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Indiana’s Choice for Outdoor News & Information • Since 1994
DECEMBER-JANUARY OUTDOOR CALENDARS - PAGE 3
VOL. 2015 • No. 10
INSIDE:
HUNTING PAGE 6
2016-17 HUNTING SEASONS PAGE 8
GADGETS & GEAR PAGE 10
FISHING PAGE 12
GONE AFIELD PAGE 15
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NRC APPROVES NEW NATURE PRESERVE, ADDS TO ANOTHER
The Indiana Natural Resources Commission approved the 270th state-dedicated nature preserve and a significant addition to an existing preserve. The new sites are the Wapi-nipi Nature Preserve in Wayne County and the Moraine Addition Nature Preserve in Porter County. Wapi-nipi is a 114-acre property approximately 5 miles southwest of Richmond and within the Bicentennial Conservation Area announced by Gov. Mike Pence in 2014. It consists of a tall, westfacing bluff overlooking Whitewater River with the uplands dominated by high quality mixed deciduous for-
est. The tract is owned and managed by Whitewater Valley Land Trust and was purchased with funding assistance from the Indiana Heritage Trust, and the Bicentennial Nature Trust. Wapi-nipi is the Miami Indians word for Whitewater. The Moraine site is 406 acres addition to the existing Moraine Nature Preserve, a 474-acre property owned by the DNR Division of Nature Preserves. The addition protects an area of rolling ridges, steep hills, muck pockets, pot holes, shallow ponds, fens and a tributary of Coffee Creek. It includes a combination of natural communities, including a mature beechmaple forest and a rare sedge
Indiana Department of Natural Resources director Cam Clark today released the results of two independent reviews that support the methods by which Indiana state forests are being managed. Findings from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) reaffirm the DNR Division of Forestry’s longstanding practice of sustainably managed state forests. Both reports are available at dnr.IN.gov/forestry/7532.h tm. DNR Forestry has met or exceeded SFI and FSC certification standards for nine straight years. “Without question, our 158,000 acres of state forests were judged ‘well managed,’ and this certification should be viewed similarly by all Hoosiers as a job well done,” Clark said. “I commend the Division of Forestry for its hard work in meeting all the requirements of both forest management standards.” SFI establishes North American standards for sustainable forestry practices, and FSC does the same for international standards. SFI and FSC certification ensures wood products
from state forests are grown in a sustainable and wellmanaged manner. Two auditors representing SFI and FSC spent three days reviewing office plans and supporting documents, and also toured forest sites to evaluate forest management practices. Their review focused on Clark and Harrison-Crawford state forests. Forest management activities were scored for conformance to standards that include wildlife management, forest management prescriptions, archaeological site protection, endangered species protection, and water quality. In renewing Indiana’s certification, the FSC auditor stated that DNR Forestry “has demonstrated continued overall conformance to the applicable Forest Stewardship Council standards” and cited other strengths:
DECEMBER 2015-JANUARY 2016
meadow. In other actions, Commission:
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• Preliminarily adopted a rule amendment governing use of motorized carts on DNR property. The amendment responds to a citizen petition and would allow a person with a mobility disability to use a motorized cart in a DNR campground. The proposal conforms to Americans With Disabilities Act standards and is subject to a public comment period before returning to the Commission for final approval. • Approved new admission fees for the museum at Falls of the Ohio State Park, setting the adult price to $9, and
child or school group student admission to $7. Children under 5 are still admitted free. The new fees are comparable to other local and regional attractions. Falls of the Ohio is the only DNR state park without a gate entrance fee. The new fees take effect Jan. 1. • Readopted a rule (Indiana Administrative Code 312 IAC 6) for navigable waterways that governs activity relative to a license, activity where a license is required, and other statutes administered by the DNR. • Adopted a report to Morgan Circuit Court regarding a petition to establish the Upper Wildwood Shores Conservancy District.
Habitat Conservation Plan to protect bat habitat) but provides support for regular work activities. The audit also notes, “The Indiana Division of Forestry has dedicated considerable resources to developing state-of-the-art bat conservation practices.” • Employment of a fulltime archeologist, who has developed an “exceptional” program for identifying and managing culturally important sites. • An “exceptional” program to retain stand-level wildlife habitat elements in accordance with scientific information. • “Excellent” recreational opportunities for the public,
including walking and horse trails, camping, and access to lakes and ponds. • Annual State Forest open houses and a comprehensive website that contribute to public involvement in public land management and planning. • A mentoring program for newly hired DNR Forestry employees, including frequent oversight by central office experts. • Significant improvements to haul roads for handling wet-weather traffic and larger logging trucks. • Restoration and maintenance of state forest offices, shops and recreational facilities, many that have historical significance.
the
STATE FOREST MANAGEMENT RECEIEVES HIGH MARKS AGAIN
• A “strong” best management practice monitoring program, with post-harvest BMP reviews conducted by DNR Forestry resource foresters and by a comprehensive second-party process. • Employment of a fulltime wildlife biologist, whose time is focused on special situations (e.g., the
COMPLIMENTS OF:
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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015-2016©
December 2015-January 2016
DecJan2015-16.qxp_OctNov15 1/15/16 11:31 AM Page 3
December 2015-January 2016
INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015-2016©
Indiana Outdoor Calendar December 2015 thru January 2016
December 4-5: Springmill State Park hosts Holiday in the Village December 5: Women in the Outdoors Pheasant Hunt, Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area December 12: Mounds State Park hosts Christmas at the Bronnenberg Home December 13: Geminids Meteor Shower Viewing at Paynetown State Recreation Area December 20: Yule Log Celebration at Paynetown State Recreation Area December 22: Winter Solstice Wander Hike at Mounds State Park December 27 and 30: Rabbit Hunt at Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area January 1: First Day Hikes at Indiana State Parks January 2: Rabbit Hunt at Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area January 9: Squirrel Hunt at Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area January 16: Dunes Geocache Adventure at Indiana Dunes State Park Youth Squirrel Hunt at Sugar Ridge Fish & Wildlife Area Spring Mill State Park hosts Photography Hike
January 29-31: Eagles in Flight Weekend at Turkey Run State Park
• For more details on the events listed above, visit www.in.gov A variety of Hunter Education courses are offered around the state this month. For details, visit www.in.gov/dnr/lawenfor/4812.htm.
• Check http://www.ducks.org/indiana/events/ for a complete list of Ducks Unlimited events throughout Indiana this month.
• Check http://www.nwtf.org/indiana/hh_banquets.html for a complete list of National Wild Turkey Federation banquets in Indiana this month.
