Tri-State Outdoor News

Ask a dozen fishermen to name the best-eating fish on the stringer and I’d bet six of them would point to the crappie. Six of 12, well, that’s almost half. And if half the fishermen surveyed think one type of fish tastes better than all others, well, that might be something to take a look at.

I never would have guessed just how popular crappie fishing has become. Back when I was a kid we would catch crappies off the rocks in a channel near my house each spring. The best bait was a tiny white fly tied on a cane pole. By stretching out with the cane pole and carefully jigging the fly just above the nose of the fish, you could entice even the most stubborn pre-spawn fish to bite.

More »

Applications are now available for artists interested in participating in the Second Annual Natural Beauty Art Show at Ouabache State Park. This year’s theme is children exploring nature. Artists working in any medium are encouraged to participate.

The art show will be held on Saturday, July 4 from 11 am – 3 pm. More »

Tell City, IN— The Hoosier National Forest has revised its firewood cutting program in response to increased demand and available down trees. “We have always had a firewood permit program,” said Anne Carey, Brownstown/Tell City District Ranger, “but the severe weather impacts from Hurricane Ike and the recent ice storm, plus wood from our timber sale program, have created more opportunities to provide the public with firewood.” Carey emphasized that a firewood cutting permit is required for any firewood taken off national forest land. For further information call the Forest Service Tell City office, at 812-547-7051 or Bedford, Indiana office at 812-275-5987. More »

Frankfort, Ky. – Nearly 800 acres of fields and forests in western Kentucky are now open to the public. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources today announced the acquisition of 795 acres of bottomland woods and farmland along the Carlisle-Ballard County line.

“People need wide open places where they can hunt, fish or just wander around and enjoy nature with their families,” said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett. “We’re working to provide these opportunities, and proud to announce this latest in a long line of land acquisitions for public use.” More »

Archers from all around will descend upon the Mermet Fish and Wildlife Area in Massac County June 22-28 for two annual archery tournaments. The entire family is welcome to watch the competition shooting and talk to vendors. The events run back to back so archers can easily participate in both tournaments.

Things will start flying June 23-25 with the annual Superman Classic Archery Tournament, which is sponsored by the Metropolis Area Tourism Commission. More »

Archery Field Day and Whitetail Antler Measuring
Saturday, May 9th, 9am
FREE, FUN, INFORMATIVE, and DOOR PRIZES. Bring the whole family to Beall Woods State Park for a day of exciting outdoor activities. The event begins at 9am and will end at 3pm. Activities include a bowfishing demonstration by Joe Ewing and his crew, archery instruction for beginners and the more experienced by the Gander Mountain Archery staff, big buck measuring by certified Illinois big buck scorers, Pope and Young, and Boone and Crockett (please pre-register 618-298-2441), and a treestand safety demonstration.

Ladies Day Out: For the Birds
Saturday, May 16th, 8am-noon
Learn to identify the common birds of Beall Woods and how to attract birds to your backyard. The morning will begin at the Visitors’ Center with a hike on the nature trails. Well known area birders, Carolyn Nichols and her sister Elaine Michels, will provide their expertise on bird identification.

Youth Fishing Derby
Saturday, June 6th, 8am-11:30am
Bring your child to the park for a great day of fishing. The derby is for children ages 16 and under. Please call 618-298- 2441 for more information.

Refuge Manager William McCoy announced today the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) will sponsor a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) employment program for the first time in the summer of 2009.

The eight-week educational work program scheduled from June 15 to August 7, 2009 is for young men and women, 15 through 18 years of age. All participants must reside within either Pike or Gibson Counties as Patoka River NWR is located in both counties. More »

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has stocked 50,000 rainbow trout in 18 streams and 15 lakes in advance of the state’s inland trout season that started on April 25.

In 2009, the DNR trout stock program include portions of the following inland streams: Pigeon River (Steuben and LaGrange), Turkey Creek (LaGrange), Little Elkhart River (LaGrange), Rowe-Eden Ditch (LaGrange), Curtis Creek (LaGrange), Solomon Creek (Elkhart), Cobus Creek (Elkhart), Little Kankakee River (LaPorte), Spy Run (Allen), Mississinewa River (Randolph), Big Blue River (Henry), Brookville Tailwater (Franklin), Harden Reservoir Tailwater (Parke), Mill Creek (Fulton), Crooked Creek (Porter), Fawn River (Steuben), Potato Creek (St. Joseph), and Jackson Creek (Brown). More »

Applications are now available for reenactors interested in participating in Ouabache State Park’s Rendezvous on the Ouabache. The Rendezvous is a pre-1840s living history weekend aimed at educating visitors about an important period in the history and expansion of the United States of America. There will be a period encampment all weekend. A Covered Wagon Conversation will precede the event on Friday and is a good introduction to what a rendezvous was and the time period.

The event takes place Friday, June 19 at 8:00 pm, Saturday, June 20, 2008 from 9am – 8 pm and Sunday, June 21, 2008 from 9am – 4 pm. More »

Outdoor enthusiasts and nature will have the chance to help inventory as many plant and animal species as possible and help Indiana natural resource managers in the process during a Bio-Blitz at Brown County State Park from June 5-7.

A “bio-blitz,” an attempt to secure a detailed inventory of nature and the goal is to take stock of every living plant and animal species in the nearly 16,000 acres of Brown County State Park. A traditional bioblitz lasts 24 hours, but because the park is so large, the bioblitz is scheduled to run all weekend. More »