gear. Of course, the fish respond by eating.

And isn’t that what any kind of fishing is all about?

Getting into the sport of flyfishing can be intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. I believe the very best route is to employ the

services of an experienced, professional guide who can provide you with the initial instruction, access to productive waters and all the gear you’ll need to give fly-fishing a try and have success from the very start. While good gear isn’t nearly as expensive as it used to be, using a guide’s equipment allows anyone interested in fly-fishing to give it a try without the need to lay out a bunch of cash ahead of time.

It will be the proper equipment for the species and waters you are fishing, and your fly-fishing guide will be more than happy to answer your questions and make recommendations for purchasing your own gear should you decide you want to.

Just make sure his name isn’t Hank Patterson.

Wolves -- Continued From Cover established goals.

Wisconsin’s current plan establishes a management goal of 350 wolves outside of Native American reservations. Minnesota’s plan calls to maintain a minimum population of of 1,600 wolves.

Michigan’s plan is to maintain a minimum of 200 wolves in its Upper Peninsula.

Current gray wolf populations exceed the desired management populations in each state, prompting state wildlife managers to request state lawmakers and rulemaking bodies to enact carefully conceived wolf hunting seasons and quotas.

Wolf hunting and trapping seasons have been approved and established for this winter in both Wisconsin and Minnesota to help bring wolf populations in line with stated management goals.

Meanwhile, Michigan is considering implementing a wolf hunting season in 2013.

Wisconsin’s wolf season began on October 15 and will run through the last day of February, or until a harvest of 116 wolves is reached. Minnesota has established a more conservative quota of 40 wolves that may be taken during their season, which runs November 3 through January 31. Wolf hunting permits in both states are available by lottery only, and fees paid by hunters for these permits will help fund ongoing state wolf research and management.

As of press time, Wisconsin wildlife officials reported that hunters and trappers had taken 20 wolves since the hunt began October 15. Wisconsin hunters reported taking six wolves in far northwestern Wisconsin's management zone; six wolves in the far northeastern zone; two wolves in the mid-northwestern zone; two wolves in the mid-northeast; three in the mid-central; and one in the south. No harvest data is available yet from the State of Minnesota.

® Volume 2012 • Number 10 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, www.BillKonway.com Graphic Design: graphics@ION4U.net Layout & Editing: Sand Creek Media Advertising Sales: (877) 251-2112 Editorial Submissions: submit@raghorn.com Subscription Info: Subscriptions@Raghorn.com Web Site: www.IndianaOutdoorNews.net Business & Publication Office: Mailing Address: P.O. Box 40, Knox, Indiana 46534 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.

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November, 2012

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

DNR LAW ENFORCEMENT SWITCHING TO 24-HOUR DISPATCH CENTER Indiana Conservation Officers will soon extend their Central Dispatch Center to a 24-hour operation in order to maintain radio contact with Conservation Officers across the state.

The Central Dispatch Center currently operates daily from 7 a.m. to midnight. The 24-hour operation will begin at midnight Oct. 29. Central Dispatch is located at Paynetown State Recreation Area on Monroe Lake near Bloomington.

Maj. Michael Portteus said, “For the first time in the history of the DNR Law Enforcement Division, Indiana Conservation Officers may be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-812-837-9536.”

Central Dispatch provides a way for the public, other law enforcement agencies, and DNR properties to gain immediate assistance and response from DNR Law Enforcement. Historically, ICOs were dispatched through district, regional and local law enforcement agencies. In addition to DNR’s Central Dispatch, Conservation Officers will continue to monitor and respond to local radio communications.

Conservation Officers work in 10 operational districts and have at least one officer in every county when fully staffed at 214 officers.

Their primary duties are to enforce

laws pertaining to natural resources, fish and wildlife rules and regulations, boating laws and recreational laws. Primary patrol areas include state properties, state waterways and rural locations.

Communications commander Lt. Bryant Lucas said: “Recent radio technology upgrades and improvements have allowed statewide radio communications from one location to conservation officers.”

Central Dispatch also will answer calls to the Turn-In-aPoacher hotline (1-800-TIPIDNR).

“The immediate response by a Conservation Officer to tips received on a 24-hour basis will greatly enhance the enforcement efforts of our fish and game violations,” said Joe Cales, president of the TIP Advisory Board. “This is a monumental improvement that will benefit all citizens and ethical sportsmen.”

Goose hunts planned for Whitewater Memorial SP Whitewater Memorial State Park will hold goose reduction hunts during the Central Zone regular goose season, Nov. 3 through Dec. 25 and Jan. 7-27.

The number of hunts and dates are to be determined.

Hunters should call Brookville/Whitewater wildlife specialist Tom Carr at (765) 647-2657 ext. 216 for exact hunt dates. Carr will also provide a blind location and a permit. If interest is high, hunters may have to enter a drawing for a spot.

Morning shooting hours will start at one-half hour before sunrise and last for two hours. Evening shooting hours will be the two hours before sunset.

All decoys, portable blinds and other hunting equipment must be picked up after the morning and evening hunt sessions. Decoys cannot be set up the day before or abandoned during the hunt.

All federal and state licenses, stamps, regulations and bag limits apply. Only electric trolling motors and oars are allowed on Whitewater Lake.

Whitewater Memorial State Park is at 1418 S. S.R. 101, Liberty, 47353.

November, 2012

INDIANA BOAH SUSPENDS PENNSYLVANIA DEER IMPORTS INDIANAPOLIS -The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) has suspended the importation of farmed cervids (deer, elk, moose, etc.) from Pennsylvania after the first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) was identified on Oct. 11.

BOAH veterinarians have begun the process of identifying and locating deer imported into Indiana from the Adams County, Pa., facility where the CWD-positive 3-year-old farm-raised deer was housed. Imported deer must be tested for the disease.

Conservation Officers from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff have provided assistance to BOAH. More information will be made available as the investigation progresses, and further herd trace details are reported from Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture.

Chronic wasting disease is one of a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encepalopathies, a variant of scrapie in sheep and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.

The disease is fatal in deer, elk and moose, and can be spread among animals through body fluids. There is no evidence CWD can be transmitted to humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

Pennsylvania is the 23rd state to have a confirmed case of chronic wasting disease and the 13th state to have it only in a captive deer herd.

