Indiana Conservation Officers were investigating a Feb. 26 incident resulting in an injured Ohio man being flown to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

At 10:30 p.m., the Franklin County 911 Communications Center received a call regarding a hunter who had suffered a severe leg injury near the Garr Hill boat ramp.

Conservation officers and other public safety workers responded and located Scott James, 65, of Fairfield, Ohio. After receiving medical assistance from the first responders, James was flown to the medical center by UC Health AirCare.

Second case of chronic wasting disease in Indiana

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has confirmed Indiana’s second positive case of chronic wasting disease (CWD). CWD is a neurological disease affecting deer, resulting in their eventual death. The positive, wild white-tailed deer was a 2.5-year-old male harvested in Posey County.

CWD has been detected in wild deer in 36 states, including all the states bordering Indiana.

During the 2025-2026 deer hunting season, DNR will enhance its surveillance efforts in Posey County and the surrounding counties to determine the extent of disease in the area. The extended surveillance will allow biologists to develop a targeted response based on the prevalence of CWD in that part of Indiana. CWD testing will be voluntary for hunters in the area.

“The public can help by reporting sightings of sick or dead deer to the DNR, as well as submitting harvested deer for testing during deer hunting season. Through increased awareness and testing, we can work to monitor CWD within Indiana’s deer population.” said Joe Caudell, Indiana DNR deer biologist.

There have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. Indiana’s DNR recommends hunters have their deer tested and that people not eat meat from deer testing positive for CWD. See the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center’s website for more information.

The deer was confirmed positive for CWD by two independent tests. CWD is caused by a misfolded prion causing damage to the animal’s nervous system. CWD can spread from deer-to-deer by contact or through contaminated environments. It remains in the soil for many years. Animals in the late stages of CWD can experience drastic weight loss and show abnormal changes in behavior. If you see any sick or dead wildlife, please report it to on.IN.gov/sickwildlife.

Indiana’s various deer hunting seasons run from mid-September until the end of January.

Hunters can have their harvested deer tested for free by voluntarily submitting a sample via one of DNR’s head drop coolers at select Fish & Wildlife areas, State Fish Hatcheries and National Wildlife Refuges. All CWD sampling locations may be viewed through an interactive map.

Alternatively, people may submit samples directly to the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) at Purdue University for a fee. More information and submission forms are available on the ADDL website.

Indiana conservation officers return from Kentucky flooding duty

Sixteen Indiana conservation officers are returning home after deploying to Kentucky last weekend to assist with widespread flooding.

The group, consisting of two Type I Swift Water Rescue Teams, was requested by Kentucky through an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to aid in search and rescue missions.

The officers left Indiana on Feb. 16, and initially staged in Richmond, Ky., before being reassigned to Frankfort, Ky., and then to Leslie County in Southeast Kentucky.

The two teams were tasked with search and rescue missions, welfare checks and delivery of food, water, fuel and generators to the flooded areas not accessible due to roadways and bridges being covered by floodwater.

Ice fisherman rescued from Lee Lake

An ice fisherman was rescued after falling through the ice on Lee Lake on Feb. 22. The fisherman, Travis Hunt, 53, of Terre Haute, was reported to have been submerged for about 10 minutes during the initial call to the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department dispatch at 3:36 p.m.

Minutes later, members of the Honey Creek Fire Department, the Riley Fire Department and Indiana Conservation Officer Max Winchell arrived. Honey Creek Battalion Chief Josh Sittler and Winchell entered the water wearing dry suits and removed Hunt from the water with the on-shore help of another conservation officer and Honey Creek and Riley fire department personnel.

Hunt, who was in the water for about 30 minutes, was transported to an area hospital for treatment. He is listed in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

Indiana Conservation Officers strongly encourage the use of life jackets while participating in activities on or near the water.

‘till next time,  

Jack

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication or e-mail Jack at jackspaulding1971@outlook.com.

Spaulding’s books, “The Best Of Spaulding Outdoors” and “The Coon Hunter And The Kid,” are available from Amazon.com as a paperback or Kindle download.