October 15, 2025 • 37 mins
Getting ready for the fall hunting season with Captain Jet Quillen, plus: camping with "Lady Leslie".
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Speaker 1 (00:29):
Oh, it is such a beautiful day. What a great
opportunity to be with you in the Indiana Outdoor Studio.
It is your host, Brian Pointer, and many thanks to
all the stations that carry us this fine fall. Hopefully
you're out on your way to one of the great festivals.
Fall is my favorite time of the year. I know
(00:49):
that sounds trite, but if you don't believe in a god, boy,
just spend some time in a good fall in Indiana,
watched the leaves change. So great to be with you.
We couldn't do the show weren't for our good friends
at Indiana Donor Network Driven to Save Lives dot org.
Sign up it to be an organ and tissue donor.
When you buy your hunting and fishing license, couldn't be
any easier. Or go online to that website and give
(01:12):
the gift of life. By the way, when you go
buy your hunting and fishing license, brand new system in Indiana,
make sure you don't wait till the last minute and
get stuck. You might need a few more steps as
they transition to this brand new, more efficient licensing system
here in Indiana. So today I am so excited. We
have a brand new guest who's going to be hopefully
(01:35):
joining us on a semi regular basis. We're just going
to call her, Where's Lady Leslie? And she is a
great story of single female who was scared to get
out and camp but she wanted to has done it,
and she's in her third season. We're going to have
a chat with her and find out what she has
learned and share those with you. And we're also going
to visit coming up here very shortly with Captain Jack
(01:57):
Quillen from our Division of Law Enforcement Safety. It's the
fall hunting season. Always great to visit with Captain Jett.
Don't go anywhere. He's with us when we return right
after this, And how many times do I say, it
(02:22):
is so good to be back in the Indiana Outdoor
studios with all of you, my friends and listeners as
well as those great stations that carry it. And this
is what living in Indiana is all about. Beautiful fall weather.
Finally we've had a fall where it didn't go from
ninety to zero in two weeks, But Indiana Outdoors Ay,
your host, Brian Pointer, were brought to you by our
(02:44):
good friends at Indiana Donor Network driven two Save Lives
dot org. Sign up to be an organ and tissue
donor when you buy your hunting and fishing license, help
give the gift of life, heal many, save many, and
we'd love to see that waiting list go down. We're
making progress well. As I mentioned, it's no secret to anybody.
(03:05):
Fall in Indiana a great tradition for so many people,
especially field and forest and river and stream. All sorts
of things come together this time of the year. But
we also love to talk to our friends in law
enforcement to make sure that you know we hear their
message of always safety and going out and being able
to go back again. Captain Jack Quillan joins us. Captain,
(03:28):
it's been a minute. How have you been. It's been
a while since you and I have talked. I hope
things are well.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah, been great. Everything's going fantastic. Just busy as always.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
I don't know when a life of an Indiana Conservation
officer isn't busy. But you have the added duty of
talking to folks like me, so I appreciate it very much.
And you know, I know not only are you an
esteemed member of our law enforcement division, but you also
enjoy the outdoors. I don't think anybody chooses your vocation
(03:58):
if they don't have a love for them. But you
got to enjoyed Indiana fall.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah, it's great this time of year. It's the leaves
are changing, the temperatures are dropping, and you're seeing more
and more people out in the woods. You know, it's
a great time of year.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Well, last week we had our waterfowl biologist on Adam Phelps,
kind of previewing waterfowl season. But it's this next several
weeks where everything kind of comes together. You've had small game,
early waterfowl, you've got the regular waterfowl season soon underway.
Fishing across Indiana has been great, and whether you're squirrel
(04:34):
hunting or deer hunting with a bow, it is just
a great time of the year to be out. And
I'm just happy that. My gosh, we've had a fall.
It seems like you never know in Indiana. Wait ten minutes,
the weather's going to change. It goes from ninety degrees
in a couple of days where it's okay, and then
it's winter time. We've had a nice extended fall.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah, it has been, and it's that Indiana weather. You
never know what you're going to get. But it has
been a very i smooth transition, and you know it's
everybody's transitioning from that summertime on the water and now
getting ready for all the seasons are in or coming in,
and you know, it's a fantastic time in Indiana.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
So many people I know think, well, you know, the
conservation officers, this is their busy season. It's a different
season because you work so hard throughout the summer, as
you said, patrolling our waterways and doing other things. But
this is a time when most people will have contactor
or we think of there are conservation officers. But you know,
(05:35):
we've talked about this over the years, Captain, Today's conservation
officers are not our grandparents' game wardens. You guys do
so many things throughout the year and train for so
many different things. When you became a law enforcement officer
with Indiana's Division of Law Enforcement, did you ever kind
(05:55):
of see that your job would entail as much as
it does.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
You know, you always have an idea, but you never
fully grasp the full extent of it until you actually
get into the career. Obviously, you've got to have a
love for the outdoors natural resources, but also have that
love for law enforcement and upholding those and protecting those laws.
It's a great career because when you kind of get
(06:22):
bogged down with your day to day stuff, the season
changes and you can kind of rejuvenate and you have
a whole new outlook on what you're going to go
out and force. So that's what kind of keeps the
job fresh and exciting and why so many of our
people when they get hired on, they never leave.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
That is the truth. And we say I say this,
we've been doing Indiana outdoors now in our twenty seventh season,
and the diversity of the backgrounds of our biologists, all
of those experts who help to preserve and conserve all
of Indiana's natural resources, our forestry divisions, state parks, and
(07:03):
law enforcement. It's not uncommon to see careers of twenty five, thirty,
forty years this year in parks, for example, Ginger Murphy
forty years in state parks. All of that great stuff.
But I know it's been a rewarding and fulfilling career.
So let's talk a little bit. We are now in
(07:24):
this hunting season. Of course, our tree started October first.
A lot of people may not have been back in
the woods since last season, and it's always a reminder
for me to be safe, and I know that's what
conservation officers want. Hunting is a very safe sport generally speaking,
and we find I find that often where we're talking
(07:48):
about unfortunate circumstances, it's usually something that could have been prevented,
whether it's wearing a life jacket or wearing a safety
harness in a tree. But always a message worth repeating.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, Yeah. Just like we promote the safety
on the water, we we do the same for for
safety h when you're out pursuing game. You know, the
biggest thing we see every year as far as injuries
and fatalities go and hunting is the failure to wear
a full body safety harness. And you know, we just
(08:21):
we want to really promote that if you're going to
be in any type of elevated stand, to make sure
you have that that safety harness on and keep it
on the entire time you're you're ascending in the stand
or descending from that stand. Do not ever take it off.
And it seems like a lot of our injuries we
see are when people want to transition to something so
(08:43):
they'll take it off. Real quick, and then that's when
when the accidents happened. But you know, we're that full
safety harness. If you haven't been in the woods to
check your stand, get out there, make sure all those
straps are are still in good shape, make sure nothing
shifted on that tree, and just you know, do your
checks to make sure if anything could go wrong, you're
(09:03):
checking on what could possibly go wrong and making sure
everything is good.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Captain Jack Quillen is our guest, a longtime contributor here.
