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Apply online for Hoosier December goose hunts

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will conduct two controlled Canada goose reductions at Summit Lake and Potato Creek state parks in December. The dates coincide with hunting seasons to optimize effectiveness and take into consideration state and federal laws, local flight patterns and goose behavior.

The first reductions will take place Dec. 6-7; the second round will be Dec. 13-14. During the reductions, the two parks will be closed to the general public. Applications are available online.

Large amounts of goose waste at both parks’ beaches, picnic areas and bank-fishing locations have adversely affected visitor enjoyment and resulted in increased operating costs. As the population of locally breeding Canada geese has grown at the two parks, park managers have tried using special noisemakers, shooting blanks and using regular, high-decibel distress calls to move the geese out of the areas, with little success.

They also have used a special federal permit to apply oil to eggs during nesting season to keep them from hatching. Other methods tried have included spraying grass with a commercial non-palatable chemical and using physical barriers to attempt to keep the birds out of the areas.

Hunter participation will be determined by a drawing run under rules similar to other DNR waterfowl draws, with some adjustments. Successful applicant groups of up to four individuals will be assigned to specific reduction areas. Shooting hours will be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

A standby drawing, based on a list of unsuccessful applicants, will be made each morning to fill spots not taken by successful applicants.

Hunters who want to participate must complete and submit an online application before midnight, Nov. 9. Applications will then be entered in the drawing. No paper applications will be accepted.
One individual will be able to apply as a primary applicant and include up to three of his or her buddies as additional applicants for either set of dates, but no name can appear more than once in the draw, regardless of primary or buddy status. Buddies must be included on applications to be able to participate in the reductions.
Applicants must be Indiana residents who will be 18 years of age by Dec. 6, and should have their hunting license numbers and Harvest Information Program (HIP) numbers ready to enter in the application, along with all buddy information, where applicable.
Preference is given to hunters who have completed an Indiana hunter education course. A state waterfowl stamp and federal duck stamp must be presented on site on the day of the reduction, but is not required to apply. To apply, visit www.IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov
Successful applications will be posted online after the drawing. Participants will be issued a check-in card at time of arrival to the property selected to return upon departure, which will allow gate attendants to determine the number of geese harvested. Conservation officers will be present to monitor compliance of all regulations.

For more information, visit www.IN.gov/dnr/parklake and www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/4492.htm Quail hunting rules change

The long-term decline of bobwhite quail populations has prompted the DNR to adjust the 2008 season dates, hunting hours and bag limits at seven state Fish and Wildlife areas (FWAs).
In northwestern Indiana, quail hunting will be allowed at Jasper-Pulaski, Willow Slough and Winamac FWAs from Nov. 7-30, with a daily bag limit of two birds. Previously announced dates were Nov. 7-Dec. 21, with a bag limit of five birds.

In southwestern Indiana, the quail season dates at Glendale, Goose Pond, Minnehaha and Sugar Ridge FWAs will remain Nov. 7-Jan. 15, 2009, but hunting hours at the sites will be restricted to 9 a.m.-3 p.m. EST from Dec. 15-Jan. 15. Also, the daily bag limit will be reduced from eight birds to four at Glendale, Minnehaha and Sugar Ridge; Goose Pond already has a four-bird limit.

“The concept here is to relieve some of the pressure on these small, isolated quail populations so we can provide a sustainable harvest,” said Wayne Bivans, wildlife section chief for the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. “The belief is this will allow the quail numbers to rebound quicker and be less susceptible to other factors like severe weather.”

Harsh winter storms in the late 1970s took a brutal toll on Indiana’s quail population, and a widespread lack of suitable habitat hampered the bird’s ability to rebound. Even so, quail numbers in Indiana already were declining prior to 1978 for the same reason – lack of habitat.

Poor habitat does not appear to be the issue at FWAs, yet hunter harvest of quail continues a steep downward slide. At Winamac, for instance, hunters bagged 208 quail in 1977 but about half that total a year later. By 1982 it dipped to 42 birds before climbing back above the 200 mark in 1987 and 1989. Since then, the annual harvest has been in gradual decline, bottoming out at 25 birds in 2007.

DNR biologists recently completed fall covey counts to establish current quail populations at state FWAs. The baseline data will be combined with future research in an ongoing process to determine if additional restrictions on season dates and bag limits will be necessary to reach sustainable harvest goals.

Conservation officers target
waterfowl hunters in opening

A coordinated law enforcement blitz targeting waterfowl hunters was conducted by Indiana Conservation officers in the DNR’s Syracuse Law Enforcement District on Oct. 18-19.
Officers sent from nearly all parts of Indiana were split into 16 working teams assigned to specific areas within the seven county districts.

Officers were looking for waterfowl hunters who exceeded daily bag limits, possessed shotgun shells containing toxic shot, violated licensing rules and regulations including harvest information program (HIP) numbers and other waterfowl hunting violations. The 32 officers participating in the two-day blitz checked 358 waterfowl hunters and took 72 law enforcement actions, including one arrest for exceeding the daily bag limits for ducks.

“I was very pleased with this year’s effort” said First Sgt. Mark Hines.

“We have officers from all over Indiana that look forward to working the waterfowl opener. It gives them a chance to work the natural lakes and marshlands that they might not have in their normal work areas.

“From what I heard there was also some good interaction between hunters and officers. We work for the sportsmen and -women of Indiana and to be able to share stories and such is something we have always encouraged. It was a great weekend for us as Conservation officers, hunters and the resource.”

The Syracuse Law Enforcement District includes the counties of St. Joe, Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall, Fulton, Miami and Wabash.
Hunters seeking information on waterfowl season dates, hunting zones, bag limits and regulations are encouraged to read the 2008-09 waterfowl hunting supplement accessible online at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/4743.htm or available at most DNR license vendors and sporting good outlets statewide.

11/5/2008