The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking private landowners to allow limited public game bird hunting opportunities on their properties in exchange for financial incentives and technical assistance through a program called APPLE.

APPLE stands for Access Program Providing Land Easements. In its second year, it provides hunters with an opportunity to hunt ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail and American woodcock, while also providing landowners with significant benefits.

With nearly 96 percent of Indiana now privately owned, public game bird hunting opportunities are limited. Participating landowners are eligible for incentives of up to $25 per acre. Additional financial assistance is also available for creating or improving habitat.

DNR biologists will work closely with each landowner to develop a wildlife habitat management plan. Biologists will also help landowners plan the number and timing of hunts on their land.

The DNR is targeting landowners of 20 acres or more within five focal regions across the state. For more information, including a description of the five focal regions, visit www.wildlife.IN.gov/9572.htm

Hunters will be selected for the program using Indiana’s online reserved hunt draw system. Landowners may continue to hunt all other species on their land during the duration of the APPLE hunts, and may hunt game birds after the APPLE hunts.

Emerald ash borer meets tough resistance

The emerald ash borer (EAB) continues to ravage woodlands in every Indiana county. But the dreaded pest faces ramped-up resistance in the form of treatments funded by a growing group of citizens and organizations.

With the help of a $20,000 grant from the Dr. Laura Hare Charitable Trust and additional donations, the Indiana Parks Alliance (IPA) has topped its initial fundraising goal by raising $28,770 to combat the invasive insect attacking and destroys ash trees.

The funds will be used in IPA’s “Save Our Ash Trees” campaign to initially treat 100 mature, seed-producing ash trees at several state parks and state nature preserves. EABs have been found in all 92 Indiana counties, and projections point to a potential 95 percent loss of the state’s ash trees over the next decade.

“Nothing makes your day like coming home, sitting down at the computer and reading in an email that your organization has been awarded a $20,000 grant for your first major fundraising campaign,” said Tom Hohman, president of IPA, a volunteer organization supporting the missions of the DNR’s divisions of State Parks and Nature Preserves.

“This not only allows us to meet our original goal of $20,000 but also gives us reserve funds for necessary retreatments in another two to three years, and to consider expanding the program to additional properties.”

In addition to the Laura Hare grant, IPA received donations of $1,000 from Friends of McCormick’s Creek State Park and the Indiana Native Plant & Wildflower Society, $700 from Friends of Fort Harrison State Park and $250 from Friends of Limberlost State Historic Site.

Another 33 individual donors made contributions ranging from $10-$1,000. “While the $20,000 grant is the big news, it’s important to recognize the other donations,” Hohman said. “All of those donations have made this campaign a great success.”

The SOAT fundraising campaign is ongoing. Visit www.indianaparksalliance.org/save-our-ash-trees to donate online.

EABs are invasive insects which have destroyed tens of millions of ash trees since arriving in the United States in 2002. Ash trees compose up to 20 percent of Indiana’s private and public forests.

SOAT has identified ash trees at Harmonie, McCormick’s Creek, Shades and Turkey Run state parks and at Coal Hollow, Russell Bend and Shrader-Weaver nature preserves that have been relatively unaffected by EAB. The trees will be injected with emamectin benzoate, an insecticide causing insect paralysis.

The U.S Forest Service uses emamectin benzoate to control EAB, and the U.S. EPA designates it as a reduced risk insecticide. The average cost of treating one mature ash tree is $200. IPA’s treatment project will bolster an effort begun last year by DNR Nature Preserves, which treated 100 ash trees at nine state-managed properties.

Full moon hike at Salamonie Lake

Be guided by the light of the moon on the “Full Moon Hike” at Salamonie Lake on March 31. The program starts at 8 p.m. at the Salamonie Interpretive Center. Dress for the weather. The hike is about one mile.

Advance registration is required by calling 260-468-2127. A program fee of $3 per person applies. The standard gate fee does not apply to hike participants.

The Upper Wabash Interpretive Services is located at 3691 S. New Holland Road, Andrews, IN 46702.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.