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Indiana Department of Natural ResourcesDivision of Fish and Wildlife

Winter 2000

Topics this issue...Aquatic animals

Private lands management

Sauger reintroduction

Accessible hunting

Get a grip on safe and simple ice fishingOn New Year’s Day, I watched a stray beagle rabbit dog

struggle to keep from drowning after falling through icecovering Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area’s Pisgah Lake. Icouldn’t help the flailing, wide-eyed, old dog, and hadresigned myself to witnessing the poor creature’s lastmoments when the dog relaxed, threw his front legs flatacross the wet ice, planted his toenails and pulled himselfback from a watery grave. I thought, “before I go icefishing, I need to make a set of dognails.”

Building a better dognailEvery winter, thousands of Hoosiers enjoy fishing

through ice. And every year, several of these hardwateranglers fall through and discover the true meaning ofdesperation — and sometimes death. Last year, afisherman drowned in Kosciusko County when he venturedout alone at dusk and fell through ice weakened byCanada geese. If you’re unprepared, you’ve got nothing tohold onto as your heavy boots and coveralls fill withwater.

I remember as a kid, I saw old timers wearing a two-piece block of wood around their necks while ice fishing.The blocks snapped apart to reveal two heavy-duty icepicks. Essentially, you had two big emergency dog toenailsto jam into the ice if needed.

As I rummaged through my mind and garage for stuff tomake into a set of matching ice awls, I called DeanShadley, a conservation officer and ice fisherman fromRushville, to ask about ice fishing safety. While I pawedthrough nails, bolts and wood scraps, Shadley told meconservation officers see drownings every winter resultingfrom anglers, ice skaters or playing kids falling throughice.

Steve Andrews of Bedford, Ind. catches perch at Lake James. With a littlecommon sense, ice fishing can be safe and productive.

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Focus on Fish & Wildlife is a quarterlypublication from the Indiana Departmentof Natural Resources Division of Fish andWildlife. Focus on Fish & Wildlife seeksto educate sportsmen and women, con-servationists, wildlife recreationists andall Hoosiers on topics related to the man-agement of Indiana’s fish and wildliferesources.

Larry D. MacklinDepartment of Natural Resources

Director

Gary DoxtaterDivision of Fish and Wildlife Director

Jon MarshallPublic Affairs Chief

Michael Ellis, EditorJohn Maxwell, Photographer

Focus on Fish & Wildlife is distributed freeof charge. To subscribe, send name, completeaddress, city, state and zip code. Sendaddress changes or subscription requests to:

Focus on Fish and Wildlife402 W. Washington St., Room W273

Indianapolis, IN 46204

If you have questions, please write tothe above address or call (317) 232-4080.

MissionTo manage fish and

wildlife for present

and future

generations,

balancing ecological, recreational and

economic benefits.

Director of

Fish & Wildlife

Printed on recycled paper

Visit the DNRDivision of Fish & Wildlife website:

www.ai.org/dnr/fishwild/index.html

Gary Doxtater

For the past few months I have been talking aboutan important opportunity Congress has to pass an

outstanding legislative bill called the Conservationand Reinvestment Act (CARA). Recently it has runinto some roadblocks and a national coalition hasbeen launched called the “Great Wildlife Rescue,”a campaign to ensure that dedicated funding forwildlife will be passed by the 106th Congress inits final days. Wildlife funding is one of the hallmarks ofthe bipartisan Conservation and ReinvestmentAct. It would provide the largest infusion offunds for conservation in US history, $44

billion over the next 15 years. Funds would go mostly to state and localwildlife, parks, coastal and other conservation programs. In some statesCARA would almost double federal funding to states for wildlifeconservation. CARA passed the House overwhelmingly in May by a 3:1margin, and was reported out of the Senate Energy and NaturalResources Committee in July by a 13-7 vote. President Clinton alsourged its passage.

My good friend R. Max Peterson, Executive Vice President of theInternational Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA) wasinstrumental in getting wildlife groups on board as early as 10 years agoin an effort called Teaming with Wildlife. Peterson has said “Wildlifeneeds help nationwide, not just in the few states that might get grantsfor one year with no assurance for the next. There is still hope providedthe Senate and White House, can in the waning days of Congress,restore the wildlife conservation provisions of CARA. We must make surestate wildlife funding is including in any final legislative package”.

