Learn About State Forests at Open Houses
If you have ever wondered how to take advantage of the incredible hunting opportunities available on Indiana State Forests, then you need to attend one of the state forest open houses being offered this year by the DNR Division of Forestry. You should leave the meeting with all the information you need to hunt state forests all across southern Indiana.
There are approximately 158,000 acres of state forest property in Indiana. This land belongs to you. It’s yours to hunt and recreate on, assuming of course, you follow the rules. What are those rules? Well, that’s exactly what you can find out at one of these open houses.
Turkey season is fast approaching and Indiana’s State Forests offer hunters the opportunity to chase longbeards on public land. As access to private hunting land becomes more and more difficult to obtain, many hunters are turning to public land and finding they can still experience enjoyable hunting. State forests are productive places to hunt and are great places to take a trip to for an extended amount of time. Don’t assume all public land is crowded and devoid of game. This is simply not true. Each year there are thousands of turkeys killed on public land in Indiana.
The vastness of our state forests allows hunters to spread out, providing turkeys with a greater ability to avoid constant pressure. Fresh birds are more fun to hunt, and you can find them deep in the state forests. If you were to set up a camp at one of the state forests and spend a few days chasing turkeys and learning the lay of the land, I’d like your chances to tag out.
For turkey hunters from across Indiana, the state forests of southern Indiana are perfect for in-state hunting trips. The adventure of roaming a large property in search of a public land gobbler is a challenge and a thrill. There’s no guarantee of a kill, but there are numerous advantages to taking a hunting trip right here in Indiana on public ground, including beautiful scenery, proximity to home and resident licenses. And depending on where you go, you can pair your state forest hunting trip with fishing. For example, you can hunt the Harrison-Crawford State Forest and fish the Blue River. Now that would be a great way to spend four spring days.
In a press release issued by the DNR, State Forester John Seifert said, "These open houses provide Hoosiers with a chance to receive first-hand information about how state forests provide diverse wildlife habitat, forest products and recreational opportunities. They also allow us to receive valuable feedback from our neighbors and users about state forest management. I encourage everyone who has an interest to participate."
Open houses will be held at the following state forests (SF) and state recreation areas (SRA): Clark SF/Deam SRA, Ferdinand SF, Greene-Sullivan SF, Harrison-Crawford SF, Jackson-Washington SF/Starve Hollow SRA, Martin SF, Morgan-Monroe/Yellowwood SF, Owen-Putnam SF, Pike SF, Salamonie River/Frances Slocum SF and Selmier SF. For specific times and locations, call the property your interested in or visit the DNR website http://www.in.gov/dnr/.