CWD was first discovered in Colorado captive mule deer in 1967.

In 2002, Indiana created a monitoring program to detect the presence of CWD. Department of Natural Resources biologists annually obtain tissue samples from random hunter-harvested deer throughout the state.

Outwardly noticeable sick deer reported to the DNR also have been tested, and collection of random samples from road killed deer began in 2007. CWD has not been detected in more than 12,200 deer during this monitoring period.

STATE SECURES ADDITIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DNR buys two Muscatatuck parcels for HRI The Department of Natural Resources recently announced acquisition of two properties in Jackson County as part of the agency’s Healthy Rivers INitiative (HRI). One parcel is approximately 135.5 acres and the other 44.5 acres. Both include forested wetlands characterized by bottomland hardwood trees that provide habitat for migratory birds and waterfowl.

The acquisitions are the most recent achievements for HRI, which Gov. Mitch Daniels launched in 2010 to secure permanent conservation protection for nearly 70,000 acres along the Muscatatuck River and the Wabash River/Sugar Creek corridors.

The DNR has acquired approximately 2,700 acres in the Muscatatuck project area since HRI began.

Combined with properties already owned by the state and with private acres enrolled in the federal Wetlands Reserve Program, nearly 7,600 acres in the project area have been protected from future development.

HRI is a partnership of resource agencies and organizations working with landowners to provide a model that balances forest, farmland and natural resources conservation; connects separated parcels of public land to benefit wildlife; protects important wildlife habitat and rest areas for migratory birds; opens lands to public recreational activities including hunting and fishing; establishes areas for nature tourism; and provides clean water and protection from flooding to downstream landowners.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy of Indiana, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service are HRI project partners. For more information, see healthyrivers.IN.gov.

DNR acquires secluded river site from Gov. Whitcomb Gov. Daniels also announced late last month the DNR has reached an agreement with former Gov. Edgar Whitcomb to acquire his secluded retreat on the banks of the Ohio River.

"Today would be a fabulous moment if we just stumbled over this land, if it had no particular person attached to it," Daniels said to Whitcomb in a ceremony attended by about 100 people on the courthouse lawn in Rome where Whitcomb lives. "But the fact that it's yours and the fact that you yourself have been such a significant figure in the 200 years (of statehood) we're ready to celebrate just makes this perfect."

The acquisition is the latest achievement of the Bicentennial Nature Trust, an initiative launched by Daniels to protect conservation and recreation areas across the state as a way to celebrate Indiana’s 200th year of statehood in 2016.

The 144-acre Perry County property is surrounded by Hoosier National Forest. The property includes three historic log cabins and a small maintenance barn. Preliminary plans are to manage the site as a retreat that provides the public an opportunity to experience nature in a remote setting.

58-LB MUSKIE IS NEW MICHIGAN STATE RECORD

DNR STARTS YOUTUBE CHANNEL

ANTRIM CO., MI -A new state record was recently confirmed by the Michigan DNR. The new record comes courtesy of a Great Lakes muskellunge caught on Saturday, October 13 at 10:30 a.m. by Joseph Seeberger on Lake Bellaire in Antrim County. The fish weighed 58 pounds, measured 59 inches long and had a girth of 29 inches.

Seeberger, of Portage, MI, was actually bass fishing with a minnow at the time when he caught the fish. It took nearly two hours to land and required the help of two friends.

The record was verified by Patrick Hanchin, a DNR fisheries biologist at the Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station and Conservation Officer Steve Speigl.

Joseph Seeberger (center), his fishing companions and the state record The previous state record Great Great Lakes muskellunge. Michigan DNR photo.

Lakes muskellunge was caught by Kyle Anderson of Rapid City on Torch Lake in Antrim County on September 27, 2009. That fish weighed 50.5 pounds and measured 56.13 inches. Antrim County lies between Traverse Bay and Gaylord in Michigan’s lower peninsula.

Michigan state records are recognized by weight only. To qualify for a Michigan state record, fish must exceed the current listed state record weight and identification must be verified by a DNR fisheries biologist.

For more information on state records in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/fishing.

With Indiana DNR’s new YouTube channel, Hoosiers can experience the outdoors at the click of a button. The channel is available on DNR’s website, at dnr.IN.gov/7426.htm Forty-five videos are already featured on the channel.

Viewers can learn about Monument City, a former town normally submerged under Salamonie Lake during the summer and exposed in this year’s drought. They can watch Gov. Mitch Daniels commemorate the groundbreaking of a visitors center at Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area, learn how to fillet a crappie, or take in a time-lapse recording of the Perseid meteor shower over Lake Michigan.

A video that features DNR biologist Chad Stewart discussing changes to deer hunting regulations has been seen nearly 6,000 times.

The videos on the YouTube channel are produced by videographer Michael Carney, who joined DNR this year for the second time, having worked previously as a seasonal naturalist at Brown County State Park.

“Video adds a powerful tool for telling the DNR story, and YouTube gives us the forum to share those stories with a broader audience,” DNR communications director Phil Bloom said. “Despite little fanfare about our videos, the viewing numbers we have seen so far tell us we are on the right track.”

November, 2012

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

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Muskies rare, but do exist in the St. Joseph River

LOUIESTOUT The muskie is a fascinating creature.

It grows big and can be extremely aggressive or warily shy.

The big ones are loners and attack with vengeance when the mood strikes, oftentimes when you least expect it.

They're fairly uncommon fish around here, although a handful of Kosciusko County lakes are stocked regularly. Webster Lake, the Barbee Chain and Lake Tippecanoe are about the only lakes in northern Indiana where your chances of hooking up with one are good.

On the other hand, there are those loners that make an occasional appearance where they are not stocked.

Like the St. Joseph River.

We've had readers submit pictures of muskies they've caught from the river over the years, and there was a report confirmed by DNR officials of a 50 incher taken a couple of years ago.

But muskies aren't stocked there.

Daragh Deegan, the aquatic biologist for Elkhart and South Bend, has had his share of encoun-

ters with the toothy Jed Pearson said it's monsters while doing highly unlikely the research, including one muskies are reproducing, this summer. Deegan, but they obviously have who frequently samples taken a liking to the the river to monitor fish Elkhart and St. Joe health at various locarivers. tions, said muskies “That makes have been documented sense because we have in the river since 2003. collected a few in the “The last few years Elkhart River between we've started to see a Goshen and Elkhart,” few more, but not said Deegan. many,” he offered.

