September 2011

INDIANA'S CHOICE FOR OUTDOOR NEWS AND INFORMATION • SINCE 1994

®

Vol. 2011 • Number 9 Like ION in print? Like us on

W W W. I N D I A N A O U T D O O R N E W S . N E T

2011-2012 WATERFOWL

SHALLOW CHINOOK SALMON!

HUNTING SEASONS PROPOSED INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

STRAIGHT SHOOTER PAGE 7

SLUG GUN GUMBO PAGE 10

FIVE-FACED WALLEYE PAGE 13

LATE SUMMER PIKE PAGE 14

GONE AFIELD PAGE 15

no more than two can be hens), INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of three wood ducks, two pintails, Natural Resources is proposing two redheads, two scaup, one canthe same number of days as last vasback, one black duck, and one year for the coming waterfowl mottled duck. The possession limit is twice hunting season the daily bag in all three limit. zones – 60 days The daily bag for ducks and 74 limit for Canada for Canada geese geese in all – but is recomzones is two mending a with a posseschange in how sion limit of those days are four. distributed in DNR also has the state's North proposed a 15Zone. day late season The North for Canada Zone will be geese from Feb. split into two Junior retreives a drake buffle- 1-15 in selected segments for head during a hunt last season areas. Indiana hunting of on Lake Maxinkuckee. Josh conducted what ducks, coots and was scheduled mergansers, and Lantz photo. as a three-year into three segments for Canada geese. In recent experiment authorized by the years, North Zone duck hunting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to dates ran consecutively and the target resident giant Canada geese Canada goose season was in two without negatively impacting migratory geese. Last season was segments.

“If you go straight through the third year of the experiment, for 60 days in the North Zone and although most areas achieved duck season, it would open on a the USFWS requirement that at Saturday and close on a Tuesday,” least 80 percent of the late season said Adam Phelps, waterfowl harvest consist of resident giant biologist for DNR Fish & Canada geese, areas around Terre Wildlife. “So, we moved the two Haute reported only 78 percent.

“So now we’re in a holding extra days to later, basically to try to give a weekend to those pattern, but they are letting us continue to evaluate,” Phelps folks who want to hunt late.”

The dates are not final until said.

Consequently, the U.S. Fish approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service later this month. and Wildlife Service will authorHistorically, dates have been ize the late season only in the same counties as previous years. accepted as proposed.

The DNR’s recommended Those counties are: Adams, Allen, dates for ducks, coots and mer- Boone, Clay, DeKalb, Elkhart, gansers are: North Zone, Oct. 15 Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Huntington, to Dec. 11, and Dec. 24-25; South Hendricks, Zone, Oct. 22-30, and Nov. 23 to Johnson, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Jan. 12; Ohio River Zone, Oct. LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Noble, Parke, 29-30, and Nov. 26 to Jan. 22.

For Canada geese, the pro- St. Joseph, Shelby, Steuben, posed dates are: North Zone, Oct. Starke, Sullivan, Vermillion, 15 to Nov. 6, Nov. 23 to Jan. 8, Vigo, Wells and Whitley.

Special restrictions apply; a and Jan. 14-17; South Zone, Oct. 22-30 and Nov 23 to Jan. 26; free permit is required. The daily Ohio River Zone, Oct. 29-30 and bag limit is five, and the possession limit is 10.

Nov. 21 to Jan. 31.

Statewide season dates for “What we’ve done in the past (for Canada geese) is open for two light geese and brant are Oct. 15 days in the North Zone, close to Jan. 27. The bag limit is 20 until November, and then light geese (snow and/or Ross' resume,” Phelps said. “We’ve got- geese) and one brant. The possesten feedback from hunters who sion limit is two brant. There is want to hunt over open water. So no possession limit on light we gave them more days early, geese.

Statewide season dates for then a break, and then went as lateas we have in the past. We’re white-fronted geese are Oct. 15 to trying to keep pressure on Canada Nov. 6 and Nov. 23 to Jan. 26. geese in late January, but still The daily bag limit is one, and the give the folks who want to hunt possession limit is two.

For a map of Indiana’s waterover open water a chance as fowl hunting zones and other well.”

The daily bag limit for ducks watrfowl hunting information, in all zones is six, including no visit http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishmore than four mallards (of which wild/3569.htm.

September, 2011

Marketing Director for Elkhart-based Nautic Global Group, Steve Tadd hefts a nice Lake Michigan chinook salmon. The kings are staging for their annual spawning run near the river and creek mouths this month.

Read where and how to catch ‘em on page 8. Josh Lantz photo.

9-YEAR-OLD LANDS RECORD GAR ANGOLA -Nine-year-old Noah Smith represents at least the fourth generation in a long line of fishermen and the first among them to catch a gar. But he earned more than just family bragging rights when he landed the 3.17-pound, 29-3/16-inch spotted gar June 30 from Crooked Lake in Steuben County. He earned a spot in the state record books.

“It feels awesome,” said Smith, who is from Delaware, Ohio.

Smith’s catch was not particularly large for its species, but his entry came at an opportune time. The Indiana Record Fish Program just recently began recognizing the different species within the gar family. In the past, the program grouped shortnose gar, spotted gar, and the much

COMPLIMENTS OF:

Noah Smith with his state record fish, caught on a minnow. larger longnose gar into the same category.

Smith’s entry was the first submission for a spotted gar. On Aug. 17, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources sent Smith a letter certifying his record fish.

How long the record will stand is unclear, but the family plans to enjoy it while it lasts. Noah plans on mounting the fish on the wall in his bedroom.

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September’s Urgency

JOSHLANTZ Throughout most of summer, the spongy, crimson cones of the otherwise nondescript staghorn sumac only hint at what’s to come.

Until late August.

The bushy trees erupt as one of our earliest and most outward harbingers of fall. Their flamered leaves scream warnings of shortening days and cooler temperatures to all who pass their roadside and woodlot pulpits. The maples transform next, placing vivid orange and deep purple punctuation marks here and there throughout the remainder of September’s green canopy. And stretched out in front of this scene? The lemon-lime blanket of turning soybean fields -- yet another showy and unmistakable proclamation of Indiana’s changing seasons.

While September brings marked changes to the landscape, our wildlife is changing too.

Woolybear caterpillars make brave forays across our county roads and highways. I’m not sure where they’re going, but they’re sure in a hurry to get there. Teal too visit our sloughs, surprising more than a few hunters with their mini-jet-fighter-style sorties around the marsh. Whitetail bucks shed their velvet, transforming their antlers from pampered and protected to true weapons-grade survival tools.

Geese and mourning doves fly, feed, fly, loaf and then fly again.

While squirrel season has been open since mid-August, September brings the start of many of our most anticipated hunting opportunities. Our dove hunting season begins the first of this month and remains open through mid-October.

We’re very fortunate to have a dove season here in Indiana.

Other states like Michigan aren’t so lucky. Anti-hunting groups like the Humane Society of the United States raise millions of dollars each year by misleading the American public into thinking their donations are going to help stray cats and dogs at local animal shelters. Of course, the money doesn’t go to help those unfortunate animals. Most of it goes to hire lobbyists and attorneys to convince lawmakers that

Americans shouldn’t be able to hunt and eat wild game animals -even animals like the ultra-abundant mourning dove, which numbers in the millions and whose natural, annual mortality rate dwarfs the insignificant percentage taken and eaten each year by hunters. So when you take to the dove field this month, treasure the opportunity and take a friend along too. Then invite your neighbors to the spectacular gourmet feast afterwards.

Canada goose hunting begins this month too, supplementing our tasty, bite-sized doves with a premier main course.

It amazes me that these great waterfowl -- nearly entirely absent from Indiana during my youth -- have become so plentiful today. The early goose season opens on the 1st and closes on the 15th of this month.

As most hunters know, the early goose season is one of the primary management tools the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources use and rely on to control our numbers of resident geese. These are geese that no longer migrate, due in part to the abundance of nesting and rearing habitat created by modern conservation programs, but also as a result of regular feeding by well-

intended people. Unfortunately, feeding migratory birds and other wildlife often hurts more than it helps, causing a rapid disintegration of millions of years of species self-reliance. Sad as the reality of the situation may seem, I’m more than happy to help solve the problem. I’ll gladly fill my straps with a limit of September honkers. You should too. So get out this month and celebrate yet another great, modern conservation success story.

September has always been one of my favorite months. Yes, there’s the hunting, but there is also something related, but a great deal more. The month of September creates a deep-seated and instinctive sense of urgency inside me -- one that penetrates our modern existence and hints at

the anxiety felt by the native Americans, our pilgrims and our pioneers. It actually calls me outdoors and beckons me to fill my freezer with game and to lay in a good supply of firewood. Do I need these things for my family’s survival? No, yet it feels that way nonetheless. I feel it when I lay my head on the pillow and listen to the winds rattling the branches and pushing waves up on the beach. I feel it when I see and hear the raucous immediacy of migrating skeins of red-winged blackbirds. And I feel it when I devour the medium-rare flesh of a greenwing teal who flew a little too slowly and too close to my decoys. I hope I always feel it, because it connects me to my past and motivates me to become stronger and more self-reliant.

