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MUCC Report
Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) filed a complaint in United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan on Sunday challenging the criminal prohibition against motorboat use recently announced by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The complaint alleges Whitmer and Department of Natural Resources Director Daniel Eichinger’s application of EO 2020-42 to prohibit motorboat use is unconstitutional.
The order itself was enacted on April 9 by Whitmer and expressly allows “outdoor physical activity,” including activities similar to kayaking and canoeing. The order makes no mention of prohibiting the outdoor activity of boating. However, in response to “Frequently Asked Questions,” the Governor and DNR have opined that motorboat use is not an allowed form of “outdoor physical activity.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 marinaís 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.