October 29, 2025 • 37 mins
The annual migration of sandhill cranes at the Jasper-Pulaski wildlife area, plus a hunter education update.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Full steam ahead. It's the Indiana Outdoor Show. It is
my thrill, privilege, and honor to be here with you
each and every week. I look forward to it. It's
the highlight of my week to host Indiana Outdoors, sponsored
of course by our good friends at Indiana Donor Network
Driven to Save Lives dot org Sanama. To be an
(00:50):
organ and tissue donor could be an easier when you
buy your hunting and fishing license. I know I say
it all the time, but I hope it's not becoming
repetitive because it's so important. We have a huge show.
Are you looking for something to do this fall? Maybe
a little trip, Maybe it's just a little day roady
type of thing. One of my favorites to do better
(01:10):
check out Jasper Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area because the cranes,
the sand hill cranes in their migration route goes right
through Maderyville, Indiana. We're going to talk to Nick Ektererling,
who is the property manager up there, find out how
many birds are there and what you need to do
to be prepared. But it's one of my favorites. Are
you ready for the hunting season? About hunter education? Tim
(01:32):
Beck going to be with us here a little later
and he's going to give us the three point sixty
on Hunter Education. It's not too late. There's some important dates.
There's some important things that if you have a young
person you want to know what you need to do
with Hunter Education and take advantage of some of the
(01:53):
Indiana programs. And then we have a big break here.
Brent Wheat is going to be joining us, some big,
big changes in his life. He's been a long time
contributor and we're going to find out. I'm not going
to steal any of his thunder. It all needs to
come from Brent. But it's all good, folks. Get ready.
(02:14):
Jasper Pulaski the cranes seeing the An Outdoor show right
after this, and as I said at the top of
the hour, so hard to believe. We're already in November,
(02:35):
literally the first Saturday, November first. Hard to believe. But
it is so much fun to be on Indiana Outdoors
this time of the year, with so many things happening.
I of course, your host, Brian Pointer, couldn't do this
show without our good friends at well, you know, we
just are good friends at Indiana Donor Network. Just spit
(02:58):
it out Pointer spit it out. Couldn't do this show
without them. Sign up to be an organ and tissue
donor when you buy your hunting and fishing license. It
couldn't be an easier give the gift of life, help
to heal and save many, and we thank them for
making that who's your Waiting list disappear. As I mentioned,
(03:19):
if you are going hunting, this is the good time
of the year to start planning. If you're a deer
hunter and firearm season coming up here in just a
couple of weeks, don't wait till the last minute. There
is a new system in place, a much better system
and maybe requiring a step or two if you're used
to the old online purchase system, So don't wait to
(03:41):
the last minute like me, which is usually my case.
So we're going to have plenty of opportunity between now
and then. Don't wait to the last minute. Also, I
love this time of the year for so many reasons.
A lot of people heading to field and forest, a
lot of people still fall fishing is great, so many
(04:01):
seasons in or coming, and people for the first time
in a long time, maybe going back since last year.
But there's also other things and if you've listened to
this show for any of the twenty six or seven
years we've been doing this. I love my cranes and
the migration of the sandhill cranes up at Jasper Pulaski
Fish and Wildlife Area up in beautiful Maderyville, Indiana. And
(04:24):
I've invited the property manager, as we do traditionally this
time of the year. Nick Ekterline, joins us property manager
at Jasper Pulaski. Nick, it's great to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Have you been I've been well, Yeah, thanks for having me, Brian.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
You know, JP is one of the unique properties in
our state and provides hunting another recreation. But I always
like to highlight the unique things. And for two decades
I've been driving up there every year and it's just
such therapy. It's a beautiful drive to get up to
a little north of Lafayette and you have this beautiful property.
(05:01):
But before we get into the cranes, tell me what
else goes on at Jasper Pulaski. It's a beautiful place.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yeah, So we manage eight acres of habitat here at
Jasper Pulaski and it would historically been oak savannah and wetlands,
And that's kind of our two main goals here in.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
The property to restore some of that oak savannah habitat and.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Then keep our wetlands in tip top shape. And we've
been trying to add a couple of wetlands.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
But yeah, that's a.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Manage that habitat for wildlife watchers and hunters and fishermen,
and we get a lot all three out here.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
So I take it you're busy, because how does it
work this time of the year for hunters? Is it
a draw? Do you have a daily check in? What's
the best way if somebody wants to come up there
and hunt some beautiful public land, especially for deer season?
What does that look like? What do they need to
be aware of?
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Yeah, so were a combination of both those methods you
just mentioned there. For our waterfowl hunters, we do daily
drawings and those take place at five point thirty Eastern
time every morning except Tuesday, and Tuesday we do an
afternoon draw, So that is that takes like at noon
(06:19):
Eastern time, and then the rest of our hunting opportunities
they're all self serve check in. So what you do
you come up here to the main parking lot here
by the office, and on your right side you'll see
the self serve checking building. Go in there, and there's
a sheet for each type of game to hunt. We
got a deer sheet. If you're looking at deer hunt,
(06:40):
sign in on that. Take a corresponding green permit card
with you and fill that out at the end of
the hunt, whether you harvest something or not, and drop
it off in one of our drop boxes.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
So we know how guys are doing out there.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
I can tell you that access to public land always important,
and you do a great job, and you have some
eight thousand acres. Is all of that open to our
fall hunting seasons such as deer?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Most of it is.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
We do have the portion around the crane tower, and
in front of the crane tower about five hundred acres
is refuge there, so that's off limits to everybody.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
No wonder they all hang out in that field exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yeah, nobody's out there to bother them.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
So we get a lot of deer out there too.
So if you're coming to look at cranes as a
good chance to see some deer and typically a few
big bucks running around out there too.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
You know this is a true story. I don't plan
very well, and I went up there last year and
it was just kind of a spur of the moment
and wasn't quite at sunset, so I knew what it
may or may be hit or miss, but I didn't
have my binoculars. So after last year's trip, I now
keep a set of binoculars in my car, because, like
(07:55):
you mentioned, I enjoy the heck out of watching the
deer that seemed to occupy that refuge area in great numbers,
in addition to the Sandhill cranes. So I'm going to
be prepared when I come up there this year. Tell
us about the cranes. Now, the sand hill is a beautiful,
(08:16):
majestic bird has the most extraordinarily beautiful chortal a lot
of people have heard, and this time of the year especially,
they hear this very melodious sound way up high and
they look up and they say, oh, those look like geese,
but they're cranes. What's so unique about Jasper Pulaski Fish
and Wildlife Area that they come back year after year.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, So.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
We're just a big We're a big fall staging area
for cranes. And what that means is these birds are
nesting primarily north of Indiana in the summer, so they're
using Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, southern Canada and they go up
there in the spring, make nests, raise their young, and
then this time of year they're making their way south
(09:02):
to Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, farther down the Mississippi Flyway. And
we're kind of just a really good funnel. So all
those birds coming from the north, they're going to stop
at JP for a few weeks and rest up, feed,
hang out for a few I don't exactly know how
long each crane stays here, but I will guess a
few days to a few weeks, and then they continue
(09:24):
the migration south.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
It is a unique, unique place, and I know that
things change, migration, habits change, the weather affects a lot
of different things, but you can always rely on the
cranes in some number. And you guys have a unique
opportunity up there. I heard you talk about the viewing platform.
