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IDNR Report
The Indiana DNR invites Hoosiers to share their experiences with accessibility at DNR properties across the state.
An online, five-question survey is now available at on.IN.gov/2024-guest-survey. It can be completed in about five minutes.
Creating a welcoming environment for all guests while retaining natural experiences is a key priority for DNR. The department’s new accessibility webpage at on.IN.gov/dnr-accessibility provides information on accessible activities like visiting beaches and pools, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, exploring trails, and more.
“Exploring Indiana’s great outdoors is a pastime that must be available to everyone,” said Dan Bortner, DNR director. “It’s exciting to see people find new experiences to enjoy through the accessibility webpage we launched this year. Through feedback we receive on this survey, we will continue working to improve accessibility and help overcome barriers that may prevent people from experiencing Indiana’s incredible natural and cultural wonders.”
As DNR adds and refines accessible activities based on feedback from this survey, the webpage will continue to be updated with new activities and places to explore.
“The DNR continues to make strides towards improving access, and we encourage people to reach out to our properties with accessibility questions,” said Ric Edwards, DNR director of ADA compliance. “We are fully committed to creating memorable, natural outdoors experiences for everyone to enjoy.”
To view more DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.
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IDNR Report
Hybrid Striped Bass
The Indiana DNR East Fork State Fish Hatchery recently completed annual striped bass and hybrid striped bass stockings. More than 78,000 striped bass fingerlings and 146,000 hybrid striped bass fingerlings were added to 12 lakes around the state. The stocked fish averaged 1–2 inches in length.
The breakdown of stockings of striped and hybrid striped bass by lake, with the respective counties listed in parentheses, was as follows:
- Worster Lake (St. Joseph) – 3,270 hybrids
- Cedar Lake (Lake) – 7,810 hybrid
- Lake Shafer (White) – 12,910 hybrids
- Nyona Lake (Fulton) – 1,040 hybrids
- Lake Freeman (Carroll and White) – 15,470 hybrids
- Clare Lake (Huntington) – 420 hybrids
- Shadyside Park Lake (Madison) – 1,000 hybrids
- Cecil M. Harden Lake (Parke) – 20,600 striped bass
- Brookville Lake (Union and Franklin) – 46,667 striped bass
- Monroe Lake (Monroe and Brown) – 53,750 hybrids
- Hardy Lake (Scott) – 1,000 striped bass and 7,000 hybrids
- Patoka Lake (Dubois, Crawford, and Orange) – 10,000 striped bass and 44,000 hybrids
Indiana anglers can look forward to continued quality striped and hybrid striped bass fishing opportunities in the coming years as a result of these stockings. To learn more about striped and hybrid striped bass fishing, visit bit.ly/striped-hybrid-bass-fishing.
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IDNR Report
As a result of Indiana’s positive detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in April, the Indiana DNR has restricted moving deer from any CWD Positive Area for rehabilitation purposes.
CWD, described in detail at on.IN.gov/cwd, is a fatal neurological disease in white-tailed deer.
With the change, an individual who finds an orphaned, sick, or injured deer in a CWD Positive Area may only surrender the deer to a DNR-permitted wild animal rehabilitator that is located within a CWD Positive Area.
“This restriction is to help minimize the spread of CWD to new parts of the state, as fawns can carry this disease without appearing sick,” said DNR’s Deer Program lead, Joe Caudell.
Currently, there is one CWD Positive Area in Indiana. It includes LaGrange, Steuben, Noble, and DeKalb counties. The state’s first positive case of CWD in white-tailed deer was confirmed by DNR in LaGrange County. While no deer have been documented in Steuben, Noble, or DeKalb counties, those counties are considered part of the CWD Positive Area because of their proximity to where the CWD-positive deer was found.
During their first few weeks of life, fawns often hide by themselves, motionless, to avoid predators while the mother seeks food.
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IDNR Report
Beginning Monday, July 8, hunters can apply for reserved hunts online by visiting on.IN.gov/reservedhunt.
The online application method is the only way to apply for the hunts listed. No late entries will be accepted. Applicants must possess a hunting license that is valid for the hunt for which they are applying.
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 4. More specific hunt information for individual properties can be found at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt.
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By Louie Stout
The Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area is expanding thanks to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.
Some 175 acres were purchased through funding by the two conservation groups and with Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration funds. It will bring Willow Slough acreage to more than 10,000 acres.
The land will be the spotlight of a dedication ceremony on the property Friday at 11 a.m. CST.
Willow Slough is located in northwest Indiana near Morocco, Ind. It also is home to J.C. Murphy Lake that has undergone a renovation to help return it to one of the state’s top fisheries.