The DNR will have a strong presence at the Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show, Feb. 18-20 and 23-27, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
The DNR's main location is in Tackle Town, in the Blue Ribbon Pavilion. The booth is a convenient one-stop shopping opportunity for licenses, state park passes, lake-use permits, and Outdoor Indiana magazine.
DNR biologists and State Parks interpretive naturalists will be on hand throughout the show to share program information and resources, as well as answer your fish and wildlife and parks questions. State Park Inns will have a separate information booth in the Travel and Tourism area of the show.
The Live Birds of Prey from Hardy Lake’s Dwight Chamberlain Raptor Center will be presented Feb. 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. A “Snakes Alive, Snake Buffet” from O’Bannon Woods State Park will be offered Feb. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Members of the Indiana Conservation Officers K-9 team will be available Feb. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public will have an opportunity to interact with the officers and their K-9 partners. All times of the events listed are subject to change.
Find an adventure and get moving outdoors
Ready to get out of the house? Combine being outdoors with some exercise – and surprise yourself with how great it makes you feel. On the Healthy Parks, Healthy People page, you will find a variety of outdoor activities to enjoy and help you get moving at Indiana’s state parks and state-managed lakes.
Nesting season for Canada geese begins soon
Canada geese begin scouting for nesting areas in February. If you want to keep geese off your property, now is the time to start preparing. Geese prefer to nest near water surrounded by short, mowed grass and often return to where they have had previous nesting success. Well-kept lawns provide geese with food and a clear line-of-sight to see predators.
Using harassment techniques, installing fencing, and stopping supplemental feeding can help to prevent unwanted nesting on your property. Efforts to deter Canada geese are not effective if supplemental foods such as bread or birdseed are provided.
Enjoy the indoor pool at Abe Martin Lodge
Winter special: 2 nights for 1 at State Park Inns
It's not too late to take advantage of this offer, and winter is a great time to visit the beauty of the parks and enjoy savings at the inns. From lodge rooms to cabins, inns offer accommodations located in the most beautiful places in Indiana.
Turkey Run, Abe Martin Lodge, and Potawatomi Inn offer cabins as well as lodge rooms.
Stay two nights for the price of one, Sunday–Thursday only, through Feb. 24, 2022.
Call and reserve at 1.877.LODGES1.
Ice fishing basics: tips and tactics for bluegill
While many different fish can be caught while ice fishing, targeting bluegill will provide the most consistent ice angling success.
- The edge of plant beds or near a dropoff are good locations to find roaming fish. Drilling multiple holes ahead of time in likely locations will give you a good start.
- Use a small ice fishing jig baited with a single bee moth (or wax worm). Since most fish during the winter are oriented toward the bottom of a body of water, drop the jig to the bottom and raise it a few inches. Twitch the rod tip 1 to 2 inches to attract the fish. Pauses often trigger the bite.
- Start fishing each hole for 10-15 minutes. Stay if you’re catching fish, but move to catch the most active fish at each location. Try different types of habitat when searching for active fish.
- Bluegill often bite throughout the day, but action slows near dark.
- If you are keeping your catch, put the fish in a bucket with a water/snow mixture to keep them from freezing. The fish will be easier to fillet when you get home.
Public waters and many lake depth maps can be found on the Where to Fish Map.
Always assume you are on thin ice
With the recent temperature drops across the state, Indiana Conservation Officers are advising Hoosiers across the state of the potential hazards of being on frozen lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.
Every winter, thousands of Hoosiers safely enjoy fishing, skating, hiking, or just sliding around on frozen ponds and lakes. And every year, people drown after falling through ice.
Just like driving differently on snow versus on clear roads, it’s important to adjust your approach to safely have fun on ice.
The best rule of thumb is to put safety first. When you are thinking about getting on the ice, believe it is thin ice unless proven otherwise.
2021 Fish of the Year winners
The 2021 fish of the year winners are now online. Check out who had the biggest fish from muskellunge to the brindled madtom.
The Wabash River was the go-to location for big fish in 2021, yielding eight winning entries. Four winners each came from Tippecanoe and Kankakee rivers, and the East Fork of the White River. Rivers and streams were anglers’ favorite spots accounting for 35 of the 56 awards.
Learn how to enter your 2022 catches on our website.
Join us for Marsh Madness, Feb. 26
The annual Marsh Madness Sandhill Crane Festival runs 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 26 and starts with a kickoff banquet. This community-based bird festival celebrates the annual spring migration of sandhill cranes and waterfowl to Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area. This event is led by the Friends of Goose Pond through a partnership with the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife.
2022 Natural Resources Teacher Institute
Two sessions of the institute will be held this summer, June 20–24 and July 18–22, at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
This multi-day professional development workshop will allow educators to see firsthand how forestry works in Indiana. Sessions include site visits to public and private forest lands, tours of forest industry facilities, and forestry research.
The goal of the institute is to provide Indiana educators with knowledge, skills, and tools to effectively teach their students about forest ecology and forest management practices.
There is no cost to attend the institute. Participants will receive Project Learning Tree and Leopold Education Project materials, Indiana specific field guides, forestry field equipment, and a stipend for developing and completing a lesson plan or project. Participants will be housed at the Forestry Training Center at Morgan-Monroe State Forest for the duration of the institute. Meals will be provided.
For an application, please contact Donna Rogler at drogler@dnr.IN.gov or 317-234-5143.
Donate to wildlife on your taxes
You can support Indiana’s imperiled wildlife by donating to the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund. Established in 1982, the dedicated fund supports nongame and endangered species conservation. These wildlife species and their habitats are essential to our quality of life, from improving environmental health to providing opportunities to see beautiful and unique animals across the state.
Donations to the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund help DNR obtain additional federal funding through match. For example, if you make a $50 contribution, wildlife will receive $143. Find out how to donate on your Indiana state taxes by watching this video.
Don’t forget to sign up for Nongame Wildlife Fund News to learn more about the fund’s history of successes in celebration of its 40th birthday.
Turkey Run hosts Nature’s Mating Game event Feb. 12
Learn how other species reproduce during Turkey Run State Park’s Nature’s Mating Game on Feb. 12.
Enjoy dinner, desserts, cash bar, and a glimpse at the adult side of the natural world. The program after dinner will cover why Indiana's wildlife might select a partner, how they mate, and what advantages come with unique anatomy. The event will conclude with a humorous demonstration of one of Indiana's most complex mating strategies.
A couples package at Turkey Run Inn includes dinner, program, an overnight room, and breakfast on Sunday morning for $259.99 and must be booked through Kristina Hale, sales director, at 765-569-6020 or by emailing khale@dnr.IN.gov.
New online floodplain tool will save time
A new Indiana Floodplain Information Portal (INFIP) is available that will save users valuable time.
INFIP is designed to show flood risk associated with Indiana bodies of water and provide information specifically for local and state floodplain permitting. The information is based on the regulatory floodplain limits, because floods exceeding the regulatory floodplain can and do occur.
With this new tool, the user can download a Floodplain Analysis and Regulatory Assessment (FARA) directly from the app. The tool reduces FARA wait times from 30-60 days to a matter of minutes.
The Foundation celebrates and preserves Indiana’s natural legacy by raising funds to support the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and its programs.
