Patoka Sportsman 1-4-20
Patoka Sportsman 1-4 & 1-5-20
The special antlerless deer season runs through Jan. 5 in counties that previously had a bonus quota of 4 or more. Now that limit is two antlerless deer in those counties using any legal equipment including firearms. Remember to check where you can hunt during the special antlerless firearms season. Counties that have historically been open for this season may have changed this year. County bonus antlerless quotas were also reduced in response to the effects of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) on the deer herd this year. Statewide archery is open through Jan. 5. Turkey archery season also runs through Jan. 5. Rabbit seasons runs through Feb. 28. You can hunt quail south of Interstate 74 until January 10. Coyote season runs through March 15.
The hunters for the hungry is still underway until the end of deer season. We will have the same four processors involved. They include Sanders Processing, Ferdinand Processing, Ohio Valley Custom Deer Processing in English and Cannelburg Processing. If you legally harvest a deer and would like to donate to our Hunters for the Hungry, administered by the Dubois County Sportsmen’s Club, you can take it to any of the processors mentioned. You must donate the entire deer. If you donate more than once each time you donate your name will be put into a drawing to win a firearm donated by Dr. Greg Gordon at Jasper Optical Lab. So far we’ve had 94 deer donated to the Hunters for the Hungry. If you’d still like to hunt and can’t use the deer meat do something nice for those less fortunate and donate it. The meat will be processed by one of our four processors mentioned above and paid for through a grant from the Sportsmen’s Benevolence Fund. It’s a great way to “give thanks” for the tremendous opportunity we have as sportsmen to do something we enjoy.
Applications may be submitted from Jan. 6, 2020 through Feb. 19, 2020 for Spring Turkey reserved hunts. Local Participating properties are Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area, Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, Glendale Fish & Wildlife Area, Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area, Hovey Lake Fish & Wildlife Area, Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge and Sugar Ridge Fish & Wildlife Area. Applicants must possess a valid hunting license for the species they wish to hunt. The application process is now consolidated into the online services website along with Licenses, Check-In game, and HIP registration. An online account is not required to apply, so there is no need to log in. Please note that in this new system, hunts without fees to register will follow the same process as those with a fee. For hunts with no fee to register, you still will be asked to Add to Cart, Proceed to Checkout, and Place Order. If the transaction total is $0, you will not be asked to enter credit card info.
An Indiana Hunter Education Course is slated for Friday, January 24 through Saturday, January 25 at the Dubois County 4-H Fairgrounds. Classes will run from 6:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. on Friday 24th and from 8a.m. to 4:00p.m. on Saturday 25th. Participants must attend both days to complete the course. All instruction will be by Indiana conservation officers and certified Indiana volunteer hunter education instructors. Certification is required for anyone born after December 31, 1986, who wishes to purchase an Indiana hunting license. The course will cover ethics, safety, laws, survival and safe handling practices for archery, black powder and firearms. Lunch will be provided for participants and attending family members on Saturday for $5/person. To sign up, visit www.passitonindiana.com. There is a 150- student limit for the class and pre-registration is required. This course is being sponsored by the Dubois County Shooting Sports Instructor Council. For questions, call (812)685-2447.
The Patoka Valley Limbhangers will hold their annual NWTF Hunting Heritage Banquet on February 1 at Ferdinand Community Center. Doors open at 4:30 and dinner will be at 6:30. Early bird ticket purchase expires on January 26. You can register online at events.nwtf.org/141060-2020. For more information contact Dave Jellison at 812-639-0208 or email [email protected].
Get two nights for the price of one at an Indiana State Park Inn this winter. Now through Feb. 27, 2020, stay two consecutive nights and your second night is free.
Coyotes are common everywhere in the state, even in urban areas. Coyotes become more active during winter, and the bare vegetation this time of year increases the chance of catching a glimpse. Young coyotes leave their parents to find a new home, making them more likely to be seen during winter. And in January, coyotes will be looking to breed, making them even more active. Seeing more coyotes does not mean they are increasing in number.
Give wildlife a head start this new year. The Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund benefits more than 750 endangered and nongame animals, including barn owls, hellbenders, Indiana bats, and many more. All funding comes from Hoosiers who donate; no state tax dollars are used. For every $5 donated to the fund, an additional $9 are awarded from federal funds.
Underprivileged children at Shakamak Elementary School in Greene County will receive food and clothing thanks to the generosity of the DNR Division of Reclamation. A Christmas raffle and silent auction raised $1,260 to be used in the school’s Brown Bag program. The Brown Bag program provides take-home food to children who are living with food insecurity. Several bags of clothes, shoes, and jackets were also collected and donated to the school.