So the next time One of those is you're fishing the river pictured on this page, a and hook a giant fish that 39 incher he turned up breaks your line or bites in the Lexington off your bait, it's fair to Landing channel downwonder, “was that a stream of Nappanee muskie?”

Street in the Elkhart area in mid August.

Walleyes stocked in “We generally see Elkhart River the muskies around the Johnson Street dam in More than 3,200 Elkhart during the early young walleye were spring, so this was kind stocked into the Elkhart of a rare find because it River last month thanks Victoria Wesolowski, a college intern working with the city to the Elkhart River wasn't in the downtown of Elkhart, shows a nice muskie captured during a St. Restoration Association. area,” Deegan said.

The muskie capThe walleyes Joseph River survey while working with biologist Daragh tured this year (and measured 6 to 8 inches Deegan last August. (Photo provided) released) was dwarfed long and a few were by a monster fish biologists Indiana biologists suspect the close to 10 inches, according to shocked up in downtown Elkhart. fish are escapees from stockings Dar Deegan, member of the associ“In 2009, we shocked up a 50- conducted upstream, probably in ation and aquatic biologist for incher in the Elkhart,” added Skinner Lake, since it drains into Elkhart.

Deegan. “We've also heard of some the South Branch of the Elkhart “They were very healthy lookbig ones caught through the ice.”

River. Skinner gets small stockings ing fish and we think they should The big question is how do annually from the Indiana DNR. do very well,” said Deegan. “Some these fish get in the river?

Kosciusko County biologist of these fish will be of legal size

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sometime next summer.”

About 1,100 of the fish were stocked between the Goshen Dam and Baintertown Dam while 2,150 were put in between Goshen and Elkhart.

While the St. Joseph River has a 15-inch size limit to match Michigan's regulation, the Elkhart River size limit is 14 inches.

“It's our hope that anglers who catch these fish before they are legal size will unhook them carefully and return them safely to the river,” Deegan added.

The fish were purchased from a private Wisconsin hatchery, the same hatchery used by the Indiana DNR and Michiana Walleye Association for St. Joseph River stocking. The money came from the Restoration Association members and fundraisers.

The plan calls to stock the Elkhart every other year and in alternate years that the St. Joseph River is stocked. However, more private funding through donations is needed.

“We really need help if we're going to continue this,” said Deegan. “We hope the addition of walleye will bring more attention from anglers about the need to restore and take care of the Elkhart River system.”

Individuals and businesses can help out by making donations through the association's website, www.elkhartriverrestorationassociation.org.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

November, 2012

10 Tips for Better Shotgunning

The Straight Shooter BRENTWHEAT November is the month of the shotgun. All across our state, countless scatterguns are being dusted off prior to chasing waterfowl, upland game and even the occasional turkey. As you prepare for the hunt, whether headed to the field next door for bit of rabbit chasing or the sagebrush of eastern Oregon to pester chukars, here are ten tips for better shotgun shooting: 1. Make sure the gun fits -- Every shooting authority and instructor will tell you that proper fit of the shotgun is critical to consistent shooting. A formal fitting session is best if you have the time and money but you can do a fair job at home with a large sheet of paper or one of your old bed sheets. Make a 2-inch aiming point on the center of your target, step back 16 feet and blast away using light loads and a tight choke. After several shots, you should clearly see if the pattern is centered. If the main shot spread seems to be above or below the point of aim, you will need to

adjust the height of your cheek rest (comb) using either padding or alternately, a saw. This assumes the angle of the butt plate is already correct for the firearm. If the pattern is significantly left or right, you will need the “cast” (lateral bend) of the stock adjusted. Leave this job to a qualified gunsmith as it is beyond the skills of the backroom gun plumber. The length of the stock (“length of pull”) in relation to your body is also critical to proper fit. You can easily lengthen the stock using recoil pads and spacers while a saw is the only remedy for a too-long stock.

2. Point, don’t aim -- This is the first rule of shotgunning because scatterguns are meant to be pointed rather than aimed like a rifle. If you attempt to carefully center that ivory front sight bead on a flitting quail, you will undoubtedly miss.

Instead, watch the target and superimpose the bead between your eye and the bird.

3. Practice, practice, practice -Remember the old joke: “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” The answer, “Practice, practice, practice,” also applies to shooting sports. The ability to consistently hit a target is a perishable skill that requires periodic practice in order to maintain proficiency because with each passing day after the last shot, your skill slowly deteriorates.

For off-season shotgun practice, sporting clays is arguably the best way to keep your edge for the hunting season. It’s also a highly enjoyable pastime in itself.

4. Shoot one bird at a time -- This isn’t so much an issue for pheasant and grouse hunters but most other game birds travel in tight groups.

That means regardless if you bust a covey of bobwhites or are ready to blast away as a flight of mallards set their wings over your spread, it is imperative to pick one single bird from the group.

Make yourself choose a single target before pulling the trigger because merely pointing your gun at a mass of rapidly-moving blobs is a common reason shooters make “impossible misses.”

5. The eyes have it -- This is the second part of admonition to shoot at a single bird. Once you have picked out a bird, look for the eye.

If you can see the eye, the animal is close enough to shoot.

6. Don’t stop swinging -- When shooting at moving targets, it is imperative to continue swinging the weapon after the shot. This is known as “follow-through” and is vital to hitting the target rather than behind it.

7. Test your load -- Rifle shooters literally spend hours testing their

favorite loads and tweaking the multitude of variable before heading to the field. Shotgunners, on the other hand, simply grab a box of shells or several handfuls from their buddy and go blithely into the wilds, later wondering why they missed or wounded game. The shotgun isn’t a precision instrument like a rifle but different loads have significant impacts on pattern and range. Do enough research, hopefully backed up by patterning or field testing, to understand the limitations of your current ammunition.

8. Don’t rush -- It might seem counter-intuitive but try not to rush your shot. Even if you are flushing woodcock in heavy cover, train your brain to take a few milliseconds before firing to check that your gun is properly mounted, pointed at the target and moving with the animal.