Tell us about that.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Yeah, yeah, So, like I mentioned, we have that refuge
area there and just off a County Roads sixteen fifty,
we have a large parking lot and then there's a
paved path that leads up to the Crane tower and
it's a big wooden platform part of its roof, and
we do have an eightya wheelchair ramp going up there
(10:05):
too if you can't do stairs, and it overlooks a
big pasture part of it. We keep mode part of it.
This year we use Prescribe fire.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
To manage to help open it up with Prescribe fire.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
And then the other part of the refuge you can
see is two large ag fields and cranes like use
those areas to feed and what they use the property for.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
They're coming back at night to roost.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
In our wetlands and a lot of them will stop
there in front.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Of the tower in the evening. It makes a really
good viewing opportunity.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Nick Ecterleine is our guest. He's the property manager at
Jasper Pulaski. One of my favorite parts of this program
that I've been hosting for all these years is to
visit with our great property managers. I know the work
is sometimes demanding and you do things when you'd like
to probably be out and you're catering to other people,
(10:55):
but you're right when you drive up to Maderiville, it's
not uncommon to see small flocks, small groups in fields,
but they do leave in the morning. So the best times,
as I've learned from you over the years, Nick, is
if you want to get out there and see the
most probably before they head out in the morning or
(11:16):
right before sunset, and you get up on that viewing platform,
the tower as you call it. Those birds are so
just glorious and they will fly right over your heads
a lot of times, and they'll be coming in at
all different angles and you can just get lost in
the moment. It's truly one of God's great creations. And
(11:38):
if you want some peace and relaxation, go watch the cranes.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Yep, yep, for sure. Yeah, it's pretty neat. Like you mentioned,
you're up there on the towers, so you're kind of some.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Of the flocks are high level with you.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah, some of the cranes coming in, which is pretty
cool to see them, you know, that close.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
So how do and you know the other thing is
when you drive into that parking facility, I've noticed you'll
see license plates from many, many different states. Do you
keep track of those?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
I haven't been keeping track too close, but yeah, like
you said, I've seen people from Maine from Utah from.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
The south southwest. They come from all over the.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Country, and they come they come with some pretty extensive
photography equipment and spotting scopes. And I've been the beneficiary
of saying, hey, can I look in there, and because
I forgot my binoculars. But you're right, it's just such
a beautiful thing. And as I've also learned from you,
it's kind of ebbs and flows, comes and goes. Whatever
(12:42):
you want to say, how do you keep a number?
How do you count these birds? So when you go
to your website, which is a great source of information,
so many birds are here. How do you determine that?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Yeah, so we count cranes every Tuesday from the first
week in October into the nice week in December. And
our goal there is kind of to get the trend
so we know each year when the peak is here
and help get an idea of the population for the
eastern population of sand hill cranes. But the way we
(13:15):
do that is we post five be in our employees
around the property on Tuesday mornings before sunrise, and as
those cranes leave the roosts in the center of the
property to go feed on the private egg fields, we
got pretty much every direction they could leave the property covered,
so each observer is in a different spot. We're making
(13:36):
sure we're counting different cranes and counting those birds as
they leave the roost, because when we're hitting our peak,
which can be twenty to thirty thousand, it's a lot
easier to count them in flocks and try to count
them all at one time sitting on the ground.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Good old fashioned investigation. I love it all. Right, So
now here begs the question. You know, people are going
to want to know, what is it time? Are they there?
Will they be there? What's your answer?
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Yeah, yeah, now's a great time. We're not to that
peak yet. We counted this past week and we had
three thousand, two hundred cranes about. And we typically hit
our peak the last week in November, first week in December.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
So if you want to wait for that big number,
wait till the end of the month or the next
month end of November.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
But right now, if you come out in the evening,
you're still going to see a good number of cranes,
and you're going to avoid the big crowds of people too.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
I've also made the mistake of forgetting that when you
leave and you're driving in your car, it's best to
have a very comfortable jacket because as you get later
in the year and you're up on that platform, it
can get a little breezy. But and I don't want
anybody to miss their stay. So it sounds like they're there,
they're coming, and you would consider this a normal year.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Yeah, we're rent about average for this time of year.
I'd say, does.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
It ever get old as a property manager to talk
about and see the cranes this time of the year.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
It doesn't. I mean, it is pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Whether you've seen it, you know, one hundred times, or
it's the first time seeing them, there's still still a
neat critter to watch and pretty cool thing this fall migration.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
And I mentioned a website give that address to people,
or just google Jazzer Pulaski, I suppose. But what do
you have on the website that might be helpful for
people planning a little quick trip up there.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Yeah, so if the easiest way to do it is
just google Jasper Plasky Sandhill Cranes and that'll bring you
to our Indiana Dot.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Go up website.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
But yeah, we've got some tips and tricks on there.
We post our count every Tuesday, so you can. We
have the previous three years up there too, so you
can kind of see where we're at right now and
then what that count was last couple of years. If
you're planning, and like you had mentioned, we like direct
commend people come out either sunrise or sunset, that's going
(16:04):
to be your best time to see them. And also,
like you mentioned, make sure you bring binoculars. We do
have a few permanent scopes up on the tower, but
depending on whether sometimes they fog up they're hard to
see through, or if there's a lot of people, you
know you'd have to wait your turn. So if you
got to setup an oculars, bring them because the cranes
might be far out and field there.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
And don't forget all those deer that seem to go
to the refuge the refuge area.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Well.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
I appreciate as always, Nick, the work that you do
as a property management manager. It is thankless at times,
but I know so rewarding, and you provide such great
service to the Hoosiers that come up to your place,
whether it's for waterfowl or deer or whatever else might
be your calling. But while you're on your way, stop
by Jasper Pulaski and check out the sand Hill cranes.
(16:55):
Anything we missed here Nick, for people to know.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Yeah, as far as cranes go, we're also going to
have the International Crane Foundation is going to have a
volunteer at the Crane Tower on Saturdays from They.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Started this past weekend and they're going to go.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Till December thirteenth, so they'll be there from five to
three thirty to help answer questions about sand Hills and
the potential whooping crane. I love it there, so yeah,
gave a shout out to that.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Nick, you do such a great job. Thanks for being
a part of Indian Outdoors. Don't be surprised if we
have you back here a little later in November as
it gets towards the peak. Thanks for being a part
of it this weekend, and good luck to you all right.
Thanks my pleasure. One of my favorite things to do
in the fall. Sand Hill Crane's Jasper Plaski, Thank you, Nick,
Thank you to all the listeners. We're going to be back.
We got so much more to talk about to get ready,
(17:48):
how about some hunter education when we return. It's Indiana
Outdoor Show and Indiana Outdoors rolls on. I am your host,
(18:13):
Brian Pointer, so great to be with you, and we
thank our friends at Indiana Donor Network Driven to Save
Lives dot org. That's the number two sign up to
be an organ and tissue donor, give the gift of life,
healing and saving so many with that gift and with
that it's easy to do. When you go to buy
(18:35):
your hunting and fishing license online and you will have
that option. As I mentioned earlier, there's a new system
in place, so go early, don't wait till the last
minute in case you have to do a couple additional
steps with this new and improved system. As I mentioned
also in previewed, hunter education should be on everybody's mind.
(18:55):
This time of the year. Is a lot of people
heading to field and forest, maybe for the first time
since last year. Maybe you have new people in your party,
maybe you're just thinking about getting ready for an upcoming season.
