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Post by hatchetjack on Nov 27, 2020 18:18:15 GMT -5
The 28 gauge and .410 gauge has passed PRELIMINARY proposal stage. Next is the public comment stage and then FINAL proposal stage. Go to www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm to make comments. I've only seen a preliminary pass and then fail final 2 or 3 times so this will likely be in place for the 2022 season. www.in.gov/nrc/files/lsa20602_timeline.pdf
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Post by hatchetjack on Nov 17, 2020 9:33:18 GMT -5
Law Enforcement Update:
Law Enforcement reported properties attendance up around 1 million which has had a big impact on Law
Enforcement. They are now transitioning into hunting season. A lot of baiting complaints already.
Transitioning firearms from 45 to 9 mm and getting different sight systems for Officers. Currently down
about 38 officers right now. Working on trying to get a recruit class if they can.
New Deer DNR Deer Biologist:
Moriah Boggess, undergrad at North Carolina State University. Interned with Purdue working with Jarred
Brooke. Did Masters at Mississippi State in the deer lab. He did some deer management work with
Purdue. Started October 5. Joe Caudell is now the Assistant Director of the Office of Science and
Research. He assumed this role in October 2019.
Administrative Rule Update:
Linnea Petercheff reported the rule package got final adoption by NRC in September. Likely will go into
effect mid- late December. It currently is in final review in the Attorney General and Governor’s office.
Early in year DNR received some citizen petitions for change in administrative rule. #9 shot and 410 and
28 gauge shotguns for turkey hunting. These administrative rules are being presenting to the Natural
Resources Commission on November 17 for preliminary adoption. In that package is also proposal to
allow muzzleloaders to allow loading at breach end. Incorporated beaver trapping to rule to remove
starting and ending times. This was missed on previous revisions. Once DNR receives preliminary
adoption on these rules, then DNR will open for public commenting and likely have public hearings in
early 2021. It will then go back to the Natural Resources Commission for adoption.
A few other petitions are being reviewed. There is a DNR committee that reviews these internally and
then works to prepare responses to the petitioner. One requested to allow 330 traps for beavers to be
set halfway submerged. Right now rule requires them to be completely submerged. Researching it now
on what other state’s allow. There was a petition to allow or interpret our law governing definition of
crossbows to allow a new crossbow that has limbs mounted differently. Also received a petition for
spearfishing. Still early in review process. Division of Law Enforcement is dealing with one on a boating
zone on St Joe river and wanting restrictions where people fish near the dam on St. Joe. Petition in
Forestry for disperse camping to allow it in northern tier in the state. Parks looking at Reservoirs are
looking at it and DFW will explore it for Roush. Early in process of research on that one too.
Coyote Contests:
DNR received letter about coyote contests in Indiana from the Humane Society of United States. The
letter cites other states banning these types of contests and would begin conversations about these contests in
Indiana and if DNR would support a petition or legislation to ban these contests. There have been some
preliminary discussion in DNR. There were some discussions amongst the group regarding this and how
these contests do or don’t compare to fishing tournaments. Overall there was support for DNR to collect
more data and research this issue further to ensure we have appropriate information before we move
forward with any proposal.
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Post by hatchetjack on Nov 12, 2020 21:18:35 GMT -5
Semper Fi, Mac!!!
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Post by hatchetjack on Oct 30, 2020 21:41:33 GMT -5
I have a Franchi 28 O/U. Nice little gun but nearly as heavy as my Franchi 12 and 20 gauges. Ammo is hard to come by. Almost as bad as 16 gauge but if you can then do it. Life's too short trust me. Great gun for training with quail and chukars.
HJ
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Post by hatchetjack on Oct 11, 2020 21:52:55 GMT -5
never happen...
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Post by hatchetjack on Oct 8, 2020 22:22:35 GMT -5
What were you hoping for?
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Post by hatchetjack on Oct 7, 2020 19:00:39 GMT -5
Wildlife in Need Update:
Owner, Tim Starke has two federal civil suites against him. One with PETA and one with the Attorney
General’s Office. 20 big cats were relocated to Arkansas and Colorado. In addition, all other animals,
including falcons, fox, raccoons, coyotes, spider monkeys and hyenas were removed. The effort was done
in collaboration with the Indianapolis Zoo. There are no longer any animals on the property and litigation
continues.
