17 state parks to close for deer reduction

Participants, "buddies" already randomly selected Select Indiana state parks will be closed temporarily for controlled deer reductions in the coming weeks.Two reduction efforts will take place. The first are Nov. 16 and 17. The second round is Nov. 30 and Dec.1. The participating parks will close to the general public the evening before each of the two efforts and will re-open the morning after each two-day reduction ends.Indiana DNR biologists evaluate which parks require a reduction each year based on vegetative recovery and previous hunter success at each park.State parks are home to more than 32 state-endangered plants, and the reductions help maintain browsing by deer to a level that helps ecosystems and associated vegetation recover throughout the state parks. Although the parks have had much success since the first reduction in 1993, a high no-show rate of those drawn and over selective hunting remain a challenge for the program.State parks participating with a reduction using firearms include Chain O’Lakes, Charlestown, Harmonie, Lincoln, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run, Versailles and Whitewater Memorial.State parks using archery for reduction include Fort Harrison and Clifty Falls.Participation is limited to individuals on applications that were drawn last September. No standby drawings will be conducted, nor will substitutes or additions be permitted.   Participants must show photo ID upon check-in. No information packets were mailed to drawn participants this year but are instead available online at http://www.IN.gov/dnr/parklake/5655.htm, where applicants can check or review their draw status, permitted buddies, and details about the hunts. Information regarding 2010 state park deer reductions will be available in the 2010-2011 Indiana Hunting and Trapping Guide next summer.

Ccamping Safety - Keep In Touch When Camping Out

Camping safety is very important to all campers regardless of how experienced a camper you are when it comes to camping out. How do you do that when you are away from all amenities and civilization?

It might seem impossible but it is actually possible as there are many gadgets, as well as gears available out there that can cater to every camper's need. Below are important tips and advice to follow when you go out camping, so that you can be safe at all times. Whatever it is, safety always comes first.

Set Boundaries and Follow Them

Camping with kids can sometimes get out of hand. It's hard to control them when this is the time that they are experiencing something that they've never experienced before. They tend to go wild. To make it safe and controllable, you have to set boundaries in and around the campsites. Give them advice on the things that they should and should not do, especially when there are no adults around. A safe thing to do is to assign them each with a partner to check in on each other on their location and give update or report to the rest of the group of any location changes.

Familiarise Yourself With the Surroundings

The first thing you can do when you arrive at the campsite is to let your fellow campers or kid campers familiarize themselves with the surroundings. Take notes of any noticeable landmarks that are around the site, for example a weird large tree. However, make sure that these landmarks are easily locatable in relation within your campsite.

Knock (Whistle) Three Times On The Ceiling If You Love Me

Each camper should be given a whistle each, especially to kid campers. Whistles give out a high pitch sound that can be heard from far. It's easier to blow a whistle than scream out 'help' when you're lost in the woods. Establish a code to signify a specific situation so that everyone could easily follow and heed, for example, a whistle blown twice could mean 'help' and three times could mean 'I am here' or vice versa. Warn the kid campers that they should use the whistle for an emergency purpose. Do not go blowing the whistle for fun. Kids tend to do that.

Colour Your World

Prior to your camping trips, buy trash bags that are brightly coloured. These trash bags are useful in the case that if you are lost in the woods. These trash bags could be used as a device to signal others of your location. These trash bags can also be used when it is cold outside and in need of temporary shelter. All you have to do is cut a slit at the top of the trash bag and wear it like a poncho. It is hard to believe that this could provide you temporary protection that could keep you alive through the harsh night.

Try To Choose A Camp That Provides Hi-Tech Communication

Though some campsites are totally out of contact with civilization, there are campsites that provide the same amenities one would find in civilization such as email facilities, phones and faxes. There are also campsites that provide internet connections. How convenient.

It is perfect for those who would like to stay in contact with their business or personal affairs while they are out camping. This way, you can enjoy the best of both worlds in a sense that being in the harsh outdoors but at the same time enjoying the comfort and convenience of modern technology.

Below are modern technology communication gadgets that can get you connected while you're camping.