Naomi Edelson, IAFWA Teaming with Wildlife Director said “Ourcoalition has worked way too hard to have wildlife left high and dry. Wehave used grassroots grit to effect change through democracy. TheAmerican people want wildlife funding, and our coalition still believethat the will of the people will prevail.”

The coalition assisted in acquiring signatures of 63 Senators on aletter to the Senate leadership urging the scheduling of CARA for aSenate floor vote before the close of the 106th Congress. As many as300 organizations from each state wrote similar letters to theirSenators. Edelson stated, “Wildlife, the most popular and leastcontroversial part of the bill, deserves better! We won’t accept a hollowsubstitute for our coalition’s efforts.”

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Get a grip on ice fishing . . .

“Warn your kids about playing onfrozen lakes and streams withoutsupervision.” stressed Shadley. “And ifyou’re fishing, drill your own test holenear shore. Don’t trust anyone else’smeasurements. Ice strength canchange fast. Thick ice is rotten after arain. Old honey-combed ice or ice withcurrent under it is also dangerous.Your test hole should show at least afour-inch thickness of nice, clear icelike you get from your refrigerator.”

Shadley said outdoor writer BayouBill Scifres told him how to make asafety anchor using a nearby icefishing hole. “You tie one end of therope to the middle of a short boardand slip the board through the extrahole and pull it up tight against thebottom of the ice—like a toggle bolt.Keep the other end of the rope withinreach.”

Shadley also wears his personalflotation device (PFD) over hiscoveralls. If he’s fishing a small farmpond alone, he’ll tie himself to shore.

Other safetymaneuvers includepushing a small boatin front of you onunfamiliar ice, orkeeping a boat,strong rope orextension laddernearby that can befetched by fellowanglers.

Shadley alsoexplained whyIndiana law limits icefishing holes to adiameter of twelveinches. “I saw anidiot chop a five byseven foot fishinghole in the ice atBrookville Lake. If alittle skim ice and alittle snow covers hishole, he’s created adeath trap for thenext angler.

A similar trap canbe created by flocksof waterfowl orbeavers, who work tokeep small areas ofwater ice free. Tri-Lakes Fish and

Wildlife Area property manager SteveRoth believes geese maintaining apatch of open water may havecontributed to the ice-fishing relateddrowning in his county last winter. Hesaid a flock of geese were seenswimming for several days in the samespot where the fisherman fell throughthe ice.

Roth reminds anglers using shantiesto put red reflectors on each side sosnowmobiles won’t crash into them.Ice fishing shanties are smallwindbreaks or shacks sledded onto theice for shelter. The walls block lightfrom an angler’s lantern as well aswind, and make them hard to see atnight and in falling snow.

Roth agreed that four inches ofsolid ice is needed for safe fishing,and that ice quality varies. “If indoubt, don’t go out,” advised Roth.“Live to fish another day.”

Prepared by John Maxwell, program director

Spikes, bee moths, mousiesand wigglers

You don’t need a lot of fancyequipment to get started icefishing. A simple ice fishing rodcosts less than $10, and aninexpensive plastic reel costs lessthan $2. Or you can use a regularultralight reel with a drag. Thesereels start at $20.

Many anglers use tiny luresthat sell for around $1 each. Andmost people bait these lures withsmall live insect larvae with neatnames like spikes, bee moths,mousies and wigglers. Theselarvae, along with minnows, canbe purchased at bait shops. Aplain hook and a minnow arehard to beat for crappie, butdon’t let your minnow bucketwater freeze solid.

Choice of fishing line varies,but most use 2-pound testmonofilament. Some icefishermen use a bobber to detecta bite, while others use specialspring bobbers that wiggle justoff the rod tip. Other anglers useno bobbers at all, relying on feeland concentration to let themknow when a fish is biting.

Finally, you need to cut a holein the ice. Veteran ice fishersrecommend an ice auger.Sharpened blades on the augercut through the ice like an oldhand-cranked wood drill.Motorized versions work betteron thick ice.

