Backyard Adventures
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1380896
Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife area in Pike County is unique among nearly 20 Fish and Wildlife areas in Indi- ana. Several things make it unique from the other areas. The nearly 8,000 acres that have been set aside are spread over six individual areas in Pike County and feature about 100 pits for fishing and 24 major pits, along with just about anything else you might want to do, from a dog training area, shotgun range, rifle range, hunting and as rugged of hiking as you can handle. "It truly is unique," said John Wade, who managed the area from 1975 to 1999 and since has retired. It was established in 1964 when three mining compa- nies agreed with the State of Indiana to lease some, give some and sell some of the 8,000 acres to Indiana. Much of the ground is old strip ground. Consequently, that ground had extremely steep contours, often described as sawtooth hills. The steep hills were literally just piles of overburden left in ridges from the previous mining. Originally it was rocky, sandy, barren ground, but over time, as vegetation grew, much of it changed into deep, dense canopied woods, nearly unaccessible except by foot, and extremely rugged. All in all, it is an excellent habitat for critters. Don Mann, who was manager of what was then the Patoka Fish and Wildlife Area, said during his years in the 60s and early 70s, they maintained 54 different food plots, where they planted various food sources for partic- ular animals they wanted to encourage in that area. He said, over the years, animal populations have evolved from quail and rabbit to turkey and deer. Mann managed the area from 1965 to 1975. In the 1960s, there were no turkeys in the area and deer were so sparse there was no deer hunting season. Mann said in 1969, they released the first 23 turkeys into Pike County. He said they traded Missouri roughed grouse for turkey. Later, they trapped 11 birds using cannon nets in Harrison County, put radio transmitters on them and re - leased them in Area 6. He said from those 10, they know one drowned in a pit and another was killed in a hayfield. The deer population has exploded in Pike County. Mann said, typically, when you introduce a species to a new area, they thrive and the population swells, then overtime, it starts to work its way back down to a "carr y- ing capacity." Through the 55 years, Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife areas have seen a number of changes and improve- ments. Early on, they started installing boat ramps in the pits so fishermen could more easily launch their fishing boats. Only electric engines are allowed in Sugar Ridge. Wade said one of the things that makes Sugar Ridge special is how remote and isolated it feels. He said the long narrow pits, often with dog legs and turns in them, allow several groups of people to be fishing the same pit and feel like you are the only one there. "None of our SUGAR RIDGE FWA FISH • SHOOT • HIKE Story and Photography by ANDY HEURING AIR Fresh CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 >