® Volume 2011 • Number 9 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© 2011

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Register now for these reserved hunt opportunities

Something’s fishy at Hoosier Outdoor Experience

The Indiana DNR offers several different reserved hunts each year. Register for a reserved hunt, view draw results and much more at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5834.htm. Here are a few upcoming reserved hunt opportunities.

2011 Deer Creek Deer Hunt • Applications will be accepted online until Sept. 9.

• Applicants must possess a license to hunt deer in order to apply.

• Applicants may register for up to three dates. Successful applicants will be chosen for one date range. The hunt dates available are: Oct. 1-3, Oct. 7-10, Oct. 14-17, Oct. 21-24, Oct. 28-31, Nov. 4-7, Nov. 11-14, Nov. 18-21, Nov. 25-27, Dec. 3-5, Dec. 9-12, Dec. 16-19, Dec. 23-27, Dec. 30-Jan. 2, 2012.

• Successfully drawn applicants are allowed to bring one hunting partner.

• Results will be posted online up to one week after the deadline to apply.

2011 Deer Creek Upland (rabbit, quail or woodcock) Game Hunt • Applications will be accepted online until Sept. 9.

• Applicants must possess a license to hunt small game in order to apply.

• Applicants may register for up to three dates. Successful applicants will be chosen for one date. The hunt dates available are: Nov. 5, Nov. 12, Nov. 19, Nov. 26, Dec. 3, Dec. 10, Dec. 17, Dec. 24, Dec. 31.

• Successfully drawn applicants are allowed to bring one hunting partner.

• Results will be posted online up to one week after the deadline to apply.

2011 Fairbanks Landing FWA Deer Hunt • Applications will be accepted online from Sept. 1-30.

• Successful hunters will be chosen for opening weekend of deer firearm season and allowed to hunt both Nov. 12 and 13. Successful hunters will not be able to bring a partner.

• Draw results will be posted online.

2011 Put-and-take Pheasant Hunts • Reservations are accepted online beginning Sept. 1 and run until Nov. 26. Hunts are first-come, first-served.

• Hunters can select the date, property, and location within the property for the hunt.

• The cost is $15 per person and the bag limit is two birds of either sex. A hunter filling his/her limit in the put-and-take hunt may not take any more pheasants that day.

• Print your confirmation page once you submit your reservations. You’ll also receive a confirmation email once your reservations have been successfully submitted. No refunds will be given.

2011 Waterfowl Draw Hunt • Applications will be accepted online from Sept. 5-25.

• Applicants may choose up to five property and date combinations. Successful applicants will be chosen for one of their five property and date choices.

• Draw results will be posted online.

Free beginner waterfowl hunting workshops offered in September and October

DNR REPORT -Two free waterfowl hunting workshops will be offered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources this fall.

The first will be at Grouse Ridge Public Fishing Area on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The second will be on Saturday, Oct. 8, at Monroe Lake’s North Fork Service Area, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The same material will be covered at both events.

The workshops are intended for novice waterfowl hunters and those who want to try waterfowl hunting for the first time. All ages are welcome.

“We had folks at last year’s event aged from 8 to 73,” said DNR waterfowl biologist Adam Phelps. “All beginners are welcome.”

Parents who already hunt waterfowl are welcome to bring children, but the material is tailored for beginners; experienced waterfowl hunters are not likely to get much out of the workshops.

Organizers hope to build on the success of last year’s novice waterfowl workshop at Monroe Lake.

“We had over 50 people at last year’s event,” Phelps said.

“Feedback from participants was excellent and helped fine-tune the presentations for this year.”

Presentation topics will include waterfowl hunting regulations; duck and goose identification; and equipment and techniques, including a show-and-tell segment. Waterfowl hunting equipment, including blinds, waders, clothing, decoys, gadgets and boats will be displayed and discussed at length.

“Despite all the equipment you can use, we stress that you can hunt ducks and geese with a minimum outlay, so we focus on the essentials,” Phelps said.

DNR Law Enforcement and Fish & Wildlife personnel will be available to answer questions. Lunch will be provided.

Both workshops are free but registration for the Monroe Lake workshop is required. No registration is required for the Grouse Ridge workshop. Participants may register for Monroe Lake by calling South Region Law Enforcement at (812) 837-9536. Questions on the Monroe Lake workshop may be addressed to Phelps at (812) 3341137. Questions on the Grouse Ridge workshop may be addressed to Steve Mund at (812) 346-5596.

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INDIANAPOLIS -Mark the calendar. The third annual Hoosier Outdoor Experience is coming to Indianapolis’ Fort Harrison State Park, Sept. 17-18.

And it’s free to participants. Doing the more than 50 hands-on outdoor activities requires no charge, all day, both days, for men, women and children. Food booths will be available, but you’re welcome to pack a lunch.

Last year 18,400 people attended over the two days, an increase of about 5,000 from the inaugural event. Plenty of room for many more awaits in the state park’s 1,700 acres. There will be something for everyone who enjoys being outdoors, from canoeing and bicycling to a few types of fishing.

“If you ever wanted to learn about basic fishing, fly fishing or even bowfishing but weren’t sure how to get started, here’s your chance,” said Bill James, DNR’s chief of fisheries.

For bowfishing at the event, the targets will be fish decoys floating on Delaware Lake. Volunteers will coach participants and oversee safety as participants try their aim and reel in the arrows.

“If you’re looking for a unique hands-on experience, be sure to stop by the bowfishing venue,” James said. “You might find you have a hidden talent that would make Robin Hood jealous.”

The Hoosier Outdoor Experience, which runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, is presented by the DNR and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation. The goal is to introduce people to outdoor activities they may have never tried.

Other activities include hands-on target shooting, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, and much more.

Online advance registration is required at hoosieroutdoorexperience.IN.gov. Watch for event updates there or at Facebook.com/HoosierOutdoorExperience.

If you already enjoy outdoor sports and recreation and want to help others learn to enjoy them as much as you do, sign up to volunteer at dnr.IN.gov/5412.htm.

Venison workshops held this month DNR REPORT -Indiana DNR’s Division of Fish & Wildlife is partnering with the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service in sponsoring venison workshops in September.

A deer will be skinned, butchered, and prepared in a variety of ways to taste, during each workshop. Food safety and handling procedures, as well as an update on deer health issues will be presented.

Dates and locations are: Sept. 6, Fayette County Fairgrounds, Connersville, (765) 825-8502; Sept. 7, Howard County Fairgrounds, Greentown, (765) 456-2313; Sept. 8, Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, Warsaw, (574) 372-2340; Sept. 10, Bass Pro Shops, Clarksville, (812) 218-5500; Sept. 17 – Fort Harrison State Park, Indianapolis. Register online for the September 17 workshop at www.hoosieroutdoorexperience.in.gov. Register for all others by calling the appropriate phone number.

The workshops at Bass Pro Shops on Sept. 10 and at the Hoosier Outdoor Experience on Sept. 17 are free of charge. Adult admission is $15 and children are free of charge at the other three locations.

DNR looks to clarify possession limit rules The DNR has proposed rule changes to clear up ambiguity regarding possession limits for legally taken fish and wildlife.

“There are varied opinions and interpretations of the existing possession limit rule that cause confusion within the fishing and hunting public” said Col. Scotty Wilson, director of DNR Law Enforcement.

“Therefore, we’re seeking a rule change to clearly define possession restrictions where a bag limit is established and at what point legally taken wild animals no longer count toward a possession limit.”

The Natural Resources Commission, an autonomous board that must approve rule changes requested by the DNR, granted preliminary adoption of the proposed change at its July 19 meeting. The measure is open for public comment online at www. i n . g o v / n rc / 2 3 7 7 . h t m.

This site also includes full text of the proposed rule language.

Public comments will be included in a report to the NRC prior to consideration of final adoption at a future date.

A nine-month review of cur-

rent regulations by DNR Law Enforcement and Fish & Wildlife prompted the agency to seek the change, which would exempt from the possession limit restriction legally taken wild animals that have been processed and stored at an individual’s primary residence.

Currently, daily bag limit is defined (Indiana Code 14-8-2-18) as the quantity of individual wild animals that may be taken in one day of a specified season or during the entire season. For example, the daily bag limit for Northern pike is three. The daily bag limit for rabbits is five.

Confusion begins with possession limit, which is intended to be twice the daily bag limit.

However, common questions asked of the DNR point to the challenge of a universally accepted definition: • Does possession limit apply only in the field, while at camp, cabin, or hotel?

• Does it include fish and wildlife stored at my home in my freezer?

• Do last season’s rabbits still in my freezer count against this year?

• If I currently have two times the daily bag limit in my freezer, can

I hunt/fish for that species again before using some of it?

• If not, what are the requirements for becoming legal? Do I have to eat it, give it away, or simply dispose of it to become “legal”?

• Does part of a wild animal, such as two hind legs of a rabbit, count as a full rabbit?

Current fishing regulations complicate the issue, depending on where fish are caught. Daily bag limits only apply to public waters. Fish taken from private ponds or impoundments may be taken in any quantity.

“This proposal will clarify language that seems to make criminals out of someone simply because he or she is an avid and successful hunter or angler” Wilson said.

These changes would not apply to migratory birds and waterfowl. U.S. Fish and Wildlife authorities interpret possession limit to include processed and stored specimens.

Wilson said, “At this time we feel it would be too problematic to have state and/or federal laws that contradict each other on these particular species.”