Get a lake map and startdrilling over structure near shore,then move deeper. Or look to seewhere others are catching fish. Aportable fish finder helps. Asmall ladle-like skimmer is usedto clear new ice out of your hole.

Don’t forget warm clothes andgood insulated waterproof boots.Throw all your stuff and athermos of hot beverage in a fivegallon pickle bucket and go.

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Dog Nails: Simple safety devices can help you survive a fall throughweak ice. These two ice picks fit together and are worn around theneck when ice fishing. They can be used to grip wet ice. Make surethe rope is as long as your outstretched arms.

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Turkey hunting - you’re never too old

I don’t know why I waited so manyyears to go turkey hunting, butopening day of turkey season wasfinally here.

I hiked to the top of Big Tom Knobwith my good friend Tucker. It was along hike, with all the gear I had tocarry—mostly Tucker’s—whichincluded a folding chair.

Exhausted and out of breath, wemade it to the top, and constructed asmall camo fort (not out of the whole300 yards of material I had justcarried up the hill) and hid inside.

After getting settled in, Tuckerturned and looked at me with aserious gaze that seemed to say “It’stime.” He began with a box callfollowed up with a squeak box. Rightaway he coaxed in a hen that had onebad leg. Tucker tried again. This timein came a dog that had seen betterdays. I began to wonder what kind oftraining my buddy had calling inturkeys.

The initial rush of adrenaline waswearing off. Tucker played the boxcall again. We waited. “Did you hearthat long beard gobble?” said Tucker.I rolled my eyes and thought, “Yeah,right.” Two minutes later he said,“Sam, did you hear it that time?” Istill couldn’t hear a thing, except forpileated and red-bellied woodpeckerswho were angry that we werehomesteading in their territory. Ithought to myself, “What’s thisturkey hunt coming to?” A saneperson might have given up, but Ihad turkey fever.

And then, I actually heard theturkey gobble. I began looking offinto the woods, hoping I could spothim as he strutted in. Sure enough,there he was. My first thought was “Iwish I had a video camera so I couldfilm this.” My pulse raced. Tuckercalmed me with encouraging wordslike “Now Sam, don’t mess this up.It’s time for my breakfast.”

I laughed quietly to myself at his

comments, but remained steadfast. Iwas like a bird dog on point. I drew abead on the strutting Tom as it beganmaking small ‘S’ turns among the mayapples that were in bloom. I watchedthe turkey draw ever closer and goodold Tucker kept up his encouragementby listing all the things he was goingto have for breakfast—eggs, ham,toast... “Shhh” I quietly scolded himout of the side of my mouth.

I was thinking this bird is nevergoing to come out of strut. Itcontinued to strut, full fan and wingsdragging. I took careful aim and fired.Tucker looked at me in amazement. Ihad just taken my first wild turkey.Then, likesomeone giving usa cue, we gaveeach other highfives and beganverballyreconstructing thewhole thing.Tucker paused andsaid, “Sam, go tagthe bird.”

The bird? Thetag? My thoughtprocess turned to“Boy, that’s someexpensive meat,maybe $100 apound.” Still, I wasvery proud to havetaken such a nicebird and done sosafely. Mythoughts thenwent to wishingthat all myhunting buddiescould have beenthere with me.

Back at campthere was plenty ofpraise, handshaking, anddozens of pictures.I felt as if I just

won the Indianapolis 500.Around the campfire that evening

we talked about how I was going tomount the fan and beard, and preparethe meat. Before we turned in for theevening, I gave in to pleas to tell thestory just one more time.

Now I look forward to turkey camp.To be outside, along the Blue River,listening for the call of the wildturkey, is truly one of my favoritethings—not only for me, but for the“youngster” that still lives within me.

Prepared by Sam Purvis, boating law adminis-trator, Division of Law Enforcement

Turkey fever can strike at any age

Sam Purvis, with all the proof he needs in hand.

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Aquatic animals - our heritage runs deepIndiana’s water ecosystem supports a diversity of animals

DartersSeven species of darter -

bluebreast, spotted, Tippecanoe,harlequin, gilt, spottail, and variegate- are listed as endangered in Indiana.A three year survey, initiated in 1998,is attempting to accurately define thecurrent range of each of theseendangered fish. Some of the majorfinds include: Tippecanoe darters fromthe Wabash River and spotted dartersin the East Fork White River. Both ofthese species have never beencollected in these drainages, showingan important change in distribution.

