Patoka Sportsman 8-21-21

Patoka Sportsman 8-21 & 8-22-21

Several Indiana Hunter Education classes will be coming up in our area in the next few weeks.  On Saturday August 28 Wabash Trails Park in Vincennes will hold a Hunter Ed. Class from 8 AM to 6 PM. The class will be held at the park office. The Floyd County Conservation Club will host a class on Saturday, August 28 from       8 AM – 7:30 PM. On Friday, September 10 from 6-8:30 PM and Saturday September 11 from 8 AM – 3:30 PM a class will be held at the Chrisney 4-H Center Lower building on Hwy. 70 in Chrisney. The Clarksville Bass Pro Shop will be hosting an event on Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12 from 1-6PM both days. Another class is coming up September 13-16 at the Graber Post Sports Complex in Odon. The Selvin Community Center in Dale will host a Hunter Ed. Class on Saturday, September 18 from 8 AM – 3 PM and Sunday, September 19 from 8-11 AM. In Daviess County the Washington Conservation Club is the host for a class from September 20-23. Anyone born after December 31, 1986 is required to be certified in Hunter Education before they can purchase a hunting license.

The Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife wants to hear your ideas on fishing, hunting, trapping, and other fish and wildlife-related regulations in Indiana, including special permits. Through Sept. 15, use the online form to contribute ideas and provide input on issues the DNR has identified for consideration. See the list of issues below. Users must register with a username and a password. There has been a lot of discussion among sportsmen about a potential bobcat hunting or trapping season.  Currently it isn’t being considered by the DNR.  If you have an opinion on it now’s your time to speak up.

Input and ideas can also be mailed to:

Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife
Attn: Got INput
402 W. Washington St., Room W273
Indianapolis, IN 46204

After Sept. 16, DNR staff will evaluate all comments and determine which ideas for further consideration.

Fall trap leagues starts Tuesday, September 7 and runs each Tuesday for 10 weeks.  The 9th week is a make up night and the 10th week is the league awards banquet.  Each team will consist of 5 shooters.  You will shoot 2 rounds of 25 clay targets per night.  Your league score is based on a handicap system which uses 80% of your average. You are responsible to provide your own firearm and ammunition.  Cost per person for the fall trap league is $80 for club members and $110 for non club members. Payment is due Sept. 7 by cash or check. Shooting commences at approximately 5:45 PM and team sign up times are first come first served.  Please make sure your entire team is present before signing up to shoot.  If you are a single shooter and need a team please call or email and the Jasper Rifle and Gun Club will try to find a team to place you on. For more information email [email protected] or call 812-684-0047 or 812-351-2564.

DNR still needs your help to collect observations of turkey broods (hens and young) to calculate the annual wild turkey Production Index (number of young per adult hens). DNR’s goal is to collect 3,000 observations, with at least 25 per county. Right now, biologists have received more than 2,000 observations. If you’ve seen a turkey brood or a hen report your sighting online through Aug. 31.

Applications for put and take pheasant hunts at Glendale FWA will be available for purchase starting Sept. 3 at 7 AM.  Slots include dates from Nov. 20 through Nov. 28. There is a per person fee to participate.  The bag limit for put and take pheasant hunting is two birds of either sex. A hunter filling their limit in a put and take hunt may not take any more pheasants that day.  

The Patoka Lake Watershed Steering Committee encourages individuals, families, friends and service groups to help with the 14th annual Patoka Lake Clean Up on Saturday, Aug. 28. Participants of all ages and abilities will be assigned an area to pick up litter along the shore starting at 8 a.m. At 11 a.m., all volunteers head into the main entrance of the park for free entrance, a box lunch, door prizes and goody bags. Volunteers are asked to sign up ahead of time for lunch so check the Patoka Lake Watershed Steering Committee Facebook page or text or call 812-639-0123 and ask to be put on the Watershed email list.

Eric Doane is retiring from DNR Law Enforcement after serving 28 years. Doane was recognized for exemplary service on multiple occasions, including receiving the 2007 James Pitzer Indiana Conservation Officer of the Year Award. He also received the 2017 William J. Nattkemper Brotherhood Award in 2017, and the 2018 Director’s Leadership Award in 2018, and was selected as a District Officer of the Year four times.

During his career, Doane served on many specialty teams for DNR Law Enforcement, including Scuba, Peer Support, Cave Rescue, Wildland Firefighter, Field Training Officer, Search and Rescue, Firearms and Patrol Rifle Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and Use of Force Instructor. In addition, he attended more than 50 specialty schools and was a graduate of the Police Executive Leadership Academy. In 2015 he was promoted to corporal and became a field supervisor to the officers in District 7.

His first county assignment as an Indiana conservation officer was in Union County in District 9. After five and a half years there, he transferred to Martin County in District 7, where he has served since 1998. On July 30, Doane accepted a faculty position at Vincennes University, his alma mater, as the department chairman of the Conservation Law Enforcement Program.