Fish & Wildlife Conservation Committee (FWCC)met yesterday at Atterbury FWA.

1. Sam Hyer (new legislative liaison for IDNR) spoke on the following bills.
- HB1208 creates a lottery that the DNR "may" run if additional antlered licenses are to be sold (100 licenses).
- HB1452 is the DNR housekeeping bill that comes up every year to clarify items. A new "electronic license" which could be stored on a smart phone is in the works. The rate landowners get reimbursed for habitat plantings has been in statute since the mid 90's at $100 per acre. DNR would like to raise that rate.
- HB1545 regarding guide services has been sent to the Senate Committee on Commerce and Technology. No idea why.
- SJR2 constitutional amendment to hunt and fish passed the Senate and was sent to the House Committee on the Judiciary. If it passes this second legislature it will then go on the ballot in 2016.

3. Asian Carp update - Eagle Marsh (Ft. Wayne) connection to the Great Lakes about to be severed at a cost of $4M to the state.
4. Tons of info on how DNR is funded and what goes where. Most interesting item was the revelation that each certified hunter in Indiana is receiving $50 in Federal dollars to support DNR. Each certified fisherman gets us $9. So buy those licenses even if you don't need 'em to support DNR funding.
5. Doug Allman made a pitch regarding wild animal permits. His point was that wild animals should not be possessed by private citizens and I agree with him. It was sad to see the Senate defeat the Senate bill this year that would have required owners of dangerous wild animals (lions, tigers and bears) to have state permits. Hopefully it will come back.
6. Heated discussion on the high fence bill. Most of the conservation groups oppose HB1453 but if it is going to get passed then we need to get the strongest bill we can from the legislature.
7. Administrative rules change - Ruffed Grouse season is being suspended. DNR Forestry is working in state forests but little habitat is being created elsewhere and most private landowners are not interested in grouse. Bird is likely to be extirpated from the state before long. Turtles world-wide are in trouble. Many being sent overseas legally and illegally. High power rifles for deer - heated debate everyone should attend one of the three regional meetings this week and provide input on the issue.

Indiana Whitetail Deer Herd Management attended the meeting with hopes of joining the FWCC. Not a lot of info other than they a Facebook page somewhere.

HatchetJack