Hate ads?! Subscribe for just $5 a month!

Gov. Braun & Indiana DNR Announce Expansion to Martin State Forest

July 31, 2026
10:51 am

▶

Listen to Article

Governor Mike Braun’s announcement that the state has added 51 acres to Martin State Forest is more than a routine land purchase; it’s a tangible reminder that public-land expansion and the Second Amendment are two sides of the same coin. By growing the forest to 9,735 acres, Indiana is effectively enlarging the “shooting range” for every law-abiding hunter and recreational shooter who depends on public ground. The new parcel, tucked in Greene County, will open fresh deer, turkey, and small-game opportunities while giving foresters additional acreage for sustainable timber management—exactly the kind of multiple-use model that keeps access open instead of locking it behind “no-shooting” buffers. What makes the story especially encouraging for the 2A community is the funding source: the President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust paired with the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation Tree Fund. These mechanisms channel private and state dollars into land acquisition without the strings attached to some federal grants that can later morph into restrictions on traditional uses. Because Indiana still treats hunting as a legitimate, encouraged activity on its state forests, each new acre purchased this way strengthens—not dilutes—the public’s ability to keep and bear arms in the field. In an era when other states flirt with Sunday hunting bans or attempt to shrink shotgun zones, Hoosiers can point to Martin State Forest’s expansion as proof that conservation and carry can coexist. Long-term, the addition also sets a precedent. Every time the DNR adds contiguous ground, it reduces the pressure on private landowners to post their property and simultaneously creates buffer zones that limit suburban sprawl—the silent enemy of both wildlife habitat and shooting sports. For Indiana’s gun-owning families, the math is simple: more public acres equal more places to mentor a new hunter, test handloads, or simply exercise a constitutional right without asking permission from a private club or big-box range. Braun’s move may be modest in acreage, but its message is unmistakable—sound conservation policy and a strong Second Amendment are mutually reinforcing pillars of Indiana’s outdoor heritage.

Best FFL Software Ranked and Compared!

What makes the story especially encouraging for the 2A community is the funding source: the President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust paired with the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation Tree Fund. These mechanisms channel private and state dollars into land acquisition without the strings attached to some federal grants that can later morph into restrictions on traditional uses. Because Indiana still treats hunting as a legitimate, encouraged activity on its state forests, each new acre purchased this way strengthens—not dilutes—the public’s ability to keep and bear arms in the field. In an era when other states flirt with Sunday hunting bans or attempt to shrink shotgun zones, Hoosiers can point to Martin State Forest’s expansion as proof that conservation and carry can coexist.

Long-term, the addition also sets a precedent. Every time the DNR adds contiguous ground, it reduces the pressure on private landowners to post their property and simultaneously creates buffer zones that limit suburban sprawl—the silent enemy of both wildlife habitat and shooting sports. For Indiana’s gun-owning families, the math is simple: more public acres equal more places to mentor a new hunter, test handloads, or simply exercise a constitutional right without asking permission from a private club or big-box range. Braun’s move may be modest in acreage, but its message is unmistakable—sound conservation policy and a strong Second Amendment are mutually reinforcing pillars of Indiana’s outdoor heritage.

Share this story