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A $25,000 Oops!

LOUIESTOUT Susan Adams issued her customary fish call last July while perch fishing Lake Michigan with her husband and brother-inlaw.

“Here fishy-fishy!” she hollered somewhere off Michigan City.

It's just one of those things she does for fun.

“A few years ago I did that and caught a big ol' carp and I've been doin' it ever since,” she recalled.

Oddly enough, when her husband went shopping for a used boat, he saw one with the moniker “Here fishy, fishy!” scrawled across the transom.

“He knew it was the boat for us and bought it,” she chuckled.

After that special July outing on Lake Michigan, folks are beginning to believe there's magic to her fun-filled fish call.

The Kingsford Heights, woman called a $25,000 fish to her hook.

But that's where the good news ends.

It just so happens that the day the Adams family fished in Michigan City, Tony's Outboard and Bait was hosting its annual

perch fishing tournament.

In addition to cash prizes, 10 perch were tagged and released prior to Saturday.

Adams caught the only one worth cash.

Like, 25 grand.

But because she wasn't entered, she couldn't claim the prize.

“I didn't know about it, but heck, that's OK,” Adams said.

“Tony and his wife were nice about it. They felt bad and they invited us to join them for dinner and gave us entry fees into next year's event.”

Tony Childs of Tony's Outboards said he's been hosting the tagged fish contest for three years. Although other tagged fish have been caught, none matched the numbers of the $25,000 fish.

“That's the first time the 'money' fish has been caught,” said Childs, who purchases an insurance policy to cover the pay-off. “I just wish Susan had entered.”

She apparently had her chance. Her husband bought their bait at Tony's that morning, and, according to Childs, a store employee invited him to enter

with the $10 entry fee.

“The guy said they weren't familiar with it and wasn't interested,” Childs said.

“My husband never told me about that,” said Susan. Oops.

But that's OK, says Adams.

She says rules are rules and, as a result, didn't deserve the money.

She'll participate in next year's event (July 28, 2012), though.

“I believe in God's karma,” she said. “Good things will come back to me. Besides, we caught a limit of perch, and I got to meet fishermen and make some new friends.”

Hoosiers lose valuable friend Indiana sportsmen lost a valuable ally with the passing of Dick Mercier, longtime leader of the Indiana Sportsmen's Roundtable. He died July 31 at the age of 85.

In fact, if you're enjoying a senior fishing license, you have him to thank for it. No organization or single human being worked harder to get that law passed than Dick Mercier.

The hard-working, Indianapolis man was a no-nonsense kind of guy, who battled with governors, legislators and politically-minded DNR officials to protect sportsmen's rights.

He and I had our share of disagreements, too, and most of the time, he was right.

He had differences with clubs within his own ranks, especially when he suspected they were taking a self-serving stance rather than one that was best for the majority of Hoosier sportsmen.

And while Mercier represented the loosely organized outfit consisting of conservation clubs, hunting groups and fishing organizations from around the state, it was he who did most of the work.

He spent countless hours as a lone wolf in Indiana General Assembly committee meetings, pleading and sometimes bargaining with legislators to stand up for sportsmen's concerns or needs.

And he did it for free, often funding those efforts from his own pocket. I'm certain the paltry dues that clubs paid didn't cover all of the expenses needed to do the job Mercier's way.

Strong willed and principled, Mercier was that guy Hoosiers needed fighting their battles.

John Goss, former DNR director and former executive director of the Indiana Wildlife Federation, summed it best. “Dick Mercier put his time and talents into his passion for the outdoors, serving as an unpaid advocate,” Goss said. “He was the force behind the Indiana Sportsmen's Roundtable as the most consistent and effective voice for Hoosier sporting groups at the Statehouse for many years.”

The question remains - who will fill Mercier's shoes? Gene Hopkins of the Indiana Bow Hunters is trying to resurrect the Roundtable; let's hope he can.

We need it. You can rest assured there are forces throughout Indiana with intentions to diminish fishing and hunting rights or bend the rules that go against sensible conservation practices.

Some of those groups have the ears of legislators. We need a strong Sportsmen's Roundtable to keep 'em honest. Just like Dick Mercier did.

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JIMBIDDLE Time does seem to fly. My wife and I spent the first two weeks in August getting things ready for our 50th wedding anniversary party and the third week was spent cleaning up and recuperating. Fishing is great, but spending joyful times with friends and family is even greater.

Now that things are returning to normal, I plan on hitting the water more often this fall.

September and October are my two favorite months for fishing and enjoying the outdoors. I love the fall colors and the cool, crisp morning air. I think it’s great that a guy can do a little squirrel hunting, some fishing, some fall mushroom hunting and scout out his deer hunting area all on a beautiful fall day.

Lake Michigan Mark from Mik-Lurch Tackle in Hammond says the perch fishing is rather slow but should pick up after the Kings come in.

Catch the salmon by casting glow-in-the-dark spoons from the Portage and Michigan City breakwalls at night or by trolling glowing spoons or plugs near the

bottom in and around the Indiana Ship Canal, Michigan City Harbor or the mouth of Burns Ditch.

Willow Slough is a hotspot for bluegill if you fish the openings in the vegetation using a nice, juicy red worm.

Wolf Lake has some pretty good walleye action going on, so give it a try. Fish upstream with skein in Trail Creek if you want to take a summer steelhead. Use inline spinners in the creeks for kings later this month.

Northwest Indiana Penny Boisvert at Greenwood Bait Shop in English Lake tells me the Kankakee is producing some really nice catfish and they seem to like goldfish minnows. Try fishing with a minnow around the bridge in English Lake if you want to catch a Northern pike. Toss a redworm into the Yellow River if you want to catch a mess of bluegills.

Mike Waller at A.L. Bait & Tackle in North Judson says Bass Lake is the spot for walleyes.

They’re taking them on quite a variety of baits like minnows, night crawlers and diving crank baits.

One fisherman even reported taking one on a Hula Popper on the surface! Catfish are hitting like crazy on the lake too. Use a big fat night crawler.

Mike says there’s a pretty good crappie bite on the Yellow River .

North Central Indiana Ray Kindle from Ye Old

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Tackle Box in North Webster tells me that the bass are providing some great action in the area.

Wawasee is the place to take smallmouth, and largemouth can be found just about anywhere.

Fish near the breaks and in the shallows for the largemouth and trying worming on the sand and gravel flats for the smallies. In the evening use a popper around the lily pads. Ray expects the muskie action to really pick up toward the end of the month on Webster and Tippy. If you go for muskies, use bulldogs or glide baits. Bluegills are hitting on crickets, bee moths and wigglers in 7-10 feet of water.

Try the night bite for big catfish.

East Central Indiana Ed Gipson from Peacepipe Bait & Tackle at Andrews says the white bass are hitting on night crawlers and shiners just about anywhere on the reservoir. The same thing goes for catfish using chubs or chicken livers. The crappie action has slowed down recently, but Ed expects it to pick up later this month. If you’re after crappies, Ed says to use minnows or a tube jig. Bluegill action is picking up on Salamonie and Mississinewa and wigglers and bee moths will get them.

Central Indiana Ed McCalla Jr. at the Bait Barn in Indianapolis tells me that bass, bluegill and catfish are hit-

ting big time in Fall Creek around Keystone. Ed says that just about any live bait will work.

Another hotspot for catfish is the White River near the GM plant.

Try taking the cats with chicken livers or dough baits.

Southwest Indiana Dedra Hawkins at the Fishin Shedd in Bloomington says you can take Lake Monroe’s wipers by trolling with downriggers along the channel edges. Dedra says the bluegill and crappie action is picking up nicely. Try for them around any submerged brush or structure. A ten-inch black plastic worm is just the thing to take some really nice bass. Catfish action is great with chicken livers and night crawlers. Dedra says, “we’re stocked and ready, so come on down.”

Saint Joseph River Dick Parker at Parker’s Central Bait & Tackle in Mishawaka reports that the river is pretty low and about the only action now is smallmouth bass and catfish. They’re using tube jigs for the bass and night crawlers for the catfish. Dick says the fishing will improve when the water comes up.

Chicago Tribune outdoor columnists & host of Illinois Outdoors TV, Don Dziedzina shows a nice Northwest Indiana bass. Josh Lantz photo.

September, 2 0 11 Edition

After writing about fishing I’m ready to head out to my pond and catch a couple of bluegills and some bass. Then I’ll fire up the grill and prepare some good eating. I think fried new potatoes and some tomatoes from the garden will top off my feast. I’m making you hungry, you say?

Well, get out there and catch your own!

Well, partners, I guess that’s about it for this month. I wish you luck and by the way don’t forget to spit on the worm to guarantee a catch -- at least that’s what I have always been told.

Until next time, don’t forget what OL JB always says, “ keep fishing and you’ll keep out of trouble.” I’ll talk to you next month.

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Don’t Be a Victim: Carry Your Gun

The Straight Shooter BRENTWHEAT The world can be a very dangerous place, even in our low-key, low-drama, low-crime state.

There is a murder every 25 hours in Indiana, along with a robbery every 84 minutes and an aggravated assault every 41 minutes. On average, a person is intentionally killed once a day while somebody gets seriously beaten a couple of times an hour in a state that ranks 25th in overall crime.