Tim Beck joins us. He is one of my favorites
and he is in charge of our hunter education program
and the nearly thousand volunteers across the state of Indiana
(19:17):
providing hunter education. Tim thanks so much for being here.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
How you been I've been great Brian, thanks for having.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Me well between the State Fair and the soon to
be upcoming Boat Sport and Travel show, your presence at
Hunter Education and all the great volunteers is always front
of mind. But I know a lot of folks need
reminding that there are hunter education requirements. We have some
unique things in Indiana that can help you get used
(19:43):
to hunting, perhaps before you buy a license. So what
do people need to know at this time of the year.
Is it too late?
Speaker 4 (19:49):
Well, it's not too late, Brian, but time is winding
down with the hunting seasons quickly approaching. Of course, we're
into marchery season and that right now for whitetail, and
it's not too late. There's still some classes around, but
the volunteers and our conservation officers have been going full
steam for the last several months trying to get enough
classes out there for everybody there, and they've done a
(20:10):
really remarkable job with the number that we've seen so far.
So yep, you definitely got to get ready, and I
appreciate your plug there on make sure they get their
licenses early as well. Well.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
You do such a great quick You do a great job,
as do all the volunteers it's still hard to put
my head around the fact that there's nearly a thousand
volunteers out there committing their time, talent, and treasure to
hunter education and somebody's listening right now and going, why
do I need this? What do you say?
Speaker 4 (20:38):
Well, it's really important. I mean, there's a lot of
knowledge out there in the field, but the hunter Education
program covers a wide variety of topics and regardless whether
you're hunting here in Indiana you go out of state
to hunt, we cover a lot of topics that it's
just a matter of sharing knowledge and education is a
(21:00):
secret and our conservation officers of volunteers, these folks wear
it on their sleeve. They believe in what they do.
They're avid hunters and sportsmen and they want to share
what they know to make it works. And I continually
are surprised how many people come up to me later
and say, well, you know, I've been hunting for so
many years, the boy really picked up some new knowledge
(21:23):
here to this. So it's about education and sharing knowledge,
crying and being safe.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Well, there's also a state law involved too in a
day of birth that people need to be aware of.
Plus this is something that a lot of people don't
really think about maybe because it comes up in an
issue or a last minute, but there's reciprocity around the
country and a lot of these other states require proof
of a hunter education. So give us the nuts and bolts.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Yeah, you know, as far as the rest process goes,
all the states, we agree to core standards that must
be taught. Whether you're hunting in Wyoming or you're an
Indiana the core standards are definitely met in Indiana.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Here.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
If you're born after December thirty first of nineteen eighty six,
you are required to have the hunter Education program before
you can purchase your license. But you also alluded to earlier.
We also got a unique thing in Indiana where we
call the apprentice license and basically what that does. That
gives you three opportunities to experience the outdoors and really
(22:26):
decide if it's something you really can want to continue
to do, which we're very hopeful that you will, but
there's some things you got to obey on it. If
you're a youth, basically you can get three years worth
of a honting license with that. If you're adult, that
means three licenses, So it's really a neat opportunity to
(22:46):
get out in the field and give it a try
and see what you think before you have to take
the mandatory Hunter ED class. So it's a neat opportunity, Brian,
to get that chance.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
Tim Beck is with us, coordinator of Hunter Education here
in this state, and you mentioned something earlier that I
wanted to amplify. When my kids were just early early teens,
I went through Hunter Education with them, and in person,
I had had my Hunter I still have my original
Hunter Ed card from like nineteen hundreds and I kind
(23:19):
of wear that with pride in my wallet. But when
I went through with the kids, like you said, it
was worthwhile for me, I wasn't there begrudgingly. I wasn't
there uninterested. And the folks that put this on up
in Hamilton County did such a great job. I can't
amplify what you said enough that there's always something we
(23:41):
can learn, whether you have kids or not. But Hunter
education is so important and what's the best way for
someone right now? Says you know what? I hear Pointer
in Beck talk and I should probably look into this,
but I don't really know what to do.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Where do they go?
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Well, we try to make it easy as possible, Brian,
you can go to the website, open up your Internet
Explorer your browser and go to Indiana Hunter Education dot
com and that website will bring you right up to
our page and you put in your zip code and
it'll tell you all the classes that are within seventy
miles of you, and you can even spread that search
(24:15):
out a little further. But it's full of information. We
do also have an online component, although I will tell
you our in person program is much more popular than
the online, but it also is available to you. If
you're twelve years of age or older and you're an
Indiana resident, you can take the online if you care to.
There is a charge with that one, but for the
(24:36):
in person courses it's free of charge. So that's why
you know it's between having a hands on experience and
that the hands on course has really been really really popular.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Well, Tim, I can't thank you enough. You always give
such great information and it's so easy to figure out
a class near you. It is the time, and believe
it or not, we're going to be talking about the
boat sport and travels here soon. And I know it's
a great big event for you guys. As it is
for so many, but that's just around the corner. So Tim,
happy hunting season to you. Thanks on behalf of Indiana Outdoors,
(25:13):
for all of the volunteers that work so hard in
the organization, and for your leadership. We look forward to
talking to you. We may have you back on again
because it's never a message that gets hurt.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Enough lot a problem. Loved being on and everybody be
safe out there and enjoy what we have here in Indiana.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Amen, talk to you soon. My friend Tim Beck Hunter Education,
don't forget about it. It see Indiana Outdoor Show. I'm your host. Yeah,
we're going to go talk to Brent Wheat find out
what he's up to. It's Indiana Outdoor Show. Indian Outdoors continues.
(25:58):
What a great day we've had. Updates from Tim Beck
and Hunter Education and the note there not too late
and very important for you to get to your hunter
Education requirements. And many thanks to our friends at Jasper
Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. It is a beautiful part.
Nick Ektererling is the property manager. Beautiful part of my
(26:18):
fall traditions, going to see the sand hills another beautiful
part of my fall here on Indiana Outdoors of course,
we're sponsored and brought to you by our friends at
Indiana Donor Network, driven to SaveLives dot org. Can't forget
them and the work that they do to heal and
save lives. Sign up to be an organ and tissue
donor when you buy this hunting and fishing license that
we've been talking about. But one of my favorite people,
(26:41):
mister Brent Wheat, the former editor of Guns Magazine, What
is that all about, my friend?
Speaker 5 (26:47):
How have you been?
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Oh, I miss a day, I miss a lot, evidently.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
Yeah, it's been the last month and a half has
been very interesting. But things are great and I'm honestly
I'm feeling good about the direction of life. And we
can talk about some of that. But yeah, as they say,
life is good.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Well, good for you. So you're still you're kind of
back to your freelance writing days, and of course you've
got a wildly successful podcast. Tell us about that.
Speaker 5 (27:18):
Yeah, it's we're three hundred some episodes now. It was
kind of a weird arrangement. Normally those things you do
a contract and there's you know, managements all that.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
We didn't have that. I just when I became.
Speaker 5 (27:32):
The editor of Guns Magazine, I just started a podcast
because I enjoy the podcast format and it has grown
over the years. And finally, when it looked like things
were starting to shut down at Guns Magazine, I said, well,
I'm going to take it off off the reservation, as
I said, and I'm going to rebrand it. And I
don't think the company was super happy, but they didn't
(27:55):
have any legal grounds to stand on. And I still
support There's still Gunsmagazine dot com and I write for it.
But anyway, so it's still out there. The print magazines
are gone, and uh but guns podcast Us is the
new name for what formerly was the Guns Magazine podcast,
(28:16):
and frankly, I don't think the the audience really cares
what the name is. You can call it anything. But
now that is completely and totally under my, uh complete control.