MusselsThe status of freshwater mussels

continues to be a concern in Indiana,especially with the growing numberof zebra mussels. Although most ofIndiana’s freshwater mussel speciesare found in rivers, several areadapted for life in natural lakehabitats. The distribution offreshwater mussels in northernIndiana’ is unknown, so a survey ofthese habitats began in 1998. More

than 100 lakeshave beensampled andpopulations oftwo rare mussels(wavyrayedlampmussel andrayed bean) havebeen found. Mostlakes sampledhave evidence ofmussel presence.

Lake sturgeonA survey to

recordpopulations ofthe endangeredlake sturgeon isanother on-goingproject. Last year,

been captured and released, rangingin size from three to 97 pounds andtwo to 6.5 feet in length. During thefirst two years of the study, all lakesturgeon were captured from the samelocation. Recently, lake sturgeon havebeen captured at four new locations.Several smaller lake sturgeon werecollected, including one individualweighing 2.8 pounds. Finding smallerindividuals is a sign that reproductionis occurring. In the future, the focusshifts to finding spawning areas inIndiana.

These surveys are funded bydonations to the Endangered WildlifeFund through the Indiana stateincome tax checkoff. Donations foron-going aquatic research can be sentto: Endangered Wildlife Fund, Divisionof Fish and Wildlife, 402 WestWashington Street, Room W273,Indianapolis, IN 46204.For more information about Indiana’sEndangered Wildlife Program, contactKathy Quimbach at (317) 232-4080.Information on the EndangeredWildlife Program is also available onthe web at www.dnr.state.in.us/fishwild/index.htm.

Prepared by Kathy Quimbach, nongame biolo-gist

Indiana has a rich aquatic heritage,with several large river systems, theLake Michigan shoreline andapproximately 450 natural lakes.These water ecosystems support adiversity of animals, many of whichfall into the nongame or endangeredcategory.

The DNR is charged with protectingand managing more than 550 wildlifespecies in the state. This numberincludes aquatic species such as fish,amphibians and freshwater mussels.

Summer and early fall are busymonths for DNR’s aquatic biologist,Brant Fisher. His field projects coverthe state and focus on such creaturesas lake sturgeon, freshwater musselsand darters, Indiana’s smallest fish.The data gathered from these surveysprovides information for developingeffective management strategies.These projects also provideinformation for reviewing a species’status in the state. For example, as aresult of the darter survey, one or twoof these fish may be removed fromthe state’s endangered list.

Brant Fisher holds an endangered lake sturgeon. In the Great lakes,sturgeon can exceed eight feet in length and weigh up to 300 pounds.

Seventy-seven species of freshwater musselsonce inhabited the state's waterways. Tenof those species are now extinct, 15 areendangered and populations of another ninespecies have been greatly diminished.

68 different lakesturgeon had

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Private lands management

The DNR’s Division of Fish andWildlife strives to professionallymanage Indiana’s fish and wildlifepopulations for present and futuregenerations, while balancingecological, recreational, and economicbenefits for all Hoosiers.

Hunting, fishing, trapping andwildlife viewing are dependent on thequantity and quality of fish andwildlife habitats and the wildlife theyproduce.

Indiana’s privately owned landsprovide the bulk of wildlife recreationopportunities. Ninety-two percent ofIndiana’s hunters hunt on privateland. In addition, approximately 1.3million Hoosiers participate in wildlifeviewing on non-public lands inIndiana.

With 97 percent of Indiana’slandscape in private ownership,natural resource managers firmlybelieve that the future of wildlifemanagement and wildlife recreationin Indiana is largely dependent onthe creation, restoration, andmanagement of wildlife habitats andwildlife populations on private land.

The DNR is redirecting more of itstechnical resources toward privatelands wildlife habitat development byincreasing the number of personnelresponsible for private landmanagement.