My point is simple. There are people in this world who will happily kill you, your friends, family and neighbors.

I'm sure not too many people are disagreeing at this point when you consider Al-Qaeda terrorists, North Korean dictators, Los Angles street gang members and others like them. However, the real head-scratcher is this: it is very likely that there is someone within 10 miles of you right now who is equally homicidal under the right circumstances.

That puts a whole new spin on things, doesn't it?

Regardless of whether you live in rural Switzerland County or deliver cut diamonds to downtown Gary, you are personally in danger from the evil, the disturbed and the just plain mean people of the world.

To that end, let me offer one suggestion: you need to carry a handgun.

As a 25-year veteran of law enforcement, you might find it surprising that I would propose that you arm yourself. Don't be, because during my time around the cop shop I can't think of too many instances where a person legally carrying a firearm has started a problem.

However, I can think of all too many cases where troublemakers have harmed, and in some cases killed, regular and unarmed folks like you and I. Regardless of whether you worry about wild dogs around your farm or terrorists targeting your city, the best way to provide protection for yourself and those around you is by owning a weapon and carrying it legally every day.

The fact of the matter is that, regardless of how good your local police force is, they cannot be there to guard your home, business, school and office at every moment of the day. If you are in trouble and give us a call, we'll be there are fast as possible but until the cavalry arrives, you are on your own.

Indiana is an extremely

firearms-friendly state. To obtain an unlimited handgun carry license (frequently but incorrectly called a “CCW” or concealed carry weapons permit) you merely have to prove that you are a “proper person” and need a permit to provide “defense of one's self or the state of Indiana.” If you meet the requirements and follow the application procedures, you will soon be the proud owner of an unlimited license that is also recognized by many other states (Illinois and Wisconsin notably excluded).

Aside from taking about an hour of your time along with a couple of weeks while the application is being processed, getting a handgun permit in Indiana is simple with no training or tests required.

Though training isn't required, we firmly subscribe to the old theory that “owning a handgun doesn't make you a gunfighter any more than owning a piano makes you a musician.”

Please get some kind of training.

Once you have completed the necessary administrative paperwork, taken training and studied the applicable rules and regulations, now you are ready to carry a gun to defend yourself and Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, right?

Slow down there, Butch Cassidy.

Odds are that you will carry the gun a few times and then, after the excitement wears off, find that having a gun on your person is

actually quite a drag. You are constantly worried about dropping it or someone seeing it and calling the police or some other hassle.

That big chunk of steel can get really uncomfortable to wear over a long period of time and the odds are you aren't really going to need it today, anyway.

So, you put it in the sock drawer or center console of your vehicle and make plans to grab it if things suddenly go bad.

Aside from the likelihood that it will someday be stolen, your gun isn't serving the purpose you intended.

Unfortunately, we don't get to pick and choose when things suddenly go bad. Just because there hasn't been a murder in your neck of the woods in 25 years doesn't mean that today a guy down the street won't suddenly snap, a dangerous escaped convict won't try to break into your house, or one of the trillion other things won't happen to suddenly place you in the literal and figurative crosshairs.

Stop to consider that not a single person in the world has ever gotten up in the morning and thought: “Hmm. Let's see...today I will get the oil changed in the truck, run by the dry cleaners and then get murdered around 2 p.m. by some lunatic hitchhiker from Nevada who thinks Lady Gaga is controlling his thoughts.”

We never know what is going to happen or where; that's why we have to prepare for the worst and

hope for the best. In my book, the best means of preparing for a criminal assault is carrying a gun.

Carrying a gun isn't the only answer to all of life's problems, but when facing deadly threats, it's the best answer.

Apply for an Indiana Handgun License: • Determine if you meet the requirements as a “proper person” as defined in Indiana Code 35-47-2 • Find out where to apply. You must apply at your local law enforcement agency; for city dwellers it would be the local police department, while those living in unincorporated areas apply at their county Sheriff's Office.

• Be prepared to make a $50 application fee at the law enforcement agency at the time of application. Fill out the paperwork, get fingerprinted and pay the fee.

• Send the completed paperwork and the appropriate licensing fee (we suggest a lifetime license for $75) to the address on the application form • Wait 4 to 6 weeks. Keep in mind that you do not hold a handgun permit until the application is approved and you receive the permit in the mail.

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September, 2 0 11 Edition

Rules for Fishing Fall’s Pierhead Kings

DAVEMULL Few rules hold hard and true in fishing, other than this one: You can't catch fish where there aren't any. For a couple of weeks each fall, you can count on king salmon hanging near pierheads readying to head upstream, and you can definitely catch them.

This is not new news. Lots of anglers know about this hot fishing scene, and on any given morning in places such as Michigan City, Indiana and St. Joseph, Michigan, you'll see a flotilla that calls to mind Kevin Costner's movie bomb “Waterworld.” On a calm day, any boat will do and guys with jon boats, jet skis and bass boats get out amongst the Great Lakes regulars, trolling in quite a confined area. It can be mayhem, and more than one fight has ensued back at the launch ramp because of the close quarters.

Here's a list of guidelines to catch fish and avoid altercations with other anglers.

Bulk Up This is the last place you

want a king to make a long run on light line. These fish aren't feeding as spawning is in the forefront of their little brains and so they blast lures out of sheer reaction. Heavy line doesn't make a difference. We spool with 30pound test for downrigger lines and use wire-line Dipsies. For Torpedo weights, either wire or 50-pound braid gets the nod.

Short Line This is not to the place for long leadcore lines. The closer you keep your lures to the boat, the better off you are for avoiding contact with other boats and the lines trolled behind them. We like putting spoons and plugs 30 feet or so behind a Slide Diver or Torpedo (see slidedivers.com and torpedodivers.com for the scoop on these handy trolling tools) and fishing them as close to bottom as possible.

Be Ready to To w When you hook a fish, increase your speed a bit and get to more open water, out of the way of other trollers. That way you have a bigger playing field for the battle.

Go Wi t h t h e F l o w The best way to get other anglers really mad at you is to troll against the grain. At St. Joe, most times anglers troll in a counter-clockwise oval.

Wherever you're fishing, as you approach the pack, watch which

way most of the boats are going and join in on the pattern.

Get Out Early Many staging kings are caught well before dawn, so set up for night fishing with flashlights, spreader lights or whatever you need to be able see to rig, set your spread and land the fish.

Stay Late Many anglers don't realize they could catch kings all day if they stay. Most of the flotilla head offshore or back to the ramp by the time the sun gets very high above the horizon, so it's actually a relaxing time to keep trolling. Action usually isn't fast and furious, but you can pick away towards your limit.

Stay Calm Cooperation among boats here is key to everyone staying sane, so keep your eyes peeled for what other boats are doing and steer away from boats with hooked fish. This is combat fishing, but that doesn't mean you should take a warrior's mindset.

Accidents are inevitable; remember it's not what happens to you that counts, it's how you react to what happens to you. Resist the temptation to fire a flare across some idiot's bow.

Go Low Many anglers find their best success by fishing lures right tight to the bottom now.

Go Higher Some of our best catches have come later in the day running a Slide Diver or Torpedo set to run about half-way to the bottom, trailing a Silver Horde Aces High plug or the venerable JPlug. For whatever reason, when the boat traffic leaves, the kings sometimes come up.

Work the Edges When things get really crowded, the kings leave, but usually don't go far. While the rest of the pack stays in tight, try the perimeter, both a bit deeper and down the shoreline.

spread stays stealthy, which can encourage salmon to attack instead of spook out of the way of too much hardware.

This fall, keep an eye on the fishing reports and prepare for some trolling fun. With a calm approach, you can find the best king salmon fishing of the season.

Dave Mull is Editor of Great Lakes Angler Magazine. To subscribe, log on to GLAngler.com or call 800-214-5558. Use the code MCLUB10 for a special price.

Use Sharp Hooks You should always use sharp hooks, but now it's more imperative than ever. Staging kings develop extra bony mouths before spawning, and your hooks need to penetrate. I know one charter captain, notorious for pierhead success, who not only ties his own plug harnesses with top-line hooks, but who changes to a fresh harness after almost every catch.

Less is Often More Not only are lots of lines in the water asking for tangles when you need to make tight turns amongst other boats, sometimes too much stuff gets fewer bites from staging kings. Good pierhead anglers often fish with just four lines. They can maneuver their boat better, and the overall

Early bird gets the king: Trolling before daylight is productive at the pierheads when the kings start staging. Photo by author.

September , 2 0 11 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

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PRE-HUNTING SEASON EDITION! Atomize Your Attractor Scent with PrimeTime Pure Mister From Hunter’s Specilties Hunter's Specialties® new Primetime® Pure Estrus Mister dispenses scent as an airborne mist to attract deer to your stand.

The aerosol spray eliminates the spills and waste that can be associated with liquid scents, while providing a wider range of coverage.

The Primetime Pure Doe Estrus Mister comes with an aerosol can of Premium Doe Estrus scent. The battery operated, electronically timed mister can easily be adjusted to spray doe estrus scent at night, during the day, or both. Simply turn the dial to one of five frequency settings that are available for 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 minute intervals.

In the day setting the mister comes on at sunrise and goes off at sunset. This works well for early season hunting opportunities. The night setting works

great for pre-season scouting when set up near a trail camera.

