Family-Outdoors

More Indiana public land means more outdoor opportunities for Hoosiers and more habitat saved for wildlife. In 2014, the Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife purchased 1,110 acres of public lands with help from our partners. Thank you to lifetime license holders, The Nature Conservancy, Environmental License Plate Buyers (IHT), Bicentennial Nature Trust, Game Bird Habitat Stamp buyers, and hunters and shooters whose equipment purchases provided additional support through the Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration Program . Related articles Montana public wants more free-roaming bison (havehest.wordpress.com) Land trust closes deal for Placid Lake, Gold Creek acres (missoulian.com) BLM takes ownership of Blackfoot Valley timberlands once owned by Plum Creek (ravallirepublic.com)

By Jillian Farkas, DNR Wildlife Division Through generous support from DTE Energy, the DNR is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Michigan’s Endangered Species Act from now through September.   Each week, an important species will be featured. With binoculars in tow, I scouted the seemingly calm water in front of me. Slowly, and without a ripple, a sea monster-like head began to emerge from the water. With a duckweed disguise, the snake remained still, repeatedly flicking its tongue in my direction. To confirm identification of the species, I lunged towards the snake with long tongs, but it was just out of reach. Reacting to the threat of capture, the snake swiftly swam into the surrounding vegetation and escaped. The copperbelly water snake is an exceptionally rare species in Michigan. These snakes are found in two distinct population segments in the United States - the north and south. The northern population remains federally listed as threatened, and its range includes sou...

The sun sets on the waters of Lake Wawasee in Indiana. Photo courtesy of Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation. Together, we can accomplish far more than we can do on our own. For more than two decades, the conservation community in northeast Indiana has illustrated this point through their efforts to rally around Lake Wawasee. At more than 3,059 acres, Lake Wawasee is the largest natural lake, wholly contained within Indiana, and an important environmental keystone. The lake was formed during the Wisconsin glacial period and has had a long history of use by Native Americans, early European settlers. The lake provides numerous opportunities for recreation, as well as habitat for fish and wildlife. The lake has a predominantly agricultural watershed of approximately 25,000 acres that drains northwest via Turkey Creek to the Elkhart River, on to the St. Joseph River, and ultimately drains to Lake Michigan. Just like most other natural lakes in Indiana, Lake Wawasee has seen a decr...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released the final habitat conservation plan for the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in northwestern Indiana. The Service has also finalized an environmental impact statement that addresses impacts to the endangered Indiana bat and the human environment. The habitat conservation plan developed by Fowler Ridge includes measures for the long-term conservation of Indiana bats at the Fowler Ridge facility. The Fowler Ridge Wind Farm currently includes 355 wind turbines in Benton County, with plans for up to 94 additional turbines. Two occurrences of Indiana bat mortality have been discovered and reported by Fowler Ridge during surveys at the facility. The plan accompanies an application by Fowler Ridge for an incidental take permit. Under the Endangered Species Act, companies like Fowler Ridge may obtain a permit that allows limited take of threatened or endangered animals, provided an approved habitat conservation plan is in...

The DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife wants to hear your ideas on fishing, hunting, trapping and other fish and wildlife related regulations in Indiana, including special permits. From now until Feb. 28, you can use a convenient online form to contribute ideas and provide input on topics the DNR has identified for consideration. Related articles Minnesota - Spring turkey hunting applications accepted through Jan. 10

 Endangered Indiana bats at Indiana's Wyandotte Cave have endured mining, torch-bearing tourists and maybe even a ghost. Photo by Andrew King/USFWS. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is issuing weekly articles that highlight endangered species conservation in each state. This week’s article focuses on Indiana. More about the Endangered Species Act 40th anniversary and other endangered species conservation articles can be found at  http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ESA40/ This year we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, but some species have been recognized as endangered for almost 50 years. The Indiana bat ( Myotis sodalis ) was one of 78 species on the first list of endangered species, created under the Endangered Species Protection Act of 1966—precursor to our current Endangered Species Act. There were about 1 million Indiana bats at the time the species was list...

DRAW FOR INDIANA HUNT Dove Draw Hunt Applications accepted online July 1 - 28, 2013.  Don't forget, hunters must possess a Game Bird Habitat Stamp when hunting doves (those that have lifetime comprehensive hunting licenses or resident youth hunt/trap licenses do not need to purchase the stamp, since it's included in those licenses). Non-toxic shot is required at all DNR properties, including reservoir properties. Properties: Bluegrass, Jasper-Pulaski, J. E. Roush Lake, Kankakee, Kingsbury, LaSalle, Pigeon River, Willow Slough, and Winamac FWAs, and Mississinewa and Salamonie Reservoirs. Applicants may choose the property, but dates (typically Sept. 1 or 2, except at Bluegrass FWA) will be assigned to successful applicants. Successful applicants may bring one hunting partner. Draw results will be posted online at least one week after the deadline to apply. Military/Refuge Firearm Deer Draw Hunt Applications accepted online July 1 - August 25, 2013. Applicants d...

Morel Mushrooms (Photo credit: ~flutterby~ ) The temperature is rising, the fish are biting and the wildflowers along the hiking trails signal that we’re ready for a wide array of outdoor activities at Indiana's 24 state parks and 8 reservoirs. Welcome Back Weekend  is May 3-5.   This is the perfect time to plan for a weekend of wildlife watching, a night by a crackling campfire, and a day or two to relax and escape a hectic world without traveling far from home. Some activities during the weekend include: • Morel Mushroom Festival at Brown County State Park • A “Hound Hike” at Shakamak State Park • Geocaching and evening music at Harmonie State Park • Girl and Boy Scout Badge Day at Monroe Lake • Outdoor cooking workshop at Ouabache State Park • A look back at construction of the dams and reservoirs at Salamonie and Mississinewa Lakes. Check out Welcome Back Weekend programs at your  favorite property ....