9. Get instruction -- Even pro shooters periodically go back to school.

While practice and self-critique is vital to shooting improvement, there is a limit to how insightful we can

be with ourselves. Spending a few hours being coached by a shooting instructor can improve your game considerably. Failing that, at least make a video of yourself shooting a round of trap or skeet. Reviewing it later with a critical eye will probably reveal a few bad habits.

10. When something is wrong, change it! -- If you miss several consecutive shots, stop and analyze your shooting then change something. Lengthen your lead, adjust your body position, change ammo, shoot slower or modify one of the million factors involved in hitting a target. Don’t become increasingly frustrated as you continue to miss while shooting “the same way you always did.” Obviously, it ain’t working so change it!

A time honored Hoosier combination: A pasture, a rabbit and a shotgun. Brent T. Wheat photo.

November, 2012

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

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5 Photo Information, Clockwise from left. . .

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1) 10-year-old Nikki Groceman of Chesterton took her first deer ever during the youth season. Nice buck, Nikki!

2) 15-year-old, Liam McLaughlin of Crete, IL with his first deer. Congrats Liam! 3) Mason Phelps of Chicago caught this nice St. Joe River king salmon on his flyrod.

4) 9-year-old Owen Duax, Nephew of Top Shot Star, Joe Serafini, made a 44yard shot in Iroquios County, IL to anchor his very first deer. Photo submitted by proud grandpa, Rory Serafini. 5) 15-year-old, Gunner Waldvogel of Coal City, IL with his hunting partner, Mike Peters, and his first deer! 6-7) Don and Sharon Clem of Knox, IN had a great trip to Africa with Ingwe Safaris, taking blesbok, kudu, zebra and more! 8) Indiana Conservation Officer, Keith Wildeman, of San Pierre took this super caribou on a recent trip to Quebec, Canada.

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This months answers From Puzzle on Page 13

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

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 40 Knox, IN 46534 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.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

TM

A Season’s Rewards D.L.SMITH Curves in Camo TM “Do you see him?”, Mark whispered. I peered to the east spotting the deer I had hunted over a month to find. His winter coat blended into the beiges and browns of the dry swamp grasses. He stared intently at the tree line and the small cedar tree that he had been rubbing to mark his territory.

He would kill the small tree with his efforts to establish his rights to this swamp and woods. He was the dominant buck and could prove it.

The hunting season had been difficult. Opening day was typical, the rut was on and the bucks were chasing. Then it got warm and the rut shut off almost completely. The deer were elusive and hunting had become frustrating.

I raised my slug gun to my shoulder easing it out the window.

I quietly set it on the sill of the hunting blind. Peering through the Hawke Optics DeerPASS Scope, I centered the buck in the cross hairs.

The buck stepped forward from the tree line, his large frame sharp in the waning November sunset.

“Do you have the camera on?”, I asked Mark.

“Don't worry about the camera.” The agitation in Mark's voice was clear. “Just take him.”

I had hunted for the last month beginning with a trip to the Northwest Angle at Lake of the Woods.

The hard conditions trekking across islands in Ontario had pushed me to the physical limit.

The knee injury I suffered in August had made this deer season challenging. I balanced carefully trying not to fall flat or reinjure myself. I did manage, nonetheless, to fall flat on my face in the tangled vines on my way to the hunting blind this evening. Thankfully, nothing but my ego was bruised.

Drawing a steading breath I thumbed the safety off the TarHunt.

Just as I had practiced countless times, I placed the crosshairs behind his front leg, aiming at the centerline of his body. I knew I

would not need to adjust my placement despite the fact that the deer stood almost 90-yards away. The Lightfield Hybred Lite slug would do the job without all of the guesswork required by less accurate slugs.

I applied pressure to the trigger while I held steady on the large animal. The crack of the slug gun sounded and the buck reacted to the devastating impact of the 546-grain pure lead slug. He whirled, running to the east but it was a short burst; he crumbled to the ground not 15 yards from where he was shot. I had taken my first buck.

The grin spread across my face as I turned to Mark. The plans that we had made to hunt the next day became unnecessary. My hunt for a nice first buck was over. “Let's go see him!!” I practically vibrated with excitement. I scurried down the ladder and hopped through the tall dry grasses to where the deer lay.

He was a beautiful, big-bodied deer. I knew when he stepped from the woods that he was a trophy worth the effort. He was a good 10 points of mature deer. Rolling him over, I saw where the placement of my shot had been. The Lightfield Lites slug had destroyed his heart.

Despite the reduced recoil of the slug it has a TKO (Turner Knock Out Factor) of 60, which allows for knock down powers similar to many African big game rounds.

The patented key style slug design fits into the rifling of rifled shot guns perfectly. Combining that

November, 2012

with the post wading, which builds even pressure down the length of the barrel for better powder burn and a more consistent and accurate result every time it is fired.

“I've never shot a 10-pointer.”

Mark furrowed his brow looking over the rack of the large deer.

Mark has shot several large deer but a perfect 10-pointer has eluded him. We loaded him into the back of the truck after gutting him so that the meat would cool. I would have

all the meat we needed for the next year and quite a few packages of sausage and jerky.

Hanging the deer from the meat pole in the backyard, bragging rights were mine that night in camp. It had been a long season and it seemed unbelievable that it was finally over for me.

Harvesting such a deer seemed to be an elusive goal , but finally fulfilling it was a great end to my hunting season.

A season’s worth of satisfaction... The author poses with her hard-earned ten-pointer taken at the end of last year’s firearms season.

Mark Smith photo.

When Your Hunt Doesn’t Go as Planned STACYYOUNG Curves in Camo TM

Many of us practice to make sure that when archery season comes around, we are ready for the job. I am one of those people. I put so much time into making sure my bow is not only sighted in, but it is tuned and timed so that it is capable of hitting thumb tacks. That way, when a deer walks out in front of me, I know I have done everything in my power to keep from wounding the animal.

I have the goal of never wounding an animal. I’ve acheived that goal so far, but it was almost crushed two years ago.

I was bow hunting at a friend’s place in Illinois back in 2010. I made the almost two hour drive over there every weekend I was off and any time I was available during the week.

I was having no luck getting a deer to come close. The next thing I knew, it was the last weekend of the season and I had no deer. I had yet to take a deer with my bow, so I was extremely excited and wanted it to happen badly. I had everything set up on my Hoyt as perfect as any bow could be.