Sixteen private lands managementbiologists will be responsible for a fiveto six-county district. In addition,property management staff on six fishand wildlife areas will assume privatelands management responsibilities inthe county associated with theirproperty. Biologists are workingclosely with a growing constituencyof private landowners to promotestewardship for Indiana’s wildliferesources to provide a greater level ofwildlife-related, recreationalopportunities on private lands.

The private lands initiative willprovide expertise to meet the

demands for wildlife related services.Biologists will actively work withlandowners to develop detailedwildlife management plans andprovide financial incentive packagesto assist in habitat developmentprojects.

Opportunities for improvingwildlife habitat abound. One suchopportunity is the 1996 Federal FarmBill. Through its many agriculturallybased programs, such as theConservation Reserve Program (CRP),the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP),the Wildlife Habitat IncentiveProgram (WHIP), the EnvironmentalQuality Incentive Program (EQIP),thousands of acres of wildlife habitatcan be developed, restored, orenhanced while providing important

soil erosion control and water qualitybenefits.

One priority will be to assist U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA)personnel in preparing conservationplans to maximize wildlife benefits onthese acres.

Another priority will be to contactowners of existing CRP lands and offerthem opportunities to revitalize thewildlife benefits associated with theirCRP acreage. More than 81,000 acresof grasses and legumes have beenentered into CRP over the years. Manyof these areas lose their vegetativediversity and become too thick foroptimum wildlife usage.

Using various methods, we canrestore the vegetative diversity andwildlife benefits to these lands and

Positive strides are being made in improving Hoosier wildlife habitat

More than 19,000 acres of agricultural lands were recently accepted in the Conservation Reserve Program. Onbiologists will be to assist U.S. Department of Agriculture personnel in preparing conservation plans to maxi

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improve them for rabbits, quail, andpheasants, as well as grasslandsongbirds. In addition, new incentivesto set aside land in riparian corridorsand filter strips have also opened thedoors to restore miles of wildlifehabitat along our rivers and streams.Taking advantage of theseopportunities can only beaccomplished by providing increasedtechnical resources and manpower atthe local level.

As Indiana’s population has grown,the number of rural landownersowning 20 to 40 acres has increased.Most new landowners place a highvalue on wildlife and are veryinterested in providing and caring forthe wildlife resources that occur ontheir land.

t on private lands

With increases in habitat and landownership fragmentation, theDivision is also working at thelandscape and watershed levels.Biologists will participate moreactively with Soil and WaterConservation Districts (SWCDs), localunits of government, and other stateagencies and organizations to tacklenatural resource concerns with aholistic approach.

A new era of public involvement inwildlife management has arisen in theform of specialized conservationorganizations. Organizations such as,Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever,Quail Unlimited, and The NationalWild Turkey Federation havecontributed significantly to thedevelopment of wildlife habitat onIndiana’s rural landscape over the lastdecade. The Division recognizes theexcellent work these organizationshave accomplished.

Biologists are able to work moreclosely with these and other “grassroots” organizations to provide themthe technical expertise, information,and support they need to continuetheir excellent work.

The Division is dedicated to

improving Indiana’s wildlife habitat,promoting wildlife management, andincreasing wildlife-associatedrecreational opportunities andexperiences that Hoosiers truly value.

In the near future, private landsbiologists will also be hosting wildlifemanagement field days, wherelandowners can learn varioustechniques for developing andmanaging their wildlife and wildlifehabitats.

Prepared by Gary Langell, private lands pro-gram coordinator

ne of the top priorities of the private lands managementimize wildlife benefits on these lands.

Biologists will be working with private land owners to develop wildlife management plans and toprovide financial incentive packages to defray habitat development costs.

In the most recent CRP sign-up,more than 19,000 acres ofagricultural lands were acceptedinto the program. Of this acreage:

• 3,348 acres will be dedicatedto grass-legume mixtures.

• 6,927 acres will be planted toprairie grasses.

• 1,341 acres of wetlands willbe restored.

• 2,559 acres of permanentwildlife habitat will be created.

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Sauger reintroductionBiologists orchestrate East Fork of the White River sauger revival

Fisheries biologist Brian Schoenung displays a sauger caught below Williams Dam in the in the EastFork of the White River. The DNR has been reintroducing sauger above the Williams Dam since 1995.