It amazes me. I've been hunting in Indiana for more
than forty years, and I've hunted with a lot of
different people, a lot of different places, a lot of
different critters, and when it comes to deer hunting, still
my passion and my number one enjoyment in the fall,
(09:30):
it still amazes me the people, given the technology of
how things have changed. We now have metal tree stands
easy to walk up to and climb up a ladder,
and or the box stands or anything else, the number
of people that's still monkey up a tree and don't
put that harness on because they have false sense of security.
As someone who's fallen out of one of those makeshift
(09:53):
homemade I don't do this anymore. I learned my lesson
twenty five years ago. But I was very fortunate and
a lot of people aren't. So that the technology back
to this. Those uh, full body harnesses are so convenient.
They're actually built into a lot of hunting clothing to
make it easier. It's a long way away from the
(10:15):
old Baker tree stand, which was a piece of plywood
that you'd uh bungee cord to your feet and your
safety cord was was a seat belt that went around
your waist, and we thought that that was the latest
in technology. Things have really really changed and there's no
reason not to wear one.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Yeah. Yeah, And that's a great explanation into how everything
has advanced. And you know, it's it's it's to give
credit to the popularity of the sport and the manufacturers.
They they're thinking of all that stuff and then they're
you know, they're getting all the information from from the
people in the field of what needs to be done,
and and they're trying to critique everything and make it
(10:52):
to where it's you know, form fitting and then not
restrictive and uh almost to the point where you don't
even real lies you have it on and they've done that,
and we see so many hunters they will they will
invest so much into their firearm or their bow, or
their clothing, but they always want to skimp on that
(11:13):
full safety harness that's actually going to save their life
if something does go wrong. And you know that's one
thing I would not skimp on.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
I've used your line no less than a thousand times
that no conservation officer in Indiana's out to steal anybody's
fun pie. You know, they want you to go back
and enjoy. So the officers deserve respect, and if you
come into contact, they're wanting to make sure that you
go back. So I hope that all that respect comes
your way. But the message goes again. If you're off
(11:43):
the ground where one of those you can get them
at any of your heart. You're sporting good stores, you
can order them. And even in the bulkiest of clothing
that you would wear up into a tree, they just
don't get in the way. There's no excuse not to.
And everybody wants to go back and enjoy. And I
think God I never did have an incident with that
old Baker treestand because that harnessed it went around your chest.
(12:04):
If I fell out of that thing, I'd be upside
down and suffocate. But it's not that way anymore. I
want to switch to something that I know is near
and dear to your heart, which is also here at
Indian Outdoors. We have ended every show with remember to
turn into Poacher one eight hundred tip I d n R.
And we've given a great shine of light on this
and promoting this with folks like Officer Bobrink, who I
(12:28):
know is on the tip board, and Gene Hopkins and
others highlighting this. But it's always worthy of a mention
of what happens when you call the tip line for
an officer and what do you encourage people to do.
So it's not an intimidating call to one eight hundred
tip I dn R.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Yeah, So it's just a good reminder or too, to
all our people that are going to be out and
about that you know, you are our eyes and ears.
We have two hundred officers across the state, which is
not very many, and we cannot see or hear everything.
So if you're out and about or talking to someone
and you hear something that's like, yeah, that just doesn't
(13:06):
sound right, or that's definitely that's that's that's wrong. You
can call our tip line at one eight hundred Tip I,
D and R and essentially speak to one of our
dispatchers who will take down your information. You can remain
anonymous if you wish, and that information will be forwarded
to an officer so they can follow up on that.
And you know, in twenty twenty four we received over
(13:29):
a thousand tips, and that was just a great increase
over the years. We're really trying to get the word
out more on this because we are making wonderful cases
that everybody should be proud of because it's protecting the
natural resources of Indiana. And you know, the poachers are
the ones stealing that. They're stealing that from the families
that want to go out and enjoy that. So if
(13:52):
you know, you see something, hear something, even if you're
not sure, I don't know if I should call or
not call call, We'll take the information, We'll get an
officer to look into it, and we'll see what we
can we can we can do And the best thing
also is if you if you wish to get a
reward if something leads to an arrest, you can get
(14:15):
up to a five hundred dollars reward for that tip.
So it's a wonderful program, really made great strides over
the last few years. We're trying to get it out
there more and it's starting to starting to pay off.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Well.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
I hope Indian Outdoors is helping with that because it's
been a passion of mine and I think when people
here poaching, they're going to immediately, Oh, somebody's taken too
many deer. True, or they took their over their bag
limited fish. True. But what you don't know by choosing,
as you say, call, don't call. You don't know if
that little I don't know, this guy sounded weird, acted weird,
(14:49):
I heard something. You don't know if that officer needed
that one little thing to close a case that maybe
had been worked on for years. So always make that call.
And fortunately I've never had to do that, but I
can guarantee you it's embedded in my brain. One eight
hundred tip IDNR and I would use that in a second,
and that's always a great message. One final thing I know,
(15:13):
we have a new license system that's been upgraded Indiana
Go Outdoors, Indiana dot com. There's going to be a
lot of traffic going into that as we get closer
to the opening a firearms season. But I want people
to be aware, and I know you do too. Don't
get caught at the last minute and then venture into
the woods and not have the right license or whatever.
(15:35):
It's not complicated. It's going to be a great new system,
but it might be a new first look for somebody.
Don't go in at ten o'clock the night before to
buy your license and think, oh, gosh, I got to
take a couple more steps.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Here, right. Yeah, if you know you're going out at
any time this season, get on there now. And it's
just a safety precaution. If something does go wrong with
the system that we can guarantee that you can get
your license. But yeah, don't don't hold off. Don't wait
till the night before. I've gotten those phone calls over
the years with people that have come across in the field.
(16:08):
They'll call me and say, hey, you know, I need
some help. So it's always a rush at that last minute.
But good reminder, do it now while you have plenty
of time.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Well, Captain, I know, is there anything that we haven't
talked about this time of the year amongst your colleagues
that you want the message to get out. What else
haven't we talked about.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Well, we did have a dive school graduation a couple
of weeks ago. Well, we brought on eight new divers
from across the state. That kind of just is a
payoff of the recruit classes that we've had over the
last couple of years. And now it's getting to that
time or those new officers that have been on a
(16:48):
year or two can now pursue specialties in our agency.
And we have eight new divers that will serve the public.
And really, yeah, really the most critical times in a
lot of people's lives. We see when when things go
bad like that, they're the ones that are you know, responding,
pulling up and getting dressed right there out of their
(17:09):
truck and really you know, putting their lives on the
line to serve the public. So, like you said, bless them.
It's a great honor to be a diver for our agency.