We're we're tooling up some stuff, we're changing some things,
and and I've got big plans that frankly I wasn't
able to do when it was under the Guns Magazine brand.
(28:38):
So anyway, again, bottom line is the audience didn't care,
and we're hoping to bring him more even more great
stuff than we were, so that's good. And like I said,
I'm still writing for gunsmagazine dot com and freelancing, and
I've got a couple other projects in the work.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
We'll see how that.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
We'll see how that.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
That was a nice tease to make sure we have
you back on so exactly. You've been an award winning
writer as long as I've known you. For almost three decades,
we've been doing Indiana Outdoors. You've been a part of
it in one way, shape or form, all of those things.
And one of the things I recall was that, you know,
you went to guns Magazine and it was such a
(29:19):
beautiful marriage of your talents and what was required. But
do you see that this is such a trite question.
I mean, the future of print magazines. I'm one of
those old school guys. I still like the print magazines.
Do you see that as just old school and antiquated
and dark.
Speaker 5 (29:39):
Well, that's pretty negative. I'd say it's accurate. But the
bottom line is the world is voting with their fingers
on their phone and their tablet. I think there will
always be a place for magazines, and the problem is
we still had a very loyal subscriber base, but it's multifaceted.
(29:59):
You can't find a magazine on a newsstand because you
can't find a newstand. We're not being supported by the
industry because they're enamored with YouTube influencers and all that,
and just you know, lowering numbers of subscribers over the years.
So it was just kind of the perfect storm. And
you know, we were the first newsstand shooting magazine and
(30:21):
it really I don't know if I can say this.
I'll just say it's awful to be the guy that
had to shut out the lights on the magazine, and
I'll be honest, it personally affected me for a while.
But you know, all good things must come to an end,
and I don't think we're going to be the first.
So that's my warning to folks they like. If they
subscribe to a magazine and they like it, make sure
(30:42):
they support it as best they can. Because the entire
print industry is running on life support at this point.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
So hopefully the radio business isn't, so Indian Outdoors can
continue and hopefully your big plans don't include coming after
the big Indian Outdoor show.
Speaker 5 (30:58):
No, it's not a radio show, but you never know
where I might show up again.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
I love that about you, so Brent. Now that the
quote pressure's off and we can kind of talk about
who's your stuff and all the things that you're What
are you writing about, what's on your mind these days?
Speaker 5 (31:13):
Well, I'm still writing a lot about guns that I
really want to get back into what we insiders call
the hook and bullet space. And you know what's cool, Brian,
I've been so busy, especially the last couple of years,
I've not really hunted around. I've hunted more out of
state and out of our country than I have here locally.
So this year I'm going to be deer hunting. I
dusted off my camping gear. It's truly what excites me
(31:37):
so much is I can reconnect with the who's your
outdoors that I didn't walk away from it, that I
was forced to because, as I told people, I only
worked half days, twelve hours a day, and you know
how it is when you're working really hard, you just
don't have time to do all the things you would love.
So I really look forward to reconnecting with Indiana and
all the great outdoor stuff we have. Ill be surprised
(32:00):
if you don't see me walking through a field with
a gun or hopefully back on Sugar Creek pest and
those small Mouths again.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Brent Weed is our guest, wildly popular, rebranded podcast that
I know you're familiar with, just under a new name,
and I know that you had some really awesome guesses.
I assume the format of that podcast is going to
stay the same and gun focused.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
Well, yeah, the gun Focused every Friday. Our normal release
date is going to be Roy Huntington and I that's
kind of the mothership. That's what everybody really likes. Roy
is everybody's favorite shooting grandpa or uncle. So that's going
to be Friday, and then we're gonna through the week
try to add some stuff because I do have access
to a whole lot of interesting folks and famous folks,
(32:46):
non famous folks, but they've all got a great story.
Maybe we'll get Brian Pointer on there.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
One.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
I thought you said famous and interesting stories.
Speaker 5 (32:54):
You're certainly an interesting story and you're you're sort of
kind of famous.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Oh God love you so, Brent. You know, we've got
a lot of We've got a new online license system
in Indiana that I've been telling people to go check
out early because there's a few more steps. We've got
the archery season already in place, waterfowl so many things
going on. It's like pick your poison. Plus it's still
(33:18):
not too late to fish. I've had reports from all
over the state fishing in this fall weather has been fantastic.
So you've got a lot of opportunities. Where's your I've
heard you say deer hunting, but and some camping. But
you got to have your favorite old stomping grounds to
go back to, and I hope that you can get there.
You know, this is just one of those super Bowl
(33:39):
times of the year for all of us, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (33:41):
Absolutely?
Speaker 5 (33:42):
Absolutely? And that's I mean, I feel like a kid
in a candy shop because I've known all these places
and I've had all these great adventures in Indiana, and
now I get to go back and do them and
meet the new folks that are involved. And I truly
I am so enthusiastic and excited it. After I got
through losing the magazine, so to speak, I'm just again
(34:03):
like a kid in a candy shop.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
You know.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
I can hear it in your voice, and it's kind
of one of those things. All good things, as you say,
must come to an end, but they all happen for reasons.
And I have a feeling there's going to be great
things coming out of Brent Wheat, and not just your podcast,
but back to your award winning outdoor writing. We have
so many talented writers and I love to have them
all be a part of Indian Outdoors throughout the year,
and you're certainly one of them. So what I want
(34:27):
you to do next time is some show prep. I
want you to come back with one of these great
stories that you usually brought back with one of your junkets. Okay,
put that on your bucket list and get it done
for the next time. But brend as always wishing you
a happy fall, happy hunting field and forest wherever that
may be. Maybe we'll find a way to share it
this year. But thanks for being a part of Indian
Outdoors for all these years.
Speaker 5 (34:47):
Thank you, Brian.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
My pleasure. It is the Indiana Outdoor Show, my favorite
people on today. Don't go anywhere, We're going to be back.
It's the Indiana Outdoor Show. Oh, this is just one
(35:16):
of those days, one of those great big Indiana Outdoor Shows.
I just don't want it to ever end. So much
fall fun going on this time of the year, and
we try to hit it all. Of course, all the
seasons are going to be in here within a couple
of weeks. We're on the eve of dear season. Firearms
starting in a couple of weeks. So it's just right here.
(35:38):
A lot of folks getting ready, checking stands, getting their
traditions pulled together, planning their hunting camp menus. Oh, so
much fun, so much fun to look forward to, but
a lot of other things going on. I love to
talk about our friends up at Jasper Pulaski Fish and
Wildlife Area. Nick Eckerling joined us. He is the property
(35:58):
manager of one of Indiana's fine property, some eight thousand
acres of public access and of course the beautiful tower
they have there to watch these majestic and beautiful sand
hill cranes. Hey, if you want to do something fun,
go just google then the sound that sandhills make. If
(36:18):
you don't know what that is, and put that on
your sleep and you're going to go right to sleep.
It is one of the most enjoyable nature sounds you're
going to find, and we have it right here in Indiana.
Tim Becker Hunter Education coordinator for the state, and the
thousand plus volunteers that coordinate that program. Hunter education so important.
(36:40):
Thank you for his reminder, and we have some opportunities
like the apprentice license here in Indiana that will help you,
but you need to be aware, so I appreciate his updates.