We set up a blind on the edge of a cornfield a little bit back in the trees from where we had seen deer earlier in the season. We sat in the blind for hours and saw a few deer

all the way on the other side of the field. Of course, that is where I had been sitting all season. Extremely frustrating! Anyway, we did get some good video footage of the deer but I was still yearning for that first bow kill.

The sun started going down, so we packed up the camera and put away most of what we carried in.

We were prepared to leave. I had come to terms with the fact that I was not getting a deer with my bow this season.

Just then I spotted a deer walking our way from the edge of the woodline. It was coming at us at a steady speed, so we didn't have time to get the camera back out. I didn't care at that point. My hopes were back up! The deer came within 30 yards from the front of the blind and stopped broadside so beautifully. I raised my bow, drew it back, and dialed in on the heart.

My own heart was going a mile-a-minute, but I was as focused as I had ever been. I squeezed the trigger and the release was flawless. The arrow took off right toward the deer, when I noticed something. The moment I released the arrow, the deer quickly took a step away. My heart dropped to my stomach and I almost quit breathing. My arrow struck the deer in the hip and the deer fell down. I was in shock and looked at my buddy and said, “What do I do now?” He told me to get another arrow in the deer. I nocked another arrow and went to draw back when the deer stood up and took off walking toward the woods. We both noticed the amount of blood pouring out of the site where the arrow entered. I had a feeling I had severed the femoral artery, so we decided to wait and track the deer in a bit.

What do I do in the meantime?

What any other girl would have

Continued on Page 12

November, 2012

Down Home Huntin’ KRISTENMONROE Curves in Camo TM

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012© Wouldn't it be nice to jump in your truck and head to the nearest pheasant field in South Dakota? A fantastically trained hunting dog is riding with you in the front seat.

You can't wait to meet up with your favorite group of shooting buddies in the field.

It sounds nice, but as good as South Dakota’s pheasant hunting may be, it is not always practical. If you want to have a grand time shooting birds, finding a respectable pheasant preserve is the next best thing.

I was fortunate to visit Branson, Missouri while attending the recent Association of Great Lake Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) conference. While others went fishing, seven members of AGLOW broke away and shot several pheasants at Down Home Huntin'.

We shot a few clays to get warmed up before hitting the field.

We played a trap game called Annie Oakley. This was new to me. It's a fun variation of a fivestand set up. Being in competition with four other guys and a small group of spectators can be intimidating. I made the choice to transform my nervous feelings into excitement. Our group had a blast.

Cheering each other on with the smell of gun powder in the air is a hard feeling to replicate.

Soon, Tobby Parton, the owner of Down Home Huntin’, pulled up and it was go time. The fields were ready, the dogs were eager and so was I. It was obvious that Parton loved his hunting dogs. He told us stories about each one of them before we hit the field. Although our group was full of experienced hunters, he reminded us to keep our muzzles pointed straight up while

pivoting if a bird got behind us.

That did not offend me. In fact, I like when safety is overemphasized. After all, to keep the tradition of hunting alive it's important not to give any of the anti-hunters fuel for their fire.

I had never been to a pheasant preserve like this before. Our hunt started with a prayer lead by Parton. Why not? Athletes do it.

A man that makes safety, hunting integrity and religion a priority is worth talking about. Wouldn't you agree?

Sure, blasting pheasants out of the sky is fun. But watching the dogs work and hearing laughter from others is all part of the experience.

Hunting in the Ozark Mountians is nothing short of breathtaking. The terrain in which we hunted consisted of rolling hills and had plenty of cover. It was also full of these green balls that looked like unripe tomatoes. But they did not squish beneath my boots. They cracked and popped. I think they were some kind of gourd.

Terry Frey, a radio personality from Madison, Wisconsin was in my group. I witnessed him chuck his expensive camera on the ground in order to shoot down a bird. That scored a few extra points with me. Feathers went flying and his camera was still functioning. It was the perfect win-win situation and was very entertaining.

My children and career are very important to me. But, while hunting I live in the present. I'm stress free -- just blasting birds out of the sky and having a few chuckles with friends. When my kids are of age, I will take them too.

Pheasant hunting is a perfect way to start. It's being able to talk, walk and coach at the same time without

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Aside from the tasty gamebirds, hunting preserves offer opportunities for shooting practice, firearms safety, dog training, exercise and socializing. Josh Lantz / Sand Creek Media photos. scaring off the game. Going to good a preserve is nice too, since you are almost guaranteed action on the first trip.

Pheasant hunting holds a special place in my heart. It will always recall the memories from my own first, successful hunt.

Plus, I finally know some pretty good pheasant recipes.

For more information on Down Home Huntin’ or the Branson/Lakes Area, visit www.downhomehuntin.com and www.explorebranson.com.

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Normally dealing with Indiana’s wildlife falls to Indiana’s Conservation Officers, however in this story Indianapolis Police Detective Sergeant, Scott Baldwin found himself dealing with some of the most dangerous predators known to man, both twolegged and four-legged.

In August of 2002 the Indianapolis Metropolitan Drug Task Force was investigating members of a local gang for drug related crimes. The investigation led to a farm near the sleepy rural town of Flatrock, situated between Indianapolis and Columbus.

Just outside of the town was a farm that was believed to be growing marijuana and manufacturing meth. The investigation was long and drawn out. While the investigators had already procured evidence of the drug manufacturing, the prosecutor’s office felt it was not enough to warrant a search. The task force needed more evidence.

Working with the FBI, Scott and another member of the task force flew over the farm in an aircraft equipped with FLIR cameras.

FLIR or Forward Looking InfaRed equipment is designed to show heat signatures, which is useful for search and rescue operations, but it can also be used for surveillance.

The camera easily highlights a human body, the heat radiated by marijuana grow lamps, or meth production equipment inside buildings.

“When we flew over the farm, the barns lit up like a Christmas Tree, indicating a high use of heat generating equipment, more so than normally generated by farming activities.” Scott said. The indoor hydroponic method of growing of large quantities of marijuana in a small area requires the heavy use of artificial lighting, which generates a great deal of heat.

