With the deer reduction zone season underway and the statewide archery deer season having started on Oct. 1, Indiana Conservation Officers want to remind hunters to stay safe.

More than 300,000 people are expected to participate in some form of deer hunting in Indiana during the various deer hunting seasons running through Jan. 31, 2024, and the overwhelming majority typically do so safely.

When injuries occur, the most common are from accidents involving hunting from tree stands and elevated platforms. To avoid such injuries, hunters should follow the safety tips when hunting from an elevated position.

Before the hunt:

• Read and understand the tree stand manufacturer’s instructions.

• Check tree stands and equipment for wear; fatigue; and cracks or loose nuts and bolts, paying particularly close attention to parts made of material other than metal.

• Pack and plan to use equipment specifically designed for hunting.

• Practice tree stand use and setup at ground level.

• Learn how to properly wear your full-body safety harness.

During the hunt:

• Wear your full-body safety harness.

• Use a tree stand safety rope.

• Make certain to attach your harness to the tree before leaving the ground, and that it remains attached to the tree until you return to the ground.

• Maintain three points of contact during ascent and descent.

• Use boots with nonslip soles.

• Use a haul line to raise and lower firearms, bows and other hunting gear.

• Make sure firearms are unloaded, action is open, and safety is on before attaching them to the haul line.

When doing any kind of hunting, remember to do the following to stay safe:

• Carry a cellphone and flashlight.

• Make a plan before you hunt.

• Tell someone your plan, including where you will be hunting and when you plan to return.

• Stick to your plan.

• Identify game before pointing a firearm.

• Know your target and what is beyond it.

Brown County third in nation’s state parks for fall foliage

Brown County State Park, Indiana’s largest, ranks third on New York Travel Guide’s recently published list of its 15 best state parks for fall foliage. To compile the list, the guide compared more than 600 parks in three categories, including reviews of fall colors, fall photography popularity, and each park’s overall rating.

Last December, Brown County State Park ranked sixth on a list of most beautiful state parks in the country, according to a study done by Travel Lens, which also ranked the park 13th among the country’s “most Instagrammed state parks.” In 2021, the park was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and it is a fixture on various “best of” rankings for its mountain biking trails.

The park comprises nearly 16,000 acres, most of them heavily wooded.

More about Brown County State Park is at on.IN.gov/browncountysp.

New prairie and wetland

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has added 158 acres of upland prairie and wetland to Mallard Roost Wetland Conservation Area in Noble County, which conserves prime wildlife habitat and will provide an excellent place for fishing and hunting.

“By protecting a larger scope of grassland, forest, and wetland habitat at Mallard Roost, Indiana’s gaining an incredible asset for both wildlife and outdoor recreation,” said DNR Director Dan Bortner. “We are thankful for all partners who have helped us put this area into the public trust and protect its natural and recreational resources now and for future generations.”

The new property, which will be called the Buchanan Unit of Mallard Roost Wetland Conservation Area, was acquired through a partnership between the DNR and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (INRF). Generous support from donors through Northeast Indiana Partnerships and Preservation provided the largest share of private contributions, with additional financial support provided by the National Wild Turkey Federation.

“It has been a privilege to be part of the effort to provide public lands in northeast Indiana,” said Tom Kelley, of Northeast Indiana Partnerships and Preservation. “When groups come together with a common goal, it is exciting to see what comes from it. We are proud of what this property will be able to provide for conservation and the community.”

Indiana’s DNR has led important work to restore upland bird habitat on the Buchanan Unit, which provides a home for quail, turkey, pheasants, and other birds. Support for the work has been provided by the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Northeast and Eel River chapters of Pheasants Forever, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication, or e-mail to jackspaulding@hughes.net.

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