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D E C E M B E R 01 Tue 02 Wed 03 Thu 04 Fri 05 Sat 06 Sun 07 Mon 08 Tue 09 Wed 10 Thu 11 Fri 12 Sat 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed 17 Thu 18 Fri 19 Sat 20 Sun 21 Mon 22 Tue 23 Wed 24 Thu 25 Fri 26 Sat 27 Sun 28 Mon 29 Tue 30 Wed 31 Thu
A.M. Minor 10:53 11:23 11:43p 11:43p 12:42 1:41 2:40 3:40 4:40 5:39 6:36 7:30 8:19 9:04 9:43 10:19 10:52 11:51p 11:51p 1:03 2:15 3:27 4:36 5:41 6:40 7:31 8:14 8:51 9:24 9:53 10:20
A.M Major 3:22 4:08 4:52 5:34 6:16 6:59 7:42 8:28 9:15 10:32p 11:24p 12:17 1:40 2:03 2:55 3:47 4:39 5:30 6:22 7:16 8:11 9:08 10:05 10:31p 10:32p 11:27p 12:21 1:12 2:00 2:45 3:29
P. M. Minor 9:43 10:44 11:51a 12:17 12:43 1:09 1:38 2:09 2:45 3:26 4:13 5:07 6:06 7:11 8:18 9:28 10:39p 11:24a 11:56a 12:29 1:05 1:46 2:32 3:23 4:21 5:21 6:24 7:27 8:29 9:30 10:29
01 Fri 02 Sat 03 Sun 04 Mon 05 Tue 06 Wed 07 Thu 08 Fri 09 Sat 10 Sun 11 Mon 12 Tue 13 Wed 14 Thu 15 Fri 16 Sat 17 Sun 18 Mon 19 Tue 20 Wed 21 Thu 22 Fri 23 Sat 24 Sun 25 Mon 26 Tue 27 Wed 28 Thu 29 Fri 30 Sat 31 Sun
A.M. Minor 11:28p 11:28p 12:27 1:26 2:26 3:25 4:24 5:20 6:12 7:00 7:43 8:21 8:56 9:28 10:00 12:05 12:05 1:16 2:24 3:29 4:29 5:22 6:08 6:48 7:23 7:54 8:22 8:49 9:15 11:13p 11:13p
A.M Major 4:12 4:54 5:37 6:21 7:07 7:55 8:45 9:38 11:01p 11:56p 12:50 1:43 2:36 3:28 4:20 5:12 6:06 7:00 7:55 8:51 9:45 10:38 11:02p 11:02p 11:51p 12:38 1:23 2:06 2:49 3:32 4:15
P. M. Minor 10:46a 11:12a 11:39a 12:09 12:42 1:20 2:04 2:56 3:54 4:58 6:06 7:17 8:29 9:41 10:53 10:33a 11:07a 11:45a 12:28 1:15 2:09 3:07 4:08 5:11 6:13 7:15 8:16 9:15 10:14 9:41a 10:10a
J
A
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P.M. Major 3:47 4:32 5:15 5:57 6:40 7:23 8:07 8:53 9:41 10:04a 10:55a 11:48a 12:41 1:35 2:27 3:19 4:11 5:02 5:54 6:47 7:41 8:37 9:34 10:34 11:02a 11:56a 12:48 1:38 2:25 3:09 3:53
Sunrise 7:36 7:37 7:39 7:40 7:41 7:42 7:43 744 7:45 7:46 7:47 7:48 7:49 7:49 7:50 7:51 7:52 7:52 7:53 7:54 7:54 7:55 7:55 7:55 7:56 7:56 7:56 7:57 7:57 7:57 7:57
Sunset 4:29 4:29 4:28 4:28 4:28 4:28 4:27 4:27 4:27 4:27 4:27 4:27 4:27 4:27 4:28 4:28 4:28 4:29 4:29 4:29 4:30 4:30 4:31 4:31 4:32 4:33 4:33 4:34 4:35 4:36 4:37
Quality Poor Fair Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Fair Fair Excellent Fair Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Fair Fair Excellent Fair Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor
P.M. Major 4:35 5:17 6:01 6:46 7:33 8:22 9:13 10:07 10:32a 11:27a 12:21 1:15 2:08 3:00 3:52 4:44 5:37 6:31 7:26 8:21 9:16 10:10 11:04 11:28a 12:17 1:03 1:47 2:30 3:12 3:55 4:39
Sunrise 7:57 7:57 7:57 7:57 7:57 7:57 7:57 7:56 7:56 7:56 7:55 7:55 7:54 7:54 7:53 7:53 7:52 7:51 7:51 7:50 7:49 7:48 7:47 7:46 7:45 7:44 7:43 7:42 7:41 7:40 7:39
Sunset 4:38 4:39 4:40 4:41 4:42 4:43 4:44 4:45 4:46 4:47 4:48 4:50 4:51 4:52 4:54 4:55 4:56 4:58 4:59 5:00 5:02 5:03 5:05 5:06 5:07 5:09 5:10 5:12 5:13 5:15 5:16
Quality Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Fair Excellent Fair Fair Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Bad Poor Fair Excellent Fair Fair Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor
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Y
All times are for the Eastern Time zone and are calibrated for Indianapolis
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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015-2016©
DNR SHARES TIMBER SALE REVENUE WITH 16 COUNTIES
T he DNR Division of Forestr y has notified 16 counties they will receive shares of nearly $442,000 to help support public safety efforts of r ural and volunteer f i r e d e p a r t m e n t s. T h e D iv i s i o n o f Fo r e s t r y a l l o cates 15 percent of timber sale revenue from state forests to c o u n t i e s i n w h i ch h a r ve s t s o c c u r. Each county shares the funds it receives with r ural and volunteer fire departments that maintain a cooperative agreement with the Fire Control D N R ’s H e a d q u a r t e r s. The $441,976.92 being distributed is a record for the program despite a dip in the volume of timber sold during the last fiscal year. Higher timber prices and the timing of payments to the DNR contributed to the record f u n d i n g. Although timber sale revenue helps fund several DNR Division o f F o r e s t r y p r o g r a m s , D N R ’s forestry management focus is to improve and maintain forest health for long-term sustainabilit y a s r e q u i r e d b y s t a t e l a w. D N R forestry management practices
are based on the best science and nationally acce pted standards, and conducted in a certified sustainable manner that earns continued approval from the Sustainable Fo r e s t r y I n i t i a t ive a n d t h e Fo r e s t Stewardship Council. This year, 123 r ural and volunteer fire departments will benefit. Fire departments are encouraged to use the funds to improve their w i l d l a n d f i r e f i g h t i n g c a p a b i l i t y. The 16 counties and their share of the funds are:
Brown $67,082.74 Clark $33,627.45 Crawford $11,648.78 Dubois $1,836.75 Greene $1,689.28 Harrison $79,201.85 Jackson $18,284.65 Martin $14,098.48 Monroe $79,294.80 Morgan $24,542.29 Owen $24,857.79 Per r y $15,378.53 Pike $20,545.41 Scott $7,417.28 Sullivan $2,050.56 Wa s h i n g t o n $ 4 0 , 4 2 0 . 2 8
INDIANA STATE PARKS TO LAUNCH CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS, DECEMBER 16
On Dec. 16, Indiana State Parks will host events titled “Countdown to 100: Centennial Celebration Launch” at McCor mick’s Creek and Turkey Run state parks, and in the South Atrium of the Indiana Statehouse. T he events mark the beginning of a year-long celebration leading up to the 100th anniversar y of Indiana State Parks. On Dec. 16, 1916, Indiana’s first state park, McCor mick’s Creek, and second state park, Turkey Run, were presented to the people of Indiana. T he day’s activities star t at 7 a.m. at McCor mick’s Creek with a traditional 1916-era breakfast. After breakfast, re presentatives of Indiana State Parks and the Indiana Bicentennial Commission will discuss the State Parks centennial and how it relates to the state’s bicentennial. A hike at McCor mick’s Creek will lead visitors to the park’s famous waterfall and Civilian Conser vation Cor ps Rec Hall. After the hike, ever yone is invited to the Canyon Inn for hot chocolate and snacks. Activities at the Statehouse star t at noon and r un until 1:30 p.m. First Lady K aren Pence will talk about the State Parks centennial and how it relates to the state’s bicentennial. Inter pretive naturalists from state parks and traditional ar tists in par tnership with the Indiana Ar ts Commission and Traditional Ar ts Indiana will present hands-on activities. T hey include a live raptors on display, Indiana snakes, Indiana State Park histor y, and demonstrations of Native American lifeways, fiber ar ts and limestone car ving. Activities at Turkey Run begin at 4 p.m. Re presentatives of Indiana State Parks and the Indiana Bicentennial Commission will talk about the State Parks centennial and how it relates to the state’s bicentennial. At 4:30 p.m., par ticipants will walk from the Turkey Run Inn to the Lieber Memorial, which honors Indiana State Parks founding leader, Col. Richard Lieber. Lieber’s g reat-g randson, Fritz Lieber, will lead a toast at Sunset Point. T he day ends with a 1916era dinner at Turkey Run Inn, star ting at 5:30 p.m. At each location, a local student will share thoughts about Indiana State Parks. All activities are free, but RSVPs are encourag ed to ensure plenty of food and materials are available. RSVP to gmur phy@dnr.IN.g ov and indicate which of the three events (or more than one) you plan to attend.
A list of our centennial celebration events for 2016 and centennial-related projects is at INStateParks100.com.
December 2015-January 2016
DUKE ENERGY GRANT WILL HELP VERSAILLES SP BUILD ACCESSIBLE TRAIL
Nature lovers of various physical abilities will be able to explore the woods and wildflowers of Versailles State Park thanks to a $20,000 grant from Duke Energy. The grant will be used to buy a trail building machine for the construction of the park’s first accessible trail. The machine, which is a skid steer with a dirt-moving blade, will greatly reduce the number of volunteers and staff labor hours needed to complete the project. “This proposed trail will allow everyone who visits to enjoy the beauty that Versailles State Park has to offer,” said Versailles assistant manager Brad Walker. The trail will be made of compacted crushed stone that meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. It will have a parking area and will explore wooded, rolling hills with a myriad of wildflowers and sweeping views of Laughery Creek. Versailles staff is working with the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation, Southeastern Indiana Mountain Bike Association (SIMBA), The Friends of Versailles State Park, Duke Energy and Batesville Tool and Die. Duke Energy and Versailles invite the public to help support trail building efforts through upcoming volunteer days and through donations. Volunteer days will be announced in future news releases. Versailles State Park is the second largest state park in Indiana at 5,982 acres. It has about 25 miles of horseback riding trail, 20 miles of mountain bike trail and 7.5 miles of hiking trail. About 275,000 people visit the park every year.
VersaillesStatePark (stateparks.IN.gov/2963.htm) is at 1004 U.S. 50, Versailles, 47042.
GRIFFY LAKE STOCKED WITH ADULT BASS TO CONTROL COMMON CARP
The DNR has stocked adult largemouth bass in Griffy Lake in Bloomington to control a population of common carp. Common carp are considered a nuisance species because they reproduce and g row quickly, and they feed primarily on aquatic insects by dredging up lake and stream bottoms and filtering insects from sediment. The process deg rades water quality and fish habitat. A total of 165 adult largemouth bass from the Cikana State Fish Hatcher y and 113 bass from a private hatcher y were stocked. The fish ranged in length from 14 to 22 inches. Fisheries biologists hope the adult bass will eat young carp before their numbers reach nuisance levels. The stocking also will provide big-bass fishing oppor tunities for Griffy Lake anglers. Griffy Lake was drained for dam repairs in 2012 and 2013. Before the draining, fishing regulations were relaxed at Griffy to encourage anglers to harvest as many fish as possible. In 2014, the DNR restocked the lake with fingerling largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish. Fisheries biologists conducted electrofishing surveys in the summers of 2014 and 2015. All the species of fish that were stocked were found, as were common carp, g reen sunfish and longear sunfish. The carp and g reen and redear sunfish were likely remnant fish populations that sur vived the draining by retreating to the historic Griffy Creek stream channel, which held water during dam repairs. The minimum size limit at Griffy Lake for black bass is 14 inches. Further monitoring of Griffy Lake fisher y will continue into 2016.