Even armed with this new evidence the prosecutor’s office felt more evidence was needed for a strong case. Unable to legally go onto the property and aware that the drug

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

operation’s video camwould be jumping into Drugs, Tigers & Bears, Oh My! it was decided to raid eras were monitoring the farm, the investithe farm with overALANGARBERS gators procured a whelming force. The hand-held FLIR unit plan worked well and and crept to the edge the suspects could do of a cornfield adjacent little but surrender to the property. From without a fight. their precarious locaHowever, a twist tion they could scan developed during the and record the outraid. In a barn that buildings with intithey thought housed a mate detail. marijuana hydroponAs the task force ics operation they was gathering more found seventeen evidence a member of Bengal tigers! In the gang was walking other buildings they the farm yard, armed found black bears, with an assault rifle wolves, mountain and a guard dog. To lions, and a white make matter worse, tiger! “In the susthe wind was carrying the scent of the law pect’s kitchen there was a cage with ringenforcement officers to the guard dog, who tailed lemurs,” Scott said. “As a law was on high alert and barking in alarm. enforcement officer, it was just a shock to “Either the man was intoxicated or just not find all of these exotic animals.” listening to the dog, because the dog was The raid produced marijuana, methamtelling him we were there!” Scott said. “He phetamines, and other drugs. They also was barking and carrying on, pulling on his found a cache of weapons that they ended up leash towards us.” The investigators knew seizing along with the vehicles and drugs. they were in peril and all had their weapons But, the problems of the animals remained. drawn and trained on the suspect and the dog. “We had no idea what to do with the animals.

Fortunately the guard ignored the dog. “He We were dumbfounde”, Scott confessed. called the dog stupid and went on his The animals had been well taken care of, rounds.” had not been harmed during the search warUnknown to the investigators, the dog rant, and were in good health, so working wasn’t the only one being tantalized with the with the Indiana Department of Natural strange, new scent. Bizarre sounds were Resources (IDNR) and the Indianapolis Zoo, emanating from the buildings but the investi- it was decided to leave the animals right gating team could not identify them. where they were until the case was resolved.

Combined with the new evidence, there “Never in my entire career did I have to try to was enough for a search warrant to be issued. figure out how to put seventeen Bengal tigers Continuing to work with local law enforce- in the police property room!” Scott laughed. ment, and not knowing exactly what they I think the answer would be... very carefully.

November, 2012

November, 2012

EARLY ICE Walleyes are great fun to catch in open water, but when the water turns to ice, it's hard to keep from looking for yellow perch. They can be found in abundance and are awesome in a fryin' pan.

Try to focus your search in deeper water. You may catch lots of smaller fish shallower. But, the biggest fish are typically deeper in iced-over environments.

One of our favorite spots for jumbo perch is Devils Lake, North Dakota. But no matter where you're fishing, your approach should be the same - find perch in deep water in lakes with a good forage base of insects or freshwater shrimp. That's the formula for the biggest and baddest perch.

How Deep is Deep?

Deep is relative. At Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota, 25 to 30 feet is deep. At Devils Lake, the biggest perch swim in 30 to 40 feet of water.

Start your perch outing the same way a professional angler approaches a lake before a tournament. Visit several bait shops, buy lake maps and gather what data are available before heading to the ice.

Anywhere you fish, be ready to drill a bunch of holes over mud (or other soft-bottom) flats just outside the mouths of bays. That's where perch can find the mayflies and wigglers they love.

Some flats are expansive. It's best to have three or four vehicles to divide up the area and search.

It's a simple matter to alert buddies with cell phones and radios when fish are found. Drill and drill and drill. The key to winter fishing is to keep moving. Some days the surface of the ice may look like the moon. It might take a long time, but when you find them, the fishing can be incredible.

Tools for Tracking Perch Keep track of known fishholding coordinates. The same places seem to produce year after year.

The second tool is a Humminbird ICE-55 flasher. Its zoom feature identifies a fish just inches off the bottom, where perch often are.

The third is an Aqua-Vu underwater camera that lets you identify the marks to see if they are actually perch you're seeing.

Your perch rig starts with an ultra-sensitive 24-inch rod like St. Croix’s Legend LIR24UL ice rod.

It has a built-in strike indicator to detect light bites. When you fish deep water, you can't feel the bite, so you have to see it by watching the strike indicator and your line.

Spool up 6-pound-test (equivalent to 2-pound monofilament) TUF Line Ice line and tie on a Lindy Rattl'n Flyer spoon, for a flashy, noisy attractor. This setup will get your offering down to productive depths fast.

Try adding a 3- to 4-inch mono dropper, which ends in a small #10 plain hook. Change up colors to see what works best.

Wax worms can work well.

But, also try packing on three or four spikes (often called Eurolarvae or maggots). When fish

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

Perch on Ice move away from the holes, split up your group, each angler moving 50 feet in different directions until the school is re-located. After a couple of moves, you'll be able to predict which direction the school is likely to go as it continues to move. Perch in such places are often on the move as they follow moving food sources. It's not always you spooking them, but you have to stay with them to stay with the action.

Presentation Details Technique and presentation is tricky. Start by banging your lures on the bottom. Bounce, bounce, bounce action will stir the mud and insect larvae. Then, try the other extreme: a barely perceptible shaking motion. It's more of a jiggle than jigging.

The exception is when a fish comes closer to your lure and then starts to move away. You can tell if the fish is close by watching the mark get redder and thicker as it comes into the center of the flasher cone and then starts to disappear.

By Ted Takasaki & Scott Richardson Shake it hard. You've got nothing to lose. An Aqua Vu camera camera can also tell you what kind of action turns them on or off. Perch often bite all day, with mid-morning seeming to be the best.

Work hard, work fast and catch fish. It's as easy as that.

Note: Takasaki is teaming up with Anderson Trucking Service to offer fishing tips to the company's drivers, along with the chance to win all-expenses-paid fishing trips with the Hall of Fame angler. Ted's Tips are found at www.drive4ats.com, along with information on joining this industry leader, founded in 1955. Interested drivers can also call 1-855-JOIN-ATS.

Veteran tournament pro and hardcore ice fisherman Ted Takasaki has a big reason to smile: a jumbo perch, caught on a Frostee spoon. Put Ted's tips into action this winter and you'll be tangling with one of ice fishing's favorite fish yourself.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS Ž 2012Š

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.

