The Orion Foundation donated a 30-acre parcel of forest along Cedar Creek in Allen County to the ACRES Land Trust in memory of Marsha Hunter. Orion Woods, the second-largest gift presented to ACRES in its 49-year existence, features wetlands and forest area with rolling terrain and deep ravines. It is situated adjacent to the Meno-aki State Dedicated Nature Preserve at Metea Park and is not open to the public.
“We are very pleased to entrust the continued preservation of Orion Woods as a nature preserve to ACRES with its long history of success in this area,” Orion Foundation president Jack Hunter said in a news release. “Marsha discovered this property when it came on the market and felt strongly about protecting the forest from development, so it seems particularly appropriate that we make this gift to ACRES in memory of her.”
Nontoxic shot approved
Waterfowl hunters looking for a little more downfield range with their shot can now add tungsten-iron-polymer to the list of approved nontoxic shot. Hunters are required by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulation to use nontoxic shot while hunting waterfowl and when hunting mourning doves on fish and wildlife properties.
Tungsten-iron-polymer shot is slightly denser than lead, which has been banned for all waterfowl hunting because of concerns over lead poisoning in animals and in water supplies.
Traditionally, steel has been the shot of choice because of its availability and relative low cost. But steel shot is significantly lighter than lead, making its effective range less.
Fishing license sales up
The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and the American Sportfishing Association reported that the purchase of fishing licenses is up 7.7 percent nationally. Indiana is ahead of the curve with an 8.1 percent bump.
The Indiana DNR reports a boost of 49,111 more fishing licenses sold in the first nine months of this year compared with the same period in 2008, accounting for an additional $748,000 in revenue that will be directed to the state's fish and wildlife fund.
The RBFF is in its second year of a partnership with the DNR, and in conjunction with the ASA the groups plan to track trends that impact recreational fishing by releasing quarterly license sales indexes.
“Not since the 1970s have we seen a single-year increase in fishing license sales like we've seen so far in 2009,” ASA president and CEO Mike Nussman said in a news release issued jointly by the two organizations.
“This new license metric will provide everyone with important sales and participation information.”
Hunter education courses
Upcoming hunter education offered courses in the area:
DeKalb County: Two-day course, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at Hamilton Fish and Game Club, 110 E. Railroad St., Hamilton. Call 1-260-488-2723 to preregister.
Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1986, is required to complete a hunter education class offered by the DNR in order to purchase a hunting license in Indiana, with the exception of the apprentice hunter license. Hunters who are at least 12 may also take the course and the test online at www.hunter-ed.com/ in/index.htm.
October
30-31 - Fall Festival Weekend, Oubache State Park, Bluffton
November
6 - Pheasant, quail and rabbit seasons open
8 - Raccoon and opossum seasons open
14 - Opening day of deer firearms season
21 - Put-and-take pheasant hunts begin on select state Fish and Wildlife Areas