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December 2015-January 2016
INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015-2016©
OFF ROAD CYCLING PERMITS NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2016
T he annual Off-Road Cycling Per mit is now available for mountain bike trails on state park, reser voir and state forest proper ties. T he $20 per mit will be required beginning Jan. 1 for most off-road cyclists on state proper ties, with some exce ptions. Per mits are not required for trails rated as “Beginner.” Also, trail volunteers who contribute at least 125 recorded hours of ser vice in a year can receive a permit for free. A daily Off-Road Cycling Per mit will also be available for $5. Per mits may be purchased at all state park, reser voir and forest proper ty offices and g atehouses during regular business hours. T hey are also available online at Mother Nature’s Mercantile, innsgifts.com. Mountain bike trails are available at 18 state park, reser voir and forest proper ties. Cur rently, all trails at Potato Creek State Park in Nor th Liber ty are rated as “Beginner.” T his means no per mits are required to ride trails at Potato Creek. A per mit is not required for cyclists on proper ty roadways or paved bicycle paths. Funds from per mit sales will help offset operating costs at state parks, reservoirs and forests. Off-Road Cycling Per mit holders must still pay standard g ate fees when proper ty g atehouses are staffed.
MULTIPLE WAYS TO DONATE DEER MEAT TO THOSE IN NEED
Indiana hunters can donate deer meat to those in need or to members of their communities through two DNR programs. The Sportsmen’s Benevolence Fund and GiveIN Game program allow hunters to share their bounty with those who would like local, low-fat and high-protein meat. The Sportsmen’s Benevolence Fund benefits Indiana’s food pantries. The fund was created in 2008 to help offset deer processing costs. Harvested deer are dropped off at deer processors throughout the state. Last year, more than 70,000 pounds of ground deer meat went to food pantries. Hunters can find a processor in their area by searching at http://www.in.gov/dnr/lawenfor/3987.htm. The GiveIN Game Program was created in 2010 to help connect hunters to community members who want deer meat. This program works like an online telephone directory that allows hunters and community members to contact each other directly to donate or request deer meat. Last year, more than 715 people participated, with the need for deer meat outweighing the offers. Hunters are encouraged to sign up and donate deer meat at: dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/7240.htm.
NEW PUBLIC FISHING AREA OPENS IN MORGAN COUNTY
Anglers will have better and safer access to the West Fork of the W hite River in Morg an County thanks to a new public fishing area that opened this month. T hree Rivers Public Fishing Area is on State Route 67 just nor th of the highway’s intersection with S.R. 39 and about 4 miles nor th of Mar tinsville. T he 39-acre proper ty on the west bank of the river offers more than a halfmile of shoreline access in an area with excellent catfish, walleye, smallmouth bass and white bass fishing. Parking is available at a g ravel parking lot. A walking path takes anglers to the river. Before the opening of the public fishing area, anglers were parking their vehicles along the road, creating a safety hazard.
FIRST DETECTION OF EMERALD ASH BORER IN POSEY COUNTY
Emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive insect that kills ash trees, has been detected for the first time in Posey County. Of Indiana’s 92 counties, 84 have now detected EAB. T he counties where EAB has yet to be detected are: Benton, Decatur, Fountain, Gibson, Knox, Vanderburgh, Ver million and War ren. Because so many counties are now affected by the pest, the Indiana EAB quarantine is no long er being administered. T he Indiana EAB quarantine regulates the movement of cer tain materials from counties inside the quarantine to those outside the quarantine. Materials include whole ash trees, ash limbs, untreated ash lumber with the bark attached, and cut firewood of any hardwood species with the bark attached. “Although the quarantine is not being administered, I do not recommend movement of ash material to the eight counties without an EAB detection,” said state entomologist Phil Marshall. T he Natural Resources Commission is considering a request to re peal the EAB quarantine. Final action is not expected until March 2016. A re peal of the quarantine would not chang e the DNR Proper ty Firewood policy, which is an effor t to stop the spread of all forest pests, not just EAB. Visitors to DNR proper ties may only bring in firewood if it is cer tified by the USDA or DNR Division of Entomolog y & Plant Patholog y, or is free of bark.
For more infor mation on EAB, or to re por t an infestation, visit eabindiana.info or call Indiana DNR's toll-free hotline at 1-866-NO EXOTIC (663-9684). To view the EAB Rule and EAB quarantine declaration visit dnr.IN.g ov/entomolo/3443.htm.
LIBRARY PROGRAM LETS YOU “CHECK-OUT” STATE PARKS
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In 2016, Hoosiers can check out state parks by checking out an entrance pass from a public library. The State Park Centennial Annual Pass Library Check-out Program is a partnership between Indiana State Parks and the Indiana State Library to encourage people to visit libraries and parks. At libraries across Indiana, 240 state park passes have been placed in circulation for check-out. The passes will provide access to Indiana’s 32 state parks and also to Indiana’s state forest recreation areas where entrance fees are charged. Passes will be available for check-out from Jan. 1-Dec. 31. The program is one way Indiana State Parks is celebrating its centennial anniversary. The Indiana State Parks system was a gift to the people of Indiana in 1916 in celebration of the state’s centennial. Read more about activities that are part of the State Parks Centennial Celebration at INStateParks100.com. “Our goal is to provide access to our great Indiana State Parks for those who may have never visited,” said Ginger Murphy, deputy director of stewardship for Indiana State Parks. “We also hope that those who come in to check out the annual pass will take time to explore the ser vices and materials available in Indiana’s libraries.” The Indiana State Library helped pay for the parks pass program. Some local libraries may purchase additional passes to ensure that each branch has one for check-out. “The State Library is excited about its bicentennial partnership with Indiana State Parks,” said State Librarian Jacob Speer. “The partnership gives library patrons an opportunity to explore the many beautiful state park locations across Indiana simply by using their library card to check-out the free passes.” Check-out duration for the passes may vary by site. Visit your local public library for details about checkout duration.
MONROE LAKE ANGLERS MUST TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST ASIAN CARP
Invasive Asian carp are knocking on Monroe Lake's door, and DNR officials are warning anglers not to let them in. Silver and bighead carp (collectively referred to as Asian carp) have been found in Salt Creek, directly below the Monroe Lake dam. The dam prevents the carp from entering the lake. But fisheries biologists with the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife are concerned that anglers collecting baitfish from Salt Creek might mistake juvenile Asian carp for gizzard shad and introduce the carp into Monroe Lake. Using live gizzard shad is a common way to fish for hybrid striped bass at Monroe Lake. The method is legal at Monroe Lake as long as the fish were collected in the lake. Collecting live gizzard shad in Salt Creek and using them at Monroe Lake is against the law. It is also difficult to distinguish gizzard shad from juvenile Asian carp. Earlier this month, DNR researchers cast a net in Salt Creek below the dam to determine the prevalence of Asian carp and how easy it would be to catch them while targeting gizzard shad. In just six casts, they caught 52 juvenile Asian carp. Anglers fishing Monroe Lake are reminded to collect their bait fish in Monroe Lake only. Do not transport fish from one body of water to another. Anglers also should dispose of all unused baitfish, including fish parts, on shore, in a trash can. Never release bait into the water. Asian carp can cause enormous damage to native species by outcompeting existing fish for food, specifically plankton. By consuming so much plankton, the carp affect the entire aquatic food chain, including sport fish that feed on plankton-eating fish.
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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS Ž 2015-2016Š
December 2015-January 2016
Twelve Months of Deer Season By Jason Houser
HUNTING For many deer hunters, hunting deer does not last just a few months of the fall and the winter. The guys and gals that routinely kill big bucks year after year have their hand in deer hunting in one form or another twelve months out of the year. If you want to be on the list of hunters known for accomplishing the harvest of big bucks, follow this schedule that will prepare you all year for the task at hand. This plan is no guarantee that you will immediately be able to harvest big bucks for the rest of your life, but you will learn more about deer, and the more you know about the quarry you are hunting the better the chances you have at succeeding. SPRING As the temperatures get warmer and the robins return, most deer hunters are thinking about turkey hunting, picking morels and fishing. The last thing on their mind is hunting deer. If you want to be successful in the upcoming fall in the deer woods, there is plenty you can do now to prepare. Now is a great time to be in the woods searching for shed antlers. This can be combined with hunting morels or scouting for turkeys. Food plots are also something that you need to start preparing for. A lot can be said about food plots, but for the sake of
this article all I will say that if you want to attract deer, take the time to make sure it is done correctly. Insure the pH levels are right. Plan on how much seed lime and fertilizer you will need. If you are going to take the time to plant a food plot, do it right and care for it throughout the year. This might include applying
Spring time is the perfect time to get out and look for sheds. weed killer and doing some mowing. Chances are if you are like me you probably do not have enough good hunting spots, and unless you own a lot of land you either hunt public ground, or seek permission to hunt private ground. Now is the time to knock on a few doors asking for permission to hunt new ground. Things have changed over the last few years and it is more difficult to be granted hunting permission, but it can still be done with a little leg work. Remember all a person can tell you is no. If that happens politely
accept the rejection and move on to the next landowner. SUMMER The last thing I am normally thinking about during this time of year is hunting deer. It seems my mind is more focused on planning a summer vacation than sitting in a tree stand in freezing weather conditions. I need to get out of that mindset and start thinking like a deer hunter. Get out and put some miles on your vehicle. Bucks will be grouped together and will come out to eat well before dark. Travel the back roads and use your binoculars to glass for feeding deer. It is enjoy-
hanging your cameras and checking and moving them every few days to learn more about the deer you will be hunting.