Division of Law Enforcement Update:
It has been a busy summer for Law Enforcement. There will be 3 Lieutenants retiring by the end of the
year and 3 officers retiring this week. They are now working on plans for recruit school to help them get
their numbers back up. Currently, they are down 38 officers.
Bobcat Update:
DFW uses a variety of tools to assist with tracking bobcat populations, such as roadkill, observations
through Archer’s Index, large mammal report forms and Snapshot Indiana trail cams. Biologists shared
some of the historical data and showed how there has been uptick in bobcats starting around 2010, with
a peak in 2015, and continuing with an increased number through 2020. Bobcats are now reported in all
but two counties in the state, with populations more concentrated in the southwest, moving into
west/central Indiana. There is a study occurring looking at habitat suitability for bobcats, as well as a
landscape suitability project. Researchers will then look at building an individual based population model
to simulate how populations change over time and try to predict what would happen if you add in a
harvest season. There has also was a predator component added to the integrated deer research
management project where researchers will look at the estimates for predator on deer (coyotes and
bobcats). These studies are using hair snares to collect hair samples and collecting scat to look at
genetics. They are also look at teeth collected on coyotes for age information in harvested coyotes.
Legislative Update:
Unsure right now on what General Assembly will look like and there are a lot of uncertainties right now.
DNR will take a lighter approach this year as last session was heavy lift. DNR will be moving forward a
wild animal possession permit proposal to require USDA licenses to also require a state permit. In
addition, they will be working on making some language changes to the game breeders license. These
two efforts are designed to better monitor and protect wild animals in Indiana. DNR is also moving
forward a proposal for e- public notices or online public notices. Currently DNR is still investing heavily
with newspaper ads and with COVID and cost saving in mind, we will be asking to allow online notices
for all DNR public notices. The last proposal is to do some small licensing clean up to reduce
administrative work on Fish & Wildlife staff and streamline the process for notification of license
suspensions as a result of back child support. We are currently duplicating efforts that Department of
Child Services is doing and this will help streamline the process to reinstate or suspend licenses
appropriately. We will also be working to get rid of the commercial fishing license for Lake Michigan.
Currently there is a provision that they can be on a waiting list, but we do not see a foreseeable future
for these licenses, so we will work to remove that provision.
The Indiana Deer Hunters Association asked about license fee increases, as deer hunters are concerned about nonresident licenses
and the cost not being comparable to other neighboring states. In addition there is concern on outfitters
from other states coming to hunt in Indiana and accessing private property illegally. There is a $100
hunting guide fee with reporting that is required for these hunting guides currently.
Fish & Wildlife Updates:
Fish & Wildlife currently has 39 full time vacancies, 3 part time vacancies and several intermittent
positions that were not filled in the spring and summer due to COVID. This is the largest vacancy DFW
has had over the past several years. Filling positions are a little harder right now and things are moving
very slow. Two positions were filled, the new deer biologist will start next week and the NE Public Lands
Supervisor was filled. The NE Public Lands supervisor was an internal hire, so this will leave another
vacancy in the Division. License sales continue to be up. There are several new customers (haven’t
purchased in the last few years at least) and the Division is now working on plans on how we can keep
them moving into 2021 and beyond.
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Post by hatchetjack on Sept 25, 2020 20:13:20 GMT -5
Good luck to all the young hunters out there. Be safe.
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Post by hatchetjack on Sept 25, 2020 20:10:33 GMT -5
Good luck to all the youth hunters this year. Enjoy the outdoors and don't focus on killing one. You have the rest of the year to do that.
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Post by hatchetjack on Sept 19, 2020 19:49:29 GMT -5
Thanks Jack.. Deer legal Air guns are expensive items. I doubt very many, if any at all, will buy an airbow to hunt the firearm season when there are so many other more lethal hunting tools to choose from. Time will tell. Agree.
