Indiana Conservation Officers, along with staff members at Shades State Park responded to a call reporting two lost mushroom hunters at Pedestal Rock Nature Preserve on Sunday afternoon.

Pedestal Rock Nature Preserve is a remote Nature Preserve attached to Shades State Park. Jennifer Lesley, 34, of Darlington and Cody Bush, 14, of Illinois entered Pedestal Rock Nature Preserve early in the afternoon to search for mushrooms, and the two became lost when attempting to return to their vehicle.

About 3 p.m., Lesley made a 911 call after the two realized they were walking in the wrong direction. The 911 call was initially answered by the Parke County Dispatch before being transferred to Montgomery County Dispatch. Montgomery County Dispatch was able to get the GPS coordinates from the 911 call. Indiana Conservation Officers were able to utilize their in-car computer to plot the GPS coordinates on a map. The lost individuals were located within 30 minutes of obtaining the GPS coordinates. The two lost individuals were returned safely to their vehicle.

Indiana Conservation Officers would like to remind anyone entering a wooded area to let someone know where you are going and when you will be returning. A cell phone is an excellent piece of equipment to have with you in the event you become lost.

The 2013 Indiana stream trout-fishing season opened as scheduled despite high water and swift current conditions. Department of Natural Resources officials are continuing to urge anglers to exercise caution, especially if they are fishing around dams or in flooded streams.

“The combination of strong currents and cold, deep water makes it hard to maintain your footing when wading,” said Jeremy Price, DNR’s North Region fisheries supervisor. “This would be a good time to leave the waders at home and fish from the bank.”

Fishing conditions are less than ideal at some locations, and the trout could be difficult to find. Price said the fish will be seeking refuge in deeper pools, eddies and the downstream side of rocks, woody debris and other structures in the stream.

More than 23,500 rainbow trout have been stocked into 19 streams across the state before the season opener on April 27. The trout were produced at DNR’s Curtis Creek Trout Rearing Station in Lagrange County.

Stream trout fishing in Indiana runs through December 31. Anglers must have a trout stamp in addition to a fishing license to fish for trout. Indiana trout fishing is governed by a five-fish daily bag limit and 7-inch minimum size limit.

At the Brookville Reservoir tail waters in Franklin County, the trout bag limit is still five but not more than one may be a brown trout, and an 18-inch minimum size limit applies to the species. The special regulation is intended to increase the number of large trout available.

An additional 24,000 rainbow trout are stocked each year into 19 public fishing lakes across the state. There is a year-round open season on trout fishing in lakes except at Island Lake (Minnehaha Fish and Wildlife Area in Sullivan County) and Airline Pit (Greene-Sullivan State Forest in Greene County) which are closed to trout fishing from March 15 to April 1. All other trout regulations apply at inland lakes. The special brown trout regulations also apply to Oliver, Olin and Martin lakes in LaGrange County, where brown trout are stocked.

Information about Indiana trout fishing, including stocking sites and numbers, is at dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/3622.htm

More complete fishing regulation information is available online at fishing.IN.gov

Indiana Conservation Officers and the DNR Division of Forestry are providing some useful tips to landowners to assist in helping protect their valuable timber resources.

Indiana hardwoods, such as black walnut, red and white oak, and other valuable species are all valuable and sought by the timber industry. Landowners should follow some simple steps before signing a contract with a timber buyer.

“Some Indiana landowners are taken advantage of every year, and they lose money and resources because they are not aware of the value of timber or the steps needed to protect themselves,” said Duane McCoy, timber licensing forester with the DNR Forestry.

To protect forestry resources, landowners should follow these steps:

•Hire a consultant forester to represent you and mark and advertise your timber sale.

•Always get several bids from different timber buyers.

•Ask questions and get references from the timber buyer.

•Mark the trees to be cut with a paint mark on the stem and at ground level.

•Know and understand the fine details of the contract.

•Never make an oral agreement.

•Know how much you will be paid and the method of payment.

•Be a good neighbor and work out any property line disputes prior to harvesting.

“Marketing the mature timber from a family property is generally something only occurring once in a person’s lifetime, and it must be done with knowledge that protects the interest of your investment,” said Lt. Tony Stoll, DNR Law Enforcement District 9 Commander.

The DNR offers a free information packet titled “callb4ucut” to Indiana citizens considering harvesting their timber. See www.callb4ucut.com for more information.

Pokagon State Park

needs campground hosts

A new volunteer program at Pokagon State Park will offer free camping in return for serving as a campground host.

Campground hosts will provide informal security in the campgrounds, monitor restroom conditions and perform light housekeeping at the restrooms, pick up litter, distribute information to fellow campers, assist at the campground office, and assist park employees with special projects and needs.

One campsite will be set aside throughout the summer for the campground host. The length of stay for campground hosts will be two weeks, with extensions possible. Applications are currently being accepted. For an application, visit the park office between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, call 260-833-2012.

Pokagon State Park is at 450 Lane 100 Lake James, Angola, 46703.

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.