Indiana’s dedicated “stick and string” archery hunters are looking at the start of the 2009 deer season with the opening day of the early archery season set for Oct. 1. Hunters must possess a completed and signed deer hunting, youth, lifetime comprehensive hunting, or apprentice license to legally pursue deer.

A hunter education card is required for anyone born after Dec. 31, 1986. However, individuals of any age may buy an apprentice license without having to take hunter education. Individuals are limited to three apprentice hunting licenses during their lifetimes. Special apprentice hunting license rules apply.

Legal archery equipment includes long bows, compound bows and recurve bows. A bow must have a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds. Arrows must be tipped with broadheads of metal, metal-edged, or napped flint, chert or obsidian. Crossbows are not legal for use in the early season, but are legal in the late season.
Hunters should be looking at a good deer season in 2009-2010 with high deer population numbers in many parts of the state. According to Chad Stewart, Indiana’s deer biologist, “Our deer herd is very strong. Hunters have every reason to be excited before they go out in the woods each morning.”

Stewart anticipates a high deer harvest number this fall.

“In terms of early archery season, the harvest has exceeded 25,000 the past three years, and I anticipate similar numbers this year,” he said. “As for the total deer season, I expect at least another 125,000 deer to be harvested this year, with a chance for the statewide harvest to exceed 130,000 for the first time ever.”
Anyone with questions regarding deer hunting rules and regulations should first consult the Indiana 2009-2010 Hunting and Trapping Guide, which is available at most sporting goods retailers and online at www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/2343.htm

If further assistance is needed, contact a conservation officer at north region headquarters, 765-473-9722 or south region headquarters, 812-837-9536.

Canada goose control hunts

After attempted various non-lethal methods of managing the Canada goose populations at Summit Lake and Potato Creek state parks with little success, the DNR will conduct controlled goose hunt reductions in November and December. Similar reductions occurred in 2007 and 2008.

The dates chosen coincide with hunting seasons to optimize effectiveness and take into consideration state and federal law, local flight patterns and goose behavior. Certain areas of Potato Creek will be open only to participating hunters on the dates of both of its two-day reductions, Nov. 9-10 and Nov. 23-24. Summit Lake will be closed to all but reduction hunt participants on Dec. 5-6.

Participation will be determined by a drawing similar to other DNR waterfowl draws. Successful applicants can bring up to three individuals along to hunt if they wish. The individuals do not have to be on the applicant’s application. Groups will be assigned to specific reduction areas. Shooting hours will be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. An unrestricted stand-by drawing for eligible participants will occur each morning, 90 minutes before local sunrise to fill spots not claimed by successful applicants.

Hunters who want to participate in the control hunts must complete an online application between Sept. 21 and Oct. 4 at www.IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov

Individuals can apply for any set of dates.
Applicants and stand-by participants must be Indiana residents 18 years of age by Nov. 9 and should have their hunting license numbers and Harvest Registration Program (HIP) numbers ready to enter in the applications. Though hunter education is not required, preference in first-round drawing is given to hunters who have completed a hunter education course. Hunters must present a state waterfowl stamp and federal duck stamp on-site on the day of the reduction, but do not need to possess them to apply. Apprentice licenses are not applicable.

For more details, see  www.IN.gov/dnr/parklake/2413.htm and www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/2996.htm

Blackford, Dubois now EAB quarantined

Emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive forest insect killing ash trees, has been detected in Washington Township in Blackford County and Columbia Township in Dubois County through the statewide EAB survey and trapping program.

Washington Township in Blackford County and Columbia Township in Dubois County are now quarantined for regulated ash material and hardwood firewood which could spread the pest farther into Indiana. Robert E. Carter Jr., director of the DNR, declared the quarantine this week. The new quarantine order also adds the following townships in counties already quarantined: Washington Township in Grant County and Center Township in Porter County.
The detections were made through the EAB survey which includes the hanging of purple panel traps in trees around the state. The survey is a cooperative effort of the Indiana DNR and the USDA.
An EAB quarantine means regulated ash material may be moved within the affected county or township but cannot be moved out of the county or township unless the shipper has entered a compliance agreement with the DNR or the material has been mitigated so it is incapable of spreading EAB. Regulated materials include EAB in any living stage of development, any ash tree, limb, branch or debris of an ash tree at least 1 inch in diameter, ash log or untreated ash lumber with bark attached, or cut firewood of any non-coniferous species.

EAB was first found in Indiana in 2004, and has now been identified in 26 Indiana counties: Adams, Allen, Blackford, Brown, DeKalb, Dubois, Elkhart, Floyd, Grant, Hamilton, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Lawrence, Marion, Monroe, Noble, Orange, Porter, Randolph, St. Joseph, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, White and Whitley. Ten contiguous counties in Northeast Indiana encompass an area of the state referred to as “Generally infested.” Regulated materials may be moved throughout the generally infested area.

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

Published on Sept. 30, 2009