Patoka Sportsman - March 10th, 2018

Patoka Sportsman 3-10 & 3-11-18

There will be a 3-D Broken Arrow Archery shoot Sunday March 11 at Beaver Lake. This will be the 2nd shoot for the year. Sign-in will be from sunrise till noon. A practice range will be available, and concessions will also be sold. The entry fee is $10 for members and $12 for non-members, $8 for children age 11-17, and free for the cub class (10 and younger) and active military members. From Jasper, take State Road 164 east to County Road 325 East, turn left and follow the road to the clubhouse on the right. For more information , call Cliff Fleck at (812)630-0454 or Karla Brames at 8128273756

Patoka lake Bow Hunters will host a "30" Target 3D shoot on Sunday March 18th at Patoka Lake Archery Range near Wickliffe. Participants should use the main entrance to Patoka Lake off State Road 164. Registration on Sunday starts at Daylight till 12:00pm. Shooting fees are $8.00 for Active PLB members, $10.00 for Nonmembers and $5.00 for Youth (age 11-17) while Cubs (10 & younger) and Active Military shoot for free. For more information, call 812 205-0081.

The St. Anthony Conservation club will host their first 3D shoot on March 25.

Kid’s bring your parents to the Patoka Lake Nature Center on Saturday, March 17 at 1:00p.m. to build your very own kite!Participants will create a one of a kind kite using materials provided.Once all kites have been constructed, join a car caravan to the beach for some high flying fun!The cost for this program is $5 per kite. Pre-registration is required for this event.Please call the Patoka Lake Nature Center at 812-685-2447 to register or inquire for more details.The entrance fee of $7 per vehicle for Indiana residents ($9 out of state) is required for the Newton Stewart State Recreation Area, Patoka Lake located north of Wickliffe Indiana,

Highway 164.For more information regarding this program or other interpretive events, please call the Nature Center at 812.685.2447.

Annual fishing and hunting licenses are now available for purchase. Remember that 2017 annual fishing and hunting licenses expire on March 31. If you purchased your license online last year, just log into your account, confirm your information, and purchase your new licenses. Indiana residents can purchase a Hunt/Fish Combo license for just $8 more. Not only can you hunt AND fish for just a few dollars more, but the DNR receives $58 in federal funds that go directly back into conservation to help us continue to provide opportunities for hunting, fishing and other wildlife recreation activities. 

State Fish Hatchery personnel will begin stocking rainbow trout in select lakes throughout the state this month. Dates and times will vary depending on weather, but stockings are expected to be completed by mid-April. Stream stockings will occur later in April, closer to the opening day of the stream trout season on April 28. Anglers are reminded that in addition to a regular fishing license, a trout and salmon stamp is required to fish for trout.

The Natural Resources Commission's Division of Hearings has scheduled two hearings to receive public comment on a package of proposed rule changes that include wild turkey hunting, nuisance wild animals, and a proposed new bobcat hunting & trapping season. For a complete list of proposed amendments with additional information about each proposal, see wildlife.IN.gov/2362.htm .

The hearings will be: Wednesday, March 14, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Spring Mill Inn, Lakeview Room, located in Spring Mill State Park, 3333 SR 60 E., Mitchell and Thursday, March 22, starting at 5:30 p.m., at Mounds State Park, Pavilion, 4306 Mounds Road.

Public comments can be submitted online, locate the "comment on this rule" link in the Rules Docket for the Wildlife Rule Amendments. Comments also can be mailed to: Natural Resources Commission; Indiana Government Center South; 100 North Senate Ave., Room N103; Indianapolis, IN 46204. The deadline for submitting public comments is midnight March 23.

Youth hunters (under age 18 on the day of the hunt) may apply for reserved turkey hunts during the special youth wild turkey hunting season, April 21–22 on selected DNR properties. Registration will be from March 29–30. Interested hunters or an adult representing them must register in person or by phone during the normal office hours for the property they wish to hunt. Hunters are allowed to register for only one property. All applicants will be notified of drawing results by mail.Participating fish & wildlife areas locally include Glendale and Sugar Ridge.

