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DNR is looking to catalog the state’s biggest trees

Exploring the banks of the Big Flatrock River as a boy, I discovered an awesome old sycamore tree. Unfortunately, the tree had been dead for years, and it was broken off about 10 feet up.

The best part of the discovery was the remaining section of the tree was not only huge, it was hollow. With a small arched entryway, the old hollow snag made an immediate riverside camping clubhouse. Upgraded with a limb pole and mud-sealed roof, it was perfect. It was plenty big enough to hold three small boys and a campfire.
The old sycamore greatly resembled “Balser’s” tree as described by Charles Major in his book, The Bears of Blue River. The Flatrock River giant was a part of my childhood recollections – it was definitely one of the biggest and best trees in my memory.

Do you know of an extraordinarily large tree? The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is accepting nominations for the “2010 Big Tree Register,” a list of the largest known native trees in the state, published every five years.

The application requires three measurements of a tree: total circumference, in inches, at 4.5 feet above the ground; total height, in feet; and average crown spread, in feet. The total size of a tree is calculated using the formula of: circumference + height + 1/4 average crown spread.

The tree of each species with the highest total is Indiana’s largest. Each tree nominated is verified for species and size before acceptance in the register. For more information about nominating a tree for the register or to receive a nomination form, contact Janet Eger at 812-247-2479 or e-mail jeger@dnr.IN.gov
The nomination form can be found at www.IN.gov/dnr/forestry/3605.htm under “directories.” Nominations will be accepted through Oct. 31.

Help ‘bio-blitz’ state park

A “bio-blitz” is an attempt to secure a detailed inventory of nature, and will be jam-packed into a single weekend at Brown County State Park June 5-7. The goal is to take stock of every living plant and animal species in the nearly 16,000 acres of Brown County State Park, and you can help.

A traditional bio-blitz lasts 24 hours, but because the park is so large, the bio-blitz is scheduled to run all weekend. Brown County State Park needs volunteers to assist scientists and naturalists who will lead the inaugural event.

Many volunteers will see areas of the park normally off-limits to the public. The effort will yield a valuable record of common as well as rare, endangered and exotic (plant) species living in the park. It will help property staff to learn more about what resources are present and aid in better resource management decision-making.

“This will be a fun and important event,” said Jim Eagleman, the park’s interpretive naturalist. “It will give us a snapshot of the biodiversity of Indiana’s largest state park. We encourage anyone who enjoys nature and the outdoors to volunteer; learning from today’s scientists about their areas of expertise will be a bonus.”
Visitors concerned with the physical demands of volunteering may wish to attend a talk with a researcher. Public programs presented by the park interpretive staff will highlight species being discovered during the three-day event; visitors can also learn what environmental demands are facing today’s botanists and biologists.
The park’s Nature Center will serve as base camp, stocked with coffee, refreshments, field guides, computers, microscopes and species tally sheets. All inventoried sites will be recorded with GPS coordinates.

Those interested in participating are asked to register online at www.bcbioblitz.com and a standard gate fee of $5 for each in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle will be charged.

Real blast at Roush Range

On May 30, range masters will have the chance to test their 22-caliber high-power rifle shooting skills at the inaugural Roush Lake Shooting Range’s .22 center-fire rifle match.

Registration and check-in is 10 a.m. and the event will run from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Entry fee for each shooter is $10; each reshoot costs an additional $10. First place wins 50 percent payback; second place, 25 percent payback; and third place, 5 percent payback.
Only standard production firearms including ArmaLites are permitted as determined by the range safety officer. Hand loads will be allowed. Front bench, sandbag and bipod rests may be used. However, one-piece rests (shooting vises) are not allowed.

Relay and lane numbers will be determined by draw and targets will be set at 100 yards. One “sighter” shot will be allowed and shooters will have five minutes for 20 shots. Designated spotters are allowed; no alibi shots, and the maximum score is 200 points.

Women in the Outdoors

Archery, fly fishing, shotgun target shooting, outdoor cooking, bird watching, kayaking, scrapbooking, tomahawk throwing and geocaching – those are just some of the skills girls and women ages 12 and older can learn at the fourth annual Women in the Outdoors Program scheduled for June 13 in Huntertown, Ind.
The program is presented by the Three Rivers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and is hosted by the Izaak Walton League. The Women in the Outdoors program is dedicated to providing outdoor opportunities for women through hands-on activities conducted throughout the United States.

The program began in 1998 when 18 events were held with 1,000 women attending. In 2008, 370 events were held, with 42,553 female members attending.

Indiana Conservation officers will be on hand to instruct several of the classes. Registration is now under way for the one-day event offering 24 outdoor-related activities for participants to select.
For more information or a registration brochure, call Charita Niedermeyer at 260-484-6041 or e-mail her at the huntress98@hotmail.com

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.

5/27/2009