Hoosier hunters can breathe a sigh of relief for another season as there has been no evidence found of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the Indiana herd. One of Jim Mitchell’s parting reports as he retired as Indiana’s chief deer biologist was to post the report proclaiming all tests showing Indiana to be CWD free.

Indiana’s DNR received the final report from Purdue University and the data showed no detectable CWD prions in any of the 1,218 submitted 2005 hunter-killed samples tested.

Indiana’s DNR biologists submitted to Purdue a total of 1,256 samples from 68 of the state’s 92 counties. Sample numbers from each county ranged from 1 to 105. Of the samples submitted, 38 samples were not usable, and the remaining 1,218 samples had no detectable levels of prions.

Chronic Wasting Disease is a cervid disease that is very highly contagious from animal-to-animal. CWD has been found in several western and northern states and was discovered last year in the bordering state of Illinois.

Hooks, bullets & dying embers
One neat aspect of being an outdoor scribe is getting to associate with some real legends of the outdoor world. One of those legends, and close friend, is Jack Kerins of Terre Haute, Ind. Jack has a long history in outdoor communications and was the originator of one of the very first outdoor hunting and fishing shows airing for 21 years.

When it comes to experiencing the outdoors, in a word, Jack Kerins has done it “all.”

Jack’s latest publishing endeavor is a 265-page rendition reminiscent of the likes of Robert Ruark and Gene Hill with a touch of Patrick McManus. The book gives a poignant look at Kerins’ lifetime of marveling and participating in the great outdoor cathedral.

From the tale of his first BB gun to fishing for lake trout with the Inuit people in the wilds of the Arctic North, Jack brings his readers along. As the chapters flow by, Kerins’ descriptive skill as a wordsmith has readers smelling the crisp fall air and expecting to find mud on their feet, fresh from the duck blind.

Signed copies of Hooks and Bullets and Dying Embers are available for a check or money order for $17.95 plus $2 shipping and handling mailed to: Jack Kerins, 82 Briarwood, Terre Haute, IN 47803.

Record book available
The current issue is now available with the big bucks of the 2004 deer season now listed in the latest edition of The Hoosier Record Book.

According to the Indiana Deer Hunters Association, more than 400 record book bucks were entered in the Hoosier Record Book in the 2004 season.

To obtain your copy contact: Jon Bogucki at 574-656-4271 or send a check for $15 to: Jon Bogucki, 66603 Pine Road, North Liberty, IN 46554.

Fishing license numbers up
The number of paid fishing license holders in the United States has slightly increased over the previous year, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s recent National Fishing License Report.

Numbers rose 2.1 percent from 27,908,272 in 2003 to 28,499,206 in 2004. The sport fishing industry sees this as a good sign the trend of flat or slightly decreasing numbers may now be on the upswing.

“Angling is one of America’s most popular sports,” said Mike Nuss-man, president and CEO, American Sportfishing Association (ASA). “It’s a sport that everyone can enjoy. Spending time on the water is a great way for families and friends to connect. We see this as a good sign and a trend that we want to see continue.”

The number of resident licenses, tags, permits and stamps issued in 2004 increased nearly 2 percent over the previous year to 31.6 million, while the non-resident quantity posted at 6.6 million, an increase of 3.7 percent over 2003.

Anglers continue to contribute more and more dollars in pursuit of their sport. The 2004 figures show gross cost paid by anglers for licenses, tags, permits and stamps - the primary funding source for sport fish conservation and management programs in America - was $540.9 million. The total represents an increase of 5.3 percent over 2003. Currently, one out of every 10 Americans has a fishing license. The percentage of anglers in America’s population peaked in the mid-1980s at 31.5 million. At the time, anglers represented approximately 19 percent of the U.S. population.

Readers with questions or comments can contact Jack Spaulding by e-mail at outdoors@cnz.com or by writing to him in care of this publication.

This farm news was published in the March 1, 2006 issue of Farm World.