We take that with a lot of pride, and you know,
eight new ones that will be serving now.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I love it as always, Captain, best to you, enjoy
this fall. Safety to you and all the officers. Thanks
for what you do, and nobody's outsteal your fun pie. Right,
that's right, all right, be good, my friend. Thanks for
being a part of Indian Outdoors. Thank you, my pleasure.
It is the Indian Outdoor Show. I your host, Brian Pointer.
Don't go anywhere. We got so many fun new things
to talk about when we return. It's the Indiana Outdoor Show.
(18:00):
And well, the Indian Outdoor Show rolls on. What a
beautiful fall. I can't say it enough. Finally we've had
a fall. So many unique things happen this time of
the year that people look forward to annual traditions hunting
(18:21):
and fishing, and every season comes in here very shortly,
and it's just like the World Series, Super Bowl and
Eastern Christmas all at once. But it is the Indiana
Outdoor Show and I am your host, Brian Pointer, and
we're brought to you by our friends at Indiana Donor Network,
Driven to Save Lives. That's the number two. You can
(18:41):
sign up to be an organ and tissue donor when
you buy your hunting and fishing license. It couldn't be
any easier. And as we just heard from Captain Jack Quillen,
new system in Indiana, don't wait till the last minute.
It's not complicated. But maybe a couple of steps, so
shop early and often, as they say in Chicago. Nonetheless,
I mentioned at the top of the hour, I am
(19:04):
I've been looking forward to this segment for quite some
time because, in addition to all the field and forest
and stream and pond activities follows no better time to
be in our Indiana outdoors, in our state park systems,
which have never looked better. And we always try to
make these types of things more relatable, meaning let's just
(19:30):
let's just kind of get out and then do it
and experience it and it doesn't have to be complicated.
And no better person than I'm going to protect the
innocent here We're going to call this guest Lady Leslie
joins us. Lady Leslie one of my favorite people, longtime friend.
How have you been.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
I have been well, how are you well?
Speaker 1 (19:50):
I'm doing very well, And people are going, what is
Lady Leslie going to talk about? Well? I am immensely
proud of exactly what I I just described someone who
said I'd really like to learn to camp. And this
goes back a year or two now, and we had
you on because I pegged you as someone who and
(20:12):
I don't think I'm speaking too out of school. You're
kind of you got your set in your ways, and
you know, you got your own things, and you like
what you like, and you don't like what you don't like,
as we all do. And I didn't think that you
were going to be serious about venturing into the camping world.
And now I'm bringing you back on Indiana Outdoors because
I think there's a message for a lot of people
(20:35):
who might have had the same fears that you did,
or the same uncertainties or questions or it's too complicated
or it's too much work. And now you are going
out solo by yourself. You're no longer sleeping in your car.
You've just transgressed. But I want to go back, and
I want you to take back to maybe a year
or two ago when we had these conversations and you
(20:58):
said to me, I'm going to go camping from then
until now. Uh, You've had a big, long journey, So
tell us what have you learned in those period in
that period of time, and what makes it so enjoyable
for you now to go out in solo camp and
organize trips and everything else that you do.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Well. First, we had to wait for you to stop
laughing when I said I was going to go.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Out campaign only because I love you exactly.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
So as you had mentioned, So this is my third
season out and a lot what I learned was I
needed my own space, so that meant getting a tent.
I have purchased not only one tent, but two tents,
and for me, I currently have a nine person tent
(21:49):
for my solo campaign.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Experiences, which I love.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Yeah, so I could like host a dinner party in
there if I wanted to, but I don't want to.
I just want my space. I also have learned my
sleeping arrangement is important, so I have transitioned to a
lot of different things. I started, uh sleeping doing the
car camping. That wasn't that's doable, but yet it wasn't
(22:16):
Necessarily it wasn't really great sleep. I went to a cot.
The cot was okay, but just you know, it just
wasn't also doing it for me. So now I have
a queen size air mattress that is self inflating and
(22:38):
networks and it works wonderfully. And I sleep in my
tent when not only when there's raccoons and fights in
the campgrounds do I then revert back to my car.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Well you're talking. I'm sure you're talking about critter fights,
because are Indiana State Park so safe? And you I
should have qualified this. You are a single female and
this was a very intimidating is a very intimidating process
for a lot of people because they might have those
fears of is it going to be safe? And what
(23:12):
do I do? But what you just described in that
last two minutes, from beginning to where you are now
in your third season, you've learned something that is very important.
You've found what it was going to take to make
you comfortable and feel safe and protected. And now you're
off doing it by yourself. And I can't keep track
of you because one day you come back from somewhere
(23:33):
and you've already got your next campsite booked at some
place new And I couldn't be more proud of that story. So,
as you've learned these things along the way, what did
that do to that? I know you got comfortable, but
do you still have fears? Do you still have trepidation
about going out?
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Well, I still have an air rational fear of bearers
that are not in Indiana, but that still exists.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
And wear wolves.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
So you know.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
That's a true story.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
I keep my crucis fixed with me for those but
you know that in therapy works wonders. But the Indiana
State Park System I cannot speak more highly of. I
have enjoyed every experience at every state park I've had.
The other fellow campers are just so hospitable for an introvert.
(24:33):
They can be a little too hospitable, like you know,
I understand that, but no, they everybody's wonderful.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
The DNR is.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Always so helpful and courteous when trying to check in
or when I've had questions, you know, like hey, when
can I buy firewood? When can I buy eyes? You know,
they're always so accommodating and helpful, but it's mostly air
rational fear of yeah, animals, you know, get me to
(25:04):
migrate back to my car and my infant state of
the fetal position.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
That's okay, because you've come a long way. I didn't
prep you for this because I loved our converse. I
knew I was going to enjoy our conversation. Can you
stay while I pay a few bills because I have
some questions and follow ups to what you'd say. Do
you mind holding through through a break sure, God love
you all right, Lady Leslie will come back and join.
It's a solo camping experience that has merged into something
(25:33):
that I think can be a lesson for many. It
is the Indiana Outdoor Show. I am your host, Brian Pooney.
We're going to continue this when I return right after
this Indiana Outdoors rolls on. What a beautiful day. Many
(26:00):
thanks to those stations that have carried us all over
the state of Indiana for all these years. And it's
certainly a great time for many to be out in
the Indiana Outdoors. And we're having a great conversation with
a new contributor here. We're going to have this as
a regular series when it is appropriate. Where is Lady Leslie?
Because this is the story of someone who would never
(26:23):
have thought about going out solo camping. Nonetheless hosting and
bringing groups together and having fellowship in our natural environments.
And three seasons later, through a lot of persistence and
hard work, you've kind of made this something that you
actually look forward to. So when you started this journey
(26:43):
a couple of years ago, and you were going to
be very simple and you just said I'm an camp
out of my car, what along the way you had
these revelations about I need my own space. What were
some things that you would advise, not just another solo female,
but somebody who might say, you know what, I want
to get out in camp, but I don't want to
buy a camper and I don't want to I don't
(27:05):
want to put a bunch of money into this. If
I don't know, I'm like, if I'm going to like it,
how did you start? Because I know you had that
same feeling, but you don't have to make it so
expensive and you can go on a budget. But you've
zigged and zagged along the way. Tell us about some
of those things.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
So I do have quite a few friends that do
enjoy the outdoors, and many of them had to offer
like equipment or cooking things, different types of camping product
and gear that they were willing to let me try.
