Notes from today's meeting:

1. 100th anniversary of Indiana State Parks
2. SB109 creating laws for high fence hunting and returning DNR authority for wild animals except cervids was passed.
3. HB1231 allowing the use of certain high power rifles for deer hunting was passed.
4. Budget will allow DNR to replace some of their vehicle fleet which has not been done for some time.
5. New staff @ state parks keeps their manning level unchanged.
6. Rose Island at Charlestown Park opens this Friday.
7. Wyandotte Cave will reopen this summer/fall.
8. Per the Great Laskes Compact the Town of Waukesau, WI has petitioned to begin withdrawing water fromthe lakes.
9. Women's Big Ten Golf tournament is at Ft. Harrion on April 22-24th
10. New Natural Resources Foundation person - Jody Kress (sp?)
11. Overview of divisions of Indiana DNR - land holdings of ~500,000 acres
12. Thrid grade class from Orchard Park School presented petition to have DNR prohibit the sale of Wintercreeper as an invasive plant.
13. Fish & Wildlife received 3 citizen's petitions: a) request to extend pheasant season was denied; b) request to allow multiple birds to be taken during turkey season via a draw was denied; c) request to make fall turkey season statewide was also denied. One petition was received too late for consideration but will be included in the biennial rule revisions - request to allow baiting for deer hunting. Cut-off for citizen requests for the next biennial; rule package is April 15th.
14. Final adoption of the next rules package is projected to be next summer/fall. A Wild Bulletin press release will alert folks. Any petitions of a controversial nature should go to the Natural Resources Advisory Council.
15. Introduced a slew of new property managers and assistant property managers for State parks. Made them wear their Smokey the Bear hats. Looked to be about 15 new ones.
16. Parks - $1.7 million allocated to reopening of Wyandotte Cave.Introduced new fee schedule for the cave.
17. DNR will no longer be agency responsible for registration of Off Road Vehicles (OVR) or snowmobiles. Being sent over to the BMV.
18. Office of Hearings has requested amendments to the non-rule policy document establishing the process for petition to rule change. the changes are found here: www.in.gov/nrc/files/item_13_nrc_mar_2016.pdf

Final observation - with the entire 3rd grade class from Orchard park and the new parks people and new FWA people this was about the largest crowd for an NRC meeting that didn't have deer for the main topic. Staffing for LEO's is still 30 short state-wide. No word on Deer biologist. DNR has no plans to change any of the law passed on rifles.

Jack