- Hand-held Radios

This equipment can be brought anywhere you go and very handy so that campers can get connected with one another at all times. This equipment is not used only for camping but also in big events, such as sports.

- Laser Range Finders

It is a device that uses laser energy to determine the distance from the device to a place or object. In other words, it helps you know how far away things are from where you are standing. Nowadays, they are light and user friendly.

- Global Positioning System (GPS)

Previously, they were used by the army and units involved in search and rescue operations, however, now they are also used by ordinary people to determine their position with or without reference to separate maps. For campers, GPS provides a precise position so that it can enhance the chance of lost or disabled campers from being rescued.

- Night Vision Goggles

You might have seen one of these goggles used in Hollywood movies. These goggles allow you to be able to see in the dark. Though sophisticated, they are easy to operate. Very compact, light weight and handy.

Camping should be fun, but it is always preferable that you prepare beforehand. Your safety in the woods should not be compromised. It is always easy to forget what type of danger that might lurk when you are having so much fun. Whatever it is, take every necessary precaution before you go out camping. You just never know what could happen out there.

Ever Wondered How to Start Camping?

So let's assume you have never been camping before. How would you start camping? Where would you decide to spend your camping trip and how long would your camping trip last? Would you want to rent your camping equipment from an outdoor and camping retailer or would you be determined to have your own camping equipment?

These are all important factors for a new camper to determine. You have undoubtedly seen movies depicting camping and maybe that is how you filled your mind with camping expectations. If so you will want to take that camping idea and try to recreate it for yourself and possibly your family. I know campers who when they find their perfect place to camp, will pitch a tent and others that would never consider camping without a motor home with running water and plumbing. Some people prefer no tent or cover at all and set up a hammock between two sturdy trees to enjoy their camping experience. Some of them will drink out of streams and even eat wild vegetation to create their unique camping experience. No one person's idea of camping is wrong and it is up to their own interpretation of a camping experience.

When planning your camping adventure, your own camping needs and desires should be followed. This is how you make your camping experience become a good experience. Maybe your first few camping experiences won't be roughing it without running water on your camping trip. Maybe you won't dig up roots to eat a wild outdoor meal. You will however step outside your comfort zone when you go camping. The first step to creating your camping reality begins in your mind!

Although you may have expectations for camping, make certain you realize that nothing will always go as planned without a hitch on your first attempt. After all you will be using camping utilities and equipment for camping that are most likely going to be foreign to you. Because of this you need to cut yourself some slack so that your camping experience can rollout in a fun and enjoyable manner. The new experiences you can have with a new camping experience can be something you write down in a journal or tell stories about for years to come.

Some families have a long tradition of camping on holidays, spring break, summer and family reunions. It is a great way to bond with family without the interference of modern technology and neighbors. Young children can make the most fun and entertaining camping enthusiasts in the world. They often seem the most eager to plan for a camping trip. They look forward to camping with great anticipation. Imagine what a youngster can discover on a camping trip. Young people are so adaptable to camping conditions so if you have a chance to camp with younger family members, make sure you don't pass up the experience.

Make your first few camping trips carefree and simple and you'll learn to love it. You may even find yourself starting new family traditions that include the wonderful adventures of camping!

You don't have to get blanked when you're stuck fishing banks

* By Steve Ford
* October 25, 2009 at 12:39 a.m.





Fishing and the real estate business have this much in common: It all starts with location, location, location.

Sure, once you get to a location with plenty of fish it helps to know how to extract them, but even the best anglers can't score where there's nothing in the water.

That's why the most-frequently-asked question I get is: "Where can I go catch some fish?"

Dwinn Carbone, a recent transplant to the Evansville area from Florida, recently sent an e-mail wanting some spots to fish for bass, crappie and bluegill.

"Do bluegill even exist up here?" he asked, then continued. "Lakes and ponds were in surplus where I came from and I don't know where to begin here. I don't have a boat, so I'm guessing the (Ohio) river is out."

Here's my reply.

"Yes, there are plenty of bluegill in Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois. It happens to be my favorite eating fish, at least it was when I could still eat fried food.