Go ahead and take a few practice shots before heading to the woods come deer season.
By now, you probably have a good idea as to what the deer patterns are. If you have not got all of your stands and ground blinds in position for the upcoming hunt, now is the time to do so. While you are out there go ahead and cut shooting lanes.
battery operated gadgets. Even though you have been doing plenty of target practice throughout the past few months take a couple more trips to the range and make sure your gun or bow is still shooting straight. I love going to my stand knowing that just a day or two before I was shooting to the best of my ability. Oh yeah, did I mention it is the start of deer season?
WINTER As season lasts into the middle of January there is plenty of hunting to be done during the winter. Continue to hunt if you still have tags remaining. As it gets later in the season focus your hunting to food sources as deer try
FALL
Scouting cameras are useful tools to help pattern deer during the summer.
ing watching the deer from the comfort of your air-conditioned truck. Be careful to stay far enough back to not alert them of your presence, and take down notes as to where they are entering and exiting the fields. Trail cameras are a good scouting tool that many of us rely on. Start
This is the time of year that the only thing many people are thinking of is hunting deer. But, now is also the time when many hunters realize they are not prepared for the upcoming season that is fast approaching. Now is the time to re-check your gear to make sure it is all in order and working the way it should. Wash clothes in scent-free soap and store in a container that will prevent them from being contaminated. Check and replace any batteries in your flashlights and other
The time we have all been waiting for is deer season. Enjoy yourself and be safe.
to rebuild their strength after a lengthy rut. Hopefully, with the advice I have given you, you can prepare to hunt or hunt throughout the year instead of just watching hunting shows on television. Making this a 12month affair will make you a better hunter.
Groundbreaking Research Paves Way for Growing Hunter, Angler Numbers
SOUTHWICK ASSOCIATES - While the numbers of hunters (17 million) and anglers (33 million) remain about the same overall when looking at participation levels for the entire country, recent research by Southwick Associates has cast a bright light on the make-up of these participants and revealed there is actually a high rate of turnover among individuals taking part in the two activities from year to year. This turnover suggests there are literally millions of people who have already exhibited interest in hunting and fishing, exhibiting the need to capture this low hanging fruit and bring them back into the annual sporting ranks with different strategies than those used to attract new participants. The research, conducted on behalf of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) via a Multi-State grant awarded by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, is part of broader efforts by these organizations to better identify and understand the sporting consumer and help fish and wildlife agencies, conservation organizations and outdoor-focused businesses to meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts and grow overall participation levels. One of the most striking findings of the research, conducted as a multi-faceted study in 2014-2015 with results released to the public in a series of reports, was that the image of the typical hunter and angler as a diehard, must-participate enthusiast is not typical at all. In fact, the diehard sportsman actually represents a rather small percentage of all participants with only 13 percent of hunters buying licenses every year during the 10-year period of purchases studied. On the fishing side, that number was even smaller with only four percent of fisherman buying licenses each of the 10 years for which data was provided. Much larger was the casual participant who for whatever reasons buy licenses some years, sometimes even years in a row, before going a year or multiple years without buying a license. The "typical angler" buys a license three out of every 10 years, while the "typical hunter" is a
little harder to pin down with 55 percent purchasing licenses more than once in the studied 10-year period but lapsing for a number of years and 37 percent purchasing a hunting license only once in the 10-year period. This phenomenon of sportsmen who step in and out as participants is known as churn, and while many wildlife agency and conservation organization programs have been geared toward providing introductory opportunities for newcomers in an effort to grow participation levels, results of Southwick's research reinforces the idea now engaged by many sportsmen marketing programs that a larger return on investment might be had with programs designed to re-engage the casual participant and transforming them into more avid enthusiasts. Of those groups most likely to lapse in both hunting and fishing include participants between the ages of 18 to 24, women and those people who live in more urbanized areas. As part of the research effort, Southwick Associates even mapped fishing and hunting license customers from 12 states using geographic information system [GIS] software (specifically Esri Address CoderTM and TapestryTM lifestyle segmentation software) to pinpoint the types of neighborhoods, and thus lifestyles, common to hunters and anglers of all skill levels and types. By understanding the types of people who enjoy the outdoors, it's possible to determine where additional clusters of existing and potential hunters and anglers live in order to better focus marketing and promotional efforts. It can even be used to determine what types of gear and brands of equipment certain hunters and anglers will be more apt to purchase and what types of programs might better appeal to them. As state agencies and industry seek to refine and improve their efforts to boost participation, the insights provided by this groundbreaking research can provide businesses, agencies and organizations with the information needed to better tailor programs and products to attract and build committed participants.
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December 2015-January 2016
INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015-2016©
Muzzleloader Season Offers Second Chance By Brandon Butler
The 2015 Indiana firearms deer season has come and gone. If your tag is still folded neatly in the front pocket of your favorite jacket, don’t give up. You can still tag a buck this year if you break out the old smoke pole. Muzzleloader season runs Dec. 5 – 20. Hunters may harvest one antlered deer, if they have yet to do so, or one antlerless deer. The rut has subsided and bucks are busy replenishing precious calories they burned up chasing does. Focusing your efforts on food sources is a best bet during the muzzleloader season. The hot spot you picked out for firearms season may not be so hot now. Consider looking for out of the way places where you or anyone else hasn’t pressured deer on the property you’re hunting. Out of the way places like fencerows, creek banks, and brushy patches of scrub timber along the edge of harvested agricul-
It’s four o'clock in the morning and I’m rolling out of bed in a half conscience state of mind, trying to be as quite as can be to ensure not to wake anyone up. With my SUV in the shop I was styling in a fancy new hybrid smart car. With all of my equipment packed to the roof I felt like Santa with a sleigh full of goodies. With the non-existent sound of the engine I was off. Destination: St. Joseph River. Following the snake-like shape of the river I finally made it to the boat launch. As I pulled my headlights lit up the red truck of my friend and hunting mentor, Phil. He was ready to go as usual, boat on the water and equipment loaded. As we made our way up the river the only sounds heard were the purr of the motor and the light sound of water tapping the front of the boat. The first stop: my stop, a small lagoon at the base of a tall hill. As I climb out the swift current tries to knock me off my feet, like a rug pulled from beneath me. I am able to regain footing and continue stepping over large trees and avoiding deep holes. Finally I make it to my hunting spot. I finally get myself comfortable I look down to check the time, one hour until legal shooting time. Waist deep in water, no current this time, all there is left to do is wait. I grab my telescope collapsible fishing rod and attempt to occupy my time. Suddenly, the loud honks of Canadian geese put me on high
tural fields could all potentially serve as a buck’s oasis from hunting pressure. During the firearms season, a lot of hunters simply rely on the fact that bucks are r utting and could potentially show up anywhere at anytime. Remember bucks are now for the most part through with searching for does, even though there could be a second phase of the rut. So the theory of find the does and you find the bucks is no longer relevant. Mature bucks that have made it through firearms season are in recovery mode. You’ll find them near food sources. In the southern Indiana, many hunters spend their time in the vast forests chasing woodland whitetails. If you are hunting an area that has any fencerows connecting two standing tracts of timber, I sug gest you give sitting along the fencerow a try. There are two main reasons why I suggest this. First,
when traveling between tracts of timber, bucks will normally want to stay as close to cover as possible. If a fencerow is the only cover available, bucks would rather hug that than cross open ground. Secondly, other hunters who are still out there are likely beginning to get a little anxious. This means their level of patience could be dwindling, causing them to want to move around more and leave their stands earlier. If you are hunting a fencerow or creek bank connecting two tracts of timber containing other hunters, then there’s a good chance those hunters could push a fleeing deer past you. Don’t overlook brushy areas or small tracts of timber standing alone in or along a harvested agricultural area. I once discovered a buck’s secret hiding place when I glassed him one morning slipping into a weedy low spot out in the middle of a picked corn-
The author shot this Indiana buck out of a picked bean field by focusing on food sources during muzzleloader season. field. This small patch of weeds and briars is no more than a half-acre. I watched this buck bed in this area multiple times before another guy hunting on my property finally tagged him in transit. If you want to stack the odds in your favor of connecting on a buck during the muzzleloader season, start thinking a little out-
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a Buck!
alert. They were headed out, spooked by Phil as he reached his destination. The darkness of the early morning made every sound eerier than normal; the loud screech of raccoons fighting in the trees sounded like a crazed woman screaming in a horror movie. A few moments had passed when a large splash erupted right next to me. Heart racing, I slowly turn my head to the location of the sound to see a large aquatic mammal swimming away from me. After regaining my composure and a steady heartbeat I scanned the skies for my first harvest. The light whistle of a wood duck could be heard as it hit the water. Only 5 minutes till legal. As I watched the wood duck swim out of range the skies sprang full of life, yet nothing else came within range all morning. As it got to be lunchtime, from around the bend I heard my water taxi ready to pick me up. I was amazed at how I did not trip over the cemetery of trees beneath my feet as I made my way to Phil. Finally in the boat, we began to make our way back to the boat launch. As we approached the launch, to my surprise a young six point buck could be seen laying spread eagle with it's head just inches away from the water edge. Upon getting closer, about 50 yards away, the buck stood up and began to run away. As he ran his right rear leg flopped up and over, hitting his back as he stumbled his way down the riverbank.