For hunting during the rut use the 24-hour setting set at 5 minute intervals to get deer conditioned to visiting your stand during the daylight hours. It is best to hang it two days in advance and hunt the area on the third day.

PrimeTime Pure Premium Doe Estrus spray contains natural whitetail doe-in-heat urine collected during the peak 24-36 hour breeding period. When used in the Mister on the 24-hour/20 minute setting a can will typically last 14 days, or 1,000 sprays. The airborne scent will travel on even the slightest air currents to attract bucks to your stand location. Refill cans are also readily available.

The unit operates on AA batteries and comes in a padded case with a strap to hang it from a

branch or bow hanger. The Primetime Doe Estrus Mister sells for a suggested retail price of $23.99. Refills of the Premium Doe Estrus aerosol are $7.99.

For more information about other Hunter's Specialties products, log onto the Hunter's Specialties website at www.hunterspec.com.

Browning Introduces 1911-22 L.R. Autoloading Pistol Browning introduced it’s scaled down, 22LR version of the classic 1911 pistol designed by John M. Browning in celebration of the 100th anniversary of this great firearm. The new pistol is almost an exact replica of the original 1911 but 85% the size.

The smaller size makes it very light and easy to handle, especially for smaller shooters.

The frame and slide of the Browning 1911-22 are machined from aluminum alloy with a matte blued finish. The barrel has a stainless steel block and target crown. The new 1911-22 has a single action trigger and straight blow back action for enhanced simplicity and reliability. Other features include fixed sights, detachable 10-round magazine, manual thumb safety and grip safety. An A-1 and Compact model will be offered.

For more information on Browning’s new 1911-22 and other Browning products, visit www.browning.com.

Marlin XT Rifles - A Big Hit with Youth Shooters Marlin is excited to announce the new XT Youth series - the first Marlin rifles designed specifically for younger shooters.

Marlin spent extensive time researching young shooters form and how compact stocks impacted their sight picture and overall shooting form. Marlin knows that consistent shooting accuracy comes from proper shooting form.

The XT Youth rifles are designed with that in mind, featuring a shorter length of pull, shorter trigger reach, smaller pistol grip and a raised comb, making it easier for young shooters to acquire and hold the proper sight picture - ensuring that proper shooting form that will last a lifetime. In addition, the XT Youth has reduced bolt force making for easier ejection and faster chambering. The new XT Pro-Fire® trigger system is user adjustable from 3 pounds to 6 pounds providing the shooter a clean, crisp trigger pull with virtually zero creep. Pass on your love of shooting and hunting to the next generation, and give them the right start with this new line of rifles.

The new XT Series of bolt-action rimfire rifles are loaded with the latest and best technologies Marlin has to offer - continuing the legacy of “The Great American Rifle”. For more information and a complete listing of XT rifle models, please visit www.marlinfirearms.com/xt.

Frabill Shelter Lights Perfect for Your Marsh Rig, Kayak or Truck Bed As a technological gift to sportsmen, LED lighting ranks right up there with autoloading shotguns, Gore-Tex and modern camouflage patterns. Battery operated LED lighting is bright, affordable, portable and lasts for hundreds of hours.

Now, Frabill has taken LED lighting and done it right for sportsmen, with their innovative and adaptable Shelter Light and Shelter Light Bar. Originally engineered for brightening portable ice fishing shelters, savvy sportsmen have found homes for these mighty little lighting systems in their boats, truck beds and hunting blinds.

The single Shelter Light produces 70 lumens, while the Shelter Light Bar contains four light “pods” producing 18 lumens each. Both units are powered by two AA batteries.

Key to both lighting systems are their quick and adaptable mounting capabilities. “Right out of the box, they wrap snug to virtually any pole or pipe-like structure. They provide both bright ambient light for general illumination, as well as pinpoint, spotlight capabilities. The pods are multi-directional, letting the user control when and where lighting is needed.

The Frabill Shelter light retails for around $14, while the Shelter Light Bar costs about $29.

For more information or to check out Frabill’s complete line of innovative outdoor products, go to www.frabill.com.

World Class Fly Fishing with Josh Lantz Steelhead • Salmon • Largemouth • Smalmouth • Muskie Less than 3 hours from Indianapolis, 2 hours from Fort Wayne & Chicago, 30 minutes from South Bend. All equipment provided. Catch & release only, please. I have eleven years experience as a professional, licensed fishing guide to ensure you enjoy your day!

Griddle-Q Brings New Versatility to Outdoor Cooking The Griddle-Q is a heavy duty grill-top griddle that shatters all the conventional limits on cooking outside on your grill, allowing virtually anything to be cooked on any grill. Made of 12 gauge 430 stainless steel, the sturdy Griddle-Q fits easily and securely on an outdoor barbecue grill providing users with a whole new range of outdoor cooking possibilities.

Comes in 3 sizes, (12x16x4, 21x13.5x4, 23.5x16x4) there is a Griddle-Q to fit any grill, large enough to cook meals like a

breakfast of eggs, hashbrowns, bacon and pancakes, a lunch of philly cheesesteaks or a dinner of stir fry, all while leaving the remaining portion of your grill free to use to be cooking more things. Even bake cookies and pizza on your grill. Cleans up easily right on the grill, no need to wash in kitchen sink. Other features include high sidewalls to keep food on the griddle, a full grease trough to eliminate flareups and vented cross-bracing to prevent twisting and bending while providing for even heating.

Lifetime warranty. $169.99$209.99 (lightweight version also available for $69.99 and huge party size available for $449.99). Videos, where to buy and buy on line at littlegriddle.com or call (586) 268-2100.

• Affordable rates!

• Fall is trophy time!

• Now booking fall steelhead & salmon

WWW.GOFISHN.COM/JOSHLANTZ

219-728-8996

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September, 2 0 11 Edition

Slug Gun Gumbo

ty”.

The ingredients?

The Savage 220 slug gun, Lightfield Hybred Mag-20 slugs, and Hawke's Deer Pass scope. This deadly combination breathes new life into Indiana deer hunting.

ALANGARBERS As any Cajun chef knows there are three important ingredients that have to be in Creole cuisine, and especially in gumbo.

This combination of celery, onions, and bell peppers is known as the “holy trinity”.

Well, Wikipedia is going to have to be updated, because in my dictionary there's a new “holy trini-

The Gun When I moved to this state many years ago, I was loathe to give up my tack-driving 30-06 for a clunky shotgun that struggled to put all the rounds in a paper plate at 50 yards. With the rainbow arc of the slugs I was shooting, it felt more like lobbing off mortar rounds than precision hunting.

While custom, accurate slug guns have been around for years, few folks (myself included) could afford them.

That has now changed. Savage is now producing a bolt-action slug gun based on the proven 110 action used on their high-power rifles. Like on its rifle brethren, the action is pillar mounted with a free-floating 22” barrel, comes with a camo or black synthetic stock, a removable two-shot magazine, and the award winning Accutrigger®.

I picked up the Savage 220 with camo stock and fell in love from the start. The gun is truly a bolt-action, big bore rifle. It just happens to shoot slugs. A day at the range proved its worth with 3shot groups averaging just over .80 inches at 50 yards. With the crisp, light, adjustable

Accutrigger® the gun can approach M.O.A. grouping at 100 yards. With practice, the Savage 220 could be an accurate two-hundred yard deer rifle.

The Cartridge Knock down power in deer hunting cartridges is a source of constant discussion and few can argue with the abilities of a deer slug. But let's face the facts.

Most deer slugs fired from the average shotgun are two hundredforty years behind the times. A hunk of lead careening haphazardly down the smooth bore of today's shotgun is unchanged from the Brown Bess muskets used in the Revolutionary War. Thankfully we now have rifled barrels and sabot rounds available, but in some cases we still have to worry about the slug stabilizing in flight. The cause is that not every shotgun maker and slug manufacturer makes their bores, sabots, and slugs the same size. Some of the most expensive sabots still may not engage the rifling and the slug at the same time. This means the bullet can still rattle down the barrel and never achieve the proper spin for ultimate accuracy. That’s why even rifled slug gunners still often see “flyers”.

This situation has been rectified with Lightfield’s Hybred slugs. Each round starts with a heavy-duty plastic sabot, into which the lead slug is formed.

Due to slots in the sabot, the lead slug forms tiny keys, interlocking it with the sabot. The wad or piston fills the hollow slug base so as the propellant burns and expands, the force shoves the piston deeper into the lead slug, swelling it and forcing the sabot into the rifling. This causes the slug/sabot combination to achieve the perfect spin, every time, for superb accuracy. No other manufacturer has this, but a few are trying to find a way around Lightfield's patent to match their level of accuracy.

These aren't lightweight pistol bullets like others use. The Hybred Mag-20 I selected for the Savage 220 uses a 325 grain bullet! The 12-gauge Hybreds are even heavier at 546 grains.

Lightfield's weight, material, engineering and shape culminate in a bone-breaking, game-stopping missile that flies true every time and often drops game right in their tracks.