Sauger are one of Indiana’s tastiestand most abundant native game fish.Southern Indiana river anglers usuallycatch these camouflaged members ofthe perch family as they congregatebelow dams on winter spawning runs.Sauger are native to the East Fork ofthe White River, but for someunknown reason, they disappeared atsome point from the 110-mile stretchof river above William’s Dam, nearBedford, Ind.

The East Fork of the White Riverbegins at Columbus, Ind., and flowsapproximately 190 miles south andwest through Indiana. It joins theWest Fork of the White River to formthe White River near Petersburg inPike County. During fish surveys inthe early ‘90s, sauger were foundbelow Williams Dam, but no saugerwere found upstream of the dam.

DNR biologists decided toreintroduce sauger to the upperstretch of the river because they aresought-after sport fish, the habitatwas appropriate, and because saugerserve as host for larvae of severalnative mussel species.

The area for the reintroduction wasthe upper 24-mile stretch of riverbetween the lowhead dam atColumbus and the lowhead dam atRockford on the north side ofSeymour.

In order to maintain geneticintegrity, sauger broodstock werecollected from below Williams Dam.Cikana State Fish Hatchery developedtechniques to spawn the fish, hatchthe eggs and rear the fingerlings. Thefirst sauger fingerlings were releasedinto the river below the ColumbusDam in June 1995. Approximately150,000 fingerlings have beenstocked into the study area since1995.

Electrofishing surveys in 1998between Columbus and Seymourfound three fish from the 1996stocking. The number of sauger

collected in 1999 increased sevenfold, and included sauger stocked in1996, 1998 and 1999. The largestsauger collected last year were 18-inches long.

An angler fishing for smallmouthbass below the Columbus dam in 1998was the first to report catching asauger. Others have reported catchingsauger immediately below the dam atRockford as well as three miles belowRockford near State Road 258. Saugerup to 19.5 inches long have beencaught by anglers below the Columbusand Seymour dams.

Sauger have also moved around thedam at Columbus. Anglers reportedcatching sauger in the DriftwoodRiver a few miles above the dam. Onesauger swam upstream through theDriftwood River into Sugar Creek and

was caught east of Franklin, about 40river miles upstream of Columbus.

All sauger for this reintroductioneffort have now been stocked.Fingerling survival appears to be goodand the sauger population shouldsustain itself.

Electrofishing surveys for young-of-the-year sauger will continue in 2001and 2002. Young fish indicate naturalreproduction and a successfulreintroduction project.

For more information aboutIndiana’s fisheries programs, call(317) 232-4080. Information aboutthe Division of Fish and Wildlife isavailable on the web atwww.dnr.state.in.us/fishwild/index.htm.

Prepared by Larry L. Lehman, fisheries biolo-gist

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Monitoring Indiana’s amphibiansFrogs, toads and salamanders, oh my!

Almost everyone has a frog story.Mention frogs and most peopleconjure up memories of summerevenings filled with frog song,chasing after a frog in the backyardor playing leapfrog with friends.Invariably, after the storytelling, thecomment is made that frogs and toadsappear to be scarce today. Ponds thatresounded in frog and toad choruses,now seem more silent.

Growing concernsThere has been a growing concern

over the past few years thatamphibians—frogs, toads andsalamanders—are decliningthroughout the United States.Research showing yearly trends inamphibian populations is lacking. Inresponse, the North AmericanAmphibian Monitoring Program wascreated to involve states inmonitoring amphibian populations.

The program’s purpose is to provide aprotocol for consistent monitoringmethodology and to establish reliablebaseline information about amphibiandistribution and abundance.

Amphibian monitoring programIndiana joined the monitoring

program in 1999 with a pilot projectrun by the Indiana University Schoolof Public and Environmental Affairsand the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.The program went statewide in 2000when coordination of the programwas passed to the DNR Division ofFish and Wildlife. This project relieson volunteers to study Indiana’samphibian populations and to collectdata that can be used for futuremanagement decisions.

