Catching black bass makes for great recreation, but now it can line your wallet, provided you fish – and catch – in the right spots. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is tagging 500 legal-sized black bass on three rivers in central and northern Indiana as part of a new research project.

“Black bass” includes largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. Anglers who catch a tagged bass can earn gift cards to Bass Pro Shop for $5, $10 or $25 by reporting their catches and returning tags to DNR researchers.

DNR biologists are tagging black bass in the West Fork White River (Madison, Hamilton and Marion counties), Eel River (Wabash, Miami and Cass counties) and St. Joseph River (St. Joseph and Elkhart counties) during late summer and fall.

Bass will be tagged with a jaw tag stamped with a DNR phone number and serial number.

When anglers catch a fish, they will need to remove the tag and either release or harvest the fish. Tags must be returned to the DNR to receive a reward, but tagged bass do not have to be kept to receive a reward.

To report tagged catches, anglers must call the phone number listed on the tag, 812-287-8300, and provide the following information:

•Tag number

•Whether the fish was kept or released

•Date of catch

•Total length of fish

•Approximate location of catch

“The research project will help biologists learn more about angler catch rates and fish movement in these rivers,” said DNR fisheries research biologist Sandy Clark-Kolaks. “Information gained will help us better manage these species.”

The project is a partnership of the DNR and various other conservation organizations, including the Indiana Wildlife Federation, Reel Women-Reel Men of Indianapolis, Indy Flycasters, St. Joseph River Valley Fly Fishers, Indiana Smallmouth Alliance and Manchester College, each of which is providing administrative and financial assistance.

Applications are available online for Hoosiers wanting to participate in special deer reduction hunts at designated Indiana state parks this fall. The first round of state park deer reduction hunting will be Nov. 18-19. The second round will be Dec. 2-3.

State park deer reductions help maintain and restore unique and valuable ecosystems damaged by whitetail deer. Biologists determine which parks require a reduction based on habitat recovery and previous harvest data.

The designated parks are closed to the general public on hunting days. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first state park deer reduction hunt in Indiana. Applications are available at www.IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov and the deadline is Aug. 25.

Applicants should look for details at www.dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/5834.htm before applying. They must be Indiana residents; 18 years old by Nov. 18, 2013; and possess at least one valid Indiana deer license. Apprentice and private preserve licenses are not applicable.

Each person may apply only once for each state park deer reduction effort, regardless of primary or buddy status. All applications sharing duplicate names will be disqualified.

Parks participating are Brown County, Chain O’Lakes, Charlestown, Harmonie, Indiana Dunes, Lincoln, McCormick’s Creek, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run, Versailles and Whitewater Memorial, which will hold reduction hunts using firearms, and Fort Harrison and Clifty Falls, which will use archery.

“Though browse lines and skinny deer remain in the past, less obvious damage persists and requires our close attention and management,” said Mike Mycroft, chief of natural resources for DNR State Parks & Reservoirs.

Bird lovers will have the opportunity to learn about hummingbirds and see them up close during a special hummingbird banding day at the Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center Aug. 10. The event is sponsored by Indiana Dunes State Park Interpretive Services and the Friends of Indiana Dunes group.

Licensed hummingbird bander Allen Chartier will demonstrate his craft, explain the science behind it, discuss his research and offer tips for hummer feeding and gardening. The event kicks off at 9 a.m. CDT.

Chartier will set up traps at the nature center feeders to catch and band Indiana Dunes hummers for visitors to see. At 1:30 p.m., he will give a presentation on his research with ruby-throated hummingbirds and provide tips for attracting them. “For visitors who have never seen a hummingbird in the hand and up close, it’s a magical experience,” said park interpreter Brad Bumgardner.

The event is free, after paying the standard gate fee of $5 for Indiana vehicles and $10 for out-of-state vehicles. For more information, call the nature center at 219-926-1390. Indiana Dunes State Park is located at 1600 North 25 E. Chesterton, IN 46304.

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.