Patoka Lake is the latest Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) property singled out by USA Today as being the “best” in a national overview of state-by-state outdoor recreation destinations.

In USA’s Aug. 1 edition, the newspaper published a list of best places for wildlife viewing in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. But, before that, Indiana had already received some top billing by USA Today. In June, it cited Trail 9 at Indiana Dunes State Park as one of the 51 greatest hikes in the U.S.
The Patoka Lake selection suggests exploring the property “by car, boat or boots on the ground” and mentions wild turkeys, bald eagles and ospreys. That’s just the beginning.

“From a wildlife and wildlife biologist’s perspective, it’s hands down a fantastic place to be,” said Aron Showalter, Patoka’s wildlife biologist. “In general, it’s just the diversity with non-game and game species, flora and fauna. As far as Indiana is concerned, we’ve got it all.”

Patoka has been the site of restoration efforts for several threatened or endangered species, including bald eagles, ospreys and river otters. Others, like the bobcat, have moved in on their own.

“We get (bobcat) reports all the time,” said Tom Riley, reservoir specialist at Patoka.

“It’s just kind of a cool place. You can pull off the side of a road, look across the lake and see a heron, an osprey, fish jumping and a little bit of everything. Driving through the property the other day, I saw two hen turkeys with a half-dozen poults. That’s just driving around not paying attention. And, we’ve got a huge population of bluebirds. It’s just a neat, neat place.”

With 26,000 acres of land and water, Patoka features numerous access points to the 8,800-acre namesake reservoir, which is the second-largest in Indiana. Constructed in the 1970s as a flood control and water supply project, Patoka also provides general recreation and fish and wildlife opportunities.

Newton-Stewart State Recreation Area is the hub of Patoka with 455 electric and 45 primitive campsites, and the starting point for three hiking trails. The 6.5-mile Main Trail passes Totem Rock, a large rock shelter used by American Indians and early settlers.
For more information about Patoka, visit www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2953.htm

DNR Fish and Wildlife venison workshops

Indiana DNR’s Division of Fish and Wildlife is partnering with the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service in sponsoring venison workshops in September. A deer will be skinned, butchered and prepared in a variety of ways to taste during each workshop.
Food safety and handling procedures, as well as an update on deer health issues, will be presented. Individuals interested in attending one of the workshops need to register by calling the appropriate phone numbers below. Individuals attending the workshop at Ft. Harrison State Park may register online.

Sept. 6 – Fayette County Fairgrounds, Connersville, 765-825-8502
Sept. 7 – Howard County Fairgrounds, Greentown, 765-456-2313
Sept. 8 – Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, Warsaw, 574-372-2340
Sept. 10 – Bass Pro Shops, Clarksville, 812-218-5500
Sept. 17 – Fort Harrison State Park, Indianapolis; register online at www.hoosieroutdoorexperience.in.gov

The workshops at Bass Pro Shops on Sept. 10 and at the Hoosier Outdoor Experience on Sept. 17 are free of charge. Adult admission to the other workshops is $15, and children are free of charge at those three locations.

Youth outdoor skills event Aug. 26-27

On Aug. 26-27, the Upper Wabash Interpretive Services will be providing educational activities centered on fishing, hunting and firearms use for area youth.

The event starts that Friday at 7 p.m. with a tracking program. Following the tracking session, participants and their adult companions can camp overnight, or return on Saturday for the remainder of the sessions.

Saturday sessions begin at 9 a.m. with a Fishing Clinic. Outdoor cooking demonstrations and a cook-off are scheduled before lunch. The J. Edward Roush Shooting Range features hands-on firearms, tracking, wildlife, archery and shotgun shooting education. A generous grant from the National Rifle Assoc. Foundation, Inc. has aided in the purchase of supplies and safety equipment.

Director Marvin McNew, Upper Wabash Interpretive Services, said,
“Many families are interested in providing firearm safety training and fishing education to their children. We also see youth organizations such as Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and American Heritage Girls clubs that like to attend our programming at Roush, to fulfill badge requirements in outdoor skills.”

Families or youth clubs are required to pre-register by calling 260-468-2127. A $5 per person fee provides both days events for them, overnight camping fees and a patch. Participants should bring their own food and drink.

All children must be with a responsible adult. Childcare will not be provided.

The J. Edward Roush Fish & Wildlife Area is located in Huntington County on State Road 224 just east of Huntington, Ind., in the Little Kilsoquah State Recreation Area. Call 260-468-2127 for more information.

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.