Last week, I saw an out-of-state four-wheel drive loaded with tents, chairs and coolers. They looked to be a typical family coming to Indiana to enjoy one of our parks; it was apparent the occupants were headed toward a camping destination for the Memorial Day weekend with nothing in mind but relaxing and enjoying the great outdoors.

What I saw next might have brought their weekend escapade to a disappointing $500 citation. As the vehicle passed, I noticed a trailer hitch carrier partially covered with a blue tarpaulin. I could see the bottom of the carrier was filled with bark-on firewood – which is a definite “no-no” under Indiana’s new firewood regulations.

As the camping season continues, visitors to Department of Natural Resources (DNR) properties should prepare for the new DNR firewood rule that took effect in March. The Indiana Natural Resources Commission approved a similar firewood policy last year, but adopted the temporary policy as a permanent rule beginning this year.

The new rule helps protect woodlands from the spread of 140 known pests and pathogens currently affecting Hoosier forests. The pests and pathogens are transported from place to place primarily through the movement of firewood.

Under the rule, in-state visitors to state parks, reservoirs, state forests and state Fish & Wildlife Areas may bring firewood from home as long as the bark has been removed. The reason for bark removal is that insect larvae live in the sapwood under it.

Visitors from outside Indiana cannot bring firewood from out of state because of federal emerald ash borer quarantines.

Guests may also bring firewood into DNR properties if it is: kiln-dried scrap lumber; firewood purchased outside the property and bears either a USDA compliance stamp or a state compliance stamp; or is purchased from the property camp store or on-site firewood vendor and displays a state compliance stamp.

Regardless of where visitors obtain their legal-to-burn firewood, they should burn it all at the campsite before leaving. The rule gives DNR staff the ability to confiscate firewood not in compliance, and gives Indiana conservation officers the authority to write a warning or citation for violations with potential fines up to $500 plus court costs.

The new Indiana camp firewood rule means: “Buy it with a stamp, bring it debarked and burn it all.” Sometimes, it pays to know before you go.

The DNR will monitor bass fishing tournaments at 10 northern Indiana natural lakes this spring and summer as part of a two-year study of the effect of current fishing regulations on bass populations and fishing success.

Biologists with the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife will count and measure bass brought to weigh-ins by tournament anglers. Monitoring the tournaments provides information on bass abundance, size and health, as well as data on angler participation levels and bass catch rates. The information is used to track long-term changes in bass populations.

Lakes on the list include Barbee, Chapman, Dewart and Tippecanoe in Kosciusko County; Crooked and James in Steuben County; Waldron in Noble County; Manitou in Fulton County; Pine/Stone in LaPorte County; and Koontz in Starke County.

Unlike at state-owned lakes in Indiana, DNR permits are not required at the 10 lakes to host fishing tournaments. Consequently, there is no system in place for tournament organizers to report their results.

DNR biologists monitored 10 events last year at six lakes in Steuben, Marshall and Kosciusko counties. Preliminary results indicate bass fishing is improving in northern Indiana’s natural lakes.

Last year anglers fished an average of 3.7 hours for every legal-size 14-inch bass they brought to the weigh-ins. They took 5.9 hours to catch a legal-size bass 10 years ago.

Although tournament anglers fished 67 hours for every trophy-size bass they brought to weigh-ins last year, the fishing was better than the 125 hours anglers needed to catch a trophy-size, 18-inch bass 10 years ago.  After results of the year’s events are summarized, a final report will be issued.

With assistance from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service agents, Indiana conservation officers have completed an investigation into the killing of a male whooping crane in early January in Knox County.

The Knox County prosecutor is reviewing the case while charges are pending against Jason R. McCarter, 21, of Wheatland, and John C. Burke, 23, of Monroe City. According to the case report filed with the prosecutor, Conservation Officer Joe Haywood received information in mid-January a whooping crane had been spotlighted at night and shot and killed with a high-powered rifle.

The ensuing investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, wildlife biologists and private individuals, and provided information identifying the suspects while linking the bird to a federal program to reintroduce whooping cranes in the eastern United States.

Whooping cranes are an endangered species protected by both state and federal laws. Efforts to save whooping cranes began after their nationwide population dwindled to 15 birds in 1941, according to the International Crane Foundation.

The Foundation reports there are nearly 600 whooping cranes today, with approximately 445 in the wild. There are more than 100 in the eastern reintroduction flock traveling through Indiana on a migratory path between Wisconsin and Florida.

Roughly 150 captive-raised birds are used in the reintroduction programs, at a cost exceeding $100,000 per bird. The whooping crane shot in Knox County was part of a nesting pair taught the migratory flyway path by an ultra-light aircraft.

For more on the bird, see www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/08/Banding Codes827.html

An investigation into the killing of a second whooping crane in Jackson County continues. Anyone with information can call the Turn In A Poacher hotline at 800-TIP-IDNR (847-4367).

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 for Jack Spaulding may contact him by email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.