Deer harvest down in 2013 but still a top 10 season
Hunters harvested fewer deer in the 2013 season than in each of the previous five seasons. The reported harvest of 125,635 deer was about 10,600 fewer deer than the record harvest of 136,248 in 2012, a decline of 7.8 percent. It still ranks eighth best since regulated deer hunting began in 1951.
The firearms season accounted for 57 percent of the total, followed by archery at 27 percent. The muzzleloader (8 percent), late antlerless (5 percent), and youth season (2 percent) made up the rest.
At least two and possibly three factors contributed to the lower harvest – carryover from a widespread outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in 2012 and more in 2013, a record antlerless harvest in 2012, and the second season of new hunting regulations aimed at lowering deer densities in some areas of the state.
The full harvest report is at wildlife.IN.gov, under Featured Topics.
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DNR Fishing Guide available
The DNR’s annual Indiana Fishing Guide & Regulations is now available at license vendors and most DNR properties.
The 32-page booklet includes basic information on license requirements, daily bag limits and size limits, and other helpful material on such items as trot lines, spear and bow fishing, ice fishing, etc.
Also, the guide has informative feature articles on Lake Michigan fishing opportunities, the state record fish and fish of the year program, muskies, walleyes, and the fish consumption advisory.
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2014 reserved youth turkey hunts on DNR properties
Youth hunters can apply for a reservation to hunt one of 21 DNR properties during the special youth wild turkey hunting season, April 19 and 20.
The hunters must be younger than 18 on the day of the hunt.
The reserved hunts are at the following fish & wildlife areas: Atterbury, Chinook, Crosley, Deer Creek, Fairbanks Landing, Glendale, Hillenbrand, Hovey Lake, Jasper-Pulaski, Kankakee, Kingsbury, LaSalle, Minnehaha, Pigeon River, Roush, Sugar Ridge, Tri-County, Winamac and Willow Slough. Find out more
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Healthy Rivers INiative buys land for project’s first access site
The smallest of three recent Healthy Rivers INitiative (HRI) land purchases may be the most significant, not for its size, but for its purpose.
The 40-acre site in Sullivan County is next to Fairbanks Landing Fish & Wildlife Area, the southern anchor of HRI’s Wabash River Conservation Area.
It will become the first public access site created under HRI. Read more
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 DNR offers barn owl nest boxes
DNR biologists monitor the population of state-endangered barn owls and put up nest boxes for the owls when possible. Nest boxes are available for free and can be placed in any barn or large outbuilding, including metal-sided garages and pole barns. Biologists are placing nest boxes throughout March at sites that currently have or recently have had barn owls.
The nest boxes give the owls a safe place to nest and improve their chances of successfully raising young. Contact Amy Kearns at akearns@dnr.in.gov or (812) 849-4586 to request a nest box installation. Read more about barn owls in Indiana.
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Karl E. Kelley Memorial Youth Camp
This camp is open to any boy or girl that has just completed the fifth or sixth grade. Camp fee is $300 per camper and includes all meals, lodging and needed equipment.
Activities include:
• Certification in Boater Education and Hunter Education
• Range day (firearms, bows, tomahawks, etc.)
• Water day at Raccoon Lake with the DNR SCUBA team, canoe safety class, air boat and jet ski rides
• Canoe trip down the Sugar Creek
The camp runs June 15-21. There's room for only 120 campers, so don't delay. Online application and more information.
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Indiana’s newest education project: Explore Bowhunting
Two Explore Bowhunting workshops will open the door for those who want to learn new outdoor skills. Students will discover how to interact with the natural world and how to feel comfortable in the outdoors, whether they’re interested in bow hunting, photographing wildlife, or just enjoying nature.
Training workshops
* April 15 & 17: 6-8 p.m. at Fort Harrison State Park
* July 19: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Pine Knob Park in LaGrange County
For more information, call (317) 234-8442 or email awuestefeld@dnr.in.gov.
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Perfect storm for winter fish kills
Owners of shallow ponds and lakes, especially in northern Indiana should be on the lookout for fish kills this spring. With near record snowfall and ice up to 20 inches thick, Indiana fisheries biologists anticipate numerous reports of winter fish kills at ice out. The most common cause of fish kills in Indiana ponds is suffocation due to the lack of oxygen.
Pond owners who experience a fish kill or need advice on other pond related issues can refer to Indiana’s Pond Management Booklet.
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