Indiana State Park Inn summer lodging savings
Stay two nights and receive 25% off your stay now through Aug. 29. Valid Sunday through Thursday only. Must stay two consecutive nights. Certain property specific restrictions may apply.
Reserve today by calling 1.877.LODGES1 or reserve online at
IndianaInns.com.
American bison calf born at Ouabache State Park
A baby female American bison was born at Ouabache State Park on June 6, adding to the permanent herd that calls the park home.
The calf shares a birthdate with the last calf born at the park two years ago, also on June 6.
The bison herd is a reminder of the area’s time as a game farm before it became a state park in 1962. Guests can walk a relatively flat 1-mile gravel trail around the large, fenced bison exhibit. They can also view the area from the nearby CCC fire tower.
Students 'Discover the Outdoors' at Prophetstown State Park
Surrounded by the blossoming prairie at Prophetstown State Park, a group of students sit in a circle, giddy with excitement as Jenna Parks Freeman brings out a frog.
The students are visiting the park as part of the Discover the Outdoors field trip grant program. Interacting with the park’s various education ambassador animals is just one portion of the day’s adventures, with smiles and continuous questions showcasing the power of getting kids outdoors.
Discover the Outdoors, offered in partnership between the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation and Indiana State Parks, provides Hoosier students with hands-on educational experiences at state park properties. Park staff lead students on adventurous days that explore the natural and cultural history of Indiana’s public lands.
Expansion at Willow Slough FWA
The DNR and Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever dedicated a 172.57-acre expansion to Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA) on May 31.
The expansion brings the property to more than 10,000 acres, which will provide important oak savanna habitat for wildlife in northern Indiana.
Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever purchased the property on behalf of DNR through their Build a Wildlife Area program, a program that raises funds to acquire and restore critical wildlife habitat and open it for public recreation.
The DNR will use Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration funds — a federal excise tax supported by hunters and anglers through the purchase of shooting, archery, and fishing equipment — to buy the land from Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever and officially add it to Willow Slough FWA.
Join us at a DNR shooting range
The DNR has public rifle, handgun, shotgun, and archery facilities across the state. Watch the above video for a taste of what you'll experience at a DNR range.
Tropical seabird spotted at Spring Mill State Park
A tropical seabird was spotted diving into the lake at Spring Mill State Park to catch fish by interpretive naturalist Wade LaHue on June 5.
Assistant state ornithologist Amy Kearns confirmed it as a juvenile Sula leucogaster, a species commonly known as a brown booby. She said that because he is a juvenile, he has different colorations than an adult bird.
“This species is not normally found in the United States, let alone Indiana,” Kearns said, noting that the bird had wandered naturally out of its normal range.
This is only the second time the species has ever been seen in the state. The first on record was on a private lake in Zionsville in May 2019. That bird stayed for less than a day.
Submit your observations to the 2024 Turkey Brood Count
Every May, wild turkey chicks (poults) begin to hatch in Indiana, and DNR needs your help counting turkey broods (hens with poults) and hens without poults.
Brood reports have been collected every year since 1993 to calculate the annual Wild Turkey Production index, which informs biologists about population status and guides management decisions for the species.
Please share your 2024 observations with us online from July 1 until Aug. 31. Recording observations takes less than five minutes, and no login is required.
We rely on your observations to calculate our Production Index, so every report counts! We appreciate your participation.
Indiana Golf HQ coming to The Fort Golf Course at Fort Harrison SP
Indiana Golf’s headquarters will be the centralized location for Indiana Golf to host events and programming and serve courses throughout the state, and it’s coming soon to The Fort Golf Course at Fort Harrison State Park.
The grand opening is expected to be in the spring of 2025.
Flying into July: Dove banding season begins
July is dove banding season, when DNR bands mourning doves across the state. This important research effort helps estimate Indiana’s dove population and determine harvest limits for the hunting season.
If you recover a banded bird, be sure to report it online. You’ll receive a certificate of appreciation that includes the bird’s information.
Where to Fish
DNR's Where to Fish interactive map includes information on public access sites, fish consumption advisories and low-head dam locations in rivers and streams.
New accessible walkway available at Tippecanoe River State Park
Tippecanoe River State Park guests with mobility challenges who want to enjoy the overlook to the park’s waterfowl area now have the option of using its new accessible sidewalk.
The parking lot for this overlook is at the Walnut Picnic Area, where the birdfeeders are located.
Both the overlook and the accessible walkway were made possible with the support of the Friends of Tippecanoe River State Park. Pulaski County Girl Scout Troops #47607 and #00167 also assisted with the overlook construction.
Submit your artwork & photography to DNR's durable license card contest
Four entries from an art and photo contest for Indiana residents of all ages will be selected by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to serve as the background artwork for new durable cards for hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for next year.
From July 1 through Aug. 2, Indiana residents are encouraged to submit up to two of their Indiana-based, nature and wildlife-themed artworks to DFWcontests@dnr.IN.gov. All 2-D art mediums (i.e., photography, painting, drawing, graphic design, etc.) are eligible, with the exception of A.I. generated art. The artist’s name and city will be credited on the cards.
Get your copy of Outdoor Indiana magazine
The July/August issue of Outdoor Indiana magazine features a cover story on fishing from kayaks, as well as a feature on concerts at state parks and a photo essay on pollinators. Become part of Outdoor Indiana. Subscribe for yourself, a friend or relative.
The Foundation celebrates and preserves Indiana’s natural legacy by raising funds to support the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and its programs.