(27:45):
So that was helpful in trying to figure out what
I needed or what I wanted for my own personal setup.
I think with the tent, the tent that I purchased originally,
which is truly adequate for me, I just went over
(28:06):
the top with the next purchase, but it was under
one hundred dollars and it was an instant cabin tint
that you I am not an expert, I am not
mechanically inclined, but I could set this up within three
to five minutes by myself, and that product it was reasonable.
(28:28):
It's still great. We I'm actually able to take other
friends with me. I'm like, I'm not sharing my tent.
They can have my extra tint. So for a tent,
I thought that was an extremely reasonable price. You know,
people can. I think the sleeping thing that's a really
(28:51):
personal question is as far as how are you best
going to sleep? But most of the things that I
have found, and even though I went through a succession
of them, we're all under one hundred dollars, and the Amazon,
the Amazon delivery guy and I are on first name
basis because of my succession of what I have found
(29:17):
that I'm you know, like adding this or over the
last three years.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
I love that. And you know I've always said this,
but a campfire helps to see things in a different light.
And I know you love the mornings and your coffee routine.
Those things you just can't duplicate unless you're unless you're
out in the woods, and I know you find great joy.
Does it bring you relief now and you come back
rejuvenated and refreshed.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
Yeah, I mean each like each trip. Sometimes I can
overcomplicate things. I know that that might be surprising to
you as a friend, but I can overcomplicate things. But
it's really hard to overcomplicate when you're just out enjoying nature.
(30:06):
And some of the campsites that I've been to, there's
one specific park I don't know if I can mention
it by name, Yes, you may star Hollow the Lakesite.
Oh my, they are just so peaceful, so beautiful, and
just to be able to sit there and just see
(30:28):
the beauty of Guide's creation and just take that in
is just breathtaking. So it's hard to come back stressed
from that. The other upseill for me is that a
lot of the parks you don't get full reception on
your phone, so you really do have to I need
that to truly disengage, because I don't have enough willpower.
(30:54):
If I'm at home, I'm still on my phone checking
emails or doing whatever. But when you have a delayed signal,
that is a way to really regroup and refresh.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Lady Leslie is our new contributor here where she's We're
going to do our Johnny on the spots and give
some tips and tactics for helping people who may want
to get into experiencing Indiana in a different way or beyond. Uh,
we're focusing on Indiana right now because that's what you
started with. And look at you. Now, you've created your
own environment that you've worked that works for you, even
(31:30):
when the raccoons fight. Tell us about those experiences.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
Well, I found out that raccoons like Hall's cough drops.
It was the only edible thing that I had left
out in a fire bag. And they started at Raccoon Lake.
How appropriate is that? Right? Yeah, they started outside my
(31:55):
tent about midnight one night and carried on this fight
that founded went for hissing cats who sounded like bobcats,
and I know Indiana has bobcats, but they partied with
my cough drops till four o'clock in the morning. We
(32:17):
from that point on, I was super diligent about making
sure there is no food, nothing outside for the rest
of that weekend. This past weekend, no two weekends again,
I was at Shakamac and while we didn't have any
food substance out there, I guess I did. I did
(32:39):
leave my cooler out. They I will put my cooler
under the picnic tables so that they can't open the lid.
But somehow they're their little thumbs were Yes, they were
able to like try the lid, open it and drag
some of the top items out of the cooler. Either
(33:02):
that or they had a very little raccoon that they
sent in. So me and the raccoons we kind of
we're not on the best of terms, and I'm going
to be honest, but some flashlights and some fitting back
at them kind of keeps them in check.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
Well, Lady Leslie, I love that you're willing to come
on Indian Outdoors and share your story of humility and growth.
And I think it just amplifies once you get out
and you just do it and you kind of break
the seal. It is something that gets into your blood,
and I know you want to share that with others,
and I look forward to having you on and hearing
about the raccoon fights and all the great things that
(33:45):
go around those campfires that you can't duplicate anywhere else.
So thank you so much for sharing, and I hope
you'll be with us again. It's a contract year. You
might get your contract in the mail. It doesn't have
a lot of zeros in it.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Okay, all right, I'll look for that. I'll keep an
eye out.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Stay close for that. All right. Thanks so much for
being a part of Indian Outdoors. We appreciate you. Sharing
fee always my pleasure, my pleasure too. We are having
so much fun here. Don't go anywhere because when we
come back we got more to talk about. It's the
Indian Outdoor Show and sad but true. All the great
(34:33):
things have to have a season in life. Oh look
what I did there. Indian Outdoors isn't going anywhere. We're
just gonna have to wrap it up for this weekend.
But before I do, I want to make sure I
congratulate Leslie, Lady Leslie as we're calling her, longtime dear friend,
who I never would have picked to be the thriving
camper that she is today. She's overcome so many personal
(34:57):
fears and trepidations as we all made hal might have,
but she's made it her own and she's figured it out.
And appreciate all of her insights and we hope to
do more with her. And where is Lady leslie around
the state of Indiana. Captain jet Quillan kicked things off.
It is the mother load of all hunting, fishing, and
(35:18):
outdoor activities this fall. State parks never looked better. All
of our hunting seasons soon to be in. We are
so busy here with so many things. We've got a
brand new license system. You've heard me mentioned a couple
of times here on this program. Just don't wait till
the last minute. That's what I'm going to say. If
(35:38):
you're buying your license and you're used to the old
system and it took a few minutes to bing bang boom,
you got your license, make sure you do something different
because it's a new system. That's all I'm going to say. Also,
I wanted to remind folks when we visit with Captain
jet Quillan earlier, we did spend some time on the
fact that not only is safety a priority if up
(36:00):
in a tree stand, always use a full body harness, etc.
But he also mentioned the tip program again one eight
hundred tip IDNR. And this is a great time of
the year. If you haven't been out in field or forest,
maybe you're sitting having your biscuits and gravy and you
overhear a conversation. You don't have to be the officer
to investigate, but if you hear something that doesn't sound right,
(36:21):
let the officers do that and vet it. You never
know when that tip, as you heard him say over
one thousand last year, could lead to them doing their
job and getting the bad guys or gals that are
doing things in Indiana that affect our natural resources. And
as you know, we've been ending in every episode of
Indiana Outdoors for twenty seven years with one eight hundred
(36:42):
tip IDNR. Remember to turn in a poacher. It has
to do with pollution, It has to do with anything
that could damage the outdoors. Let's just put it that way.
So when we come back next week, we're gonna have
another great, big show. Who knows what's going to happen.
We always appreciate it here and I can't thank you
enough for spending a little bit with us in this
(37:02):
beautiful fall weekend. Get out and enjoy all the great football,
my gosh, the Hoosiers along with my Irish. Remember turning
in to poacher one eight hundred tip I d n R.
