- Details
IDNR Report
DNR properties remain open for day-use outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking on paved trails, boating, fishing, birding, and geocaching. Entrance-gate admission at properties that normally charge gate admission remains temporarily waived.
New restrictions on camping and some trail uses were put in effect this week:
- Campgrounds on all DNR properties are closed through April 20.
- Bicycling on unpaved trails and all horseback riding has been suspended at all DNR properties.
- Some high impact/high adventure trails at Indiana State Parks are also now closed for safety purposes. These trail closures include most of the hiking trails at Turkey Run, Shades and Clifty Falls, and about half of the hiking trails at O'Bannon Woods.
- Details
IDNR Report
Indiana conservation officers are offering several free Indiana hunter education courses ahead of the 2020 Spring Turkey Season, which runs April 22 through May 10. Youth Turkey Season is April 18-19.
Classes slated for Michiana include Wyatt Conservation and Coonhunters Club in Wakarusa, Ind. March 13-14; Nappanee Conservation Club, March 13-14; Elkins Taxidermy, New Carlisle, March 14-15; Topeka Fire Dept., Topeka, Ind., March 24-26; Marshall County Conservation Club, Plymouth, Ind., March 28-29.
Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1986 is required to pass a hunter education course to get a hunting license. Students are required to attend the entire course in order to take the test. There is no minimum age; however, students younger than 11 years old are required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Details
IDNR Report
Indiana’s National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) has surpassed the mark of having more than 500 participating schools in its 15 years of existence.
Administrated through the DNR Division of Law Enforcement, NASP was introduced to Hoosier state schools in 2005.
Currently, there are 529 participating schools. Statistics reported to the DNR by participating schools show that more than 70,000 students in grades 4 through 12 participated in NASP® during the 2018-2019 school year. In addition, more than 2,300 of those students were recognized by the NASP® Academic Archer program, which started during the 2018-2019 school year. That program honors NASP® participants for their academic achievements, as well as their archery skills.
- Details
IDNR Report
Indiana Conservation Officers arrested Donald Latulip, 71, of Cedar Lake on Sunday evening after receiving a complaint he was interfering with a group of waterfowl hunters on Cedar Lake at 2 p.m.
Indiana CO Alex Neel responded and observed Latulip in a pontoon boat near the hunters, waving a white towel when ducks flew in the area of the hunters. The hunters also gave Neel a video showing Latulip discharging a shotgun toward a residential area on the lake.
Latulip left the area in his boat and entered North Point Marina, which he owns. Neel and officers from the Cedar Lake Police Department attempted to make contact with the suspect at the marina but encountered a locked gate. While at the gate, officers heard what sounded like additional gunfire coming from the marinaÃs docks.
Latulip refused to open the locked gate. Officers forced the gate open, and the suspect was placed in a police vehicle at 5 p.m. for transport to Lake County Jail.
Latulip faces charges of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a level 6 felony; hunter harassment, a class C misdemeanor, and hindering a conservation officer, also a class C misdemeanor.
All charges are merely accusations and all suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in court.
- Details
IDNR Report
All shooting ranges operated by the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife will adjust their hours of operation during the months of January and February.
The ranges at the following fish & wildlife areas will be open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET or 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT, depending on their location: Crosley, Deer Creek, J.E. Roush Lake, Jasper-Pulaski, Kingsbury, Pigeon River, Sugar Ridge, Tri-County, Wilbur Wright, and Winamac.
This will not affect the hours of operation for archery ranges, which are open daily, sunrise to sunset at these properties.
Regular range hours will resume March 1 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET or 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT depending on location, Wednesday through Sunday.)
The Division of Fish & Wildlife strives to provide clean, safe ranges. The ranges are staffed by trained range safety officers and most charge no free. These ranges are great places to shoot the new gun you may have received over the holidays or to sight in your firearm for your next hunting outing.
For more information on shooting range hours, visit www.wildlife.IN.gov/3648.htm.