Magnification also greatly affects the field of view, the dis-

November, 2012

Binoculars for Beginning Birders tance 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.

8x42 may be the best combination of magnification and objective lense diameter for serious birding binos. It is definitely the most popular, allowing for stable, close-in viewing when opportunities like this drake Northern shoveler present themselves. Josh Lantz / Sand Creek Media photo.

Curves In Camo -- Continued From Page 8 done, I grabbed my Iphone and Googled a deer’s anatomy so I could confirm that there is an artery in that area.

After sitting for two hours, we decided to start tracking. It had lost a lot of blood on the way to the woods alone. This deer had surely bled out by now. We walked into the woods and came to a creek where I found my arrow. As I went into the creek bed and picked it up, I heard a noise right above me on the bank.

I looked up and my deer was standing over me. She was wobbling and obviously in shock because she wasn't even looking directly at me. She started walking away from me down the creek when all of a sudden she turned and came directly at me. My buddy said we needed to get another arrow in her. I nocked another arrow and was ready to shoot when she wobbled her way up the side of the bank to the flat ground. I followed her up, drew back and made a fatal shot.

I am glad that I found this deer and was able to put another arrow in her to finish her off quicker, even though I believe she would have died if we had waited another 20 minutes.

That is not the way I envisioned my first bow harvest, but I do know that I did everything I could to keep from losing that animal. I had absolutely no control over that deer taking a step when I shot. I wanted to write this article to let any new hunter know that things can and do happen which are out of your control. As long as you know in your

heart that you have put your time in to give the animals you hunt the respect they deserve, then when or if it ever happens that you do wound one, you would be able to live with it and learn from it that much easier.

November, 2012

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

A.M. Minor 9:45 10:35 11:19 ----11:37 --------12:18 1:22 2:29 3:39 4:51 6:05 7:17 8:25 9:25 10:16 10:59 11:36 --------12:57 1:57 2:56 3:54 4:51 5:47 6:41 7:31 8:18

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

A.M Major 2:19 3:07 3:53 4:40 4:26 5:35 5:59 6:46 7:33 8:23 9:17 10:13 11:14 ----12:51 1:53 2:52 3:48 4:40 5:30 6:17 7:02 7:47 8:31 9:16 10:02 10:50 11:48 12:03 12:50

P. M. Minor 7:39 8:28 9:21 10:17 10:15 12:11 12:43 1:14 1:45 2:18 2:55 3:53 4:23 5:18 6:21 7:28 8:37 9:45 10:52 12:09 12:40 1:08 1:37 2:07 2:39 3:14 3:53 4:36 5:23 6:16

P.M. Major 2:42 3:31 4:20 5:08 4:56 5:43 6:30 7:18 8:07 8:58 9:53 10:50 ----12:17 1:23 2:26 3:26 4:22 5:14 6:02 6:48 7:32 8:16 9:00 9:45 10:30 --------12:27 1:17

Sunrise 8:14 8:15 8:16 8:17 7:19 7:20 7:21 7:22 7:23 7:24 7:26 7:27 7:28 7:29 7:30 7:31 7:32 7:34 7:35 7:36 7:37 7:38 7:39 7:40 7:41 7:42 7:43 7:44 7:45 7:46

Sunset 6:42 6:41 ^;40 6:38 5:38 5:37 5:36 5:35 5:34 5:33 5:32 5:31 5:30 5:29 5:29 5:28 5:27 5:27 5:26 5:25 5:25 5:24 5:24 5:23 5:23 5:22 5:22 5:22 5:21 5:21

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

Page 13

Indiana Outdoor Calendar - November Fox and Coyote Hunting Season Open All Month Archery Deer Hunting Season Open All Month Squirrel Hunting Season Open All Month Ruffed Grouse Hunting Season Open All Month Light Goose Hunting Season Open All Month North Zone Duck Hunting Season Open All Month Nov. 3: Central Zone Duck and Goose Hunting Seasons Open Nov. 3-4: South Zone Early Duck Hunting Season Nov. 3-11: South Zone Early Split Canada Goose Hunting Season Nov. 8: Raccoon and Opossum Hunting Season Opens Nov. 9: Firearms Deer Season Opens Nov. 9: Pheasant and Quail Hunting Seasons Open Nov. 9: Rabbit Hunting Season Opens Nov. 11: Last Day of North Zone Early Split Canada Goose Hunting Season Nov. 22: North Zone Mid Split Canada Goose Hunting Season Opens Nov. 24: South Zone Late Split Duck and Canada Goose Hunting Seasons Open

• 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.

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DOWN

1 Type area where whitetails are found 5 A species of dove 9 Name for turkeys that keep calling 11 Classed as a rodent 14 A recognition honor 15 Stream fishermen may do this 18 Term refers to 30. caliber 19 A good catfish bait 21 Term for tales about size of catch 22 Letters denote a model shotgun 23 A breed of retriever 26 Term in competitive shoot, _____ fire 27 Fish are said to have this sense 30 Small fish eaten by larger fish 32 A name for the catfish 34 A care procedure on bows and guns 35 Good item to take on hunting trips 36 The maker of bows

1 A wildfowl migration path 2 To ready for another shot 3 Consider this when reeling a lunker 4 Wild packs of these kill many deer 5 Good item to have in strange areas 6 Albino animals are very _____ 7 Pack the day's catch in this 8 A nuisance fish tangles trotlines 12 A deer food source 13 Deer will ____ to avoid danger 16 Also called a bowfin 17 A large wading bird 18 Hunter's name for a small tree dweller 19 A stream fisherman's wear 20 A species of deer 24 Good dog breed for pheasant hunt 25 Common result of shooting game on run 28 Name for the Hawaiian goose 29 Name for the three-bladed arrow 31 Used for bait at timrs 32 He usually has a harem 33 A large group of animals 34 Young bears

Answers on page 7!

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Page 14

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

November, 2012

Dismissing the Big Bang Theory

The Last Thought MIKESCHOONVELD I’ve never been shot, but I’ve certainly been wounded by some of the guns I’ve fired. The wounds weren’t from bullets, bird or buck shot. They were bruises.