See you next week. Everybody,
Oh, it is such a beautiful day. What a great
opportunity to be with you in the Indiana Outdoor Studio.
It is your host, Brian Pointer, and many thanks to
all the stations that carry us this fine fall. Hopefully
you're out on your way to one of the great festivals.
Fall is my favorite time of the year. I know
(00:49):
that sounds trite, but if you don't believe in a god, boy,
just spend some time in a good fall in Indiana,
watched the leaves change. So great to be with you.
We couldn't do the show weren't for our good friends
at Indiana Donor Network Driven to Save Lives dot org.
Sign up it to be an organ and tissue donor.
When you buy your hunting and fishing license, couldn't be
any easier. Or go online to that website and give
(01:12):
the gift of life. By the way, when you go
buy your hunting and fishing license, brand new system in Indiana,
make sure you don't wait till the last minute and
get stuck. You might need a few more steps as
they transition to this brand new, more efficient licensing system
here in Indiana. So today I am so excited. We
have a brand new guest who's going to be hopefully
(01:35):
joining us on a semi regular basis. We're just going
to call her, Where's Lady Leslie? And she is a
great story of single female who was scared to get
out and camp but she wanted to has done it,
and she's in her third season. We're going to have
a chat with her and find out what she has
learned and share those with you. And we're also going
to visit coming up here very shortly with Captain Jack
(01:57):
Quillen from our Division of Law Enforcement Safety. It's the
fall hunting season. Always great to visit with Captain Jett.
Don't go anywhere. He's with us when we return right
after this, And how many times do I say, it
(02:22):
is so good to be back in the Indiana Outdoor
studios with all of you, my friends and listeners as
well as those great stations that carry it. And this
is what living in Indiana is all about. Beautiful fall weather.
Finally we've had a fall where it didn't go from
ninety to zero in two weeks, But Indiana Outdoors Ay,
your host, Brian Pointer, were brought to you by our
(02:44):
good friends at Indiana Donor Network driven two Save Lives
dot org. Sign up to be an organ and tissue
donor when you buy your hunting and fishing license, help
give the gift of life, heal many, save many, and
we'd love to see that waiting list go down. We're
making progress well. As I mentioned, it's no secret to anybody.
(03:05):
Fall in Indiana a great tradition for so many people,
especially field and forest and river and stream. All sorts
of things come together this time of the year. But
we also love to talk to our friends in law
enforcement to make sure that you know we hear their
message of always safety and going out and being able
to go back again. Captain Jack Quillan joins us. Captain,
(03:28):
it's been a minute. How have you been. It's been
a while since you and I have talked. I hope
things are well.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah, been great. Everything's going fantastic. Just busy as always.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
I don't know when a life of an Indiana Conservation
officer isn't busy. But you have the added duty of
talking to folks like me, so I appreciate it very much.
And you know, I know not only are you an
esteemed member of our law enforcement division, but you also
enjoy the outdoors. I don't think anybody chooses your vocation
(03:58):
if they don't have a love for them. But you
got to enjoyed Indiana fall.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah, it's great this time of year. It's the leaves
are changing, the temperatures are dropping, and you're seeing more
and more people out in the woods. You know, it's
a great time of year.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Well, last week we had our waterfowl biologist on Adam Phelps,
kind of previewing waterfowl season. But it's this next several
weeks where everything kind of comes together. You've had small game,
early waterfowl, you've got the regular waterfowl season soon underway.
Fishing across Indiana has been great, and whether you're squirrel
(04:34):
hunting or deer hunting with a bow, it is just
a great time of the year to be out. And
I'm just happy that. My gosh, we've had a fall.
It seems like you never know in Indiana. Wait ten minutes,
the weather's going to change. It goes from ninety degrees
in a couple of days where it's okay, and then
it's winter time. We've had a nice extended fall.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah, it has been, and it's that Indiana weather. You
never know what you're going to get. But it has
been a very i smooth transition, and you know it's
everybody's transitioning from that summertime on the water and now
getting ready for all the seasons are in or coming in,
and you know, it's a fantastic time in Indiana.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
So many people I know think, well, you know, the
conservation officers, this is their busy season. It's a different
season because you work so hard throughout the summer, as
you said, patrolling our waterways and doing other things. But
this is a time when most people will have contactor
or we think of there are conservation officers. But you know,
(05:35):
we've talked about this over the years, Captain, Today's conservation
officers are not our grandparents' game wardens. You guys do
so many things throughout the year and train for so
many different things. When you became a law enforcement officer
with Indiana's Division of Law Enforcement, did you ever kind
(05:55):
of see that your job would entail as much as
it does.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
You know, you always have an idea, but you never
fully grasp the full extent of it until you actually
get into the career. Obviously, you've got to have a
love for the outdoors natural resources, but also have that
love for law enforcement and upholding those and protecting those laws.
It's a great career because when you kind of get
(06:22):
bogged down with your day to day stuff, the season
changes and you can kind of rejuvenate and you have
a whole new outlook on what you're going to go
out and force. So that's what kind of keeps the
job fresh and exciting and why so many of our
people when they get hired on, they never leave.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
That is the truth. And we say I say this,
we've been doing Indiana outdoors now in our twenty seventh season,
and the diversity of the backgrounds of our biologists, all
of those experts who help to preserve and conserve all
of Indiana's natural resources, our forestry divisions, state parks, and
(07:03):
law enforcement. It's not uncommon to see careers of twenty five, thirty,
forty years this year in parks, for example, Ginger Murphy
forty years in state parks. All of that great stuff.
But I know it's been a rewarding and fulfilling career.
So let's talk a little bit. We are now in
(07:24):
this hunting season. Of course, our tree started October first.
A lot of people may not have been back in
the woods since last season, and it's always a reminder
for me to be safe, and I know that's what
conservation officers want. Hunting is a very safe sport generally speaking,
and we find I find that often where we're talking
(07:48):
about unfortunate circumstances, it's usually something that could have been prevented,
whether it's wearing a life jacket or wearing a safety
harness in a tree. But always a message worth repeating.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, Yeah. Just like we promote the safety
on the water, we we do the same for for
safety h when you're out pursuing game. You know, the
biggest thing we see every year as far as injuries
and fatalities go and hunting is the failure to wear
a full body safety harness. And you know, we just
(08:21):
we want to really promote that if you're going to
be in any type of elevated stand, to make sure
you have that that safety harness on and keep it
on the entire time you're you're ascending in the stand
or descending from that stand. Do not ever take it off.
And it seems like a lot of our injuries we
see are when people want to transition to something so
(08:43):
they'll take it off. Real quick, and then that's when
when the accidents happened. But you know, we're that full
safety harness. If you haven't been in the woods to
check your stand, get out there, make sure all those
straps are are still in good shape, make sure nothing
shifted on that tree, and just you know, do your
checks to make sure if anything could go wrong, you're
(09:03):
checking on what could possibly go wrong and making sure
everything is good.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Captain Jack Quillen is our guest, a longtime contributor here.
