Indiana’s 2010 youth turkey season takes place April 17 and 18. The special season is open to hunters age 17 or younger. Youth hunters are limited to one bearded or male wild turkey.

To participate, a youth hunter must be accompanied in the field at all times by an adult who is at least 18 years old and is not in possession of a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow. The adult does not need a hunting license, unless the youth is using an apprentice license. The youth must be properly licensed to take a wild turkey and comply with all tagging and check-in requirements. A list of check stations is available in the 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping Guide or at www.wildlife.IN.gov Legal equipment includes 10-, 12-, 16-, or 20-gauge shotguns, bow and arrow, or crossbow.
An apprentice license is available to youths who have yet to complete the requirement of hunter education. All persons, regardless of age, are limited to three apprentice licenses in their lifetime.

Youth turkey hunters killed 978 turkeys statewide during the 2009 youth season and 956 turkeys statewide during the 2008 youth season.

The DNR is offering reserved youth turkey hunts at 21 DNR properties during the youth turkey season; Atterbury, Crosley, Glendale, Goose Pond, Hovey Lake, Jasper-Pulaski, Sugar Ridge, Kankakee, Kingsbury, LaSalle, Pigeon River, Tri-County, Minnehaha, Fairbanks Landing, Hillenbrand, Chinook, Winamac and Willow Slough fish and wildlife areas, as well as at Salamonie, Roush and Mississinewa lakes.

The hunts are limited. Youth hunters may be drawn for either or both hunt days, or not at all, depending on the number of applicants. Youth hunters, or an adult representing them, must register in person at the property of choice. All applicants will be notified of drawing results by mail. Applicants may sign up for only one property. Those wanting to sign up for Fairbanks Landing, Chinook or Hillenbrand hunts may do so at Minnehaha FWA. Find DNR property contact information at www.in.gov/dnr/3233.htm

Hunts run one-half hour before sunrise until noon at properties in the Central Time Zone, and one-half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. on properties in the Eastern Time Zone.

Cabela’s King Kat Tournament
The Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail will hit the waters of the Ohio River at Henderson, Ky., on April 24.  The tournament will be the opportunity for local catfish anglers to compete for cash, prizes and a chance to advance to the Cabela’s King Kat Classic to be held in the fall of 2010.

Henderson has been a hotspot on the King Kat Trail with last year’s event held with Norris City, Ill., team of Greg Edwards and Doug Kerns still bringing in a total weight of 124.75 pounds to take first place.

The Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail is the opportunity for catfish anglers and clubs to advance to a new level with a major payback and media recognition for their abilities. The trail is a team event. Teams will consist of one or two persons with one exception. A third person may accompany the team provided the third person is under 16 years of age or over 65 years of age. Entry fees for these qualifier tournaments are $200.00 per team.
For the tournament, there is a guaranteed payback of $5,000.00 to the top 15 percent of the field.

The tournament weigh-in will be held at the Riverfront Park in Henderson, Ky. Tournament hours are 6:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. All anglers must be in weigh-in line by 4 p.m. with a five fish limit per team. To help preserve the sport only live fish will be weighed in and all fish will be released after the tournament. For a complete list of rules phone or visit our website listed below.

Participants may enter by mail or at the late registration to be held at the host hotel, the Super 8 in Henderson from 5-7 p.m. or at the mandatory meeting at 5:30 a.m. tournament morning at the weigh-in site. Deadline for mail in entries is 14 days prior to the event. All entries after the date must pay a $25 late fee. The top 20 teams at each qualifying event will qualify for the Cabela’s King Kat Classic. Also at each qualifying event field test products from national sponsors will be drawn for following the tournament weigh-in.

Catfish clubs and organizations may register with the King Kat Tournament Trail and qualify their top two teams from each event to fish in the Cabela’s King Kat Classic for their support in promoting the tournament trail. To register call 270-395-6774 or e-mail at dvanvactor@kingkatusa.com

Statewide Forest Assessment
A draft of the 2010 Statewide Forest Assessment document is available online for public review by conservationists, forest stakeholders, landscape stewards, Department of Natural Resources partners and anyone else with an interest until April 16.  The draft report is available at: www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/5436.htm; comments, suggestions and input should be e-mailed to stateassessment@dnr.IN.gov

The document provides information on Indiana’s forest conditions, trends, threats and priority landscape areas for both public and private ownerships. Issues covered include fragmentation, soil and water, invasives, biodiversity, recreation and wood products.
A two-part event to build on the Statewide Forest Assessment will occur on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1. The events, called Indiana Forest Conservation and Stewardship Forum, are open to the public and will take place at The Nature Conservancy’s Efroymson Conservation Center, 620 East Ohio Street, in Indianapolis.

The April 30 meeting is for professionals in landscape stewardship, conservation, natural resources and land-use planning, as well as serious private forestland owners. The meeting also will include afternoon issue-based work groups creating outlines for developing specific components of the Statewide Forest Resource Strategy.  The event begins with registration at 9 a.m., and runs until 3:30 p.m., Lunch is provided. Register for the Friday, April 30 session by calling 317-232-4105 or e-mailing stateassessment@dnr.IN.gov

The May 1 meeting will have similar sessions relating to the Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources and development of the Statewide Forest Resource Strategy, but will not include dividing into specific work groups. 

Public stakeholder input, comments and suggestions are an important part of the strategic planning process. More information about the Indiana Forest Conservation and Stewardship Forum is available at www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/5438.htm

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 for Jack Spaulding may contact him by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.