And then Brent Week, the former editor of Guns Magazine,
now back to freelance writing. Print journalism hopefully isn't completely gone,
(37:01):
but as for his role, it is, and we are
thankful that he's still with us on Indian outdoors folks,
remember turn in a Poacher one eight hundred tip I
d n R. Be safe, enjoy this beautiful fall, see
you outside. Everybody
Full steam ahead. It's the Indiana Outdoor Show. It is
my thrill, privilege, and honor to be here with you
each and every week. I look forward to it. It's
the highlight of my week to host Indiana Outdoors, sponsored
of course by our good friends at Indiana Donor Network
Driven to Save Lives dot org Sanama. To be an
(00:50):
organ and tissue donor could be an easier when you
buy your hunting and fishing license. I know I say
it all the time, but I hope it's not becoming
repetitive because it's so important. We have a huge show.
Are you looking for something to do this fall? Maybe
a little trip, Maybe it's just a little day roady
type of thing. One of my favorites to do better
(01:10):
check out Jasper Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area because the cranes,
the sand hill cranes in their migration route goes right
through Maderyville, Indiana. We're going to talk to Nick Ektererling,
who is the property manager up there, find out how
many birds are there and what you need to do
to be prepared. But it's one of my favorites. Are
you ready for the hunting season? About hunter education? Tim
(01:32):
Beck going to be with us here a little later
and he's going to give us the three point sixty
on Hunter Education. It's not too late. There's some important dates.
There's some important things that if you have a young
person you want to know what you need to do
with Hunter Education and take advantage of some of the
(01:53):
Indiana programs. And then we have a big break here.
Brent Wheat is going to be joining us, some big,
big changes in his life. He's been a long time
contributor and we're going to find out. I'm not going
to steal any of his thunder. It all needs to
come from Brent. But it's all good, folks. Get ready.
(02:14):
Jasper Pulaski the cranes seeing the An Outdoor show right
after this, and as I said at the top of
the hour, so hard to believe. We're already in November,
(02:35):
literally the first Saturday, November first. Hard to believe. But
it is so much fun to be on Indiana Outdoors
this time of the year, with so many things happening.
I of course, your host, Brian Pointer, couldn't do this
show without our good friends at well, you know, we
just are good friends at Indiana Donor Network. Just spit
(02:58):
it out Pointer spit it out. Couldn't do this show
without them. Sign up to be an organ and tissue
donor when you buy your hunting and fishing license. It
couldn't be an easier give the gift of life, help
to heal and save many, and we thank them for
making that who's your Waiting list disappear. As I mentioned,
(03:19):
if you are going hunting, this is the good time
of the year to start planning. If you're a deer
hunter and firearm season coming up here in just a
couple of weeks, don't wait till the last minute. There
is a new system in place, a much better system
and maybe requiring a step or two if you're used
to the old online purchase system, So don't wait to
(03:41):
the last minute like me, which is usually my case.
So we're going to have plenty of opportunity between now
and then. Don't wait to the last minute. Also, I
love this time of the year for so many reasons.
A lot of people heading to field and forest, a
lot of people still fall fishing is great, so many
(04:01):
seasons in or coming, and people for the first time
in a long time, maybe going back since last year.
But there's also other things and if you've listened to
this show for any of the twenty six or seven
years we've been doing this. I love my cranes and
the migration of the sandhill cranes up at Jasper Pulaski
Fish and Wildlife Area up in beautiful Maderyville, Indiana. And
(04:24):
I've invited the property manager, as we do traditionally this
time of the year. Nick Ekterline, joins us property manager
at Jasper Pulaski. Nick, it's great to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Have you been I've been well, Yeah, thanks for having me, Brian.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
You know, JP is one of the unique properties in
our state and provides hunting another recreation. But I always
like to highlight the unique things. And for two decades
I've been driving up there every year and it's just
such therapy. It's a beautiful drive to get up to
a little north of Lafayette and you have this beautiful property.
(05:01):
But before we get into the cranes, tell me what
else goes on at Jasper Pulaski. It's a beautiful place.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yeah, So we manage eight acres of habitat here at
Jasper Pulaski and it would historically been oak savannah and wetlands,
And that's kind of our two main goals here in.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
The property to restore some of that oak savannah habitat and.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Then keep our wetlands in tip top shape. And we've
been trying to add a couple of wetlands.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
But yeah, that's a.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Manage that habitat for wildlife watchers and hunters and fishermen,
and we get a lot all three out here.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
So I take it you're busy, because how does it
work this time of the year for hunters? Is it
a draw? Do you have a daily check in? What's
the best way if somebody wants to come up there
and hunt some beautiful public land, especially for deer season?
What does that look like? What do they need to
be aware of?
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Yeah, so were a combination of both those methods you
just mentioned there. For our waterfowl hunters, we do daily
drawings and those take place at five point thirty Eastern
time every morning except Tuesday, and Tuesday we do an
afternoon draw, So that is that takes like at noon
(06:19):
Eastern time, and then the rest of our hunting opportunities
they're all self serve check in. So what you do
you come up here to the main parking lot here
by the office, and on your right side you'll see
the self serve checking building. Go in there, and there's
a sheet for each type of game to hunt. We
got a deer sheet. If you're looking at deer hunt,
(06:40):
sign in on that. Take a corresponding green permit card
with you and fill that out at the end of
the hunt, whether you harvest something or not, and drop
it off in one of our drop boxes.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
So we know how guys are doing out there.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
I can tell you that access to public land always important,
and you do a great job, and you have some
eight thousand acres. Is all of that open to our
fall hunting seasons such as deer?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Most of it is.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
We do have the portion around the crane tower, and
in front of the crane tower about five hundred acres
is refuge there, so that's off limits to everybody.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
No wonder they all hang out in that field exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yeah, nobody's out there to bother them.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
So we get a lot of deer out there too.
So if you're coming to look at cranes as a
good chance to see some deer and typically a few
big bucks running around out there too.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
You know this is a true story. I don't plan
very well, and I went up there last year and
it was just kind of a spur of the moment
and wasn't quite at sunset, so I knew what it
may or may be hit or miss, but I didn't
have my binoculars. So after last year's trip, I now
keep a set of binoculars in my car, because, like
(07:55):
you mentioned, I enjoy the heck out of watching the
deer that seemed to occupy that refuge area in great numbers,
in addition to the Sandhill cranes. So I'm going to
be prepared when I come up there this year. Tell
us about the cranes. Now, the sand hill is a beautiful,
(08:16):
majestic bird has the most extraordinarily beautiful chortal a lot
of people have heard, and this time of the year especially,
they hear this very melodious sound way up high and
they look up and they say, oh, those look like geese,
but they're cranes. What's so unique about Jasper Pulaski Fish
and Wildlife Area that they come back year after year.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, So.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
We're just a big We're a big fall staging area
for cranes. And what that means is these birds are
nesting primarily north of Indiana in the summer, so they're
using Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, southern Canada and they go up
there in the spring, make nests, raise their young, and
then this time of year they're making their way south
(09:02):
to Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, farther down the Mississippi Flyway. And
we're kind of just a really good funnel. So all
those birds coming from the north, they're going to stop
at JP for a few weeks and rest up, feed,
hang out for a few I don't exactly know how
long each crane stays here, but I will guess a
few days to a few weeks, and then they continue
(09:24):
the migration south.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
It is a unique, unique place, and I know that
things change, migration, habits change, the weather affects a lot
of different things, but you can always rely on the
cranes in some number. And you guys have a unique
opportunity up there. I heard you talk about the viewing platform.
Tell us about that.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Yeah, yeah, So, like I mentioned, we have that refuge
area there and just off a County Roads sixteen fifty,
we have a large parking lot and then there's a
paved path that leads up to the Crane tower and
it's a big wooden platform part of its roof, and
we do have an eightya wheelchair ramp going up there
(10:05):
too if you can't do stairs, and it overlooks a
big pasture part of it. We keep mode part of it.
