Learning the art of trapping is becoming harder to achieve. Many of the “old-timers” who knew the ins and outs of the trap line are long gone, and there are few left to pass the tradition on to future generations.

Outdoor enthusiasts interested in learning about trapping will have a unique opportunity the end of this month. On July 29-30, a trapping education course will be offered at the Wolfe Community Building in Shipshewana, Ind. The course will run the two days from 5-9 p.m.

Students must pre-register by calling 260-768-4496. The class is free, and no equipment is required. The class is available to children and adults, but children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Students will learn about the history of trapping, animal identification, animal behavior, ethics, safety, trap placement and instruction on how to set traps.  Students must attend both sessions.

Indiana paddlefish poacher loses hunt, fish privileges

Randall L. Voorhees Jr., 29, of Evansville, Ind., lost his fishing and hunting privileges and a lot more when he was sentenced recently in Warrick Superior Court II on a charge of attempted illegal sale of protected wildlife, a Class D felony.

The sentence stems from a guilty plea entered by Voorhees for illegal fishing activity involving paddlefish. Voorhees also received a suspended 18-month jail sentence; 18 months supervised probation and a $10,000 fine. The court suspended his hunting and fishing privileges for a period of five years.

In addition, the court ordered Voorhees’ 1991 GMC truck, boat and boat trailer and all fishing gear seized as evidence forfeited to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Voorhees was one of 22 people arrested during “Operation Skid Roe” on violations linked to the illegal marketing of protected paddlefish in Indiana waters. He was charged after an investigation conducted by Indiana Conservation officers and detectives, along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents.

“Operation Skid Roe” was an investigation into the poaching and illegal sale of paddlefish and the valuable eggs carried by pregnant females. Paddlefish are protected in Indiana waters, which led to the stiff penalty levied against Voorhees.

“This is a clear indication of the court system’s view that poaching is a serious crime, and that the penalties levied by a court can be severe,” DNR Director of Law Enforcement Col. Michael Crider said.
Criminal charges for attempted sale of protected wildlife are pending against Voorhees in Posey County.

Bald eagle electrocuted

A bald eagle was electrocuted the night of July 10 after coming into contact with a power line in rural Huntington County.

The incident happened at about 9 p.m., when a power outage was reported nearby at a municipal water department pump house southwest of Huntington near the Wabash River.

Indiana Conservation Officer Mark Johnston and DNR biologist Patrick Mayer retrieved the carcass and sent photographs to DNR non-game bird biologist John Castrale.

“John thinks it’s a juvenile male,” Mayer said. “It could have been one of the birds that fledged from the nearby nest, but we don’t know.”

Castrale said young eagles face many challenges when they first leave the nest, resulting in first-year mortality rates of 40-50 percent. Learning to forage efficiently is perhaps the biggest challenge, but they sometimes succumb to disease, lead poisoning, getting hit by vehicles, colliding with power lines or some other mishap.

Since their reintroduction to Indiana in the late 1980s, bald eagles have flourished. More than 100 nesting pairs were counted earlier this year, and the bald eagle has been officially removed from the state’s Endangered Species list.

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 e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.