Indiana Hunters may apply for reserved hunts online at GoOutdoorsIN.com. Reserved hunts available in this round include waterfowl, deer and gamebird hunts on properties managed by the DNR Division of Fish, Wildlife & Nature Preserves (DFWNP), on Indiana Private Lands Access (IPLA) properties, Indiana State Park properties, and on National Wildlife Refuge properties.

The online application method is the only way to apply for the hunts. No late entries will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Sept. 16.

Applicants must possess a valid Indiana hunting license for the hunt to which they are applying. A $1 tech fee is charged for each hunt application purchased.

First time GoOutdoorsIN.com users will be directed to create an account through the Access Indiana portal and to look up their existing DFWNP record. Users should verify all personal information is up to date in the “Your Profile” menu option after logging in. For questions related to an online account, call 317-232-4082 or email INHuntFish@dnr.IN.gov. Hunters at each participating property will be selected through random computerized draws and will be able to view results online. An email will be sent to all applicants when the drawings have been completed.

For Indiana State Park property deer management hunts, hunters may apply individually or as part of a group. Hunters should only apply as a group if they are not interested in hunting unless all group members are drawn. Group and individual applications are weighed equally.

Reserved hunts in this application period include:

• Waterfowl hunts at participating DFWNP properties.

• Deer archery hunts at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and participating DFWNP properties.

• Deer firearms and archery hunts at participating State Park properties.

• Deer firearms and muzzleloader hunts at Big Oaks NWR and participating DFWNP properties.

• Gamebird hunts on gamebird areas in northern Indiana. Youth hunts will be offered. These hunts are not put-and-take pheasant hunts.

• IPLA hunts for waterfowl, gamebirds, deer archery, deer firearms and muzzleloader, late season deer muzzleloader and archery, squirrel and rabbit.

For a complete list of hunts available, see on.IN.gov/reservedhunt.

Earn a park pin or patch

Looking for something you can do at any one of our Indiana State Parks? Try earning your Explore Pin, Discover Patch or Challenge Patch.

Every Indiana State Park has their own Explore Pin. Collect all of them by completing five simple activities at each park. The activities are attend a program, complete one hour of volunteer time, report back to the naturalist about your volunteer activity, recreate for 30 minutes, and complete a site-specific activity assigned to you by the naturalist.

To earn your Discover Patch, attend three interpretive programs, volunteer for one hour, and complete three activities in the brochure. You can complete the activities at just one state park or visit multiple different ones.

To earn your Challenge Patch, attend four interpretive programs, volunteer for three hours, participate in five outdoor skills, and complete 10 outdoor experiences listed in the brochure. It may take several visits to multiple parks to earn your Challenge Patch.

Find more details and download the brochures at on.IN.gov/hoosierquest.

New Jersey teen drowns in Lake Michigan

Indiana Conservation Officers were investigating after a juvenile was recovered from Lake Michigan on Aug. 17.

Just before 2 p.m., the LaPorte County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a teenage male swimmer had gone underwater and did not resurface.

First responders from multiple agencies arrived quickly at the residential access point and initiated a search. At 2:15 p.m., a Michigan City firefighter located the victim, entered the water, and brought him to shore, where lifesaving measures started immediately. The victim, a 16-year-old from East Brunswick, N.J., was transported by ambulance to Franciscan Health Michigan City Hospital, where he later died.

Indiana Conservation Officers and the LaPorte County Coroner’s Office continue to investigate. The identity of the victim is not being released.

‘till next time, 

Jack

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication or e-mail Jack at jackspaulding1971@outlook.com  Spaulding’s books, “The Best Of Spaulding Outdoors” and “The Coon Hunter And The Kid,” are available from Amazon.com as a paperback or Kindle download.