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The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has passed a temporary rule continuing the February Canada goose hunting season for Feb. 1-15. The season will be open in selected counties to control the population of breeding Canada geese around urban areas.

Counties where geese can be hunted during the season include: Adams, Allen, Boone, Clay, DeKalb, Elkhart, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Huntington, Johnson, Kosciusko, LaGrange, La Porte, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Noble, Parke, Shelby, Starke, Steuben, St. Joseph, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, Wells and Whitley.

Adam Phelps, DNR wildlife biologist, estimates 5,400 Canada geese were harvested during the February 2010 season, about 900 fewer than in February 2009. He estimated the total late-season harvest across all three years to be 15,800 geese.

To meet guidelines from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at least 80 percent of the geese harvested during the three-year experimental period needed to be the giant Canada goose. The Giant Canada is the goose commonly found year-round in Indiana and surrounding states.

“Most of the hunt zone was well over the 80 percent mark,” Phelps said, “but the counties around Terre Haute did not meet that criterion.”

The “experimental” status of the season ended in 2010, so most of the late goose counties will no longer need to check in geese; however, because the Terre Haute area didn’t meet the 80 percent criterion, geese harvested in the following counties – Clay, Greene, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo – still need to be checked.

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave us the option of continuing the experiment in the Terre Haute area to see if it will come into compliance with additional data collection,” Phelps said.

When checked, geese must have the head, a fully feathered wing and reproductive parts still attached. Check station staff age and sex each bird, and remove and keep the head of all adult birds checked. Data collected from the heads are used to determine whether the late season will continue in future years. Even if Indiana’s season meets federal guidelines, the season may be closed in the future if local Canada goose populations are sufficiently reduced.
The bag limit for the February season is five Canada geese per day, with a possession limit of 10, same as for the September season. Shooting hours are from a half-hour before sunrise to sunset.

The same regulations and restrictions applying during the September season apply during the February season. In addition to a valid hunting license, Indiana waterfowl stamp privilege, signed federal duck stamp and a HIP (Harvest Information Program) number, a free permit is also required.

The free permit is available at www.in.gov/dnr/fish wild/4523.htm or by phone at 317-232-4200, or at any state reservoir or Fish & Wildlife field office during regular office hours in January. Hunters are encouraged to get their permits online. Applying online is the easiest and fastest way to get a permit, since the application prints out immediately. Hunters are encouraged not to wait until the last minute to obtain a permit.

The temporary rule also establishes a one-year season for snow and Ross’s geese. In most of the state, the light goose conservation order – as it is called – is open Feb. 1-March 31.

Federal regulations prevent the late Canada goose season and the light goose conservation order from being open at the same time, so if you hunt in one of the counties listed in the second paragraph above, the snow and Ross’s geese season doesn’t open until Feb. 16.

For those counties, the season runs through March 31. The HIP number and federal duck stamp are not required to take snow or Ross’s geese.
The DNR director has exclusive authority to adopt temporary rules regarding such issues. Such rules are valid for a maximum of one year and can be renewed by the director for an additional period not to exceed one year.

Indiana proposes moratorium on sporting enclosures

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has proposed a moratorium on the licensing of new fox and coyote enclosures meant for dog training and field trialing. Essentially, the proposed rule would act as an outright ban on new facilities, as it prohibits the DNR from licensing any new fox and coyote enclosures after Jan. 1, 2012.

The enclosures are large tracts of land where hunting dogs can be safely trained to chase foxes and coyotes. Only one facility currently operates within the state and it covers more than 300 acres.

Sportsmen and sporting dog owners have been working with the department on rules ensuring existing and new enclosures within the state are held to a high standard, while continuing to allow for the safe trialing and training of sporting dogs.

Sportsmen and sporting dog owners should contact both the NRC and the governor’s office and ask them to oppose the moratorium on the fox and coyote training enclosures. Tell them a moratorium on licensing the enclosures is unnecessary.

The new rules governing the enclosures will more than adequately ensure the training and trialing grounds are operated at levels more than adequate to protect both the dogs and the game they pursue.
Public comments concerning the enclosures will be accepted by the NRC through the end of February. However, sportsmen should plan to write the NRC as soon as possible. Individuals submitting a comment must include their name and the city, town or county in which they reside.

Send comments to: Natural Resources Commission, Division of Hearings, Indiana Government Center North. 100 N. Senate Ave., Room N501, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2200. Comments to the NRC may also be submitted online by going to www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm and clicking on “Comment on this rule” next to “Coyote/Fox-Dog Training Grounds.” Sportsmen can contact the governor’s of
fice by calling 317-232-4567.

Turkey Run weekend of eagle activities

Turkey Run State Park and Raccoon State Recreation Area are teaming up to offer Eagles in Flight 2011, a weekend of programming centered around the majestic bald eagle, Feb. 4-6. Activities include talks featuring live owls and raptors, presentations on birding and road trips to eagle roosting and nesting sites.

The activities will be based at the Turkey Run Inn. There is a program fee of $25 per adult and $20 per child ages 4-12. Children age 3 and younger will be admitted free of charge.

The fees cover costs for all weekend programs as well as the two bus tours. To make lodging reservations at Turkey Run Inn, call 877-563-4371 or go to www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/inns/turkeyrun and when making reservations, be sure to reference group code 0204EW.

Standard weekend park entrance fees of $5 for in-state vehicles and $7 for out-of-state vehicles will be charged. For more information about the event, visit www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/files/sp-Raccoon_EagleWeekend.pdf or call 765-597-2654.

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.