The Scope The last ingredient for my slug gun gumbo is the Hawke Deer PASS® scope. (The PASS stands for Point And Shoot System.) While you can use it for any game, this scope was specifically designed for white-tail slug gun hunters. The reticle has bullet drop compensation specifically for slug guns, but they took it a step further. Hawke engineered brackets into the reticle. It's as simple as this: If a deer is broadside, find the bracket that it fits in, and shoot. They call it “Bracket and Wack'it”. If the deer isn't perfectly broadside, don't worry. They have also added other “tells” to range a deer. The white area around the deer's eye can be sized to the circles in the reticle, or you can match the deer's head, from the tip of the nose to the ear using the bracket bar for ranging. (I still think it best to use a laser range finder on the longer shots.)

September , 2 0 11 Edition For those really wanting to be accurate, Hawke has free ballistics software for their scopes.

If you have a chronograph, you can chart the precise trajectory your slug will make.

If that wasn't easy enough already, for those first low-light moments of opening morning or the last few minutes before dark, they illuminated the reticle, and since they're over-achievers at Hawke, you can change the color of reticle from black to bright red to bright green. I find the green reticle to be the best for me.

Since I covered all the good things, I would be remiss if I didn't mention a few problems I encountered with the various components of my “holy trinity”. First, the spent hulls didn't

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® fly out of the slug gun chamber every time. I've had people tell me it's because I was shooting it off a bench and not pulling the bolt back like I should. Second, Lightfield was so proud of their powerful 20 gauge magnum rounds, they made the plastic hulls bright red. Traditionally red has been reserved for 12 gauge hulls and yellow for 20 gauge.

Personally I think yellow with red stripes would have been a better choice, and more eye-catching. Lastly, the battery for my illuminated scope reticle went dead when I forgot to turn it off between weekends. It wouldn't have been too much of an issue because the battery is used in countless gadgets like car-lock key fobs and other gizmos, but

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every store I went to was sold out at the moment.

In the Cajun trinity, cutting the onions makes me cry and celery gives me too much fiber, but I accept those little issues because it's still the best thing going.

The same holds true for my new deer hunting trinity combo, in fact as you're reading this, I will be in Canada bear hunting with it.

My old pumpgun? Well, it isn't for sale just yet, but it is going to be spending a lot more time in the gun safe.

For more information go to w w w. s a v a g e a r m s . c o m , www.lightfieldslugs.com, and www.eabco.com/hawke_deer_pas s.html.

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September, 2 0 11 Edition

Which Broadhead is Right for You?

BABEWINKELMAN When I first started bowhunting, it seemed like everyone had the same razorsharp tip at the ends of their arrows.

Remember those? They were those olive green Fred Bear beauties fashioned after the classic design of hand-made flint broadheads from yesteryear. Some were two-blade models, and some had that miniature "bleeder blade" insert that made them four-blade tips.

I wonder how many big game animals fell to those Bear Razorheads? I'm pretty sure they still make them, but they've evolved quite a bit since then.

It's staggering to think about how much the archery industry has evolved since the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s and into today's millennium. I remember when the compound bow came out. Holy smokes that was a big four-wheeled contraption that weighed as much as a canoe and was finicky at best. Sure, the draw weight letoff was pretty novel, but it came at a price of problematic tuning and sheer bulk.

Now look at our modern single-cam bows. Coming in at 3.25 pounds and lighter, they're a joy to hunt with all day long. But there are no sacrifices with these bows! My Mathews boggles my mind with

its speed and accuracy every time I touch off the release. Modern bows are amazing.

And so are modern arrows, releases, rangefinders, bowsights, and of course broadheads. Advanced engineering, aerodynamic testing, ballistic gel testing and all kinds of computer and laboratory studies have put equipment into the hands of bowhunters that would have blown my mind when I was first starting out. I don't know how old each reader is who reads this, but if you're from my vintage then I know you can attest.

For the sake of argument let's say you have a modern two-cam or dual-cam bow sitting safely in its protective case. You have one or two dozen frequency-matched carbon fiber arrows too - fletched to perfection. Your bowsight and respective peep are positioned precisely for you, your bow and your shooting style preferences.

So what do you screw on the ends of those arrows? The choices today are fixed blade and mechanical broadheads. Within the fixed category, you have cut-on-impact blade style heads (like the Bear Razorhead) and broadheads with more of a chiseltipped point in front of the blades.

Bowhunters will argue for hours about which is better. Both have their advantages. A lot of archers agree that the chisel tip is better for plowing its way through bone on shoulder and rib hits. But the cuton-impact blade guys will say that their instant slicing action will deliver better penetration and sufficient bone-crushing performance.

If you're a fixed-blade purist, then only you can make the decision about which camp you're in. But the drawback to both styles of fixed broadheads is their flight characteristics. Whether it's a 2, 3

or 4-blade fixed broadhead, each of those blades is like a wing on an airplane. If your arrows aren't perfectly built and balanced; and if your bow isn't perfectly paper tuned; and if you're taking mid- to long-range shots in any kind of windy condition; then those wings will grab air and steer themselves off your intended target line. It's up to each bowhunter to determine whether that's a drawback they can live with.

To eliminate those flight issues, companies began making mechanical broadheads that fly like field tips because they don't have those wings hanging out there.

I think everyone agrees that they do fly more accurately. Aerodynamics proves it.

The problem with almost all mechanicals is that the blades deploy with a scissor action from the front of the broadhead.

They have to literally fold backwards, and this really robs the arrow of energy and penetrative power. Plus, unless those scissor blades are folding in unison, it makes the arrow skew off line as it penetrates which really kills the kinetic energ y.

The other type of mechanical is the Rage broadhead which has blades that deploy from the rear. They almost come shooting out like switchblade blades and are swept back at the ideal cutting angle the whole time they deploy. They don't have to fold backwards. The result is field tip performance in flight, better penetration even than fixed blades in ballistic gel, and gigantic entry holes. Why is that important?

Because not every arrow is a passthrough. Sometimes you only get the entry hole. And you want that sucker to be as big as it can possibly be for better blood trails and quick, humane kills.

My advice to anyone considering

which broadhead to use is this: Visit your archery pro shop and ask to shoot a bunch of different broadheads. Shoot them inside and out, in calm conditions and in the wind. Whichever head flies best with your equipment, then that's your broadhead.

Because accuracy is absolutely job #1. If you find that a few different heads all give you good flight characteristics, then pick the one that slices the biggest hole in that buck's chest cavity. It's as simple as that.

Equipment has changed a lot over the years, and it will continue to evolve. The good news is that with every innovation, we become more efficient bowhunters!

Babe Winkelman is a nationally-known outdoorsman who has taught people to fish and hunt for more than 25 years.

Watch the award-winning "Good Fishing" and "Outdoor Secrets" television shows on Versus, Fox Sports Net, WILD TV, WFN and many local networks. Vi s i t www.winkelman.com for air times where you live.

September , 2 0 11 Edition

DRIVABLE DESTINATIONS We all know what being twofaced means. Sometimes a twofaced person is on one side of the fence and when it’s more opportune to be across the fence, that’s where he goes. Usually it’s a derogatory term.

I’ve recently learned walleye are five-faced–but not in a bad way.

The first time I ever heard of a walleye was when I was sitting in the backseat of my grandpa’s car heading for a northern Wisconsin lake. Grandma said we’d get there, hop in a boat and go catch a walleye for dinner. At age 7 or 8 I was an accomplished sunfish and bullhead angler and I knew about bass and pike. But a walleye? For a while, I thought she was, uh, bullheading me, but later that day I was introduced to Mister Walleye.

From then on, I knew walleye were creatures of northwoods lakes, surrounded by pines and

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

Five-Faced Walleye spruce, filled with crystal clear water. Face one.

About 25 years ago rumors started drifting around the fishing circles I was in and in fishing magazines I read that walleyes were abundant in Lake Erie.

Once Erie’s commercial fishing fleet was curtailed and water quality measures improved the walleyes took over. Eventually, I went and learned the rumors were true. Lake Erie was a far cry from the wooded shores and sparkling waters of the north. Face two.

One commonality, however, was they were both lakes. Few species of fish are as happy in streams as in lakes. Not walleye! Nowadays, the St. Joseph River, Mississippi, even the Kankakee here in Indiana are walleye waters. Face 3.

Face 4 is the walleyes which are stocked in large reservoirs here in Indiana, and other points south. These impoundments are a

Winnebago is a great perch lake.

Tasty fighters like this one will supplement your walleye limit nicely.

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By Mike Schoonveld

far cry from any of the above types of waters. But the walleye stocked in them thrive, grow large and are largely overlooked.

I learned of the fifth face of walleyes recently on a “quick” trip to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on the shores of Wisconsin’s largest lake, Lake Winnebago. Back to face one? Hardly. There are as many corn fields on Winnebago’s shore as pine trees–as well as thriving cities (Appleton, Neenah, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac) along with numerous quaint towns.

After checking in at Fond du Lac’s Ramada Plaza hotel, I took a short ride to the west side of the lake and met up with my fishing partner for the afternoon, Jim Hughes.

Hughes is a walleye tournament pro as well as a licensed guide. We launched into the Fox River which flows into Lake Winnebago and motored downstream to the lake. After the Fox flows through 3 large, shallow lakes upstream, the mid-summer look of it is closer to pea soup than crystal clear. And the temperature gauge showed 86 degrees–water temperature, not air.

Out in the lake, conditions weren’t much different. We stopped on a flat where the water was 7 or 8 feet deep. Hughes handed me a light rod with a tiny crankbait. “Cast anywhere,” he said. “There are scattered rocks and weeds and the fish could be anywhere.”