This year we use Prescribe fire.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
To manage to help open it up with Prescribe fire.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
And then the other part of the refuge you can
see is two large ag fields and cranes like use
those areas to feed and what they use the property for.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
They're coming back at night to roost.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
In our wetlands and a lot of them will stop
there in front.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Of the tower in the evening. It makes a really
good viewing opportunity.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Nick Ecterleine is our guest. He's the property manager at
Jasper Pulaski. One of my favorite parts of this program
that I've been hosting for all these years is to
visit with our great property managers. I know the work
is sometimes demanding and you do things when you'd like
to probably be out and you're catering to other people,
(10:55):
but you're right when you drive up to Maderiville, it's
not uncommon to see small flocks, small groups in fields,
but they do leave in the morning. So the best times,
as I've learned from you over the years, Nick, is
if you want to get out there and see the
most probably before they head out in the morning or
(11:16):
right before sunset, and you get up on that viewing platform,
the tower as you call it. Those birds are so
just glorious and they will fly right over your heads
a lot of times, and they'll be coming in at
all different angles and you can just get lost in
the moment. It's truly one of God's great creations. And
(11:38):
if you want some peace and relaxation, go watch the cranes.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Yep, yep, for sure. Yeah, it's pretty neat. Like you mentioned,
you're up there on the towers, so you're kind of some.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Of the flocks are high level with you.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah, some of the cranes coming in, which is pretty
cool to see them, you know, that close.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
So how do and you know the other thing is
when you drive into that parking facility, I've noticed you'll
see license plates from many, many different states. Do you
keep track of those?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
I haven't been keeping track too close, but yeah, like
you said, I've seen people from Maine from Utah from.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
The south southwest. They come from all over the.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Country, and they come they come with some pretty extensive
photography equipment and spotting scopes. And I've been the beneficiary
of saying, hey, can I look in there, and because
I forgot my binoculars. But you're right, it's just such
a beautiful thing. And as I've also learned from you,
it's kind of ebbs and flows, comes and goes. Whatever
(12:42):
you want to say, how do you keep a number?
How do you count these birds? So when you go
to your website, which is a great source of information,
so many birds are here. How do you determine that?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Yeah, so we count cranes every Tuesday from the first
week in October into the nice week in December. And
our goal there is kind of to get the trend
so we know each year when the peak is here
and help get an idea of the population for the
eastern population of sand hill cranes. But the way we
(13:15):
do that is we post five be in our employees
around the property on Tuesday mornings before sunrise, and as
those cranes leave the roosts in the center of the
property to go feed on the private egg fields, we
got pretty much every direction they could leave the property covered,
so each observer is in a different spot. We're making
(13:36):
sure we're counting different cranes and counting those birds as
they leave the roost, because when we're hitting our peak,
which can be twenty to thirty thousand, it's a lot
easier to count them in flocks and try to count
them all at one time sitting on the ground.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Good old fashioned investigation. I love it all. Right, So
now here begs the question. You know, people are going
to want to know, what is it time? Are they there?
Will they be there? What's your answer?
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Yeah, yeah, now's a great time. We're not to that
peak yet. We counted this past week and we had
three thousand, two hundred cranes about. And we typically hit
our peak the last week in November, first week in December.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
So if you want to wait for that big number,
wait till the end of the month or the next
month end of November.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
But right now, if you come out in the evening,
you're still going to see a good number of cranes,
and you're going to avoid the big crowds of people too.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
I've also made the mistake of forgetting that when you
leave and you're driving in your car, it's best to
have a very comfortable jacket because as you get later
in the year and you're up on that platform, it
can get a little breezy. But and I don't want
anybody to miss their stay. So it sounds like they're there,
they're coming, and you would consider this a normal year.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Yeah, we're rent about average for this time of year.
I'd say, does.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
It ever get old as a property manager to talk
about and see the cranes this time of the year.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
It doesn't. I mean, it is pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Whether you've seen it, you know, one hundred times, or
it's the first time seeing them, there's still still a
neat critter to watch and pretty cool thing this fall migration.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
And I mentioned a website give that address to people,
or just google Jazzer Pulaski, I suppose. But what do
you have on the website that might be helpful for
people planning a little quick trip up there.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Yeah, so if the easiest way to do it is
just google Jasper Plasky Sandhill Cranes and that'll bring you
to our Indiana Dot.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Go up website.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
But yeah, we've got some tips and tricks on there.
We post our count every Tuesday, so you can. We
have the previous three years up there too, so you
can kind of see where we're at right now and
then what that count was last couple of years. If
you're planning, and like you had mentioned, we like direct
commend people come out either sunrise or sunset, that's going
(16:04):
to be your best time to see them. And also,
like you mentioned, make sure you bring binoculars. We do
have a few permanent scopes up on the tower, but
depending on whether sometimes they fog up they're hard to
see through, or if there's a lot of people, you
know you'd have to wait your turn. So if you
got to setup an oculars, bring them because the cranes
might be far out and field there.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
And don't forget all those deer that seem to go
to the refuge the refuge area.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Well.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
I appreciate as always, Nick, the work that you do
as a property management manager. It is thankless at times,
but I know so rewarding, and you provide such great
service to the Hoosiers that come up to your place,
whether it's for waterfowl or deer or whatever else might
be your calling. But while you're on your way, stop
by Jasper Pulaski and check out the sand Hill cranes.
(16:55):
Anything we missed here Nick, for people to know.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Yeah, as far as cranes go, we're also going to
have the International Crane Foundation is going to have a
volunteer at the Crane Tower on Saturdays from They.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Started this past weekend and they're going to go.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Till December thirteenth, so they'll be there from five to
three thirty to help answer questions about sand Hills and
the potential whooping crane. I love it there, so yeah,
gave a shout out to that.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Nick, you do such a great job. Thanks for being
a part of Indian Outdoors. Don't be surprised if we
have you back here a little later in November as
it gets towards the peak. Thanks for being a part
of it this weekend, and good luck to you all right.
Thanks my pleasure. One of my favorite things to do
in the fall. Sand Hill Crane's Jasper Plaski, Thank you, Nick,
Thank you to all the listeners. We're going to be back.
We got so much more to talk about to get ready,
(17:48):
how about some hunter education when we return. It's Indiana
Outdoor Show and Indiana Outdoors rolls on. I am your host,
(18:13):
Brian Pointer, so great to be with you, and we
thank our friends at Indiana Donor Network Driven to Save
Lives dot org. That's the number two sign up to
be an organ and tissue donor, give the gift of life,
healing and saving so many with that gift and with
that it's easy to do. When you go to buy
(18:35):
your hunting and fishing license online and you will have
that option. As I mentioned earlier, there's a new system
in place, so go early, don't wait till the last
minute in case you have to do a couple additional
steps with this new and improved system. As I mentioned
also in previewed, hunter education should be on everybody's mind.
(18:55):
This time of the year. Is a lot of people
heading to field and forest, maybe for the first time
since last year. Maybe you have new people in your party,
maybe you're just thinking about getting ready for an upcoming season.
