WAYNEDALE WOODS AND WATERS

The Fort Wayne Sports Vacation and Boat Show will be on at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum as you are reading this. I will be helping to man the GAD-A-BOUT Magazine booth. Stop by and get some free back issues of the magazine or an autograph. Have your picture taken with an outdoor writer, or listen to some tall hunting/fishing tales. I hope to see you there.

 

RESERVED TURKEY HUNT DEADLINE APPROACHING

Young hunters are encouraged to apply for reserved hunts. Indiana DNR wildlife research biologist Steve Backs is urging young hunters to apply for reserved turkey hunts this spring. Reserved turkey hunts are available at 16 Indiana DNR properties, a national wildlife refuge and a military area for the upcoming spring turkey season, which runs April 23 through May 11. “A night at the movies costs more than the annual $7 youth hunting license, and the memories of the hunt will last far longer than the memories of the latest blockbuster,” said Backs. Backs estimates that at least one in four turkey hunters will bag a bird during the 19-day wild turkey hunting season. He projects that 48,800 hunters will pursue gobblers this spring and that harvest will be around 12,200 birds. “Last year’s brood production was about average, many turkey populations are still growing and expanding into new range, and hunter interest is still growing, especially in areas where new hunting range was recently opened,” said Backs. The deadline for reserved hunt applications is March 15. Hunters may apply for reserved turkey hunts by completing the application card in Indiana’s 2003-03 Hunting and Trapping Guide or Indiana Turkey Season flier, available at DNR properties, wherever hunting licenses are sold, or by calling (317) 232-4080.‑ Hunters must have a valid turkey, lifetime or youth hunting license to apply.‑ Applicants will be selected by random drawing and will be notified of results by mail. Fish and Wildlife Areas and Reservoirs Jasper-Pulaski, Kingsbury, LaSalle, Pigeon River, Tri-County, Willow Slough and Winamac fish and wildlife areas and Huntington, Mississinewa and Salamonie reservoirs will conduct five three-day reserved hunts and two two-day reserved hunts. April 23, 24, 25 – April 26, 27 – April 28, 29, 30 – May 1, 2, 3, – May 4, 5, 6 – May 7, 8, 9 – May 10, 11 Atterbury, Crosley, Glendale, Hovey Lake, Splinter Ridge and Minnehaha Fish and Wildlife areas and Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge will hold two three-day reserved hunts. The hunting dates for these areas are:April 23, 24, 25 – April 26, 27, 28 Successful Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge applicants must attend a refuge safety course and must bring one partner on hunt days. Call 812-273-0783 for details. Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area also conducts four two-day hunts at Camp Atterbury Army National Guard Training Area. Camp Atterbury Training Area reserved hunts are on: April 14, 15 – April 16, 17 – April 21, 22 – April 23, 24

Turkey harvest data and Indiana turkey information is available at:www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/hunt/turkey/turkeydata.htm

Information on Indiana turkey hunting regulations is available at: www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/huntguide1/turkey.htm

 

MUZZLELOADING 4-H SHOOTING SPORTS PROGRAM

This program is sponsored by the Allen County 4-H Shooting Sports Club. The program teaches safe handling of firearms, proper use of equipment, shooting techniques and ethics of good shooters. The program will begin Thursday, April 24 at 6:30pm at the Allen County Extension Office, 4001 Crescent Avenue. Then the program will continue in Spencerville, Indiana on May 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Registration is limited. Advanced registration is required. The program is open to all youth grades 3-12. The cost is $20; equipment will be provided. Please call the Allen County Extension Office at 481-6826 to request additional information. Instructors are certified through the Indiana 4-H Shooting Sports Program of Purdue University and the Department of Natural Resources.

“GROUNDHOGS” – This is the name of a pre-school program at Fox Island County Park presented by Naturalist Christian Schult on March 20, 2003 from 10am to 11am and from 2pm to 3pm. Come join us and learn about baby groundhogs. The cost for the program is $3 per child for ages 3-5. Call ahead for a reservation. Call 449-3180.

“BIRDS OF COSTA RICA” will be presented at our Breakfast With The Birds at Fox Island with Naturalist Jodi Leamon on March 19, 2003 from 8am to 10am. The cost is $3 per person. Reservations are required. A continental breakfast will be provided. Call 449-3180.

“CHILDREN’S ASTRONOMY WITH BOB DISPENZA” – will be presented at Fox Island on March 21, 2003 from 7pm to 9pm. Bring your children to the park to learn about stargazing and folklore. This is a program for children ages 7 to 16. For reservations or more information call 449-3180.

“COOL WEATHER LECTURE SERIES ON BEETLES” will be presented by Fox Island and Little River Wetlands Project on Thursday, March 20, 2003 from 7pm to 9pm at the Fox Island Nature Center. Featured speaker will be Dr. Tom Turpin from Purdue University. This is the last part of a six part lecture series. The program is Free. For more information call 449-3184.