“Right,” I thought. “Give me a doughball and let’s see if the

Guide Jim Hughes with a typical Winnebago Walleye

carp are biting. Few other fish could survive in this place.”

I cast, he cast, then we did it over and again for several minutes until Hughes’ rod bent down.

“I didn’t know carp would hit a crankbait,” I thought. But I was wrong. Not about the crankbait; rather, the carp. It wasn’t a carp, it was a walleye. A nice “eater” sized walleye around 16-inches.

Then it was my turn and then Hughes and in a couple hours on a hot August afternoon, we had all we needed for a walleye dinner and released a several more. Face Five.

The next morning we hit the water earlier, closer to Fond du

Lac, and headed for Long Reef which juts up to 3 or 4 feet deep from the surrounding 10 foot depths. Still, hardly your typical walleye area. The crankbaits worked their magic once again and in a couple hours we caught and released a couple dozen walleyes – along with some white bass and a few dandy yellow perch.

Who knew? Fond du Lac is a short, half-day drive from Northwest Indiana.

Lake Winnebago is big with plenty of fishing room, there are plenty of accommodations, great restaurants and the lake is filled with five-faced walleye.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

PIKE FISHING Bait mangling marauders. Lure pilfering predators. Slimy line-shearing snakes.

Sad but true, the northern pike often gets no justice. But it's only anglers that have deprived themselves of targeting trophy-size fish during the summer months that take up this preposterous position.

While many anglers cast shoreward only and curse the hammer-handles for tearing up their terminal tackle, ardent Esox anglers probe the depths for giants, even though the time gaps between bites can sometimes be long.

Northerns in depth Like any brute fish, northern pike prefer to spend a summer's day in cool water.

During the months when beads of sweat build on an angler's brow, big bruisers often chill with bellies to the bottom.

Here they sulk amongst structure in the dimly lit depths until prey swims by, and within a blink of an eye they dart out from the dark alleyways and sabotage the unsuspected. It's over before it started.

But gargantuan pike don't linger just anywhere in the heat of summer. And contrary to popular belief, they don't eat just anything. They have a fondness for a particular type of forage, and those select baitfish prefer specific types of structure.

“Northern pike aren't always the veracious eaters people think they are,” said Todd Kalish, fisheries biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “They prefer to eat softrayed fish. That's fish without spikes, like suckers, herring, shiners and shad, versus prickly walleyes, panfish or bass.”

According to data collected by the Wisconsin DNR, Kalish added, muskie and pike will feed on fish with poky pectorals if they have to, but these fish make up less than 5 percent of their diet.

Search and ye shall find Unlike walleyes and bass, big pike are loners. This is not to say there won't be several slinking on a key piece of structure, but they don't hunt in packs. More often than not, you won't mark even a pod of sows on your sonar. Lower the camera of a MarCum underwater viewing system in clear water, however, and you may spy one in the distance. And if you're lucky, curiosity will overwhelm the fish and you'll be looking camera-eye to fish-eye through the screen. Inquisitiveness is a trait pike are born with.

The key to locating deepwater pike finding their preferred forage. Schooling baitfish like herring, shad, and shiners appear on sonar as clearly as clouds over structure. You'll see suckers and shiners, too, but often they're hugging bottom, especially during daylight hours, and an underwater camera's the best way to confirm what species you're messing with.

This is where the clarity and sharpness of a MarCum color underwater viewing system shines through. With a “Solar Intelligent Display” screen, it's easy to decipher the smallest details, even on a bright days.

Soft-rayed baitfish will utilize just about any kind of structure, be it weeds, wood or rock. It's all good. Structure on structure is better; that's the aforementioned in conjunction with points, humps, and saddles between islands or neck down areas between main-lake basins. Watch the wind; concentrate on structure that's getting whacked with waves as the current has

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Search Deep Structure for Late Summer Pike its way with baitfishh. Scurrying forage gets predators excited and snapping.

As for how deep to search for baitfish, that depends on the waterway. In the pothole, tannic-stained waters of the north (classified as mesotrophic, semi-clear middle-aged lakes with some silt), 20 to 30 feet may be plenty. In lakes where this the maximum depth range, you might have to look shallower as there could be oxygen depletion in the dark depths during the heat of summer. In the ultra-deep waters of the Great Lakes or oligotrophic inland lakes (young, deep, clear, cold), you can start your search for baitfish at the aforementioned depth and then go deeper from there.

Another trend recently popularized by Frabill Pro Staff and Freshwater Fishing Hall of Famer Tom Neustrom is focusing on deep thermoclines on natural lakes.

Here, above the oxygen-free-zone, baitfish gather over the fathoms and giant pike - as well as wide shouldered walleyes will follow like contracted assassins, rubbing out a fish or two as appetites dictate.

Tempting tro p h i e s Two methods come to mind for targeting trophy pike in deep water: Jigging and live bait rigging. The former will trip the trigger of pike actively feeding, while a minnow or sucker on a live bait rig often flips pike in wearier moods. In waters where you can fish two or more lines, these time-tested- tactics can be used simultaneously.

Vertical jigging with 3/4-ounce or larger metal spoon is a proven technique, as is casting and jigging a 1/2-ounce or heavier bucktail or curly-tail grub - either at least 4 to 5 inches in length. Lift a vertical spoon quickly, and then let it flutter down to the bottom. Strikes usually occur on the drop. When casting a spoon, lift the rod tip to swim the bait, and then drop it while reeling in slack, allowing the lure to pendulum towards bottom. Again, pike will normally strike as the sacrifice falls.

Tie on a nickel-titanium leader to keep bite-offs at bay. The techy alloy not only curbs tooth nicks and broken line, but also offers some stretch and acts like a shocks absorber. A 1-foot section of 25-poundtest Knot-2-Kinky is limber enough to promote lure action, yet strong enough to subdue huge pike.

Attach the leader to a 15- to 20-poundtest superline, such as Sufix 832, which has minimal stretch and a tight line diameter for slicing deepwater. Make the connection with a robust swivel. Made from a fluorocarbon-based material, the ultraclear, ultra-durable InvisaSwivel virtually disappears in the water. And self-lubricating when wet, it will keep your line twist free. The same swivel in the new Nuclear Chartreuse or Bloody Red colors are actually designed to attract additional attention to our bait, not vanish beneath the surface.

Even though livebait might 'sucker' the more lethargic pike, avoid lifeless minnows. Shiners and suckers should be kept in well-aerated water, like that produced by a Frabill Min-02-Life Personal Bait station or Min-02-Life Aerated Magnum Bucket. Properly chilled and oxygenated, a minnow lives longer above the surface and struggles more on the hook once dipped.

Minnows, like suckers or chubs, should be just nipped through the lips to minimize injury and maximize mobility. A 3-foot leader of 30-pound-test fluorocarbon, tied to the brightly-colored InvisaSwivel, which is holding back a 3/8- to 1/2-ounce slip-sinker is all that's needed to create a live bait rig for fooling pike.

Don't be one of those anglers casting shoreward, cursing the hammer-handles tearing up terminal tackle; instead be that ardent Esox angler probing the depths for giants. Find the baitfish utilizing structure on structure, hit the wavy side, and jig and deploy a lively minnow or sucker. While it's true big pike don't come easy, one torpedo strike will validate the time you invested.

Larger metal spoons are proven big pike hardware. A 1/2-ounce or heavier

By Mitch Eagan

bucktail or curly-tail grub - either at least 4 to 5 inches in length also works for jigging. Lift a vertical spoon quickly, and then let it flutter down to the bottom.

Strikes usually occur on the drop. When casting a spoon, lift the rod tip to swim the bait, and then drop it while reeling in slack, allowing the lure to pendulum towards bottom. Again, pike will normally strike as the sacrifice falls.

Tie on a nickel-titanium leader to keep bite-offs at bay. The techy alloy not only curbs tooth nicks and broken line, but also offers some stretch and acts like a shocks absorber. A 1-foot section of 25-poundtest Knot-2-Kinky is limber enough to promote lure action, yet strong enough to subdue huge pike.

Attach the leader to a 15- to 20-poundtest superline, such as Sufix 832, which has minimal stretch and a tight line diameter for slicing deepwater. Make the connection with a robust swivel. Made from a fluorocarbon-based material, the ultraclear, ultra-durable InvisaSwivel virtually disappears in the water. And self-lubricating when wet, it will keep your line twist free. The same swivel in the new Nuclear Chartreuse or Bloody Red colors are actually designed to attract additional attention

www.zolmantire.com

to our bait, not vanish beneath the surface.

Even though livebait might 'sucker' the more lethargic pike, avoid lifeless minnows. Shiners and suckers should be kept in well-aerated water, like that produced by a Frabill Min-02-Life Personal Bait station or Min-02-Life Aerated Magnum Bucket. Properly chilled and oxygenated, a minnow lives longer above the surface and struggles more on the hook once dipped.

Minnows, like suckers or chubs, should be just nipped through the lips to minimize injury and maximize mobility. A 3-foot leader of 30-pound-test fluorocarbon, tied to the brightly-colored InvisaSwivel, which is holding back a 3/8- to 1/2-ounce slip-sinker is all that's needed to create a live bait rig for fooling pike.