Immediately seeing this, Phil quit the engine and dropped the anchor with the goal of not stressing the injured back any more. Being hunters and lovers of nature we could not stand to see an animal that had no way of surviving for much longer. We hopped on our phones and tried to get ahold of a conservation officer. Due to it being a weekend and opening day for a few seasons the conservation officers were preoccupied on public land. Finally, we turned to contacting the county police. The dispatcher informed us that all officers in the surrounding areas were busy and would not be able to respond for at least an hour. Twenty-five minutes had passed and we decided to pack up our equipment and head home. As we pulled up to the boat launch another group of hunters followed up behind us. They showed us their luck for the day and we told them about our findings. They said that they were all off duty officers and would get ahold of dispatch right away and request a road kill tag. Within five minutes an officer pulled into the parking lot and gave us the tag. Now the problem was how to harvest the injured deer. We could not use our birdshot because it did not have enough put down power and would only cause more injury to the deer. Luckily, I was carrying my 9mm and was told that I would be taking the kill shot. With Phil and I in our boat and the offduty officers in theirs, we were
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By Dominic Trzaskowski
on our way to put the injured deer out of his misery. We eventually located him and quickly killed the motors to try to devise a plan. After a short discussion we had it: I would stand at the front of the boat as Phil drove straight towards the buck, and I would shoot him before he got too far or injured himself anymore. As we sped towards him, he began to run the best that he could. With Phil swerving the boat around sunken trees and the deer darting back and forth along the riverbank, I took my first shot: a clean miss. I regained my sights and hit with a second shot. He stumbled down the bank and lay there, taking what I thought to be his last breathes. I jumped into waist deep water and trudged through mangled tree limbs and deep holes to retrieve my kill. As I approached the buck, he jumped up. With nowhere else to go in the tangled mess, he charged straight for me. His head was down, his deadly antlers headed straight for my chest and face. I had no time to draw my gun; I was trapped. At the last second I managed to stop him by grabbing onto his antlers before they gored me. At such a close range, I could not shoot without the chance of a ricochet of the bullet. I turned my head for a quick second to grab the hunting knife Phil was waving at me. I saw the pale-white, shocked faces of the officers; I saw the concern on Phil’s face. I know
side the box. When you’re walking back to your vehicle in the morning, make a slow pass through the small woods you originally thought wouldn’t hold any deer. Take some time to explore any fencerows or creek banks with optics from a distance. You never know what sort of surprise you may come across. See you down the trail…
my face must have the looked twice as frightened. I finally grabbed the knife and swung back around. Although the deer was injured, the power behind this animal was almost enough to knock me off my feet and take us both down the river. I was finally able to overcome his strength and position his head in such a way that it exposed the neck. I used the knife to finish the kill. The feelings that ran through me were so many and amplified that I started having physical reactions. As I watched the animal take his last breath, with his antlers in my hand and his eyes looking directly into mine, I cannot explain the feelings I felt as he faded into a permanent sleep. Everything seemed to stand still; everything was quiet. My legs started to tremble uncontrollably and my hands started to shake. Phil quickly interrupted this state of shock by urging me to quickly get the deer into the boat. Being a veteran of active duty, Phil was the only one who was barely fazed by this event. He saw my condition and answered with, “That was rough, but you had to do what you had to do. That’s as hard as it will get in terms of hunting.” We took our harvest to the house and prepared him for processing. The entire experience was incredibly humbling and eye opening. Not only do I have more experience, but I also have a much deeper respect for the animals I hunt.
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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015-2016©
2016-17 Hunting Seasons Dates Now Available
Dates for migratory birds and waterfowl seasons will not be available until summer. Their seasons are set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in cooperation with DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. FURBEARERS - HUNTING Red and Gray Fox Coyote, Striped Skunk Raccoon, Oposum Dog Running (Raccoon, Opossum)
FUREBEARERS - TRAPPING Red and Gray Fox Coyote, Striped Skunk Beaver Mink, Muskrat, Weasel (long-tailed weasel only) Raccoon, Opossum River Otter WOODLAND BIG GAME TURKEY Youth Spring Fall Archery* Fall Firearm*
*Select counties only. DEER Reduction Zone Youth Archery Firearms Muzzleloader Special Antlerless*
WOODLAND SMALL GAME Gray and Fox Squirrel Ruffed Grouse UPLAND GAME Pheasant (cock only) Quail (North of Interstate 74) Quail (South of Interstate 74) Rabbit MISCELLANEOUS GAME Crow Green Frog and Bullfrog
October 15, 2016-February 28, 2017 October 15, 2016-March 15, 2017 November 8, 2016-January 31, 2017 February 1, 2016-October 25, 2016 and February 1 2017-October 25, 2017 October 15, 2016-January October 15, 2016-March November 15, 2016-March November 15, 2016-January November 8, 2016-January November 15, 2016-March
31, 15, 15, 31, 31, 15,
2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017
April 23-24, 2016 April 27-May 15, 2016 October 1, 2016-October 30, 2016 and December 3, 2016-January 1, 2017 October 19, 2016-October 30, 2016
September 15, 2016-January 31, September 24-25, October 1, 2016-January 1, November 12, 2016-November 27, December 3, 2016-December 18, December 26, 2016-January 1,
2017 2016 2017 2016 2016 2017
August 15, 2016-January 31, 2017 Suspended November 1, 2016-December November 1, 2016-December November 1, 2016-January November 1, 2016-February
15, 15, 10, 28,
2016 2016 2017 2017
July 1, 2016-August 15, 2016 June 15, 2016-April 30, 2017
December 2015-January 2016
Daily Deer Harvest Numbers Available Online Deer har vest numbers can now be viewed daily thanks to DNR’s CheckIN Game System. Hunters are required to check in their deer using the CheckIN Game system, either online, by phone, or at an on-site check station. All data is put directly into the CheckIN game database. This allows DNR to report har vest numbers on a daily basis. The har vest total is updated every 24 hours at midnight and posted at deer.dnr.IN.gov. All numbers are raw data and unofficial until DNR Fish & Wildlife biologists verify the data after the deer hunting season ends.
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December 2015-January 2016
www.banksoutdoorsipc.com
INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015-2016©
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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015-2016©
Predators Come Looking for an Easy Meal With the Rabbit Frenzy and K9’s Calls From Johnny Stewart Wildlife Calls
New HALO XRT7 Laser Rangefinder Offers Hunters Advanced Features and 700-yard Performance
Halo hit the sweet spot with their 2015 release of the XRT6 Laser Rangefinder, a rugged and compact 600-yard unit providing hunters with an unbeatable combination of performance features for a great price. For 2016, Halo builds on the XRT6’s popularity; continuing the theme of performance and value with the release of the NEW XRT7 Laser Rangefinder – the latest XRT family member delivering reliable and lightning-fast performance ranging out to an impressive 700 yards; more than enough capability for any eastern hunt, and plenty of range for most western or even African plains game hunts. The new XRT7 provides an instantaneous distance reading, accurate to +/- one yard, with a single push of the button when operating in the Standard mode. Users can also quickly range multiple targets without having to reactivate the laser for each target when set to Scan mode. Built-in AITM (Angle Intelligence) Technology allows the XRT7 to automatically detect and compensate for differences in elevation between the user’s position and the target being ranged, displaying a simple and accurate "shoots like" distance readout. The new Halo XRT7 Laser Rangefinder provides just-right 6x magnification. Inside, a crystal-clear color LCD readout reliably displays the reticle, battery status, mode setting, numerical display and unit of measure, which is selectable in either yards or meters. A new Dawn/Dusk display mode ensures easy reading during low light periods. The Halo XRT7’s striking exterior is equally impressive and user-friendly. A rug gedized, water-resistant body stands up to the demands of diverse hunting conditions, while a textured, ergonomic grip ensures reliable handling in the
December 2015-January 2016
field. A nylon strap and protective case are included.
ALO XRT7 LASER RANGEFINDER: Model No: XRT7 UPC: 6-16376-50814-1 Maximum of 700 Yards to Reflective Target Dawn/Dusk Display Mode 6x Magnification AI™ Technology Accounts for Slope to the Target Scan Mode Allows for Constant Ranging Precise to +/- One Yard Water Resistant One Year Warranty Uses One CR2 Lithium Ion Battery (included) Nylon Case (included) Retail: $129.99
Halo makes a technologically advanced laser rangefinder for every hunter. Golfers, too, will appreciate the Halo lineup’s impressive features, performance and value. For 2016, the new Halo XRT7 Laser Rangefinder delivers a popular combination of high performance features… firmly within the realm of realistic pricing.
