Several ice related incidents were reported in Indiana in the last few weeks. 

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an incident which claimed the life of a Greencastle, Ind., man on Glenn Flint Lake in Putnam County in the early morning of January 27.  At 12:46 a.m., first responders were dispatched to the lake for water rescue after it was reported a golf cart broke through the ice.   

Upon arrival, responders located and removed the golf cart’s operator, Jeffrey Nowak, 60, of Greencastle, from the water and began life-saving efforts. Nowak was transported to Putnam County Hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an incident in which two anglers fell through the ice on Elk Creek Lake in Washington County on the afternoon of January 30.  First responders learned shortly after 4 p.m., Jasper Combs, 76, of Crothersville, was approximately 100 feet from the shore when he fell through the ice. 

A nearby angler, Bernard Broadus, 67, of Georgetown, heard Combs call for help and attempted to rescue him, and he fell through the ice. Broadus was able to rescue himself after approximately 5 minutes in the water.

Washington County Sheriff Deputy Matt Hein and Gibson Township firefighter Andrew Mull threw a rope to Combs and pulled him from the water after he had been in the water clinging to the ice for nearly 45 minutes.

Both men were flown to University of Louisville Hospital for treatment, and both are expected to make a full recovery.

Indiana Conservation Officers strongly encourage the use of life jackets while participating in activities on or near the water.

With the recent increase in temperature state-wide, all ice is becoming suspect and great care should be given before venturing out onto questionable ice.

Bobcat Proposed Rule Changes

In March 2024, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation (SEA 241-2024) directing the Indiana DNR, by July 1, 2025, to have rules in place for bobcat harvest. The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) gave preliminary adoption to the proposed rule changes at their meeting on Sept. 17, 2024, to allow the limited, regulated trapping of bobcats.

The proposed changes in 312 IAC 9-3-18.1 set forth a bobcat trapping season in 40 counties in southern Indiana that includes a bag limit of one bobcat per trapper and a season quota of 250 bobcats.

Proposed changes include allowing bobcats and their parts that are legally acquired to be able to be sold under 312 IAC 9-2-3. This would include their hides as well as other parts. The proposed changes in 312 IAC 9-3-9 would also allow bobcats found dead to be kept by people with a permit.

The public comment period for these rule changes ended Jan. 16.

The NRC will likely consider the proposed changes at its meeting in March of 2025. Agenda items will be posted prior to the meeting. The changes must also be approved by the Attorney General’s Office and Governor’s Office before taking effect.

‘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.