It amazes me. I've been hunting in Indiana for more
than forty years, and I've hunted with a lot of
different people, a lot of different places, a lot of
different critters, and when it comes to deer hunting, still
my passion and my number one enjoyment in the fall,
(09:30):
it still amazes me the people, given the technology of
how things have changed. We now have metal tree stands
easy to walk up to and climb up a ladder,
and or the box stands or anything else, the number
of people that's still monkey up a tree and don't
put that harness on because they have false sense of security.
As someone who's fallen out of one of those makeshift
(09:53):
homemade I don't do this anymore. I learned my lesson
twenty five years ago. But I was very fortunate and
a lot of people aren't. So that the technology back
to this. Those uh, full body harnesses are so convenient.
They're actually built into a lot of hunting clothing to
make it easier. It's a long way away from the
(10:15):
old Baker tree stand, which was a piece of plywood
that you'd uh bungee cord to your feet and your
safety cord was was a seat belt that went around
your waist, and we thought that that was the latest
in technology. Things have really really changed and there's no
reason not to wear one.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Yeah. Yeah, And that's a great explanation into how everything
has advanced. And you know, it's it's it's to give
credit to the popularity of the sport and the manufacturers.
They they're thinking of all that stuff and then they're
you know, they're getting all the information from from the
people in the field of what needs to be done,
and and they're trying to critique everything and make it
(10:52):
to where it's you know, form fitting and then not
restrictive and uh almost to the point where you don't
even real lies you have it on and they've done that,
and we see so many hunters they will they will
invest so much into their firearm or their bow, or
their clothing, but they always want to skimp on that
(11:13):
full safety harness that's actually going to save their life
if something does go wrong. And you know that's one
thing I would not skimp on.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
I've used your line no less than a thousand times
that no conservation officer in Indiana's out to steal anybody's
fun pie. You know, they want you to go back
and enjoy. So the officers deserve respect, and if you
come into contact, they're wanting to make sure that you
go back. So I hope that all that respect comes
your way. But the message goes again. If you're off
(11:43):
the ground where one of those you can get them
at any of your heart. You're sporting good stores, you
can order them. And even in the bulkiest of clothing
that you would wear up into a tree, they just
don't get in the way. There's no excuse not to.
And everybody wants to go back and enjoy. And I
think God I never did have an incident with that
old Baker treestand because that harnessed it went around your chest.
(12:04):
If I fell out of that thing, I'd be upside
down and suffocate. But it's not that way anymore. I
want to switch to something that I know is near
and dear to your heart, which is also here at
Indian Outdoors. We have ended every show with remember to
turn into Poacher one eight hundred tip I d n R.
And we've given a great shine of light on this
and promoting this with folks like Officer Bobrink, who I
(12:28):
know is on the tip board, and Gene Hopkins and
others highlighting this. But it's always worthy of a mention
of what happens when you call the tip line for
an officer and what do you encourage people to do.
So it's not an intimidating call to one eight hundred
tip I dn R.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Yeah, So it's just a good reminder or too, to
all our people that are going to be out and
about that you know, you are our eyes and ears.
We have two hundred officers across the state, which is
not very many, and we cannot see or hear everything.
So if you're out and about or talking to someone
and you hear something that's like, yeah, that just doesn't
(13:06):
sound right, or that's definitely that's that's that's wrong. You
can call our tip line at one eight hundred Tip I,
D and R and essentially speak to one of our
dispatchers who will take down your information. You can remain
anonymous if you wish, and that information will be forwarded
to an officer so they can follow up on that.
And you know, in twenty twenty four we received over
(13:29):
a thousand tips, and that was just a great increase
over the years. We're really trying to get the word
out more on this because we are making wonderful cases
that everybody should be proud of because it's protecting the
natural resources of Indiana. And you know, the poachers are
the ones stealing that. They're stealing that from the families
that want to go out and enjoy that. So if
(13:52):
you know, you see something, hear something, even if you're
not sure, I don't know if I should call or
not call call, We'll take the information, We'll get an
officer to look into it, and we'll see what we
can we can we can do And the best thing
also is if you if you wish to get a
reward if something leads to an arrest, you can get
(14:15):
up to a five hundred dollars reward for that tip.
So it's a wonderful program, really made great strides over
the last few years. We're trying to get it out
there more and it's starting to starting to pay off.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Well.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
I hope Indian Outdoors is helping with that because it's
been a passion of mine and I think when people
here poaching, they're going to immediately, Oh, somebody's taken too
many deer. True, or they took their over their bag
limited fish. True. But what you don't know by choosing,
as you say, call, don't call. You don't know if
that little I don't know, this guy sounded weird, acted weird,
(14:49):
I heard something. You don't know if that officer needed
that one little thing to close a case that maybe
had been worked on for years. So always make that call.
And fortunately I've never had to do that, but I
can guarantee you it's embedded in my brain. One eight
hundred tip IDNR and I would use that in a second,
and that's always a great message. One final thing I know,
(15:13):
we have a new license system that's been upgraded Indiana
Go Outdoors, Indiana dot com. There's going to be a
lot of traffic going into that as we get closer
to the opening a firearms season. But I want people
to be aware, and I know you do too. Don't
get caught at the last minute and then venture into
the woods and not have the right license or whatever.
(15:35):
It's not complicated. It's going to be a great new system,
but it might be a new first look for somebody.
Don't go in at ten o'clock the night before to
buy your license and think, oh, gosh, I got to
take a couple more steps.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Here, right. Yeah, if you know you're going out at
any time this season, get on there now. And it's
just a safety precaution. If something does go wrong with
the system that we can guarantee that you can get
your license. But yeah, don't don't hold off. Don't wait
till the night before. I've gotten those phone calls over
the years with people that have come across in the field.
(16:08):
They'll call me and say, hey, you know, I need
some help. So it's always a rush at that last minute.
But good reminder, do it now while you have plenty
of time.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Well, Captain, I know, is there anything that we haven't
talked about this time of the year amongst your colleagues
that you want the message to get out. What else
haven't we talked about.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Well, we did have a dive school graduation a couple
of weeks ago. Well, we brought on eight new divers
from across the state. That kind of just is a
payoff of the recruit classes that we've had over the
last couple of years. And now it's getting to that
time or those new officers that have been on a
(16:48):
year or two can now pursue specialties in our agency.
And we have eight new divers that will serve the public.
And really, yeah, really the most critical times in a
lot of people's lives. We see when when things go
bad like that, they're the ones that are you know, responding,
pulling up and getting dressed right there out of their
(17:09):
truck and really you know, putting their lives on the
line to serve the public. So, like you said, bless them.
It's a great honor to be a diver for our agency.
We take that with a lot of pride, and you know,
eight new ones that will be serving now.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I love it as always, Captain, best to you, enjoy
this fall. Safety to you and all the officers. Thanks
for what you do, and nobody's outsteal your fun pie. Right,
that's right, all right, be good, my friend. Thanks for
being a part of Indian Outdoors. Thank you, my pleasure.