Don't be one of those anglers casting shoreward, cursing the hammer-handles tearing up terminal tackle; instead be that ardent Esox angler probing the depths for giants. Find the baitfish utilizing structure on structure, hit the wavy side, and jig and deploy a lively minnow or sucker. While it's true big pike don't come easy, one torpedo strike will validate the time you invested.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

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THIS MONTH’S WINNER!

Brian Federer took this 16 pointer in Pulaski County last archery season. Great buck!

Whitney Briggs of Germantown, WI caught some nice bass while fishing with her uncle in LaPorte County, IN.

Tim Torrance of Middlebury took this big, Elkhart County tom with his 12 ga. black powder double barrel shotgun last April.

The 26-lb. bird had 25mm spurs and a 10-1/2" beard.

Steve Branson took this buck on Oct 29, 2010 with a Ross bow and Muzzy broadhead in Starke County.

This months answers From Puzzle on Page 17

Eric Fier and his friend Ben Norem found this set of 14 point sheds last February in Starke County.

They’ll be looking for this buck when archery season opens on October 1. Go get him, boys!

Jim Patton of Chesterton with a great Northwest Indiana largemouth caught on a Hula Popper.

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.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

OPTICS As the largest crossbow optics manufacturer in the world, Hawke Sport Optics has provided specific attention and innovation to crossbow shooters around the world. From the beginning, the approach to designing crossbow scopes was a mission, not to make a rifle scope that would work on a crossbow, but rather create from the ground up a scope tailored to the specific needs of crossbows and their shooters.

Since the introduction of Hawke crossbow optics to the US market in 2007, it is more than fair to say that they have taken the industry by storm with their unique mixture of innovation, durability, and delivering the greatest combination of features and benefits at their price.

Many of the features and benefits of the Hawke crossbow scopes are shared across all the crossbow families. All Hawke crossbow scopes feature fully multicoated lenses to ensure maximum brightness and edge to edge clarity in all hunting light situations. The scopes are all crossbow manufacturer rated, so no matter what you shoot, or what scope you choose, you can be sure that it has been built to withstand the rigors of crossbow usage. Hawke crossbow scopes also use _” MOA turrets for maximum adjustability regardless of the distances for which you choose to setup your crossbow (except red dot scopes which use a 1” at 100 yards turret). All Hawke scopes are waterproof, shockproof, and fog proof and are fully covered by the Hawke Worldwide Warranty, providing assurance that if for the life of your scope any manufacturer defect is found your scope will be repaired or replaced at no cost to you, except shipping (red dot scope warranty limited to 1 year).

Perhaps the greatest benefit available for use across the Hawke Crossbow family is the BRC (Ballistic Reticle Calculator) Software. This FREE program, available

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September, 2 0 11 Edition

Hawke Sport Optics Brings New Focus to Crossbow Optics for download on the Hawke website www.hawkeoptics.com, allows the user to input real data from their crossbow and create a blueprint of their setup. True ballistic information has never been easier to use, and it is free simply by downloading the program.

The anchor of the crossbow offerings from Hawke has to be the basic Crossbow MAP scope. Designed around a 1” mono tube chassis to provide maximum structural support, the MAP scope offers 3x magnification with a 32mm objective lens.

That objective/magnification combination provides the user a massive 10.6mm exit pupil, delivering staggering light transmission at dawn and dusk, when it matters the most. The real magic of the Hawke Crossbow scopes though is in the reticle. No other reticle on the market is more specifically designed to be used by crossbow shooters. With multiple aim points, and built in ranging brackets you can achieve unparalleled accuracy.

Available in matte black or Realtree APG the Crossbow MAP from Hawke is a simple, no-nonsense scope that would be perfectly at home on any crossbow.

Using the same chassis design as the MAP is the Crossbow SR. With only slight changes in the design of the aim points, the SR scope delivers all the same benefits as the MAP, but with a glass etched, dual color (red/green) illumination reticle. For the hunter looking to add illumination to his crossbow scope, this is the product for you.

But without a doubt, the top of the line in the Hawke Crossbow family is the XB30. Generally considered to be the single best crossbow scope on the market, the XB30 offers the user an industry leading mix of features that will set this scope apart from all others. Using a 30mm mono tube body to increase chassis strength and transfer more light than standard 1”

designs, the XB30 will deliver a lifetime of trouble free service. Using a slightly modified glass etched SR reticle you are provided aim points from 20 to 60 yards on even 10 yard increments regardless of the speed of your bow. How can this be you may ask.

The answer is simple. The XB30 uses a speed selector ring to get you started while sighting in your crossbow. Simply turn the speed selector ring to the chronograph verified speed from your crossbow and sight your bow in at 20 yards. Once the crossbow has been sighted in, move back to 30 yards and check the 30 yard aim point. Variances in your arrow weight may cause your 30 yard aim point to not quite be correct, but by simply adjusting the speed dial up or down just a few feet per second, you can sight your crossbow in at 30 yards in just seconds. From there, your other aim points should fall right into place, though you should always verify the accuracy based on your specific crossbow

setup. Don't worry if your crossbow is shooting arrows above the 360 fps mark on the XB30 speed selector, just sight your crossbow in at 30 yards instead of 20, and use the same procedure described above, you'll be punching x's in no time.

In addition to these products, look for two new exciting offerings for crossbows this fall from Hawke. A 1x32 illuminated MAP scope, as well as a 1.5-5x32 available for bows shooting up to 425 fps with your choice of MAP or SR reticles. These scopes will offer all the basic features of the other Hawke crossbow scopes and will be available later this fall.

For more information on these or any other Hawke products, visit our website www.hawkeoptics.com, or call our toll free number 877-429-5347. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about Hawke or our products. You can also find a video detailing our Crossbow scopes at www.youtube.com/hawkeoptics.

Crossbow MAP

Crossbow SR

XB30 Crossbow Scope

Crossbow Speed Dot

September , 2 0 11 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

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Page 1 7

A Marketplace for the Outdoor Enthusiast!

World Class Fly Fishing with Josh Lantz Crossword Answers on page 15!

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GET RESULTS! Place your ad in the ION Outdoor Directory.

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

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

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

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September, 2 0 11 Edition

Feds ID Convenient New Wolf Species

The Last Thought MIKESCHOONVELD Not long ago there were no wild wolves in the lower 48 United States (other than a band on Isle Royale in the middle of Lake Superior. ) There were plenty of them in Alaska and Canada. So the U.S. Fish and Wildlife added them to their list of Endangered Species.

Not that wolves were really endangered. The populations in both Canada and Alaska were well-managed and thriving.

But follow the money, folks. When a species becomes endangered, it becomes valuable. Not in a sell them on the open market (or black market) sense. They become valuable because the USFWS gets a truckload of dollars delivered to its budget for each endangered species it lists.

And the higher up the food chain the animal happens to be, the bigger the load of tax dollars. And wolves are at the top of most food chains.

To the dismay of the USFWS, wolf populations grew so large in Canada that Canadian wolves migrated south into Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana and other northern states. The USFWS plan was to stock wolves in Yellowstone Park and then park the money

truck out there while they monitored the transplants for a few decades. Suddenly, faced with an invasion of wolves along our northern border, their plans went awry and wolf biologists had a hard time keeping up with the new reports of wolf packs. Then they realized with reports of wolves flourishing across our northern states, they were faced with the prospect that wolves in the lower 48 weren’t endangered. Could it be wolves would be kicked off the list and the truckload of tax dollars delivered to the federal bureaucrats would shut down?

One might conclude (from a wolf’s point of view) this would be a good thing.

One might conclude from a wildlife agency in a state with a growing wolf population this would be a good thing. And it is! But only if the USFWS de-lists them from the Endangered Species List and lets them become the responsibility of the states in which they live.

In the meantime, wolves are proliferating. And wolves eat meat. They eat deer, elk, bison, beavers, cows, sheep and most any other kind of meat they can catch and there’s few kinds of meat walking around in wolf country they can’t catch. A few dozen wolves cause few problems. A few hundred are tolerable. We are now talking about thousands of wolves eating thousands of deer, elk, cows, beaver and other animals. People are noticing where there are wolves, other wildlife is disappearing. Ranchers who live around wolves are aware of their cows and sheep disappearing.

The USFWS. has been repeatedly pressured to de-list their wolves. But de-listing, thumbs up or down, is never more than a friendly judge away. They look at

state management plans, propose de-listing, get sued, demand more management plans, go back to court, get more money, spend more money and so it has gone for the last decade or more.

Recently, the USFWS. announced another proposal to remove wolves in the Western Great Lakes region from protection under the Endangered Species Act. In its announcement, the Service points out that “wolf populations have met recovery goals and no longer need the protection of the Endangered Species Act.” Additionally, the Service noted that wolf management plans in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin were adequate

to manage wolf populations if removed from ESA protection.

Common sense prevails, right?

Maybe. The Service’s announcement did not come without concerns. In the same news release the feds announced it has discovered a “new” species of wolves, they call “eastern wolves.” The eastern wolves (and the regular ol’ wolves) were both covered by the original ESA listing, but now they are confident there were actually two kinds all along. Who knew? The USFWS is moving forward to review their status. Want to bet, this causes delays?

Want to bet the feds will need a new truck load of money?

East or west, wolves are the top predator wherever they range. Idaho Game and Fish Commission Photo.

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