"vecem WINTER SPORTS POKAGON STATE PARK :: :::I-: ( :: :::: - :::: "Wel /ad, your dog i has 'im treed, but the co4's too ' //l- ca// 'em oi." / I- 't ti sure 2 Q:#1 i 3 That was a good idea takin' 'em S ld tight to that lantern, n-ooops- whe 's the dogs anyway?" r :i ,etters to the $ditor OUTDOC Dear Sir: ardson. There is no charge for a We enjoy the magazine very much. subscription and we already have DIANA We would appreciate an early article on placed your name on our list.-ED. the highest and lowest points of elevation in Indiana, also watersheds, divides, and Dear Editor: elevations of some of the typical cities. Vol. XVI, No. 12 Issued Monthly Your November issue with its Gobbler D. H. ASHLEY, Wabash. front and George Rogers Clark State DECEMBER, 1949 Memorial back-and what's between- Until such time as an article can Address all communications, Editor, Outdoor prompts my saying that every issue steps Indiana, be prepared on the subjects you 401 State Library Bldg., Indianapolis 9, Ind. mentioned, we have turned your let- on toward making it nothing short of ter over to the Water Resources marvelous in its class! The absence of Division for a reply.-ED. sales ads, the informative appreciations, now habitually coming on its pages on 0-- Indiana's flora, fauna, highways, parks, Dear Sir: and what not-with the human interest I accidentally picked up one of your touches like "Greater Love Hath No CONTENTS magazines in the Reitz High School Man," and "A Pet Passes," puts so much library, and I don't believe there is an- heart into conservation that it prompts LETTERS TO EDITOR.......................... 1 other magazine that could take the place my prayer that in time OUTDOOR INDI- ABOUT A SKUNK................................ 2 of OUTDOOR INDIANA. Will you please ANA may find its way into every last BUGS OF THE MONTH......................... 3 Hoosier home. It's building the better place my name on your mailing list? SONG BIRDS OF INDIANA.................... 5 citizenry of which we dream. HILDA LUDWIG, Evansville. THE QUESTION BOX.......................... 5 E. F. DAUGHERTY OUR DYING LAKES............................. 6 Pastor Emeritus, Jackson Street Dear 10 Sir: Christian Church, Muncie MOST FISH STAY HOME.................... I would like to subscribe to OUTDOOR RAINBOW TROUT ................................ 12 INDIANA. I am at present in the U. S. CONSERVATION OBSERVED .............. 13 Navy, stationed at Kodiak, Alaska. I Dear Sir: 8-FOOTED FRIENDS ........................... 15 don't know how much the subscription In the November issue I particularly ROCK LIBRARY ................................. 16- is, but if you will advise me the amount, enjoyed Uncle Jim's article and Mr. PENTA TREATMENT ............................ 17 I will mail you the money so that you Tucker's new home near Osgood, which U N C LE JIM ......................................... 19 may start sending the magazine. was built from lumber from his own PAGE ................................. 20 Sincerely, woodlot. I thought it was interesting, EDITOR'S too, that he will heat his home with wood J. W. RICHARDSON from his own woodlot. The back cover Kodiak, Alaska showing the George Rogers Clark state It is a pleasure to start sending memorial is magnificent. our magazine your way, Mr. Rich- MISS CLARA RICE, Indianapolis. Editor BOB HOOVER EDITORIAL BOARD Associate Editor JOAN SCHAUB HENRY F. SCHRICKER Governor JOHN A. WATKINS Lieutenant-Governor and Commissioner of Agriculture THE COVER STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION this month Samuel C. Hadden, Chairman Jap Jones Albert J. Wedeking Thomas B. McDonald OUTDOOR INDIANA'S color cover shows a winter scene at Pokagon State Park INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION near Angola. This park has long been popular Roger Branigin, Chairman James M. Tucker Ora Ax Howard Hiestand with winter vacationers for the wide variety of Kenneth M. Kunkel, Director winter sports offered. Pokagon is one of the five state parks which have overnight accommoda- Published monthly by the Indiana Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the Indiana Depart- ment of Conservation and the State Highway Commission of Indiana. Offices at Room 401-B State Library tions for visitors through the winter months as Building, Indianapolis, Ind. (Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office, Indianapolis, Indiana, under which offer excel- the Acts of June 6, 1900.) well as summer. Other parks Permission for republication of any material from this issue is hereby given with a request that proper lent winter-time sports include Turkey Run, credit be