Meetings begin March 22 and run until June 14

Frequent visitors or occasional users of our Hoosier state forests will all benefit from attending an up-coming open house at an Indiana state forest.

The meetings begin March 22 at Owen-Putnam State Forest near Spencer, Ind. The final open house will be at Martin State Forest June 14. The meetings will include displays about recreation activities, budget issues, staffing, surplus property disposal, major projects, the Heritage Trust program, and resource management.

"Better and stronger than ever, our state forests provide a blend of diverse wildlife habitat, forest products and recreational activities including camping, trail use, fishing and hunting," said Burnell C. Fischer, state forester.

"Our state forests are a testament to the successful conservation principles we have used during the more than 100 years since the state forest system was established. The up-coming open houses provide Hoosiers a chance to participate in this century-old management process."

People who attend the meetings will have an opportunity to talk with DNR personnel or submit written comments concerning forest and recreation management policies and programs.

The state forest open houses will be held as follows:

Tuesday, March 22 Owen-Putnam State Forest, 3 to 7 p.m. (EST)
The office is located six miles west of Spencer on State Road 46 (five miles west of Spencer on SR 46 then one mile north on Fish Creek Road). Phone: 812-829-2462.

Saturday, April 9 Greene-Sullivan State Forest, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (EST)
The office is located 1.5 miles south of Dugger, on State Road 159. Phone: 812-648-2810.

Saturday, April 23 Harrison-Crawford State Forest, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (EDT)
This open house will be held at the Hay Press Interpretive Center at O’Bannon Woods State Park Nature Center, 11 miles west of Corydon (8 miles west on State Road 62, then south on State Road 462 to O’Bannon Woods entrance, follow signs to nature center.) Phone: 812-738-8232.

Tuesday, April 26 Yellowwood/Morgan-Monroe State Forests, 3 to 7 p.m. (EST)
The open house will be held at the office at Morgan-Monroe State Forest, located five miles south of Martinsville on State Road 37, then about seven miles east on Old State Road 37 and Forest Road. Phone: 812-988-7945 or 765-342-4026.

Saturday, April 30 Clark State Forest (and Deam Lake State Recreation Area), 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (EDT) — The forest office is seven miles south of Scottsburg or one mile north of Henryville on State Road 31. Phone: 812-296-4306.

Saturday, May 7 Ferdinand/Pike State Forests, 1 to 5 p.m. (EST)
The open house will be held at the Ferdinand State forest office approximately one hour east of Evansville or 20 minutes south of Jasper on State Road 264, four miles northeast of Ferdinand. Phone: 812-367-1524.

Tuesday, May 17 Jackson-Washington State Forest (including Starve Hollow Beach State Recreation Area and Selmier State Forest), 3 to 7 p.m. (EST) — The office is located 2.5 miles southeast of Brownstown on State Road 250. Phone: 812-358-2160.

Tuesday, June 14 Martin State Forest, 3 to 7 p.m. (EST)
The open house will be held 20 miles southwest of Bedford, or 4 miles east of Shoals, on U.S. Highway 50. Phone: 812-247-3491.

For more information or detailed directions, please call the state forest office at the number listed above.

The DNR Division of Forestry promotes and practices good stewardship of natural, recreational and cultural resources on Indiana’s public and private forest lands. This stewardship produces continuing benefits, both tangible and intangible, for present and future generations.