The Michael Oeding Youth Turkey Seminar will be held April 7 at the Ireland Sportsmen’s Club.Registration and small breakfast is from 9-9:20 AM.Lisa Stinson will conduct a Turkey hunting equipment and a demonstration from 9:20-9:40.From 9:40-10 AM John Toy & Sid Fritch will talk about turkey hunting and turkey biology.Hunting laws and safety will be covered by Conservation Officer Tony Mann from 10-10:20.Breakout sessions will also be held covering calling, blind setup and techniques, decoy demonstrations and locating birds with various calls.Lunch and attendance prizes will be from 11:30-12:30.For more information contact Shawn Werner at 812-482-4162.The event is limited to the first 20 kids.

The DNR is seeking private landowners to allow limited public gamebird hunting opportunities on their properties in exchange for financial incentives and technical assistance through a program called APPLE.APPLE stands for Access Program Providing Land Easements. In its second year, APPLE provides hunters with an opportunity to hunt ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, and American woodcock, while also providing landowners with significant benefits.

Indiana DNR has been incorporating opinions of hunters and landowners into management decisions since the early 1990s. However, in past years only a random selection of hunters and landowners could be surveyed because of the high cost and logistics of conducting paper surveys. Many hunters complained they had never received a survey and felt their opinion was not being heard. With this new capability, everyone can provide input on a regular basis. 
Hunters and anglers who purchase licenses on a regular basis will receive an invitation to complete the survey in their email. Hunters who use a landowner exemption or have a lifetime license should make a special effort to create an online account with the DNR to ensure they receive the various surveys that will be sent.
If you would like to receive a survey, please visit the DNR Fish & Wildlife online services page and ensure your contact information is correct. If you do not have an account, you will be able to set up a free account.

Are you hoping to spend quality time outdoors again?You can go online to the DNR’s websie or call 1-866-622-6746 to pick your favorite cabin or campsite now.

Your guide to Indiana's best values in outdoor recreation is available online at the DNR’s website. The 2018 Indiana Recreation Guide is the source for information on state parks, lakes, state park inns, fish & wildlife areas, state forests and other DNR properties.Local retail outlets, state parks, lakes and other DNR properties will have free printed copies available this month. Annual Entrance Passes can be purchased in person at the gatehouse or offices of state park properties during business hours, at the Indiana Government Center South in Indianapolis during business hours, or at innsgifts.com.

Registration is open for many Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) workshops. The IMN program is a combination of hands-on learning and volunteer service to teach others about Indiana's natural resources. Each workshop features speakers focusing on topics like plants, wildlife, forests, wetlands and many more. All courses offer a minimum of eight three-hour sessions focusing on Indiana's natural resources. The specific topics for each course may vary, but in general each series include sessions related to Geology/Soils, Water, Botany, Zoology, People and Natural Resources, and a Miscellaneous course. A fee is normally charged, but the dollar amount may vary with the number of sessions, the type of speakers, and the sponsors. The number and locations of courses vary across the state. They also depend on the time of year and the interest of local natural resources agencies in the program. For information about courses, contact the State Coordinator Jody Heaston at [email protected].

Several of Indiana's state parks, state forests and state recreation areas are looking for volunteers to serve as campground hosts in exchange for free camping during their service. A complete list of site availability and detailed information about hosting duties is at stateparks.IN.gov/2404.htm. You may also contact the property where you would like to serve as a host for more information.

Go FishIN Crew Captain workshops are for adults (e.g., educators and youth leaders) to learn about fish biology, Indiana's aquatic ecosystems, fish management in Indiana, basic angling skills, and angler ethics. Participants will become Crew Captains and then share their knowledge and skills with their classrooms and community. Crew Captains can receive sport fishing educational materials and borrow fishing equipment from the DNR to use for the program.This workshop will be held at Krannert Park, 605 S. High School Road Indianapolis, IN 46241.

Registration is open for the Full Moon 5K taking place at Patoka Lake beach on Friday, July 27 at 9:30p.m. Race 3.1miles through the woods on roadways, a well-maintained gravel and grass lane and paved bike trail lit by moonlight and luminaries. Race for a cause! All proceeds from this event will go to support Patoka’s non-releasable raptors; a red-tailed hawk, eastern screech owl and bald eagle.Early registration is $25 which includes a race t-shirt. Go to http://fullmoon5K.itsyourrace.com to register today! For more information or call (812)685-2447.