Patoka Sportsman 2-2-19

There will be a 3-D Broken Arrow Archery shoot Sunday February 10 at Beaver Lake. This will be the first shoot of the year. Sign-in will be from sunrise till noon. A practice range will be available, and concessions will also be sold. There are new lower prices for entry fees. The entry fee is $10 for all adults, $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.

The 22^nd annual Indiana Deer, Turkey & Waterfowl Expo will be held Feb. 21-24 as part of the Boat Sport & Travel Show. New this year is the Archery Alley. Outfitters from all over the world will be there to help you book a trip and show off the latest gear.

Patoka Valley Friends of the NRA will hold their 2019 banquet Sat. Feb. 23 at Venue 1408 in Huntingburg. Doors open at 5. Dinner is at 7. There will be door prizes, silent auction, special drawings and a live auction. Tickets are in exchange for a donation of $35 or are included with the Big Shooters Bonus Pack for a $100 donation. This includes one dinner ticket and $100 bonus draw. Tickets are available at Dave’s Guns in Holland, Great Outdoors and Jeff’s Bait & Guns in Jasper. All net proceeds benefit youth education, range development, conservation efforts plus many other qualified educational programs.

The 65^th Annual Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show is coming to the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds Feb. 15-24. On day tickets for adults are $13 EACH. Children ages 6-12 are $9 each. There will be over 12 acres of new boats and RV’s. Shop for the latest and greatest tackle typically not found in the big box stores. Vendors will also be there from all over North American to help you plan a getaway. You can also lear to sharpen your fishing skills with seminars from industry experts and top pros. Tickets available at renfro productions dot com.

What was life like before Monroe Lake was made? Learn about this and more during a history open house Sunday, Feb. 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Paynetown Activity Center in Paynetown State Recreation Area. Jill Vance, interpretive naturalist at Monroe Lake, is documenting and mapping the history of the Salt Creek valley area. This is a large area that includes most of southeast Monroe County, southern Brown County, northeast Lawrence County, and northwest Jackson County. Monroe Lake was created in the 1960s with a dam at the western end of Salt Creek.

Vance’s research focus is on the period before Monroe Lake was built, as well as the actual construction of the lake and the land acquisition. The open house will be a chance to learn about the project, view some of the resources compiled thus far, and contribute information and stories. Maps, books, and other resources will be on display, and there will be a slideshow of historic photos. Visitors with a family connection to Salt Creek can search a genealogy database for information about their ancestors.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own information, knowledge, and stories about the Salt Creek valley area to add to this research project. A portable scanner will be available so that most photos, maps, and other documents can be copied on site. Visitors will be able to mark the location of historic sites on a master map. People with a lot of stories or family history information, or large quantities of photos or documents can sign up to do an oral history interview at a later date. Paynetown State Recreation Area is located at 4850 S. State Road 446, Bloomington. Entrance to Paynetown SRA is free during the winter months. Cancellations will be posted at facebook.com/monroelake.

Ohio River Valley Bowhunters will hold a3D archery shoot located at the Branchville Conservation Club on Feb. 3, March 3, April 7 & May 5. Check in starts at 6 AM through Noon CST. Individual shoot scores will be posted on their Facebook page prior to the next month’s shoot. For additional information call 812-608-0242.

2019 Spring Turkey

Applications will be accepted Feb. 4 through March 22, 2019
No late entries will be accepted
Applicants must possess a hunting license valid for the 2019 Spring Turkey season
Participating properties: Winamac FWA, J.E. Roush Lake FWA, Tri-County FWA, Pigeon River FWA, Kingsbury FWA, Willow Slough FWA, LaSalle FWA, Aukiki Wetland Conservation Area, Jasper Pulaski FWA, Hovey Lake FWA, Goose Pond FWA, Fairbanks Landing FWA, Glendale FWA, Sugar Ridge FWA, Atterbury FWA, Crosley FWA, Chinook FWA, Deer Creek FWA, Mississinewa Reservoir, Salamonie Lake, Muscatatuck NWR, Big Oaks NWR
Youth only draw for Muscatatuck NWR
Only one application is allowed per license holder. No changes can be made once the application is submitted.

The St. Anthony Conservation Club is holding their 8^th Annual 3D Archery Expo on Saturday, March 23. Registration is from 8-1 and raffle and activities will be from 8 AM to 4 PM. There will be a new Sasquatch and other new targets for this 30-target shoot. Shooters will also be entered for a chance to win a food plot package. Entry fee is $10. 10 and under are free. You’ll be shooting for over $3,000 in prizes. Bow raffle tickets are for sale on site or from any member. An Official scorer will also be onsite. Breakfast sandwiches, burgers and drinks available all day. Check out the on-site vendors, DNR, and new truck & ATV displays. Meet the pro staff members from Bowhunt or Die web show. For more information call 812-630-1670.

The Indiana DNR Division of Law Enforcement is looking to fill Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) positions across the state with highly motivated, outdoor-centered individuals. Anyone interested in a career as an ICO should first to go to dnr.IN.gov/lawenfor and complete the Pre-screening test. Completion of this test by midnight Feb. 4, 2019 is required to be considered for the 2019 hiring process, which starts in late February 2019.

Indiana Conservation Officers are the state’s old law enforcement agency. ICOs are fully recognized Indiana police officers who enforce and uphold all DNR rules and regulations as well as all other Indiana state laws. ICOs spend the majority of their time enforcing fishing and hunting regulations, conducting marine boat patrol on Indiana’s waterways, and patrolling DNR properties to keep them safe and family friendly. In addition to traditional law enforcement work, ICOs also engage in many specialty areas, including SCUBA, K-9, search and rescue, swift water rescue and many more.

To be qualified to pass the pre-screening test, you must be a U.S. citizen; be 21 years old by Dec. 27, 2019; and have an associate’s degree from an accredited college or completed 60 hours toward a bachelor’s degree, or have four years full time active military service with an honorable discharge by Aug. 12, 2018. You must be able to pass minimum Indiana Law Enforcement Academy physical fitness requirements as listed at ilea.IN.gov/2338.htm. If you think you have what it takes, go to dnr.IN.gov/lawenfor, read “Becoming a Conservation Officer” and complete the Pre Screening Questionnaire .

An Indiana hunter Education Course will be held April 5 & 6 at Cornerstone UMC in Chrisney. The class and materials are free. Students must attend both days. Bring highlighters, pens and pencils and any snacks or drinks you would like. Bottled water and lunch will be provided on Saturday by the Dubois county Sportsmen’s Club. To register go to passitonindiana.com. Select Traditional class and enter your zip code. Click on Cornerstone Church class and sign up. For more information contact Perry Frey at [email protected].