Indiana’s first full year ofmonitoring focused on conductingfrog and toad calling surveys along 56random routes. Three training

workshops were conducted; one eachin the north, central and southernportions of the state. Once trained,volunteers chose a route andconducted several surveys over thecourse of frog/toad breeding seasons.The workshops resulted in 242 trainedvolunteers and 43 of the 56 randomroutes assigned and surveyed in 2000.One goal for spring 2001 is 100percent coverage of the randomroutes.

Workshops for volunteersMethods for implementing the

surveys expand in 2001 with theaddition of atlas routes (routeschosen by the volunteers) and abackyard calling survey. Theseadditions create a need for moresurvey volunteers. Trainingworkshops begin in December fornorthern Indiana and willcontinue throughout January.Anyone interested in volunteeringMUST attend a workshop. Theworkshop schedule will be posted onthe Division of Fish and Wildlife’swebpage at www.state.in.us/dnr/fishwild/index.htm. No registration isrequired.

Indiana’s amphibian monitoringprogram offers an opportunity fordirect involvement with one of thestate’s fascinating wildlife creatures.The work done by these amphibianvolunteers goes a long way towardguaranteeing frog songs and storiesfor generations to come.

This program is funded bydonations to the Endangered WildlifeProgram, Indiana’s income taxcheckoff. For more information aboutIndiana’s amphibian monitoringprogram, contact Kathy Quimbach at(317) 232-4080.

Prepared by Kathy Quimbach, nongame biolo-gist

Frogs, toads and salamanders may be declining in numbers. Don’t let them “croak.” Help studyIndiana’s amphibians by collecting data that can be used for future management decisions.

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Accessible huntingWith a little help from your friends is all it takes

“A little higher, more to the left,hold still!” Those were the orders thatDru Hunsinger whispered to Dr. BradThurston who was assisting Dru inaiming his muzzleloader at a doestanding 25 yards away. On the otherend of the muzzleloader I wassupporting the stock against Dru’sshoulder and moving his head fromside to side in an attempt to help himestablish proper sight alignment.

Suddenly, Brad and I were startledby the report of the gunshot. It hadclearly taken us by surprise. Wesmiled at each other as we realizedthat Dru had gotten his deer. Beingan experienced hunter, Dru knew thatit would be of little use to pull thetrigger unless everything wasproperly aligned—even if it does takea while.

Dru had proven that a huntersuffering from multiple sclerosis,along with a little help from friends,could successfully hunt deer.

Hunting tactics have to be altereda bit, but the end result will be thesame. It was hard to distinguish whowas more thrilled with hisaccomplishment, Brad, Dru or me.

All of this action took place duringthe last half-hour of a handicappedhunt hosted by Dr. Brad Thurston andhis wife Susan. The hunt wassponsored by the Central IndianaChapter of Safari Club International.

Five handicapped huntersparticipated in the special hunt. DruHunsinger, Charlie Pope, Russ Shafer,Dan Heath and Cameron Brown,traveled several miles that day to takeadvantage of this unique opportunity.

The hunt was restricted to hunterswho are handicapped to such a degreethat the only way they are capable ofhunting is from a wheelchair, golfcart or other motor driven vehicle.

I asked some of the hunters aboutthe difficulty of being a handicappedhunter, their answers surprised me.Russ Shafer, explained how difficult itis to get some people to relax around

handicapped hunters. He said“Sometimes it takes a great deal ofcoaxing to get other non-handicappedhunters to relax and enjoythemselves.” I had always assumedthat it would be the other wayaround.

Russ practiced what he preached.In no time everybody was gatheredaround his wheelchair, joking, pokingfun at one another and finalizingplans for the hunt.

Only one of these five hunters hadbeen handicapped since birth. Theother four had become disabled afterthey had reached adulthood. None ofthem objected to sharing with us thecause of their disability. Two hadbeen stricken with multiple sclerosisat mid-life and two were injured inaccidents while in their twenties.

The cards dealt these hunterswould dampen the spirits of mostmen, but not these hunters. Theycarried a special attitude. We hadgathered to assist five dedicatedsportsmen. It took every second oflight that we could squeeze out of theday, but I am happy to report that allfive hunters succeeded.

Prepared by Dean Shadley

Charlie Pope knows that patience is the key to successful deer hunting.