"Actually, the Ohio River can be good from the bank in several areas. Look wherethere's shoreline structure like the Evansville riverfront, Pigeon Creek (just downstream), area boat ramps where the current washes over rip-rap and area dams at Newburgh and Uniontown.

"Unfortunately, the best places to fish both those dams from the bank is on the Kentucky side, but you can fish it with an Indiana license as long as you stay in the main stem. Just look at a map and you can find your way as you can see them from many miles off in the distance.

"For smaller water fishing there is a state fish & wildlife area close to Evansville just east of I-164 called Blue Grass (it's named after a nearby creek). There are several old strip mine lakes there that have bank access. Also, start working area farmers and landowners for permission to private ponds and look in the state fishing guide for public water like Scales Lake in Boonville and Lincoln City State Park, both of which are good, productive lakes.

"They are hard to fish from the bank, though. Make sure you have a license because the public areas are patrolled often by conservation officers. That should get you started. Let me know if that helped. Tight lines...Steve."

That was just a little over a week ago, so I suspect Carbone hasn't had enough time to give me a review. But after reading the exchange again it occurred to me there were more options.

Just in the Evansville area, a bank angler can go to Garvin Park, Diamond Valley (northeast of Diamond and Kratzville), Moutoux Park and Reflection Pond at the University of Southern Indiana.

With the new walkway added, there are several areas along Pigeon Creek that offer bank access and surprising fishing for a variety of species, including bass, crappie, catfish and an assortment of rough fish.

And even though much of the riverbank on the Wabash and Ohio rivers is private, there are some interesting options on public ground that offer surprising fishing.

The Old Dam near New Harmony on the Wabash is a really interesting spot that offers good fishing and spots like Big Creek in Posey County, that's no more than a channelized ditch now, that produce big catfish when the water is up, even in winter.

If you don't mind getting in the car, I have a real weakness for the tailraces at area dams, including Newburgh and Uniontown.

The first sauger I ever caught or striper I ever hooked in my life were both off the weir at Uniontown. I've also seen guys fill buckets with crappie from the rocks at Newburgh Dam.

The banks in the area are not the best places to fish in the area, but they can be productive.

Give them a shot.

Hemlock cliffs

Hemlock Cliffs is a valley of special beauty in southern Indiana. A cool climate, created by the box canyon shape, sandstone rock formations, and seasonal waterfalls is responsible for the unique trees and plants that grow here. Hemlock Cliffs has long been a popular destination for people seeking tranquility, and a chance for reflection from within a cool rock shelter or along the shady stream. hemlock cliffs trail

The area features, sandstone rock outcrops, overhangs, cliffs, rock shelters, and ravines. The rock you see is sandstone of the Tar Springs Formation. Much of the sandstone is "Honeycombed" by weathering of iron ores. Springs, small caves, and subterranean drainage conduits are in the underlying Glen Dean Limestone. Lush vegetation is found along the cliffs, waterfalls and canyon floor. Hemlock, a tall evergreen with short needles and small cones, thrives in the canyon's cool climate. Wintergreen, a rare plant, is also found here. Wild geranium, French's shooting star, mountain laurel, and liverwort are some of the other plants of interest found here. hemlock cliffs waterfall

Backpacking Sleeping Bags - 4 Useful Tips To Purchase The Right One

As the modern-day equivalent of the old explorers, the backpacker will be exposed to all kinds of climatic conditions on many different types of terrain. He or she must be self-sufficient and prepared for the worst at all times. And preparedness starts before leaving home, with the selection of backpacking gear. Of particular importance is your backpacking sleeping bag. Not getting a good nights rest can lead to mistakes that can mean the difference between enjoying that view of the sunset from a mountain ridge and seeing that same sunset from a Search and Rescue helicopter.

