Recent wording of a rule proposal from the DNR has a lot of deer hunters checking their gun cabinets for rifles that would qualify for whitetail deer hunting should the proposal be adopted. The DNR is considering approval of modern weapons firing specific modern-day pistol cartridges.

The wording for the proposal is a rifle must:

•Fire a bullet of .357 of an inch in diameter or larger
•Have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches
•Have a maximum case length of 1.625 inches
•Over-and-under combination rifle-shotguns are prohibited

The proposed modification would allow rifles with only pistol cartridges to be used when hunting deer during the firearms season. Through the years, the DNR has received many e-mails and letters from hunters proposing a rule allowing the use of rifles chambered for pistol cartridges for deer hunting.

The language in the attached allows the use of rifles and limits cartridge dimensions to those common to pistol rounds, maintaining the DNR’s long-time position of allowing only short to medium range equipment for taking deer. The DNR is proposing the rule modification in order to obtain public comment on the issue.

Other proposed wording would change the license requirements for hunting deer in the firearms and muzzle-loader seasons to state that a firearms license is required in the firearms season and a muzzle-loader license is required to hunt deer with a muzzle-loader in the muzzleloader season. The changes also list the youth license and lifetime license that can be used to take deer during these seasons.

There also would be a wording change to clarify the license requirements for hunting deer in the archery season to state a youth license and lifetime license can also be used to take deer in the archery seasons.

Mighty Mississinewa Triathlon
Triathletes interested in competing in a beautiful natural area can register now for the Mighty Mississinewa Triathlon, slated for Sept. 9. The events will consist of a 500-yard swim starting and finishing at the Mississinewa Reservoir beach.

The 16.3-mile bike race will go around the reservoir.

The 4-mile run will be conducted on the old Frances Slocum Trail Road and the Moswa hiking trail. Staging and parking areas will be at the beach pavilion. Entry fees are $30 per individual, $60 per team, and $15 per individual 20 years and younger.

Registration can be completed online at www.active.com/event_detail.cfm

For paper registration, please call the property, 765-473-6528.

Mississinewa Reservoir is located in north central Indiana, 65 miles north of Indianapolis, 65 miles northwest of Muncie, 65 miles east of Lafayette, and 65 miles southwest of Ft. Wayne.

Directions to the race can be obtained by going to www.mapquest.com online and entering the following address: 4673 S 625 E, Peru, IN 46970.

Race proceeds will go toward a fund managed by Indiana Heritage Trust. The fund will be used to purchase ground for conservation management for future generations to use and enjoy around Mississinewa Reservoir.

Cabela’s King Kat Tournament
The Cabela’s King Kat Tournament trail will hit the waters of the Ohio River at Owensboro, Ky. on Aug. 12.

Catfish anglers from around the country will be competing for cash, prizes and a chance to advance to the Cabela’s King Kat Classic to be held in October on Pickwick/Wilson Lakes at Sheffield, Ala. 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 older than 65 years of age. Entry fees for the qualifier tournaments are $150 per team.

The tournament weigh-in will be at Owensboro’s Smothers Park. 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 seven-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 at the Executive Inn Rivermont, 1 Executive Blvd. from 5-7 p.m. Deadline for mail-in entries is 14 days prior to the event. All entries after deadline will pay a $25 late fee.

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 for the event call 270-395-6774 or e-mail at dvanvactor@kingkat usa.com

Wireless wiper update
Two new wiper location maps have been added to the Hybrid Bass Movement Study webpage. Indiana’s DNR is studying the movements of hybrid striped bass at Monroe Lake using radio telemetry.

In April, DNR fisheries biologists implanted electronic transmitters in 30 wipers.

About every two weeks, the wiper team races around the entire 11,000-acre lake near Bloomington tracking the free-roaming crossbred fish.

Wiper location maps from April 20, May 16, June 7, June 19 and July 7 are posted at www.dnr.in.gov/fishwild/fish/wiper.htm

This farm news was published in the July 19, 2006 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.