It is the Indian Outdoor Show. I your host, Brian Pointer.
Don't go anywhere. We got so many fun new things
to talk about when we return. It's the Indiana Outdoor Show.
(18:00):
And well, the Indian Outdoor Show rolls on. What a
beautiful fall. I can't say it enough. Finally we've had
a fall. So many unique things happen this time of
the year that people look forward to annual traditions hunting
(18:21):
and fishing, and every season comes in here very shortly,
and it's just like the World Series, Super Bowl and
Eastern Christmas all at once. But it is the Indiana
Outdoor Show and I am your host, Brian Pointer, and
we're brought to you by our friends at Indiana Donor Network,
Driven to Save Lives. That's the number two. You can
(18:41):
sign up to be an organ and tissue donor when
you buy your hunting and fishing license. It couldn't be
any easier. And as we just heard from Captain Jack Quillen,
new system in Indiana, don't wait till the last minute.
It's not complicated. But maybe a couple of steps, so
shop early and often, as they say in Chicago. Nonetheless,
I mentioned at the top of the hour, I am
(19:04):
I've been looking forward to this segment for quite some
time because, in addition to all the field and forest
and stream and pond activities follows no better time to
be in our Indiana outdoors, in our state park systems,
which have never looked better. And we always try to
make these types of things more relatable, meaning let's just
(19:30):
let's just kind of get out and then do it
and experience it and it doesn't have to be complicated.
And no better person than I'm going to protect the
innocent here We're going to call this guest Lady Leslie
joins us. Lady Leslie one of my favorite people, longtime friend.
How have you been.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
I have been well, how are you well?
Speaker 1 (19:50):
I'm doing very well, And people are going, what is
Lady Leslie going to talk about? Well? I am immensely
proud of exactly what I I just described someone who
said I'd really like to learn to camp. And this
goes back a year or two now, and we had
you on because I pegged you as someone who and
(20:12):
I don't think I'm speaking too out of school. You're
kind of you got your set in your ways, and
you know, you got your own things, and you like
what you like, and you don't like what you don't like,
as we all do. And I didn't think that you
were going to be serious about venturing into the camping world.
And now I'm bringing you back on Indiana Outdoors because
I think there's a message for a lot of people
(20:35):
who might have had the same fears that you did,
or the same uncertainties or questions or it's too complicated
or it's too much work. And now you are going
out solo by yourself. You're no longer sleeping in your car.
You've just transgressed. But I want to go back, and
I want you to take back to maybe a year
or two ago when we had these conversations and you
(20:58):
said to me, I'm going to go camping from then
until now. Uh, You've had a big, long journey, So
tell us what have you learned in those period in
that period of time, and what makes it so enjoyable
for you now to go out in solo camp and
organize trips and everything else that you do.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Well. First, we had to wait for you to stop
laughing when I said I was going to go.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Out campaign only because I love you exactly.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
So as you had mentioned, So this is my third
season out and a lot what I learned was I
needed my own space, so that meant getting a tent.
I have purchased not only one tent, but two tents,
and for me, I currently have a nine person tent
(21:49):
for my solo campaign.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Experiences, which I love.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Yeah, so I could like host a dinner party in
there if I wanted to, but I don't want to.
I just want my space. I also have learned my
sleeping arrangement is important, so I have transitioned to a
lot of different things. I started, uh sleeping doing the
car camping. That wasn't that's doable, but yet it wasn't
(22:16):
Necessarily it wasn't really great sleep. I went to a cot.
The cot was okay, but just you know, it just
wasn't also doing it for me. So now I have
a queen size air mattress that is self inflating and
(22:38):
networks and it works wonderfully. And I sleep in my
tent when not only when there's raccoons and fights in
the campgrounds do I then revert back to my car.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Well you're talking. I'm sure you're talking about critter fights,
because are Indiana State Park so safe? And you I
should have qualified this. You are a single female and
this was a very intimidating is a very intimidating process
for a lot of people because they might have those
fears of is it going to be safe? And what
(23:12):
do I do? But what you just described in that
last two minutes, from beginning to where you are now
in your third season, you've learned something that is very important.
You've found what it was going to take to make
you comfortable and feel safe and protected. And now you're
off doing it by yourself. And I can't keep track
of you because one day you come back from somewhere
(23:33):
and you've already got your next campsite booked at some
place new And I couldn't be more proud of that story. So,
as you've learned these things along the way, what did
that do to that? I know you got comfortable, but
do you still have fears? Do you still have trepidation
about going out?
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Well, I still have an air rational fear of bearers
that are not in Indiana, but that still exists.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
And wear wolves.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
So you know.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
That's a true story.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
I keep my crucis fixed with me for those but
you know that in therapy works wonders. But the Indiana
State Park System I cannot speak more highly of. I
have enjoyed every experience at every state park I've had.
The other fellow campers are just so hospitable for an introvert.
(24:33):
They can be a little too hospitable, like you know,
I understand that, but no, they everybody's wonderful.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
The DNR is.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Always so helpful and courteous when trying to check in
or when I've had questions, you know, like hey, when
can I buy firewood? When can I buy eyes? You know,
they're always so accommodating and helpful, but it's mostly air
rational fear of yeah, animals, you know, get me to
(25:04):
migrate back to my car and my infant state of
the fetal position.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
That's okay, because you've come a long way. I didn't
prep you for this because I loved our converse. I
knew I was going to enjoy our conversation. Can you
stay while I pay a few bills because I have
some questions and follow ups to what you'd say. Do
you mind holding through through a break sure, God love
you all right, Lady Leslie will come back and join.
It's a solo camping experience that has merged into something
(25:33):
that I think can be a lesson for many. It
is the Indiana Outdoor Show. I am your host, Brian Pooney.
We're going to continue this when I return right after
this Indiana Outdoors rolls on. What a beautiful day. Many
(26:00):
thanks to those stations that have carried us all over
the state of Indiana for all these years. And it's
certainly a great time for many to be out in
the Indiana Outdoors. And we're having a great conversation with
a new contributor here. We're going to have this as
a regular series when it is appropriate. Where is Lady Leslie?
Because this is the story of someone who would never
(26:23):
have thought about going out solo camping. Nonetheless hosting and
bringing groups together and having fellowship in our natural environments.
And three seasons later, through a lot of persistence and
hard work, you've kind of made this something that you
actually look forward to. So when you started this journey
(26:43):
a couple of years ago, and you were going to
be very simple and you just said I'm an camp
out of my car, what along the way you had
these revelations about I need my own space. What were
some things that you would advise, not just another solo female,
but somebody who might say, you know what, I want
to get out in camp, but I don't want to
buy a camper and I don't want to I don't
(27:05):
want to put a bunch of money into this. If
I don't know, I'm like, if I'm going to like it,
how did you start? Because I know you had that
same feeling, but you don't have to make it so
expensive and you can go on a budget. But you've
zigged and zagged along the way. Tell us about some
of those things.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
So I do have quite a few friends that do
enjoy the outdoors, and many of them had to offer
like equipment or cooking things, different types of camping product
and gear that they were willing to let me try.
