Patoka Sportsman 8-3-19
Patoka Sportsman 8-3 & 8-4-19
There will be a 3-D Broken Arrow Archery shoot Sunday August 11 at Beaver Lake CR 325 E Jasper IN. 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.
Patoka Lake Bowhunters will host a 30 Target 3-D Archery Shoot on Sat & Sun August 17th & 18th at Patoka Lake Archery Range near Wickcliffe. Participants should use the Main Entrance at Patoka Lake off State Road 164. Registration is from Daylight - Noon. Shooting fees are $10.00 for nonmembers, and $5.00 for youth (age 11-17), Cubs 10 and under along with Active Military will shoot for for free. For more information call 812-309-9373
Huntingburg Kiwanis Club is sponsoring a Sporting Clay Shoot at Cool Springs on Saturday, Aug. 10. Shoots start at 9 AM and 1 PM EDT. Registration starts at 8:30. Catered lunch at 11:30. Sponsorship fee is $500 per team. Shells, clays and catered meal is included. Bring your own 20 gauge or 12 gauge shotgun, hearing and eye protection. Register on line at Kiwanis Club of Huntingburg Sporting Clay Shoot or call: Larry Feldmeyer (812)683-2928 or Gail Kemp at 812-661-7067. Net proceeds will help Kiwanis support Riley Hospital for Children and various local youth programs. Registration deadline is Aug. 4.
Fisheries biologists from the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife and the USDA Forest Service recently teamed up to conduct a stream survey within the Salt Creek watershed on the Hoosier National Forest. Periodic surveys are important to monitor the health of our streams and the fish that live in them. Biologists use barge electrofishing to stun fish so they can dip them up, measure and weigh them, and return them back to the water. A total of 25 different fish species were caught including fantail darters, creek chubsuckers, and longear sunfish.
Reserved hunt application periods are open for dove, waterfowl, deer and pheasant. The application period for deer will close Aug. 26. Waterfowl and pheasant application periods will close on Sept. 16. You can only apply for these hunts online. To get started with an application, go to on.IN.gov/reservedhunt and click on “Apply for a reserved hunt.” Only one application per hunt is allowed, and no changes can be made once an application is submitted. Applicants must possess a hunting license valid for the hunt for which they are applying.
The DNR’S turkey brood survey runs through Aug. 31. While you are out this summer, you are asked that you help them count the number of young wild turkey poults with hens. These surveys provide the DNR with information about turkey poult survival and inform wild turkey management. Create an account and start reporting your observations at on.IN.gov/turkeybrood.
More than 100 people are needed to assist kids around the Fishin' Pond during the 17 days of the Indiana State Fair, which runs Aug. 2-18. Volunteers get free admission to the fair on the day they work, a free Fishin’ Pond T-shirt, and the opportunity to fish with kids for a few hours at the pond. Volunteers can also help sign up kids to fish and help them with a fish coloring activity when they are finished fishing.
Smokey Bear’s birthday will be celebrated on Saturday, August 4 at the Patoka Lake Nature Center from 10a.m. – 12 p.m. Bring family and friends and enjoy activities and fun for all ages. Bring a camera and take pictures with Smokey Bear. The Orange County Southeast Township Volunteer Fire Department will give a special presentation on fire safety which will include a demonstration with the Jaws of Life device! PetSense of Jasper will be onsite to talk about pet fire safety. Play games and make a special craft to take home. Celebrate with cupcakes and refreshments. Come and join this free event for Smokey’s birthday bash! The entrance fee of $7 per vehicle for Indiana residents ($9 out of state) is required for the Newton Stewart State Recreation area, Patoka Reservoir, located north of Wickliffe Indiana, Highway 164.
The Patoka Lake Watershed Steering Committee encourages individuals, families, friends and service groups to save the date for the 13th annual Patoka Lake Clean Up on Saturday, August 24 at the Patoka Lake Dam. Participants of all ages and abilities can sign up on location at 8 am EDT and will be assigned an area to pick up trash and recycling along the shore.
At 11 am, all volunteers return to the dam to be treated to a fish fry, music, door prizes, goody bags and of course, a free event t-shirt! Service and youth groups are asked to please register in advance! Join in the fun and help rid Patoka Lake Watershed of unsightly, unhealthy trash! Each year volunteers pick up over 2000 pounds of trash and recycling during this event.
All supplies are provided; volunteers just need to show up! The event takes place at the Patoka Lake Corps of Engineers office at the Patoka Lake Dam. For information or to register a group in advance, call the Patoka Lake Nature Center at 812-685-2447 or check the Patoka Lake Watershed Steering Committee Facebook page for updates.
Indiana Conservation Officers are proud to recognize Sgt. Paul Axton for 40 years of service with the DNR Division of Law Enforcement, the longest tenure of any active Indiana Conservation Officer.
Axton was appointed after a month-long recruit school in 1979. Prior to that, he worked for the DNR part time at Harmonie State Park in Posey County. He served in Davies and Gibson counties before moving to Posey County in 1983 where he still serves. Axton was promoted to corporal in 2011 and to sergeant in 2014. Axton served as a public safety diver for 20 years and is in his 17th year as a river rescue instructor. He has also served DNR Law Enforcement as a boat accident investigator and sonar operator. During his time as an officer he has won the district officer of the year award, the hunter education officer of the year and the Mississippi Flyway Council officer of the year. Axton is a 1976 graduate of North Posey High School and graduated from Vincennes University with a degree in Conservation Law.
Now is a great time to go catfishing! Fisheries biologists have been conducting catfish surveys this summer on portions of the White River and Ohio River. Notable catches include a piebald blue catfish from the West Fork White River, a 37 pound flathead catfish from the lower White River, and a 77 pound blue catfish from the J.T. Myers Pool of the Ohio River. Biologists use the data collected to monitor long-term population trends over time. Check out their “Where to Fish interactive map” for possible catfishing locations: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3591.htm.
Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana Department of Natural Resources director Cameron Clark have announced details of the second round of the Next Level Trails grant program, including three workshops in August for interested applicants. Next Level Trails, which will dedicate $90 million of State funds over the life of the program, is the largest infusion of trail funding in state history. The grant program is divided into two components: a $70 million fund for regional projects and a $20 million fund for local projects. Each requires a minimum 20 percent project match, which can include monetary contributions, land value, and in-kind donations of materials and labor. Projects funded through this program must be open to the public.