Disabilities hunting permitThe Division of Fish and

Wildlife issues hunting permits toindividuals who have disabilitiesthat prevent them from takingwildlife under regular huntingregulations.

To apply, you must complete aperson with disabilities huntingapplication form, and yourphysician must complete astatement of disability form.

For more information, or toobtain a disabilities huntingapplication: contact the Divisionof Fish and Wildlife, 402 WestWashington Street, W273Indianapolis, IN 46204 or call(317) 232-4080.

The DNR encourages hunterswith disabilities to look athunting opportunities on statefish and wildlife, reservoir, orforest properties.

Hunters with a disabilitieshunting permit can contact DNRproperties for information onavailable hunting opportunities.

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Sportsmen and women against hungerHunter harvest helps the hungry

Fight hunger right here at home by donating veni-son to food banks throughout the state. High protein,low fat foods such as venison are always needed byorganizations that provide food to the low income,working families of Indiana.

Sportsmen Against Hunger is meeting that need byorganizing distribution of venison to the areas where it’sneeded most. Eleven Indiana meat processors haveoffered their facilities as processing and collectionpoints.

To ensure the highest health standards, all venisondonated through the program must be commerciallyground and wrapped in two to four pound packages.Donors are asked to cover the cost of processing.

Hoosier deer hunters put approximately six millionpounds of venison on the table each year. By donatingall or a portion of your deer harvest, either this years ornext, you will help fight hunger and show Hoosiers thathunters care.

Huntershelping

the hungryAndersonHeyden’s Custom Meats4203W 500NAnderson, IN 46011(765) 754-8854

BoggstownHampton’s Markets6643 W. Boggstown Rd.Boggstown, IN 46110(317) 835-7147

ClintonSpendal Meats15096 S. Willow Grove Ave.Clinton, IN 47842(765) 832-9150

ConnersvilleNorman Muston1660 W. CR 350 SConnersville, IN 47331(765) 825-5943

LafayetteBeutler Meat Processing801 S. 1st StreetLafayette, IN 47905(765) 742-7285www.geocities.com/beutlermeat

MechanicsburgMarsh’s Deer Processing8820 W. US 36Middletown, IN 47356(765) 779-4353

MerrillvilleWildlife TrophiesTaxidermy andDeer Processing3901 E. 69th AvenueMerrillville, IN 46410(219) 942-3327

RushvilleFlatrock Apples & Stuff6004 S 450 WRushville, IN 46173(765) 629-2445

SpencerFender 4 Star MeatProcessingR.R. 2, Box 934Spencer, IN 47460(812) 829-3240

ValparaisoWerner West1905 GlendaleValparaiso, IN 46383(219) 462-2795

WinchesterDishman’s Quality Meats1625 E. Co. Rd. 300 SWinchester, IN 47394(765) 584-6328

Sportsmen Against Hunger is organizedby the Central Indiana Chapter of SafariClub International. For more informationor to become a participating meatprocessor call (317) 335-6860.

SPORTSMENAGAINSTHUNGER

The Safari Club International

Contact or visit one of theseparticipating meat processors

to make your donation

12

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDINDIANAPOLIS, IN

PERMIT #7429

Division of Fish and WildlifeDepartment of Natural Resources402 W. Washington St., Room W273Indianapolis, IN 46204317/232-4080

Address Service Requested

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

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Find out where the fish are biting,how to spot rare wild birds, and how thisyear’s hunting season is shaping up – allthrough Wild Bulletin, a FREE e-mailinformation service offered by the DNRDivision of Fish and Wildlife. Wild Bulletin provides frequentupdates about Indiana’s natural resourcesand recreation through e-mail. Sign on toreceive information about hunting andfishing season dates, regulation updates, wildlifeand fisheries research status reports, tips onwildlife watching and reminders aboutIMPORTANT DATES for Hoosier outdoorenthusiasts. You’ll also get updates about newinformation available on the DNR web page. To subscribe to Wild Bulletin, sendan e-mail to: majordomo@ai.org with themessage body: subscribe wildbulletin<your e-mail address> Leave the subject ofthe message blank. To subscribe to Wild Bulletin on theDNR web site, go to:www.state.in.us/dnr/fishwild/index.htm