given and marked copies forwarded to the Editor. Responsibility for the return of unsolicited Clifty Falls, Spring Mill, and McCormick's manuscripts and photographs is not assumed unless sender's request is accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Creek. OUTDOOR INDIANA 0 Page 1 About a Skunk kitty once was used for medicinal pur- he is a lovable and useful critter. His fur I Ngood THE shots.world ofMany sports who there bring are down many a poses such as the treatment of asthmatic is valuable. Not only that, he rids the speeding deer, a fleet rabbit or a bird on conditions but was discontinued because land of many harmful insects. He likes the wing with one well-directed slug the treatment was worse than the disease. wasps, crickets, grasshoppers and bee- without batting an eye. But when it Believe it or not, ladies, a lot of you tles. Few skunks raid a farmer's hen- comes to marksmanship among creatures are wearing skunk musk house. on the receiving end of a gun barrel there and do not real- is none who is an equal to the little feller ize it because it has been deodorized and If, my unwary friends, you run afoul known by various names such as Skunk- is used as a base in the manufacture of of this sharpshooter and he should score, ton, stink kitty, or pistol packin' pussy. expensive perfumes. there is but one thing to do: bury your His aim is deadly. However, there is There apparently is honor among clothing six feet deep, bathe for two no creature that walks or crawls that has skunks when doing battle, two males hours in a tubful of strong lye soap suds the easy going, "nertz to you" attitude holding fire when fighting. They rely (if they'll let you in the county), and of the skunk. He has the arrogance of upon their teeth and their toenails, mus- wash your hair. Use several gallons of the mule and the courage of a jet pilot. cular strength and the awkwardness of ten-cent toilet water and hope your Combine burning glue, sewer gas and a one or the other to finally decide who is friends will not notice you. You can't bit of garlic capable of being hurled ten boss. win. You might try DDT, which means feet with precise aim and you have the reason for his apparent disdain for both Although Skunkton is trigger happy, "drop dead twice." humans and arch enemies of the canine world. The skunk is about the size of an ordi- nary healthy house cat. He is thick set and carries his hind quarters high with his head low. His heavy fur coat is jet black with the exception of a white patch on the head from which white stripes of varying length extend back sometimes to, and along, the tail. When you approach he will not run, but will stamp his feet and watch you out of the corner of his eye with the deadly caution of a gunman loosening "-9 his pistols in his holsters. "Now let's not get nosey, Bub," is the word you feel he is trying to pass on to you. (That is if you are smart.) You had best beat it to the rear at once for the pistol packin' pussy doesn't have to face away from you to score a direct hit. He has swivel hips which he can put into action in a second, operating his hind legs somewhat like a slingshot. His tail serves as a battle flag and when it is raised the command to fire has been given. And the little rascal has 44 ammunition for six rounds, repeating action. This animated machine gun on four legs knows where his liquid shrapnel can do the most good, so when at all possible he deliberately aims at the eyes and nose, blinding and suffocating his enemy in one action. If struck in the eye, the musk causes a painful temporary blind- ness. In the event the nostrils are on the receiving end, the swelling produced re- sults in choking and violent nausea. The musk, or ammunition, used by the Page 2 * OUTDOOR INDIANA = i Bugs of the Month Winter Bait Is Easy to Find If You Just Know p Where to Look /( r it is the larval or immature stage of the man's widow" would probably voice W considerableITHOUT a doubt increase there in icewill fishing be a insect that is used for bait, but occasion- vigorous protests against the use of her this year due to the lifting of restrictions ally the adult insect proves tasteful to basement as a cockroach hatchery, as did on the use of shanties and other enclosed the fish and is used in the hope of filling the housewife whose husband decided to shelters out on the ice. Heretofore, only a frying pan with such fish. use their refrigerator as a storage for his the very hardy individual would brave Crickets and cockroaches are good ex- nightcrawlers without bothering to cover the inclemencies of our Indiana win- amples of adult insects utilized for win- the container.