(27:45):
So that was helpful in trying to figure out what
I needed or what I wanted for my own personal setup.
I think with the tent, the tent that I purchased originally,
which is truly adequate for me, I just went over
(28:06):
the top with the next purchase, but it was under
one hundred dollars and it was an instant cabin tint
that you I am not an expert, I am not
mechanically inclined, but I could set this up within three
to five minutes by myself, and that product it was reasonable.
(28:28):
It's still great. We I'm actually able to take other
friends with me. I'm like, I'm not sharing my tent.
They can have my extra tint. So for a tent,
I thought that was an extremely reasonable price. You know,
people can. I think the sleeping thing that's a really
(28:51):
personal question is as far as how are you best
going to sleep? But most of the things that I
have found, and even though I went through a succession
of them, we're all under one hundred dollars, and the Amazon,
the Amazon delivery guy and I are on first name
basis because of my succession of what I have found
(29:17):
that I'm you know, like adding this or over the
last three years.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
I love that. And you know I've always said this,
but a campfire helps to see things in a different light.
And I know you love the mornings and your coffee routine.
Those things you just can't duplicate unless you're unless you're
out in the woods, and I know you find great joy.
Does it bring you relief now and you come back
rejuvenated and refreshed.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
Yeah, I mean each like each trip. Sometimes I can
overcomplicate things. I know that that might be surprising to
you as a friend, but I can overcomplicate things. But
it's really hard to overcomplicate when you're just out enjoying nature.
(30:06):
And some of the campsites that I've been to, there's
one specific park I don't know if I can mention
it by name, Yes, you may star Hollow the Lakesite.
Oh my, they are just so peaceful, so beautiful, and
just to be able to sit there and just see
(30:28):
the beauty of Guide's creation and just take that in
is just breathtaking. So it's hard to come back stressed
from that. The other upseill for me is that a
lot of the parks you don't get full reception on
your phone, so you really do have to I need
that to truly disengage, because I don't have enough willpower.
(30:54):
If I'm at home, I'm still on my phone checking
emails or doing whatever. But when you have a delayed signal,
that is a way to really regroup and refresh.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Lady Leslie is our new contributor here where she's We're
going to do our Johnny on the spots and give
some tips and tactics for helping people who may want
to get into experiencing Indiana in a different way or beyond. Uh,
we're focusing on Indiana right now because that's what you
started with. And look at you. Now, you've created your
own environment that you've worked that works for you, even
(31:30):
when the raccoons fight. Tell us about those experiences.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
Well, I found out that raccoons like Hall's cough drops.
It was the only edible thing that I had left
out in a fire bag. And they started at Raccoon Lake.
How appropriate is that? Right? Yeah, they started outside my
(31:55):
tent about midnight one night and carried on this fight
that founded went for hissing cats who sounded like bobcats,
and I know Indiana has bobcats, but they partied with
my cough drops till four o'clock in the morning. We
(32:17):
from that point on, I was super diligent about making
sure there is no food, nothing outside for the rest
of that weekend. This past weekend, no two weekends again,
I was at Shakamac and while we didn't have any
food substance out there, I guess I did. I did
(32:39):
leave my cooler out. They I will put my cooler
under the picnic tables so that they can't open the lid.
But somehow they're their little thumbs were Yes, they were
able to like try the lid, open it and drag
some of the top items out of the cooler. Either
(33:02):
that or they had a very little raccoon that they
sent in. So me and the raccoons we kind of
we're not on the best of terms, and I'm going
to be honest, but some flashlights and some fitting back
at them kind of keeps them in check.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
Well, Lady Leslie, I love that you're willing to come
on Indian Outdoors and share your story of humility and growth.
And I think it just amplifies once you get out
and you just do it and you kind of break
the seal. It is something that gets into your blood,
and I know you want to share that with others,
and I look forward to having you on and hearing
about the raccoon fights and all the great things that
(33:45):
go around those campfires that you can't duplicate anywhere else.
So thank you so much for sharing, and I hope
you'll be with us again. It's a contract year. You
might get your contract in the mail. It doesn't have
a lot of zeros in it.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Okay, all right, I'll look for that. I'll keep an
eye out.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Stay close for that. All right. Thanks so much for
being a part of Indian Outdoors. We appreciate you. Sharing
fee always my pleasure, my pleasure too. We are having
so much fun here. Don't go anywhere because when we
come back we got more to talk about. It's the
Indian Outdoor Show and sad but true. All the great
(34:33):
things have to have a season in life. Oh look
what I did there. Indian Outdoors isn't going anywhere. We're
just gonna have to wrap it up for this weekend.
But before I do, I want to make sure I
congratulate Leslie, Lady Leslie as we're calling her, longtime dear friend,
who I never would have picked to be the thriving
camper that she is today. She's overcome so many personal
(34:57):
fears and trepidations as we all made hal might have,
but she's made it her own and she's figured it out.
And appreciate all of her insights and we hope to
do more with her. And where is Lady leslie around
the state of Indiana. Captain jet Quillan kicked things off.
It is the mother load of all hunting, fishing, and
(35:18):
outdoor activities this fall. State parks never looked better. All
of our hunting seasons soon to be in. We are
so busy here with so many things. We've got a
brand new license system. You've heard me mentioned a couple
of times here on this program. Just don't wait till
the last minute. That's what I'm going to say. If
(35:38):
you're buying your license and you're used to the old
system and it took a few minutes to bing bang boom,
you got your license, make sure you do something different
because it's a new system. That's all I'm going to say. Also,
I wanted to remind folks when we visit with Captain
jet Quillan earlier, we did spend some time on the
fact that not only is safety a priority if up
(36:00):
in a tree stand, always use a full body harness, etc.
But he also mentioned the tip program again one eight
hundred tip IDNR. And this is a great time of
the year. If you haven't been out in field or forest,
maybe you're sitting having your biscuits and gravy and you
overhear a conversation. You don't have to be the officer
to investigate, but if you hear something that doesn't sound right,
(36:21):
let the officers do that and vet it. You never
know when that tip, as you heard him say over
one thousand last year, could lead to them doing their
job and getting the bad guys or gals that are
doing things in Indiana that affect our natural resources. And
as you know, we've been ending in every episode of
Indiana Outdoors for twenty seven years with one eight hundred
(36:42):
tip IDNR. Remember to turn in a poacher. It has
to do with pollution, It has to do with anything
that could damage the outdoors. Let's just put it that way.
So when we come back next week, we're gonna have
another great, big show. Who knows what's going to happen.
We always appreciate it here and I can't thank you
enough for spending a little bit with us in this
(37:02):
beautiful fall weekend. Get out and enjoy all the great football,
my gosh, the Hoosiers along with my Irish. Remember turning
in to poacher one eight hundred tip I d n R.
See you next week. Everybody,
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