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Post by hatchetjack on Sept 18, 2020 19:55:26 GMT -5
Meeting results:
— Approved the Hearing Officer’s report regarding the Petition for the Establishment of the Turkey Creek Dam and Dike Conservancy District in Kosciusko County.
—Granted final adoption concerning amendments to 312 IAC 9, biennial wildlife rulemaking package; LSA #20-069(F); Administrative Cause No. 19-042D, which makes changes to rules addressing several licenses and permits but most significantly adds ruffed grouse to the list of state endangered species of birds and approves for the deer firearms hunting season the use of air rifles and air bows that meet certain specifications.
—Granted final adoption for amendments to 312 IAC 9-6, 312 IAC 9-7, and 312 IAC 9-9, biennial fisheries rulemaking package; LSA #20-081(F); Administrative Cause No. 19-037D. Included in this package are the addition of a variety of definitions for sport fishing equipment such as trotlines, and the addition of cisco and Western sand darter and removal of Northern brook lamprey from the endangered list. Also included are amendments addressing the bag, possession and size limits for black bass taken from Bixler, Henderson, Little Long and Round Lakes in Noble County and for saugeye taken from Glenn Flint Lake in Putnam County. Additionally, the package includes amendments addressing equipment for sport fishing on the Ohio River and changes to the daily bag limit, possession limit and size limit for walleye, sauger and saugeye taken from the Ohio.
— Approved final readoption of 312 IAC 5, providing standards for the use of a boat on public waters of Indiana; LSA #20-355(F); Administrative Cause No. 20-LE-003.
— Approved readoption of 312 IAC 9.5, providing standards for article that establishes an option to request an in-lieu fee to mitigate adverse impacts to fish, wildlife, or botanical resources for activities authorized in permits issued; LSA #20-410(F); Administrative Cause No. 20-FW-006.
— Approved readoption of 312 IAC 10, providing standards for the delineation and regulation of floodplains to decrease existing flood damages, mitigate future flood damages, and promote the health, safety, and welfare.
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Post by hatchetjack on Sept 17, 2020 10:09:48 GMT -5
FWCC meeting late this month. The question is on the agenda.
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Post by hatchetjack on Sept 14, 2020 10:43:16 GMT -5
Yeah, I read that. I read them all in fact. Lots of interest in the ruffed Grouse wasn’t there? Surprisingly many favor the DNR proposal to list ruffed grouse as an state endangered species in Indiana. Most of the opposition comes from non-hunting tree huggers worried that DNR might try to increase logging in an attempt to bring back the grouse. That is not the intent.
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Post by hatchetjack on Sept 7, 2020 18:21:27 GMT -5
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Post by hatchetjack on Sept 7, 2020 18:18:30 GMT -5
Yeah, I read that. I read them all in fact.
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Post by hatchetjack on Sept 6, 2020 22:11:57 GMT -5
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Post by hatchetjack on Mar 13, 2020 14:57:24 GMT -5
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Post by hatchetjack on Mar 10, 2020 21:53:58 GMT -5
Once again we are scrounging for kids to attend the ICOO Camp.Still have several sponsorship spots to Karl E Kelley Camp available. www.icoo.com
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Post by hatchetjack on Feb 22, 2020 20:27:22 GMT -5
Thanks. I saw the FaceBook post.
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Post by hatchetjack on Feb 22, 2020 9:57:28 GMT -5
Threats to science based forest management in Indiana continue. We are sending this information regarding amendments to bills 288 and 430 that may be heard by the IN House of Representatives as early as next Monday, February 24 or Tuesday, February 25 which create a 10% set aside of each state forest from commercial timber harvest and science based forest management. As you know, these threats are all to real and have already resulted in the near extirpation of ruffed grouse in Indiana. Please see the RGS blog post here: ruffedgrousesociety.org/the-ruffed-grouse-struggle-is-real-in-indiana/ for further information on the proposed state endangered listing for ruffed grouse in Indiana. We have included a forest set aside statement that prominent partner conservation organizations in the state have developed. We are at a precipice for maintaining the health and future viability of Indiana's forests. If you have a position on these amendments, please contact your local IN representative. Link to IN State representatives: iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
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