The new Rabbit Frenzy and K9’s Diaphragm Predator Calls from Johnny Stewart® Wildlife Calls produce all of the prey sounds hunters need to call in hungry predators. The Rabbit Frenzy Call is a two-reed design with a unique 45 cut that produces high pitched young cottontail rabbit distress sounds. The K9’s Call is a 3-reed design with a fang-shape cut that easily reproduces raspy cottontail, jack rabbit and raccoon distress sounds. Both calls have Premium Flex™ frames for consistent stretch and sound and feature high quality Infinity Latex® for durability over a full hunting season. The full line of Johnny Stewart diaphragm calls are Made in the U.S.A. The new Rabbit Frenzy and K9’s Calls sell for a suggested retail of $7.99 each. For more information about other Hunters Specialties products, log onto the Hunters Specialties website at www.hunterspec.com, or call a Consumer Service Specialist at 319-3950321. About Johnny Stewart Calls: Johnny Stewart Predator calls continue to set the standard for hunting success on coyotes, foxes, hogs, bobcats and more. The Johnny Stewart collection of custom predator and prey sounds is the industry's most authentic sound library available for electronic callers. . And with a full line of E-callers, mouth calls, diaphragm calls, and attractants, Johnny Stewart calls are all a predator hunter needs. Johnny Stewart was the innovator of modern predator calling and his innovative designs continue to evolve to meet the needs of today's hunter. Johnny Stewart Calls is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hunters Specialties, Inc.
New Higher-Frequency Flextone Tramp Stamp Aluminum Pot Call Cuts Through the Wind to Drive Gobblers Insane
Turkey hunters who spend the spring-season chasing wiley g obblers know that it’s not unusual for inclement weather to disr upt a hunt. Far and away, the most common weather issue interfering with spring hunting is wind. When it comes, it seems to blow relentlessly for days on end, wreaking havoc on even the best turkey hunting tactics. Traditional slate calls simply aren’t capable of punching a loud yelp through the wall of sound created by a stiff breeze, and won’t be heard by distant g obblers – especially in wide-open ter rain. Thankfully, the folks at Flextone engineer solutions for such problems. The new-for2016 Flextone Tramp Stamp Aluminum pot call is perfectly suited to cut through howling winds. The durable Magnum Hickor y Striker coupled with the aluminum surface produce high-frequency yelps that drive even the most stubbor n g obblers insane. They’ll answer this call with a frenzy of g obbling, then str ut-in, spitting and dr umming. Like other models in Flextone’s proven Tramp Stamp family of pot calls, the Tramp Stamp Aluminum spor ts Realtree Xtra Green camo patter n on the pot for maximum concealment from approaching g obblers – a feature that could be the difference between finishing a stud longbeard in your lap or watching him head for par ts unknown when he catches a glimpse of something out of the
ordinar y.
F l e x t o n e Tr a m p S t a m p A l u m i nu m K e y Features: Model #: FG-TURK-00101 UPC Each: 8-15097-00948-1 Aluminum Surface for Loud Calling Higher Frequencies Creates Gobbling Frenzy Great in Windy Conditions & Open Ter rain Includes Magnum Hickor y Striker Realtree Xtra Green Camo Pot Includes Conditioning Pad MSRP: $21.99 The best turkey hunters know that car r ying a call for any eventuality is critical to success. And while ever y situation may not call for high frequency and extreme volume, when that spring wind blows, if you don’t have a Tramp Stamp Aluminum in your vest, you’re probably better off f lying a kite. About F lextone Game Calls Flextone Game Calls are designed to more accurately mimic the anatomy of a g ame animal by using both hard and soft f lexible par ts. They incorporated a hard plastic or metal tone-board with reed to imitate the soft tissue chambers of the neck and mouth of an animal. The design produces a tr uer, more natural sound as well as giving the user more control of volume, tone, and inf lection just like the animals they were designed to imitate. The
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December 2015-January 2016
INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015-2016©
Stealthy New Ice Shelters FLy Solo and Under the Fish’s Radar
Frabill’s Sentinel Series Boasts Angling Ergonomics, Plus Portability and Precision
You’ve seen it out there on the frozen landscape. You’ve wondered about that single shelter all by itself, shining like a beacon of great fishing. Far from the crazy crowds of shantytown, the intriguing black and yellow structure sits atop a chunk of untouched underwater real estate. What does that angler know that no one else does? Celebrating the spirit of ice fishing adventure, Frabill unveils the new Sentinel—a series of pioneering portable ice shelters customized and equipped for those free spirited solo anglers with big fish on the brain. Safeguarding schools of big hungry bluegills or hounding hefty Northwoods walleyes, anglers inside their Sentinels enjoy maximum comfort and fishability: plenty of real estate to arm electronics and ample elbow room to set hooks. All Sentinels feature 11.5 fishable square feet, optimized for the natural movements of any ice angler. The Frabill Sentinel series consists of three distinct models, each equipped with a comfortable seating option. The Sentinel 1000 includes the Padded Trunk, which holds a mountain of ice rods, tackle and bait, plus features a nice cushy place to ‘park it.’ The Sentinel 1100 offers a comfortable Jump Seat that folds for easy storage. And the Sentinel 1350 adds includes a deluxe Boat Seat atop the tackle trunk for comfy seating and convenient storage. “You know that little black dot on the icy horizon? That’s me,” quips Joe Balog, the popular Frabill pro bass angler who’s equally energetic when chasing panfish on ice. “For prowling and pillaging schools of big water perch, I can’t imagine a better system than my Frabill Sentinel. This shelter gives me the perfect balance of portability, stealth and precision. Small and light enough to easily pull around by hand, and equally easy to load up into a small SUV.” More sweet stuff . . . Striking new graphics and specially engineered angles aren’t just designed to catch your eye. Details such as all new windows—shaped as slanted trapezoids and parallelograms (think Geometry 101)—provide anglers an optimal line-of-sight for checking tip-ups, or for looking ‘over your shoulder’ for those pesky, tail-piping followers to your hotspot. “The Sentinel offers the most intelligently designed, well-organized interior ice fishing space I’ve ever experienced,” says Balog. “If you like to get away from the crowd, and whale on untapped schools of fish like I do, this is the sweetest set-up on ice.”
Transforms Towing Woes to Trailering Pros
Wireless iBall Trailer Hitch Camera Puts Eyes Where You Need Them
The signs appear on tow vehicles everywhere — bent rear bumpers, broken brake lights and mangled license plates bespeckled with those same familiar dings. Tarnished by misguided trailer tongues, each battle scar tells the same story, and asks a singular question: Imagine if connecting the coupler was as automatic and easy as shifting into reverse? Actually—with assistance from a cool little techno tool—it is. Engineered by the optics experts at Outdoors Insight, the 5.8-GHz iBall Wireless Trailer Hitch Camera offers a sweet solution to one of the most common dilemmas in the entire auto world—hitching the trailer to your truck, all by yourself. There are two ways to make the critical connection: (1) Take your best guess at blindly lining things up, hopping out of the car a hundred times to check your progress—only to discover you missed the whole works—and have to attempt a complete do-over. (2) Snap an iBall Camera to your bumper and guide your vehicle to an immediate hole-in-one (you can even hear that sweet metallic clicking sound.) The two-part iBall system employs a small wireless camera—powered by a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery—and a compact color LCD that plugs into your vehicle’s power port (or cigarette lighter.) The camera features an industrial strength magnet that mounts to nearly any metallic surface on or near the bumper, tailgate, or hitch. The gimbal-mounted camera can also be pivoted in any direction and is even submersible—in case you back a little too far down the boat ramp. The camera itself offers a 120degree field of view for optimal visibility. Inside your vehicle, you view the trailer’s hitch approach the ball and then correctly connect—the first time, every time. For comfortable ergonomic viewing, the 3.5-inch iBall LCD even sports a handy adjustable gooseneck for easy re-positioning. The usually aggravat-
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Award-Winning Hydro-Flo Design Applied to Hanging Bait Storage in All-New PLANO M-Series Hydro-Flo Tackle Bag
In 2011, Plano’s original Guide Series 4674 Hydro-Flo™ Tackle Bag earned an ICAST “Best of Show” for an ingenious design that allowed water to flow right through the base of the bag, an industry first. Since then, the Hydro-Flo has become a favorite with anglers the world over. For 2016, Plano’s angling engineers have applied their award-winning Hydro-Flo design to the all-new M-Series HydroFlo Tackle Bag, a beast of a bag with a manageable footprint and shockingly cavernous interior configured for space-saving storage of big baits via vertical hanging. Muskie maniacs, swimbait specialists and saltwater jig junkies have had limited tackle storage options... Until now. The M-Series Hydro-Flo Tackle Bag stores up to 25 of their large lures in clever hanging bait compartments. Tie ‘em, fish ‘em, hang ‘em and rinse ‘em. The M-Series HydroFlo’s spacious main compartment keeps big baits organized, secure and dry, courtesy of a flow-through design and the reinforced namesake base. This strikingly stately olive green and cerulean blue bag is big business on the outside, too, with a parade of plus-sized perimeter pockets that zip open and closed to secure all the tools, goods, gear and accessories any angler could need during a day on the water.