The drawing will be at the  Kingsbury FWA  office at 10 a.m. CST on April 6. To be eligible for the drawing hunters must present their 2013 turkey license and they'll be given a numbered badge. A computer generated random draw will identify the successful hunters for choice of the hunt periods. Hunters will be drawn as individuals only.  If successful you may give your hunt to a youth hunter 17 years old or younger. Once a bird is harvested the hunt is completed. There are no “stand by” drawings. If successful you will be given a special permit card with the hunt period you selected. Keep this card with you at all times. You don't have to check in at Kingsbury, you can go directly to Reynolds Creek. If successful at the Reynolds Creek drawing you will NOT be eliminated from any other DNR turkey draws. The hunt periods are: April 24,25,26 April 27,28 April 29,30, May 1 May 2,3,4 May 5,6,7 May 8,9,10 May 11,12 Kingsbury is located at 5344 S. Hupp R...

April 20, May 18 and June 1-2, 2013  Free  and  Fishing  are two of my favorite words! – Check this out… In years past, we as Indiana residents enjoyed one weekend of free fishing and family-friendly fishing events. This year, we have four days of free fishing!   Normally, youth (age 17 and younger) and a  few other special anglers  are exempt from purchasing a fishing license; however, during 2013 Free Fishing Days (April 20, May 18, and June 1-2), all Indiana residents do not need a fishing license or a trout/salmon stamp to fish Indiana’s public waters. Don’t know where to fish? You may not have to travel far. The new  Go FishIN in the City  program is providing quality fishing opportunities and education events at several city park ponds across the state. You could also check out the amazing  Where to Fish  interactive map. Or view property information for other  DNR properties. Load up the car with friends, fami...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Purdue is offering a workshop in southeast Indiana for landowners interested in managing their property for wildlife. The Wildlife Management for the Private Landowner workshop is an 8-week course designed to provide landowners an introduction to wildlife ecology, a history of Indiana ecosystems, wildlife identification, wildlife biology, habitat management planning and techniques, and how to access information and assistance with wildlife management goals. Specific topics will include the biology and management of white-tailed deer, wild turkey, pheasants, quail, rabbits, and doves. Other topics will provide information on how to restore and manage forests, grasslands, and wetlands, and an introduction to prescribed burning. Topics will be presented by natural resources professionals. The cost for the workshop is $100 per person and includes a binder and CD with resource materials and publications geared to course topics, and refreshments. Th...

By: Michelle Cain, Wildlife Information Specialist These myths have surfaced and resurfaced over many years. They are often perpetuated by word of mouth. Well, I’m about to  BUST  these myths. You want the truth and not the “Bob’s brother’s cousin’s uncle told me?” Well here you go! Myth 1: The Indiana DNR has released rattlesnakes to control the turkey population Busted:  This myth has been circulating for many years and it is untrue. The idea is that the rattlesnakes would eat the turkey eggs. However, rattlesnakes rarely eat eggs and are not effective in controlling the turkey population. It has been said that these snakes were dropped from helicopters…..All I have to say about this is, if we have a DNR helicopter readily available…I’d love to ride in it. The Indiana DNR has never released rattlesnakes into the wild (although we have tagged some snakes and released them back to the same location). In fact, most rattlesnake species in our state are species o...

Indiana DNR is participating in a multi-state plan to scale back Chinook salmon stocking in Lake Michigan to better balance the lake’s ecosystem. Under the lake-wide plan, the 3.3 million Chinook salmon annually stocked into Lake Michigan by Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois would be reduced to 1.7 million. Indiana is pleased to have been part of this process,” said Brian Breidert, fisheries biologist for the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. “We hope that this reduction will have benefits to not only the ecosystem but also our hatcheries.” The proposed reduction is in response to two circumstances: recent increases in natural reproduction of Chinook salmon, and declines in the forage base. The reduction has support from all the state and tribal fisheries management agencies that partner to manage Lake Michigan. Indiana’s decision to support the reduction came after more than a year of consultation between sport anglers, other stakeholders and DN...

' (Photo credit: Wikipedia) MILWAUKEE – More information about a proposal from Lake Michigan state and tribal fisheries management agencies to reduce trout and salmon stocking starting in 2013 to better match  prey and predator numbers is available online  and the public has until Sept. 3, 2012, to comment on the proposed options. “This has been a lengthy but very worthwhile process involving a lot of stakeholders, and we need to finalize stocking reduction decisions in September so we can put them into action this fall,” said Brad Eggold, southern Lake Michigan fisheries supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources. Agencies collect salmon eggs starting in late September for fish that will be stocked in spring 2013. “We should collect only the number of eggs we’ll actually need this fall to make the most efficient use of our staff and funding,” Eggold said. Despite an exceptional coho harvest and good size-at-age among chinook salmon in 2011, lake-wide assessm...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) The first changes in Indiana’s waterfowl hunting zones in more than 25 years will be in effect for the start of the regular waterfowl seasons this fall. There still will be three zones, but they will be renamed as North, Central and South. The South Zone will represent a significant geographic expansion and replace the previous Ohio River Zone. Changes to the zone boundaries are designed to improve hunting opportunities by better relating duck migration, and therefore season timing, to the geography of the state, said DNR waterfowl biologist Adam Phelps. The North Zone boundary is essentially unchanged, with the exception of moving Roush Fish & Wildlife Area into the North. The North Zone boundary segregates the natural lakes and wetlands part of the state into its own zone. The North Zone boundary follows a line extending east from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. 31; north along U.S. 31 to U.S. 24; east along...