Applications to participate in the state park deer hunt reductions must be received by Aug. 28. The hunts are specifically to reduce the ecological impact of damaging deer herds present in certain state parks.

Potential applicants should read details in the 2009-10 Hunting and Trapping Guide, available at www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/2343.htm before applying.

The special hunt applications are available at indianaoutdoor.IN.gov

No paper applications are available. Two reduction efforts will take place. The first is Nov. 16-17. The second is Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
Participating state parks for firearms include Chain O’Lakes, Charlestown, Harmonie, Lincoln, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run, Versailles and Whitewater Memorial.
Participating state parks for archery include Fort Harrison and Clifty Falls.

Applicants must be Indiana residents 18 years of age by Nov. 16, and possess at least one valid Indiana deer license to apply. Each person may apply only once for each state park deer reduction effort, regardless of primary or buddy status.

All applications sharing duplicate names will be disqualified. Designated areas are available for participants with special needs.
Biologists evaluate which parks require a reduction each year, based on floral recovery and previous hunter success. The state parks are home to more than 32 state-endangered plants.
The reductions help maintain browsing by deer to a level which will help ecosystems recover throughout the state parks. Though the parks have had much success since the first reduction in 1993, a high no-show rate of individuals drawn and over-selective hunting remain a challenge for the program.

Hoosier Outdoor Experience
If fly fishing looks like fun but you don’t know where to begin learning the sport, here’s your chance. Fly fishing will be one of more than 50 events you can try at the Hoosier Outdoor Experience being held Sept. 26-27 at the Fort Harrison State Park.

Instructors from Reel Women-Reel Men, Indy Flycasters and Tippecanoe Fly Fishers will be on hand at the Hoosier Outdoor Experience to guide participants through the basics of fly fishing, including casting, equipment, and fly tying. Plus you’ll have the chance to catch a fish.

“Each participant will have an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, and hopefully experience the joy of catching a fish on a fly,” said Patti Beasley, president of Reel Women-Reel Men, an Indianapolis-based fly fishing club.

Fly fishing isn’t as difficult as it looks, and it isn’t limited to trout or western locales.

“I’ve been fly fishing my whole life, and I’ve never lived outside Indiana,” said Ben Shadley, managing editor of Outdoor Indiana magazine. “Most Hoosiers have great fly fishing opportunities for bass, bluegill, wipers or other warm-water fish species within a short drive of home.”

The Hoosier Outdoor Experience is a family friendly event and is the first of its kind in Indiana. Unlike traditional trade shows, visitors will be able to enjoy hands-on experiences in a wide range of outdoor activities, such as fly fishing, target shooting, archery, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, camping and much more.

The Hoosier Outdoor Experience is presented by the Department of Natural Resources and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation, with sponsorship support from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Ball Brothers Foundation, WXIN-Fox 59, Indianapolis, and numerous other sponsors.

Parking, admission, activities, demonstrations and seminars are free to the public, but online registration is required. To register, go to hoosieroutdoorexperience.IN.gov and click on the yellow registration icon.

2009 waterfowl seasons

The regular season waterfowl dates, as proposed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) by the Indiana DNR have been released. The dates are not final until approved by the USFWS in mid- to late September. Historically, the dates have been accepted as proposed.

Ducks, coots, and mergansers
North Zone: Oct. 17-Dec. 15; South Zone: Oct. 24-Nov. 1 and Nov. 11-Jan. 1, 2010; Ohio River Zone: Oct. 31-Nov. 1 and Nov. 28-Jan. 24, 2010. A bag limit of six ducks daily, including no more than four mallards (no more than two of which may be hens), three wood ducks, two redheads, two scaup, one canvasback, one black duck, one pintail, and one mottled duck. Possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

Canada geese
North Zone: Oct. 17-18 and Nov. 7-Jan. 17, 2010; South Zone: Oct. 24-Nov. 1 and Nov. 25-Jan. 28, 2010; Ohio River Zone: Oct. 31-Nov. 1 and Nov. 11-Jan. 31, 2010. A bag limit of two Canada geese daily; possession limit is four.

Late Canada Goose Zone
Feb. 1-15, 2010. The late Canada Goose Zone includes the following counties: Adams, Allen, Boone, Clay, DeKalb, Elkhart, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Huntington, Johnson, Kosciusko, LaPorte, LaGrange, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Noble, Parke, St. Joseph, Shelby, Steuben, Starke, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, Wells and Whitley. Special restrictions apply: a free permit is required, and all geese harvested must be checked at a DNR check station.

Light geese and Brant
Statewide: Oct. 17-Jan. 29, 2010. A bag limit of 20 light geese (snow and/or Ross’ geese) and one Brant. Possession limit is two Brant. There is no possession limit on light geese. Light goose conservation order: Feb. 1, 2010-March 31, 2010 except within the Late Canada Goose Zone, which is Feb. 16, 2010–March 31, 2010. No bag or possession limit.

Late Canada Goose Season
The experimental Late Canada Goose Zone season began last year and will continue. The season will be open Feb. 1-15, 2010 in these counties: Adams, Allen, Boone, Clay, DeKalb, Elkhart, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Huntington, Johnson, Kosciusko, La Porte, LaGrange, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Noble, Parke, St. Joseph, Shelby, Starke, Steuben, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, Wells and Whitley. During the season, hunters may take five Canada geese per day.

In the Late Canada Goose Zone, the Light Goose Conservation Order will not open until Feb. 16, 2010 after the Late Canada Goose season closes.

Hunters will still be required to obtain a special permit and to check in all birds taken at a DNR check station. Details will be available later this winter.

Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net