Plano Model No. 414300 M-Series Hydro-Flo™ Tackle Bag: Hydro-Flo base allows water to drain out bag’s bottom for drying or rinsing of lures Cavernous interior with 25 hanging bait compartments to house your large lures Exterior pockets to secure all your tools, accessories and gear in easily accessible locations Holds 25 hanging compartments, plus one 3700 Series StowAway Product size: 19”L x 13”W x 18”H MSRP: Model 413900, $79.99 Thanks to Plano’s Hydro-Flo performance, you can now run your big, expensive baits hard and put ‘em away wet. They’ll dry fast inside the new M-Series Hydro-Flo Tackle Bag, one of four allnew high capacity M-Series designs – including 3600 and 3700 size M-Series Tackle Bags and an M-Series Messenger Bag – merging voluminous interiors with a sexy signature look. Learn more at www.planomolding.com.
ing process now takes seconds rather than minutes. While the iBall Wireless Trailer Hitch Camera will certainly get you on the water faster and with less stress, it’s equally valuable for any trailer—whether it’s a boat, camper, ice fishing house, or utility or horse trailer that’s in need of a tow. The iBall works for other trailering applications, too, such as monitoring an RV, backing into a cramped garage or launching at a busy boat ramp. Simply connect the camera to the back of the boat, camper or anywhere else it’s needed. When you’re done, stow the portable iBall camera and monitor conveniently in your glovebox. Transmitting on a crystal clear 5.8-GHz frequency, the iBall Camera works perfectly and without interference in the presence of other wireless devices, such as a 2.4-GHz Bluetooth signal. Boasting a transmission distance of up to 100 feet, iBall is durable, weather resistant and versatile. An internal, rechargeable Lithium Ion battery powers the camera for hours, and includes a USB charging cable. Portable, affordable and super convenient, the new 5.8-GHz iBall Camera system retails for just $169.95—compared to similar integrated backup cameras that cost thousands at the dealer. Available exclusively online, the iBall even comes with free U.S. shipping and a full 90 day warranty. To learn more or to order, visit www.iballhitchcam.com.
About Outdoors Insight, Inc. Creator of Aqua-Vu, the original Underwater Viewing System, Outdoors Insight, Inc. has led the underwater camera category in design, innovation and quality since 1997. The Central Minnesota based company builds many popular outdoors products, such as the iBall Trailer Hitch Camera (iballhitchcam.com) and Odor Check Moisture and Odor Control System (odorcheck.com) featuring ScentLok Technology. For more information on Aqua-Vu, visit www.aquavu.com.
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FISHING With the latest technical advances in recreational boat lights – both for navigation and aesthetic purposes – recreational boaters have more choices than ever when upgrading their boat’s lighting. However, the US Coast Guard wants boaters to know that some of the new lights aren’t up to snuff and could increase the chances of a collision. It has found that some sold for navigation purposes don’t meet regulations, and other aesthetic lighting products such as LED ropes and underwater lights may go against the light provisions of the nautical rules of the The BoatUS road. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water shares these concerns has these three tips when shopping for or installing boat lights:
INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015-2016©
December 2015-January 2016
BoatUS Foundation: Three Safety Tips for Upgrading Boat Lighting US Coast Guard Cautions Use of Some New Types of Lights
1) Navigation lights have to be “approved”. Some manufacturers are selling navigation lights that don’t meet regulations. These lights are typically cheaper, but do not provide the proper color quality, brightness or cut-off angles that boaters rely on to avoid collision. So how do you know you are buying a good nav light? The US Coast Guard (USCG) says things to look for include 1.) USCG approval, 2.) The rated visibility of the light in nautical miles, 3.) Meets ABYC A-16, 4.) “Tested by: laboratory name,” along with 5.) Manufacturer and model #.
2) Don’t let your boat’s lights confuse. The USCG reports that some boaters have hazardously installed unapproved red and green LED strip lighting on the
bow, which hampers other boaters efforts to avoid collision. Also avoid displaying any light that could be confused as another navigation light or another vessel. And do remember flashing blue lights are reserved for law enforcement – at a distance, wave action combined with the steady rocking of below the waterline high-intensity blue lights can give the appearance of a police vessel.
3) Don’t install lights that prevent the operator from maintaining a good lookout. When running between sunset and sunrise, it’s critical that those behind the wheel maintain their night vision, so the #1 goal is to keep light out of the operator’s eyes. Glare from existing nav lights may be a problem, or
Navigation lights like these don’t pass muster, and don’t make for safe boating (credit: Daniel Rutherford). reflections from aesthetic lighting such as LED rope lights wrapped around a helm station hinder eyesight. A helpful video by West Marine, “How to Choose the Right Navigation
Lights for Your Boat,” can be found at http://goo.gl/o4oYoC.
To see lights tested at night by the BoatUS Foundation, visit BoatUS.org/findings/48.
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December 2015-January 2016
INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015-2016©
Panfish Through the Ice By Jason Houser
tection of cover and Just because the temperaommend ice fishing gear remain hidden in the shadture outside is well below compared to regular fishfreezing, a foot of snow ing tackle, fish bites under ows. And, they are still spooked by the same blankets the ground and 8 the ice can be difficult to things, like the noise of inches of ice tops the feel with normal-sized you moving on the ice or local ponds and lakes in outfits. I sug gest an ice the shadows of your the area does not movements. mean that there is It is still possible not fishing to be to catch fish during done. the midday with a There is nothing like few changes. The pulling a mess of first thing you must panfish through the do is to know where holes in the ice. the fish will likely be The first hanging out. Weeds, thing in ice fishing is deep holes and deep safety. Do not venwater. ture onto the ice Fish will not be unless it is at least 4 very active during to 6 inches thick. the day, but will nibThis is the minimum ble at your bait if it thickness that will falls in front of safely support a perthem. To catch fish son and equipment. with regularity you Keep in mind that have to be willing to snow weakens the move, drill a lot of stability of the ice. Do not test just one Ice fishing provides the opportunity to catch an assort- holes and keep at it until you find the area of the ice and ment of fish. fish. Do not believe assume that it will be that because catch one fish the same depth at all areas fishing rig with 2-pound out of a hole that you will of the lake or pond, it will test. catch another one right not be. There are many away. If you do not catch Ice fishing accioptions available when it one in four or five minutes dents can quickly become comes to what bait to use. move to a new spot. deadly. Do not ice fish For artificial bait, start Axes, chainsaws alone. Always have somewith small, flat-bodied and ice augers are the one with you and let peojigs. These baits “flutter” three primary tools used ple back at the house as they fall. This is good to cut holes in the ice. know where you will be attractor bait. When fishOnce the hole is chopped and when you expect to ing with jigs your presenyou will have to remove return. That way, if you tation must be very slow. the slush and ice chips out do not return on time, It does not take much rod they know exactly where movement above the ice to of it. Commercially manufactured scoops for skimto go to look for you. make a jig have a lot of ming the water are what I Also, frostbite and movement under the ice. use. But, any device that hypothermia are concerns The first thing to will keep your holes clear that ice fisherman must be do is lower your bait to will work. aware of. You must be the desired depth. If you After the ice is alert as to the amount of are going to catch a big covered with snow, the time you are on the ice fish out of a hole it will lack of sunlight will kill and also of the weather happen rather quickly. the vegetation. The lack conditions while you are You have to be ready as fishing. Do not get overyour bait sinks on the first of aquatic vegetation will cause the fish to move whelmed with all the drop down a new hole. excitement and stay out If you do not catch deeper. Crappie can be found mostly schooled too long. a fish on the downward around stumps or weed Consider some sort fall, let the bait sit for a of ice fishing shack to minute, and then lightly jig lines. You will find bluegill spread out around protect you from the eleit in a slow, smooth structure. ments if you plan to stay motion. Do your best to Another time, on the ice for a long perimaintain a rhythm in your besides midday fishing, od of time. There are jig ging. When you feel a when you might need to plenty of commercially bump, however small it cut many holes is when a manufactured shelters on might be, set the hook. cold front moves in or the the market. Even a Because you are using weather gets really bad. deer/turkey hunting blind light line be very careful This will likely cause the will work. not to break it. fish to move to deeper There is nothing When using live water. They will stay close wrong with building a fire bait, I prefer mealworms to cover and might be on the ice to stay warm. and wax worms for hard to locate, thus the It will not weaken the ice bluegill, and minnows need for many holes. or melt through as long as when fishing for crappies. When you do find them, the ice was thick as it Always use small in-line be ready for a good time. should have been when bobbers and watch for the Be sure you know you began. slightest bite. the laws. Some bodies of Ice fishing is not Just because it is water regulate the number an expensive sport to get cold, fish do not change. of holes, number of rods started in the gear is simThe best time for ice fishand the number of fish ple to use. An ice fishing ing is still going to be rod and small mechanical when the sun is low in the you can keep. Stay safe and stay reel will cost you less than sky or at night. The fish legal. ten-dollars. I highly recwill still seek out the pro-
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Recycle Christmas Trees as Fish Habitat By Brandon Butler
Sinking brush to create fish habitat is an endeavor many anglers undertake to develop their own secret spots. Christmas trees make great brush piles and in the days after holidays, truckloads of them are easy to come by. I grew up on a lake in a large subdivision. My grandpa and uncle were easily two of the best fishermen who were regulars on the water. But it wasn’t because they used special techniques or had superior equipment. It was because they spent weekends in the winter developing large brush piles mostly made up of old Christmas trees that produced fish all year long. For weeks after Christmas, we would spend our evenings driving around the subdivision with a flatbed trailer behind my uncle’s van, garbage picking trees from the end of driveways until we couldn’t squeeze another on the trailer. Then we would take them back to his garage, where we’d prepare them for sinking. There were two ways we’d prepare the trees to be sunk. Most often, we’d work on lashing a dozen or so together into a large wad. Then we’d wrap a chain all the way around them and run it through a couple of cinder blocks. The other way we prepared individual trees was to put the bottom in a small bucket and fill it with concrete. We used a lot of one-gallon ice cream tubs for the buckets. Our favorite places to place the brush was in front of docks in deep water and along drop-offs. To place the Christmas trees, we used a large pontoon boat. This was before the days of GPS, so we kept a paper map updated with all of our brush piles. We usually sank the big piles in open water, and would sink a half-dozen or so single trees in front of and along the sides of docks. In manmade ponds and reservoirs, there's not much natural structure. Developing your own fish habitat in those waters is essential to creating good fisheries. Christmas trees are one of the best ways to do that in winter. The trees provide woody cover that makes excellent habitat for invertebrates. These are an ideal food source for smaller fish, which draws them in like a magnet. This in turn brings in bigger fish and creates a situation that gives a boost to the lake's entire food chain. They also help young fish, because when the adults spawn their young can hide in those trees. Sinking brush to attract fish is no secret. A lot of people do it in front of their own docks. But not a lot of people go through all the effort to create exceptional habitat around an entire lake. Doing so gives you a great advantage when fishing through the seasons. Many of my greatest outdoor memories stem from preparation activities. It’s not always about catching the fish or shooting deer, but what you did to make the opportunity happen that really sticks with. For the rest of my life, I’ll remember how excited my family would be while gathering our annual allotment of used Christmas trees. And how much we enjoyed the fish fries our efforts resulted in. See you down the trail…
Sinking Christmas trees to create brush piles in the winter can result in catching a lot of fish throughout the rest of the year.