Tim Beck joins us. He is one of my favorites
and he is in charge of our hunter education program
and the nearly thousand volunteers across the state of Indiana
(19:17):
providing hunter education. Tim thanks so much for being here.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
How you been I've been great Brian, thanks for having.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Me well between the State Fair and the soon to
be upcoming Boat Sport and Travel show, your presence at
Hunter Education and all the great volunteers is always front
of mind. But I know a lot of folks need
reminding that there are hunter education requirements. We have some
unique things in Indiana that can help you get used
(19:43):
to hunting, perhaps before you buy a license. So what
do people need to know at this time of the year.
Is it too late?
Speaker 4 (19:49):
Well, it's not too late, Brian, but time is winding
down with the hunting seasons quickly approaching. Of course, we're
into marchery season and that right now for whitetail, and
it's not too late. There's still some classes around, but
the volunteers and our conservation officers have been going full
steam for the last several months trying to get enough
classes out there for everybody there, and they've done a
(20:10):
really remarkable job with the number that we've seen so far.
So yep, you definitely got to get ready, and I
appreciate your plug there on make sure they get their
licenses early as well. Well.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
You do such a great quick You do a great job,
as do all the volunteers it's still hard to put
my head around the fact that there's nearly a thousand
volunteers out there committing their time, talent, and treasure to
hunter education and somebody's listening right now and going, why
do I need this? What do you say?
Speaker 4 (20:38):
Well, it's really important. I mean, there's a lot of
knowledge out there in the field, but the hunter Education
program covers a wide variety of topics and regardless whether
you're hunting here in Indiana you go out of state
to hunt, we cover a lot of topics that it's
just a matter of sharing knowledge and education is a
(21:00):
secret and our conservation officers of volunteers, these folks wear
it on their sleeve. They believe in what they do.
They're avid hunters and sportsmen and they want to share
what they know to make it works. And I continually
are surprised how many people come up to me later
and say, well, you know, I've been hunting for so
many years, the boy really picked up some new knowledge
(21:23):
here to this. So it's about education and sharing knowledge,
crying and being safe.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Well, there's also a state law involved too in a
day of birth that people need to be aware of.
Plus this is something that a lot of people don't
really think about maybe because it comes up in an
issue or a last minute, but there's reciprocity around the
country and a lot of these other states require proof
of a hunter education. So give us the nuts and bolts.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Yeah, you know, as far as the rest process goes,
all the states, we agree to core standards that must
be taught. Whether you're hunting in Wyoming or you're an
Indiana the core standards are definitely met in Indiana.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Here.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
If you're born after December thirty first of nineteen eighty six,
you are required to have the hunter Education program before
you can purchase your license. But you also alluded to earlier.
We also got a unique thing in Indiana where we
call the apprentice license and basically what that does. That
gives you three opportunities to experience the outdoors and really
(22:26):
decide if it's something you really can want to continue
to do, which we're very hopeful that you will, but
there's some things you got to obey on it. If
you're a youth, basically you can get three years worth
of a honting license with that. If you're adult, that
means three licenses, So it's really a neat opportunity to
(22:46):
get out in the field and give it a try
and see what you think before you have to take
the mandatory Hunter ED class. So it's a neat opportunity, Brian,
to get that chance.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
Tim Beck is with us, coordinator of Hunter Education here
in this state, and you mentioned something earlier that I
wanted to amplify. When my kids were just early early teens,
I went through Hunter Education with them, and in person,
I had had my Hunter I still have my original
Hunter Ed card from like nineteen hundreds and I kind
(23:19):
of wear that with pride in my wallet. But when
I went through with the kids, like you said, it
was worthwhile for me, I wasn't there begrudgingly. I wasn't
there uninterested. And the folks that put this on up
in Hamilton County did such a great job. I can't
amplify what you said enough that there's always something we
(23:41):
can learn, whether you have kids or not. But Hunter
education is so important and what's the best way for
someone right now? Says you know what? I hear Pointer
in Beck talk and I should probably look into this,
but I don't really know what to do.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Where do they go?
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Well, we try to make it easy as possible, Brian,
you can go to the website, open up your Internet
Explorer your browser and go to Indiana Hunter Education dot
com and that website will bring you right up to
our page and you put in your zip code and
it'll tell you all the classes that are within seventy
miles of you, and you can even spread that search
(24:15):
out a little further. But it's full of information. We
do also have an online component, although I will tell
you our in person program is much more popular than
the online, but it also is available to you. If
you're twelve years of age or older and you're an
Indiana resident, you can take the online if you care to.
There is a charge with that one, but for the
(24:36):
in person courses it's free of charge. So that's why
you know it's between having a hands on experience and
that the hands on course has really been really really popular.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Well, Tim, I can't thank you enough. You always give
such great information and it's so easy to figure out
a class near you. It is the time, and believe
it or not, we're going to be talking about the
boat sport and travels here soon. And I know it's
a great big event for you guys. As it is
for so many, but that's just around the corner. So Tim,
happy hunting season to you. Thanks on behalf of Indiana Outdoors,
(25:13):
for all of the volunteers that work so hard in
the organization, and for your leadership. We look forward to
talking to you. We may have you back on again
because it's never a message that gets hurt.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Enough lot a problem. Loved being on and everybody be
safe out there and enjoy what we have here in Indiana.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Amen, talk to you soon. My friend Tim Beck Hunter Education,
don't forget about it. It see Indiana Outdoor Show. I'm your host. Yeah,
we're going to go talk to Brent Wheat find out
what he's up to. It's Indiana Outdoor Show. Indian Outdoors continues.
(25:58):
What a great day we've had. Updates from Tim Beck
and Hunter Education and the note there not too late
and very important for you to get to your hunter
Education requirements. And many thanks to our friends at Jasper
Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. It is a beautiful part.
Nick Ektererling is the property manager. Beautiful part of my
(26:18):
fall traditions, going to see the sand hills another beautiful
part of my fall here on Indiana Outdoors of course,
we're sponsored and brought to you by our friends at
Indiana Donor Network, driven to SaveLives dot org. Can't forget
them and the work that they do to heal and
save lives. Sign up to be an organ and tissue
donor when you buy this hunting and fishing license that
we've been talking about. But one of my favorite people,
(26:41):
mister Brent Wheat, the former editor of Guns Magazine, What
is that all about, my friend?
Speaker 5 (26:47):
How have you been?
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Oh, I miss a day, I miss a lot, evidently.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
Yeah, it's been the last month and a half has
been very interesting. But things are great and I'm honestly
I'm feeling good about the direction of life. And we
can talk about some of that. But yeah, as they say,
life is good.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Well, good for you. So you're still you're kind of
back to your freelance writing days, and of course you've
got a wildly successful podcast. Tell us about that.
Speaker 5 (27:18):
Yeah, it's we're three hundred some episodes now. It was
kind of a weird arrangement. Normally those things you do
a contract and there's you know, managements all that.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
We didn't have that. I just when I became.
Speaker 5 (27:32):
The editor of Guns Magazine, I just started a podcast
because I enjoy the podcast format and it has grown
over the years. And finally, when it looked like things
were starting to shut down at Guns Magazine, I said, well,
I'm going to take it off off the reservation, as
I said, and I'm going to rebrand it. And I
don't think the company was super happy, but they didn't
(27:55):
have any legal grounds to stand on. And I still
support There's still Gunsmagazine dot com and I write for it.
But anyway, so it's still out there. The print magazines
are gone, and uh but guns podcast Us is the
new name for what formerly was the Guns Magazine podcast,
(28:16):
and frankly, I don't think the the audience really cares
what the name is. You can call it anything. But
now that is completely and totally under my, uh complete control.
We're we're tooling up some stuff, we're changing some things,
and and I've got big plans that frankly I wasn't
able to do when it was under the Guns Magazine brand.
