Please Contact Governor Daniels and let him know how Important this Bill is to Hoosier Outdoors People!

   On Thursday, March 4, House Bill 1065 passed in the Indiana State House by a margin of 74 to 20 and in the State Senate by a vote of 41 to 9. HB1065 now heads to Governor Mitch Daniels (R) desk for his consideration.

   HB1065, authored by State Representative Bob Bischoff (D-68) and sponsored by State Senator Johnny Nugent (R-43) and State Senator Brent Steele (R-44), would prevent state or local government authorities from confiscating lawfully owned firearms during declared states of emergency, such as occurred in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.  Moreover, this bill would also prohibit employers from firing employees who safely and lawfully store their firearms in their privately-owned locked vehicles while on an employer’s property.

   Please contact Governor Daniels and respectfully request he sign House Bill 1065 into law.

    Women who already love outdoor sports, would like to try them, or improve their ability to do them under expert supervision and instruction can do so at the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop, April 30-May 2, at Ross Camp in West Lafayette.

   The 15th annual workshop is limited to the first 100 women, 18 years old or older, who register at www.indianabow.com/

   The program is designed for women to learn outdoor skills in a relaxed, low-pressure environment.  Activities range from shooting clay targets, paddling a canoe, catching a trophy bass, becoming a campfire gourmet cook, making a fur hat, and spotting rare wild birds, to learning to track deer. Read More→

Megan Smith pictured with an Indiana tom

   Indiana’s 2010 youth turkey season takes place April 17 and 18. The special season is open to hunters age 17 or younger. Youth hunters are limited to one bearded or male wild turkey.

   To participate, a youth hunter must be accompanied in the field at all times by an adult who is at least 18 years old and is not in possession of a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow. The adult does not need a hunting license, unless the youth is using an apprentice license. The youth must be properly licensed to take a wild turkey and comply with all tagging and check-in requirements. A list of check stations is available in the 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping Guide or at www.wildlife.IN.gov. Legal equipment includes 10-, 12-, 16-, or 20-gauge shotguns, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

   An apprentice license is available to youths who have yet to complete the requirement of hunter education. All persons, regardless of age, are limited to three apprentice licenses in their lifetime.

   Youth turkey hunters killed 978 turkeys statewide during the 2009 youth season and 956 turkeys statewide during the 2008 youth season.
The DNR is offering reserved youth turkey hunts at 21 DNR properties during the youth Read More→

   Indiana’s fourth annual National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) state tournament, which promises to be the largest indoor youth archery tournament in state history, will be held Friday, March 12, in Muncie, at Horizon Convention Center.

   The tournament features 38 participating schools with nearly 900 students competing. Last year, more than 570 students from 25 schools participated. Participation has increased each year. There is no charge for admission.

   Indiana NASP coordinator Tim Beck said he hopes the growth will continue, not only with the tournament itself but for offshoots of it.

   “It is our hope that this will lead to many new indoor and outdoor activities,” he said.

   Doors open at 7 a.m. Flight (shooting) times start at 8 a.m. A new flight starts every two hours. The last flight is scheduled for 4 p.m. A shoot-off of the six top scorers, both male and female, will follow the last flight to determine the overall individual winners in the 4th-6th, 7th-8th and 9th-12th grade classifications. An awards ceremony will follow. Read More→