I’ve felt the mighty blast of a magnum charge of powder pushing a walloping big payload from both rifles and shotguns. The kick was usually felt mostly in my shoulder, but occasionally, my nose, my cheek and occasionally my trigger finger got in on the abuse. None of them were fun and in my opinion, few of the bruises were necessary.

I call it the “Dirty Harry” syndrome. At least it started at about the same time Clint Eastwood pulled out his .44 Magnum, pointed it at the bad guy and told him, “....you’ve got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky? Well do ya, punk?”

Okay, maybe Eastwood’s movie and the move towards higher powered guns and ammunition

just happened to coincide. Or did they?

One could argue that since the first caveman picked up a stick and whacked someone else or a potential dinner over the head with it, humans have ever-since been searching for bigger sticks and guns that shoot farther. Sticks became clubs. Clubs became spears. Spears became arrows shot from bows.

Fireworks became guns; guns became canons and it kept going up to Dirty Harry packing the “most powerful handgun in the world.”

Actually, Inspector Callahan’s 1970s vintage .44 Magnum is a relative pipsqueak by today’s standards.

When the Dirty Harry movie series came out, the standard, 12 gauge shotgun shell was 2-3/4inches long. You could buy special guns to shoot “magnum” shells which were 3-inches long. Over the next decade most shotgun makers reconfigured their shotguns so all of them would accept 3-inch loads; then, in a race to see which gun maker could out-do the next, guns capable of chambering 3-1/2-inch rounds were introduced.

If you think a 12 gauge shotgun comes with a lot of recoil, try shooting it with a 3-inch magnum shell. Then stuff it with a 3-1/2incher and prepare to be bruised!

You do it. I’m old enough to know better.

What’s more important, power or accuracy? I pick accuracy.

What’s more important when shooting at a target or shooting at a deer - concentrating on your aim or worrying about beating you’ll take when the trigger is pulled? I choose good aim. Whether or not you are using the most powerful slug available or one much lighter, but still adequate, when you put the bullet in the right place, sharpen your skinning knife.

That’s why my deer hunting brothers, nephews and I switched to Lightfield Hybreds EXP Lites, last season. Bucking the Dirty Harry trend that says bigger is better, we opted for the straight-shooting, reduced recoil Lightfields.

Lightfield calls this line of slugs “hybreds” because they bridge the gap between conventional, solid lead slugs and the unconventional sabot slugs designed to be shot from shotguns fitted with rifled-barrels. Lightfield’s hybred slugs perform well in smooth bores and become tack-drivers when used in guns with rifled barrels or choke tubes.

Our delight started at the shooting range when we zeroed our guns with the new shells.

Launching a 1-1/4-ounce slug doesn’t come without some recoil, but significantly less than what we expected. Our enthusiasm for these slugs increased during the hunt.

Between us, we harvested bucks, bonus-antlerless freezer-fillers and

even participated in special State Park hunts. We harvested deer from stands, from ground blinds and while stalking.

Inspector Callihan may have felt the need to pack the most powerful pistol available. The hunters in my family now understand a bigger bang doesn’t translate into better results.

Caleb Schoonveld bagged this wallhanger with a Lightfield Hybred EXP Lite. Photo by author.

Creature Feature: Saw Whet Owls Picture a tiny owl, with large yellow and black eyes, that looks cuddly enough to be a stuffed toy.

That's a saw whet owl! No bigger that the palm of a person's hand, it's the smallest owl in our region.

Normally saw whets breed in northern woods. Many of them migrate in fall to southern states and Mexico. That's unusual for birds that eat mice and small birds, since most migratory birds are insect- or nectar-eaters.

In recent years, banding stations have tracked saw whet owls durNature’s Almanac ing migration in October and November. Fine mist nets are set up in the woods, and after dark the repeated call of a saw whet is played on a sound system to draw in the birds.

When an owl flies into the invisible net, it drops into a pocket where Watch your bird feeders for it rests until licensed bird banders collect it. Net runs are usually made the arrival of Tree Sparrows. every hour. Back at the banding table, banders weigh and measure the Sporting a rusty cap and a owl, then place a small numbered band on its leg. After the data is black “tie tack,” they often recorded, the owl is released. The information gathered is helping to feed in small flocks in shrubby give a better picture of the numbers and movements of these tiny owls fields, as well. throughout the eastern United States. There is a fall banding station at Indiana Dunes State Park at the southern end of Lake Michigan, and Sandhill Crane numbers at several are located in southern Indiana and southeast Michigan.

Jasper Pulaski Fish and Did you know?

Occasionally saw whets Wildlife area reach their peak The saw whet owl's name spend the winter with us, roosting this month. comes from one of the sounds in evergreens on low perches it makes. Its “skiew” call is about five feet off the ground.

On November 28, there will be similar to the sound made They can be very difficult to find, Lunar Eclipse which may be when a saw is sharpened, or but their whitewash droppings whetted. partially visible in the Great and pellets they cough up can give Lakes region before dawn. away their location.

NOVEMBER

Evelyn Kirkwood is Director of St. Joseph County Parks in Indiana and host of Outdoor Elements which is broadcast Sundays at 9:00 am on WNIT Public Television.

Hands On Nature:

Listening and Looking for Owls Even though owls are larger than most birds, they are difficult to find, especially since they are most active after dark. Often the easiest way to find owls is to listen for them. Great Horned Owls mate in December, so they often begin calling in winter.

With practice, you can learn to imitate the various owl calls with your voice.

Each species of owl has a distinct call and rhythm.

Some of them can be put to words.

Saw Whet Owl: hooop-hooop-hooop (sometimes for nearly an hour during mating season!)

Great Horned Owl call: who-who-WHOOO-who-who Barred Owl: Who cooks for YOU. Who cooks for YOU-allllll.

You can also find owls by looking for white-wash, or owl droppings splattered under tree limbs that serve as perches. If you are lucky, you might even find an owl pellet, a coughed up mass of bones and fur the owl is unable to digest.

Invasion! Box Elder Bugs, Marmorated Stink Bugs and Asian Lady Beetles, looking for a place to hibernate, move into your home as temperatures drop.

Buckeyes and Horse Chestnuts burst out of their spiny husks. Some people believe putting them on your windowsill, or in the corners of a room, helps to keep spiders out of your house.

November, 2012

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2012©

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