Indiana DNR to change Roush lake into Fish and Wildlife Area

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jackrabbit
Posts: 273
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2002 7:10 pm
Location: statewide, Indiana
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Indiana DNR to change Roush lake into Fish and Wildlife Area

Post by jackrabbit »

At first glance a sportsman would easily feel that adding another Fish and Wildlife area to our state could be nothing but good news for the sportsman. And in a very narrow way it may be felt that way by some who are not sporting dog people.

Roush Lake, or Huntington Reservoir as it was formerly called, is an 8400 acre multi use property that is owned by the Corps of Engineers, and ran by Indiana's DNR division of Parks and Reservoirs. Over 260,000 people used Roush last year and many of those visitors were sporting dog folks that were enjoying the unlimited use to train and run their sporting dogs of all types. There is also a lot field trialing done on Roush since the reservoirs were opened to unlimited acrerage for trials 9 months a year back a few years ago by previous DNR director Kyle Hupfer. As early as November 1 of this year all that may change.

As a fish and wildlife area the Federal Aid to Conservation people keep a strangle hold on what can and can not be done. The feds supply the money thru the Pittman Robertson act to maintain the properties, and virtually no recreational activities are allowed. Dog training will limited to a very small area, field trials will be 100 acres only, and no buildings, parking lots, or other recreational structures are allowed. ( our dogs are considered recreational ) The beach will be closed as will campgrounds, picnic areas, horse trails, bike trails, radio controlled areas. In essence the whole place will become a spot to hunt only and only during the hunting season. so most of the year it will shut down to sporting dog use.

There is a fire storm of opposition to changing Roush, and many Indiana residents are up in arms over it. The only recourse that they have is to call the governors office and express your opposition. 317-232-4567 is the number and the call should be made during regular business hours. and also avoid the lunch break. You can also contact your legislator and ask them to intervene on your behalf

Jack
Jack Hyden, aka, jackrabbit
Indiana Beaglers Alliance

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