Duck hunters are hoping for a better season this year, after what Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologist Adam Phelps said was a down year for duck harvest last year. The seasons under way include the following:

•Ducks: South Zone opened Nov. 24 and closes Jan. 13, 2011; Ohio River opened Nov. 27 and closes Jan. 23

•Canada Geese: South Zone opened Nov. 24 and closes Jan. 27; Ohio River Zone opened Nov. 21 and closes Jan. 31

•The statewide seasons for Snow Geese and Brant are open and run until Jan. 28; the statewide season for White-Fronted geese is open and runs until Jan. 30

Phelps said the low duck harvest numbers last year were most likely because of statewide bitter cold and frozen conditions during the heart of the South Zone’s season.

“Duck breeding populations this spring were about the same as last year, with better water conditions on the prairies, so reproduction should have been good,” he said.

Phelps said the dry weather has concentrated birds in the places where there still is water, so hunters who can find marsh areas with water should do well – depending on the weather, of course. The key to the number of waterfowl available, as in any other year, is the weather, specifically cold fronts from the north or northwest.
“Those of us in the mid-latitude states are completely dependent on weather to push birds to us and not by us,” he said.

Hoosier hunters will want to remember the regulations and allowable take. Over the years, the limits have become so complicated; I suggest writing it down and carrying it in the field with you.  Got your pencil ready? Here we go:

The daily bag limit for ducks is six. This includes any combination of goldeneyes, ruddy ducks, ring-necked ducks, buffleheads, gadwalls, long-tailed ducks, scoters, teal, wigeon and shovelers. Included in the daily limit of six are additional restrictions on the following:

•Mallards: Only four mallards may be taken daily, including not more than two females
•Wood ducks: Only three wood ducks may be taken daily
•Pintails: Only two pintails may be taken daily
•Redheads: Only two redheads may be taken daily
•Scaup: Only two scaup may be taken daily
•Black ducks: Only one black duck may be taken daily
•Canvasback: Only one canvasback may be taken daily
•Mottled duck: Only one mottled duck may be taken daily
•The daily bag limit for coots is 15
•The daily bag for mergansers (which is separate from the duck limit) is five, including not more than two hooded mergansers
•Possession limit for ducks, coots and mergansers is two times the daily bag limit

Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise, to sunset. Shooting hours at some DNR properties may vary.

Canada geese update: An early spring allowed for good nesting effort for both long-distance migrant populations passing through Indiana. The Mississippi Valley population and the Southern James Bay population of Canada geese are both expected to have average or better production this year.

It’s good news, since reproduction was very poor last year. We expect to see more goslings in the Canadian flights of Canada and snow geese than last year. The Mississippi Flyway giant population remained stable this year. Overall breeding conditions in the Flyway were good to excellent, and conditions within Indiana for breeding geese were the best in four years.

The possession limit for Canada geese, White-Fronted geese and Brant is two times the daily limit. There is no possession limit for light geese.

Indiana’s Big Tree Register now available
The 2010 Big Tree Register is now available for Hoosier big tree lovers. The book, which is published every five years, lists the largest known native trees in the state.

A photographic display by Pamela Dunn-Louks will showcase some of the more significant trees listed at the Natural Resources Education Center beginning Dec. 1,  Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Visitors to the Big Tree Display will receive a free copy of the book and an accompanying bookmark.

The book was printed with help from the Indiana Urban Forest Council and a grant from the USDA Forest Service. It is available by mail or pickup from the Community and Urban Forestry (CUF) Office at 5785 Glenn Road, Natural Resources Education Center (NREC), in Fort Harrison State Park.

To have a copy mailed, call 317-591-1170 or e-mail plouks@dnr.IN.gov

The book is posted online at www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/files/fo-Big_Tree_Reg_2010.pdf

Get bird feeders out; keep them filled
The late fall and autumn drought in central Indiana brought about a great reduction in natural forage for our feathered friends. Our bird feeder out back of the house is showing feeding levels more expected during the last stages of winter following a long snow cover.

My sister was amazed at the number of birds hitting the feeding station and loading up on black oil sunflower seeds. We feed sunflower seeds year-round, but the number of birds are far more than we have had in the past.

It is easy to forget about our feathered friends until the first layer of snow. With reduced forage levels of insects and weed seed, they can use a continual boost. (Just in case I didn’t mention it in a previous fall column, our last hummingbird dropped by at the very end of September and stayed around the sugar water feeder until Oct. 1.)

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Jack Spaulding may contact him by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.