Visitors to Indiana State Parks with limited mobility will soon have a free tool available to help them get outside and explore trails, with state-of-the art track chairs coming to all Indiana State Parks.

“Nature is for everyone, and that includes the ability to enjoy the scenic trails at Indiana State Parks,” said Gov. Mike Braun. “By making at least one track chair available at every state park, we’re opening miles of trail to explore to more people statewide and positioning Indiana as a national leader for accessibility at our state parks.”

A track chair is an all-terrain, electric-powered wheelchair helping people with limited mobility safely explore rugged, off-road environments.

Purchase of 45 track chairs was made possible by $1 million in funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The funds were part of a $50 million grant the foundation made to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in 2024 to support new development and upgrades across the Indiana State Park system. The track chairs will be distributed statewide for use at each Indiana State Park and Indiana State Park Inn. The new chairs supplement the 13 powered mobility chairs currently available at Indiana State Parks.

The investment makes Indiana the current national leader in the availability of track chairs at state parks, with a greater number of chairs than any other state park system in the country.

“DNR works daily to ensure Indiana’s public lands are accessible to all,” said Alan Morrison, DNR director. “Whether it’s traversing a trail, viewing wildlife, enjoying the beach, fishing, hunting, or other outdoor pursuits, our DNR properties are open and welcome to Hoosiers of all interests and abilities. With support from Lilly Endowment, we’re proud to be the national leader in track chairs at our state parks.”

IDNR creates permanent invasive carp harvest permit

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has established a new permanent rule effective in December 2025 (312 IAC 9-10-28) creating an invasive carp harvest permit. The new permit opens new avenues for large-scale removal of invasive carp, fosters economic opportunities, and protects native fish populations and recreational users.

Invasive carp species, including silver, grass and black carp, have become a significant issue across the Midwest negatively impacting native fish populations and recreational activities like boating and fishing.

The new permit is free to encourage commercial fishing interest in removing these fish from public waters and help protect native ecosystems. Permit holders may use gill nets and seines in approved locations, gear types otherwise unauthorized for commercial fishing. Anglers must submit a fishing request before harvest specifying the date, location of their fishing, and the gear to be used.

All native fish (bycatch) must be immediately released upon capture, and all gear must be attended at all times; no overnight sets are allowed.

Detailed reports of harvested pounds along with bycatch must be submitted to DNR within seven days of fishing.

Harvested invasive carp must not be transported live and are required to be packed on ice or dry when moved to a market or processor.

Interested individuals can find additional information by visiting: wildlife.IN.gov/licenses-andpermits/permits-commercial-licenses or by emailing CarpHarvestPermit@dnr.IN.gov.

Body recovered from floodwaters

Indiana Conservation Officers have recovered the body of 82-year-old James Petty, of Fortville, after locating the missing vehicle with sonar.

Indiana Conservation Officers were searching for a man after his truck was swept off Spout Springs Road just south of Shoals. A passenger in the vehicle had been rescued. The location is near the White River and is prone to flooding.

On March 8 around 2;30 p.m., a 911 call for help was received by Martin County dispatch from the passenger of the vehicle. The caller was able to climb out of a window and hold on to a nearby tree vine. Members of the Shoals Volunteer Fire Department and the Martin County Sheriff’s Department launched a boat and rescued the passenger.

On March 16 at 1:45 p.m., divers were able to safely reach the vehicle in 20 feet of flood water to complete a thorough search. Petty was found dead still in the vehicle.

‘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.