(28:38):
So anyway, again, bottom line is the audience didn't care,
and we're hoping to bring him more even more great
stuff than we were, so that's good. And like I said,
I'm still writing for gunsmagazine dot com and freelancing, and
I've got a couple other projects in the work.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
We'll see how that.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
We'll see how that.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
That was a nice tease to make sure we have
you back on so exactly. You've been an award winning
writer as long as I've known you. For almost three decades,
we've been doing Indiana Outdoors. You've been a part of
it in one way, shape or form, all of those things.
And one of the things I recall was that, you know,
you went to guns Magazine and it was such a
(29:19):
beautiful marriage of your talents and what was required. But
do you see that this is such a trite question.
I mean, the future of print magazines. I'm one of
those old school guys. I still like the print magazines.
Do you see that as just old school and antiquated
and dark.
Speaker 5 (29:39):
Well, that's pretty negative. I'd say it's accurate. But the
bottom line is the world is voting with their fingers
on their phone and their tablet. I think there will
always be a place for magazines, and the problem is
we still had a very loyal subscriber base, but it's multifaceted.
(29:59):
You can't find a magazine on a newsstand because you
can't find a newstand. We're not being supported by the
industry because they're enamored with YouTube influencers and all that,
and just you know, lowering numbers of subscribers over the years.
So it was just kind of the perfect storm. And
you know, we were the first newsstand shooting magazine and
(30:21):
it really I don't know if I can say this.
I'll just say it's awful to be the guy that
had to shut out the lights on the magazine, and
I'll be honest, it personally affected me for a while.
But you know, all good things must come to an end,
and I don't think we're going to be the first.
So that's my warning to folks they like. If they
subscribe to a magazine and they like it, make sure
(30:42):
they support it as best they can. Because the entire
print industry is running on life support at this point.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
So hopefully the radio business isn't, so Indian Outdoors can
continue and hopefully your big plans don't include coming after
the big Indian Outdoor show.
Speaker 5 (30:58):
No, it's not a radio show, but you never know
where I might show up again.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
I love that about you, so Brent. Now that the
quote pressure's off and we can kind of talk about
who's your stuff and all the things that you're What
are you writing about, what's on your mind these days?
Speaker 5 (31:13):
Well, I'm still writing a lot about guns that I
really want to get back into what we insiders call
the hook and bullet space. And you know what's cool, Brian,
I've been so busy, especially the last couple of years,
I've not really hunted around. I've hunted more out of
state and out of our country than I have here locally.
So this year I'm going to be deer hunting. I
dusted off my camping gear. It's truly what excites me
(31:37):
so much is I can reconnect with the who's your
outdoors that I didn't walk away from it, that I
was forced to because, as I told people, I only
worked half days, twelve hours a day, and you know
how it is when you're working really hard, you just
don't have time to do all the things you would love.
So I really look forward to reconnecting with Indiana and
all the great outdoor stuff we have. Ill be surprised
(32:00):
if you don't see me walking through a field with
a gun or hopefully back on Sugar Creek pest and
those small Mouths again.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Brent Weed is our guest, wildly popular, rebranded podcast that
I know you're familiar with, just under a new name,
and I know that you had some really awesome guesses.
I assume the format of that podcast is going to
stay the same and gun focused.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
Well, yeah, the gun Focused every Friday. Our normal release
date is going to be Roy Huntington and I that's
kind of the mothership. That's what everybody really likes. Roy
is everybody's favorite shooting grandpa or uncle. So that's going
to be Friday, and then we're gonna through the week
try to add some stuff because I do have access
to a whole lot of interesting folks and famous folks,
(32:46):
non famous folks, but they've all got a great story.
Maybe we'll get Brian Pointer on there.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
One.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
I thought you said famous and interesting stories.
Speaker 5 (32:54):
You're certainly an interesting story and you're you're sort of
kind of famous.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Oh God love you so, Brent. You know, we've got
a lot of We've got a new online license system
in Indiana that I've been telling people to go check
out early because there's a few more steps. We've got
the archery season already in place, waterfowl so many things
going on. It's like pick your poison. Plus it's still
(33:18):
not too late to fish. I've had reports from all
over the state fishing in this fall weather has been fantastic.
So you've got a lot of opportunities. Where's your I've
heard you say deer hunting, but and some camping. But
you got to have your favorite old stomping grounds to
go back to, and I hope that you can get there.
You know, this is just one of those super Bowl
(33:39):
times of the year for all of us, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (33:41):
Absolutely?
Speaker 5 (33:42):
Absolutely? And that's I mean, I feel like a kid
in a candy shop because I've known all these places
and I've had all these great adventures in Indiana, and
now I get to go back and do them and
meet the new folks that are involved. And I truly
I am so enthusiastic and excited it. After I got
through losing the magazine, so to speak, I'm just again
(34:03):
like a kid in a candy shop.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
You know.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
I can hear it in your voice, and it's kind
of one of those things. All good things, as you say,
must come to an end, but they all happen for reasons.
And I have a feeling there's going to be great
things coming out of Brent Wheat, and not just your podcast,
but back to your award winning outdoor writing. We have
so many talented writers and I love to have them
all be a part of Indian Outdoors throughout the year,
and you're certainly one of them. So what I want
(34:27):
you to do next time is some show prep. I
want you to come back with one of these great
stories that you usually brought back with one of your junkets. Okay,
put that on your bucket list and get it done
for the next time. But brend as always wishing you
a happy fall, happy hunting field and forest wherever that
may be. Maybe we'll find a way to share it
this year. But thanks for being a part of Indian
Outdoors for all these years.
Speaker 5 (34:47):
Thank you, Brian.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
My pleasure. It is the Indiana Outdoor Show, my favorite
people on today. Don't go anywhere, We're going to be back.
It's the Indiana Outdoor Show. Oh, this is just one
(35:16):
of those days, one of those great big Indiana Outdoor Shows.
I just don't want it to ever end. So much
fall fun going on this time of the year, and
we try to hit it all. Of course, all the
seasons are going to be in here within a couple
of weeks. We're on the eve of dear season. Firearms
starting in a couple of weeks. So it's just right here.
(35:38):
A lot of folks getting ready, checking stands, getting their
traditions pulled together, planning their hunting camp menus. Oh, so
much fun, so much fun to look forward to, but
a lot of other things going on. I love to
talk about our friends up at Jasper Pulaski Fish and
Wildlife Area. Nick Eckerling joined us. He is the property
(35:58):
manager of one of Indiana's fine property, some eight thousand
acres of public access and of course the beautiful tower
they have there to watch these majestic and beautiful sand
hill cranes. Hey, if you want to do something fun,
go just google then the sound that sandhills make. If
(36:18):
you don't know what that is, and put that on
your sleep and you're going to go right to sleep.
It is one of the most enjoyable nature sounds you're
going to find, and we have it right here in Indiana.
Tim Becker Hunter Education coordinator for the state, and the
thousand plus volunteers that coordinate that program. Hunter education so important.
(36:40):
Thank you for his reminder, and we have some opportunities
like the apprentice license here in Indiana that will help you,
but you need to be aware, so I appreciate his updates.
And then Brent Week, the former editor of Guns Magazine,
now back to freelance writing. Print journalism hopefully isn't completely gone,
(37:01):
but as for his role, it is, and we are
thankful that he's still with us on Indian outdoors folks,
remember turn in a Poacher one eight hundred tip I
d n R. Be safe, enjoy this beautiful fall, see
you outside. Everybody
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.