1. The Backpacking Sleeping Bag - All Sleeping Bags Are Not Created Equal

Before choosing a sleeping bag, it can be helpful to know what some of the key differences are between the backpacking sleeping bag and other sleeping bags. The needs of a backpacker lead to special considerations that the backpacker must address:

The backpacking sleeping bag must be light. A typical backpacker will already be carrying food, extra clothing for rain or snow, fire-starting and cooking gear, flashlights, water bottles, first aid supplies and other survival gear, and any special equipment for traversing the terrain the backpacker will be in, such as ropes, pitons, etc. Adding a 25 pound sleeping bag to this load can make the weight unmanageable for someone not blessed with a Herculean physique.

It must be easy to store. The backpacking sleeping bag should roll into the smallest space possible, for easy stowage and maneuvering. A big, bulky sleeping bag tied to your back can be a major impediment when moving through difficult or heavily forested terrain.

The backpacking sleeping bag must adequately protect the backpacker from the elements. This is a more complicated issue to address and will be explored in more depth below.

2. Nature and You - Protecting Yourself from the Elements

Before you choose which sleeping bag to take with you on a given excursion, consider where you will be going. You wouldn't take the same backpacking sleeping bag with you on a trip to the Rocky Mountains as you would on a trip to the Louisiana bayou. Is the area you are going hot? Cold? Humid? Dry? Is it the rainy (or snowy) season there? What kind of temperature variations are there between day and night? A polyfill or synthetic type insulated backpacking sleeping bag will keep you warm better when it is wet than a down filled, but a down-filled bag will keep you warmer in frozen, windy environments. A simple nylon shell may work well in a warm, humid climate, but cold winds will cut right through it. Microfiber linings will work well when wet, and provide good wind protection, but can be heavy and costly. And of course, the amount of a given material the backpacking sleeping bag uses directly influences both weight and bulk.

3. One Size Does Not Fit All

Although it would be nice if you could choose one backpacking sleeping bag for all climes, this is just not possible. Using a light shell in the mountains will make you freeze all night, and using a down-filled backpacking sleeping bag on a warm beach somewhere will lead to a night of sweltering in your bag. Even within groups of bags appropriate to a given climate, what works well for one person may not work for someone else. Metabolic and circulatory differences between people lead to differing needs in their backpacking sleeping bag. Look at the sleeping bag's temperature ratings, they will give you an idea of the temperatures that a bag will keep you comfortable in. Also consider whether to purchase accessories such as hoods for minimizing heat loss through your head, or draft tubes to get rid of excess heat in the backpacking sleeping bag.

4. Final Words

After choosing a backpacking sleeping back that will work for you, also consider purchasing a liner for your sleeping bag. Using a liner will cut down on having to wash the entire sleeping bag. This will greatly extend the useful lifetime of your sleeping bag, since washing tends to make the insulating fill "clump", greatly reducing comfort and effectiveness. Choosing a good, quality backpacking sleeping bag and properly caring for it will allow years of backpacking enjoyment.

(AHT) Adventure Hiking Trail News

O'Bannon Woods State Park
7234 Old Forest Rd. SW
Corydon, IN 47112




The current status of the AHT remains rough and extremely difficult to traverse for mountain bikers and hikers. Storm damage suffered from Sept 2009 to the current arriving storms have left large portions of the trail with down trees and extremely muddy conditions. We have managed to get a State Park skid steer and chainsaw crew to remove down trees from about 2/3's of the trail. 1/3 of the trail remains untouched and has many trees crossing the trail (Indian Creek Section - East Side)



HMBA has concentrated their efforts in building a bike/hike trail on our old Rocky Ridge Trail (Class A Campground) and an access trail from our fire tower to the Rocky Ridge Trail. If you begin at the fire tower and ride the access trail to and thru Rocky Ridgeback and back you can have a 6 mile ride. To date this is the best ride we can offer.



As additional information, a portion(s) of the Adventure Hiking Trail will be closed from November 16 to April 1 due to active timber sales and as a public safety measure implemented by the Division of Forestry. Timber sale areas are closed to the public during the above dates. I have included a timber sale map provided by Dwayne Sieg, Manager of the Harrison Crawford State Forest. If you have questions about forest management activities please contact Dwayne Sieg. His office number is 812-738-7694.