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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015-2016©
Speaking the Language of Fish with your Jig
December 2015-January 2016
Focus on Fine Points of Ice Jigging, Including Theories and Experimentation By Mark Strand In our last episode, ice fishing legend Dave Genz was talking about the proven magic that happens when you fish a jig designed to ride horizontally in the water on fresh line, using a good jigging rod, with the knot positioned to keep the jig horizontal. It’s known as the ‘Genz Pound,’ or just pounding, and it is the classic presentation that rules over all others in modern ice fishing. If you did nothing but rotate the knot––all the way––in the direction of the hook point, and became good at rapidly vibrating your wrist to keep your jig looking alive down there, you would have one good day after another out there on the ice. But let’s say for a second that you want to know more. That you want to know what Genz does when the classic pounding presentation doesn’t bring as many bites as it usually does. “To start out the day,” says Dave, “I think about what spots the fish are probably in, and go to one of those spots and drill some holes. Then we fish those holes, quickly, aggressively, looking for fish that are ready to bite. Look for fish on your electronics, and drop a bait down all of them, to see if you can pull fish in, even if you don’t see anything right away. “You use what happens at that first set of holes to decide where you’re going to drill your next set of holes. I start off pounding it, and that usually works. When the fish get harder to catch, we move on and drill more new holes. But sometimes the fish don’t bite right away. They want something different, so you have to give them something different.”
Pacing the Pound Any time fish don’t pounce on a pounded jig, Genz makes a mental note of that and begins to experiment with the pace of the pound. It’s
something he has done for so long that it’s become a muscle memory, something he hardly thinks about. He just does it. “Rather than tying on a new jig, or thinking about changing colors,” says Dave, “my first reaction is to experiment with the cadence. You can slow it down, which also lessens the vibrations being sent out by the jig. It changes what your presentation looks like, and feels like, to the fish. It has to feel right to them.” Listening to Genz and his friends talk about what the fish wanted at the end of a day on the ice is fascinating. And carefully watching Genz work his way through various cadence routines can be instructional. Pat Smith, a deadly ice fisherman himself, jokes about how Genz would probably take out a restraining order against him if he knew how much time he spends just watching how Dave experiments with this important speed factor. “What you want to avoid,” says Genz, “is sitting there too long experimenting with presentation. The Winter Fishing System is built around the idea that you should stay mobile and go find fish that are ready to bite. If the fish don’t bite, go to a new spot and drill more holes. Don’t give up on the idea that there are biters somewhere. But the longer you go into the day without catching fish, the more you should be changing how you’re working the bait. It can make a difference when the bite is tough.”
Dial in the Knot In addition to varying the pace of the cadence while presenting a jig, Genz has also begun to experiment with moving the position of the knot to different angles on the eyelet. “When you bring the knot all the way around on the eye, toward the hook point,” he says, “that gives you the most
vibration. That’s the position I use most of the time. But now I’m working on what happens when you dial the knot to different positions on the eye.” Maximizing vibration, keeping that jig fishing in a horizontal posture, creating that buckin’ bronco kick to the hook end (which causes the maggots, plastic, or other add-ons to pulse around enticingly) will produce really well on most days, as we’ve already said. Attention to detail in this regard, according to Genz, is one sign of an accomplished angler. “Rotating the knot on the jig eye has to become a habit,” stresses Genz. “Last winter, watching my brother, Jerry, who’s 80 years old, he automatically rotates the knot each time, before putting the line down the hole. Even though he’s one of the oldest guys out there, many times he has the best quality fish at the end of the day.” But, as Genz points out, there are times when fish don’t bite well on the go-to presentation. That’s when it’s time to experiment. In addition to changing up the speed and style of his cadence, Dave has been playing with the position of the knot to alter the motion and vibration signature, to look for what triggers fish on any given day. “I think of the jig eyelet as the upper half of a wheel,” says Genz, “and I move the knot to different positions on the wheel to see what it does to the presentation, and how fish react to it. I’m fairly early in my time of doing this, so I’ll have more to report as this winter goes on, but it’s an interesting variable to test.” If you look at the entire eyelet and think of it as that “half wheel,” on which you can place the knot at different positions, it’s easy to imagine the possibilities. When the knot is all the way toward the hook point, that forces the jig into more of a horizontal
When he’s figuring out how to trigger fish, Dave Genz experiments with how fast he
‘pounds’ the jig, and where his knot is positioned on the jig’s eyelet, before tying on
a new bait. When he gets it right, the fish ‘tell him’ by biting. (Photo: davegenz.com)
swimming attitude, and produces the maximum vibration with each “kick” as you rapidly move your wrist and the rod moves up and down. At the other end of the “wheel” the jig assumes a vertical posture. This is the position it takes every time you catch a fish or snag on something and have to pull free. While Genz stands by the notion that rotating the knot all the way toward the hook point will catch you more fish on most days, there are times when a vertical jig carries the day. “Sometimes, fish like the lure rising up off the bottom, looking like it’s swimming to the surface,” explains Genz. “This is something fish have seen, when insects emerge and rise up. When they want it rising, having the jig hang more vertically is important.” To test whether this approach will be effective, Genz moves the knot away from the hook point, so the jig hangs vertically. “I rotate that knot around,” he says, “drop the jig to the bottom, pound it into the bottom a few times, and start rising it up with a swimming, kicking motion. If they want that, they’ll bite it. It’s another method to try when fish are down there and you’re struggling to get them to bite.” Between these two extremes, the “wheel” offers other knot positions to experiment with. “So many people are quick to change the color
of the lure, or tie on a different type of bait,” says Genz. “That’s not wrong to do, but by altering how you’re presenting the jig you already have on there, you can do a lot of testing before you change color or tie on a different bait. “Besides doing this, make sure your plastics are on there straight, so the jig can work properly, and if you’re using live bait, make sure it’s fresh. Make sure there’s fresh juice coming out of those maggots, before you start thinking about changing jig colors.” Every day of fishing is a big experiment, where you are asking the fish what they want by showing them things you think they might want. And now you know a lot more about what Dave Genz does, in addition to drilling more holes. “Some of those little things you can try,” he says, “make a big difference on some days.” Here’s to your winter of experimentation with cadence, pounding styles, and knot positions.
Note: Dave Genz, known as Mr. Ice Fishing, was the primary driver of the modern ice fishing revolution. He has been enshrined in the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport. For more fishing tips and to order his new info-packed book, Ice Revolution, go to www.davegenz.com.
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December 2015-Jauary 2016
INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015-2016©
Photo Information, clockwise from left. . .
1) Duane Rauch caught this 22-inch, 8-pound largemouth bass on Lake Wawasee. 2) Kristin Monroe of Wisconsin and the Marshall County, IN deer she took while in the field with her children. 3) Brian Smith, Assistant Publisher of ION, with his beautiful Starke County harvest. 4) ION Assistant Editor Josh Lantz with his awesome Starke County ION Publisher Megan Smith with her firearm opening day harvest. 6) Blake Bennet of Culver, IN with a beautiful 8-pointer.
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