The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will conduct controlled goose reduction hunts at several state parks in the coming months. Similar special hunts have occurred since 2007. The parks will have limited access to the public during the days of their respective reduction hunts.

Large amounts of goose waste at park beaches, picnic areas and in bank-fishing locations have raised health concerns, adversely affected visitor enjoyment, increased erosion and resulted in increased operating costs.

“Though we are seeing some success, reduction hunting is still just one of many tools we use to manage geese,” said Mike Mycroft, chief of natural resources for Indiana State Parks & Reservoirs.
“Challenges such as legal-season limitations, recreational demand for popular park areas, local weather and daily movement patterns of the birds combine to complicate achieving the desired results.”
The dates are chosen to coincide with state and federal hunting seasons and to optimize effectiveness, while considering local flight patterns and goose behavior.

Potato Creek and Whitewater Memorial state parks will have limited public access with certain areas open only to participating hunters on hunt days. Ouabache, Chain O’Lakes, Shakamak and Lincoln state parks will be accessible to drawn participants only.

Even though the hunts occur during the slower recreational season, Mycroft said the hunting effort may still affect some visitors. “We keep visitation rates in mind when selecting dates,” he said. “Our goal is to get in and out, with safety and effective resource management being our top priorities.”

The reduction efforts started in early November. Each participating park will conduct reduction hunts four to 10 days between November and February 2011. The parks will start limiting general public access the evening before each of the efforts and will be fully open the morning after each reduction.

Parks, dates and public access are as follows:
•Potato Creek – Nov. 22-23, Restricted
•Ouabache – Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, 13 and 17, Closed
•Chain O’Lakes – Nov. 18-19 and December 1-2, Closed
•Whitewater Memorial – Nov. 24, 27 and Dec. 1, 4, 8 and 15, Restricted
•Shakamak – Dec. 11-12, 18-19, Jan. 8-9 and Feb. 5-6 and 12-13, Closed
•Lincoln – Jan. 10-11 and 24-25, Closed

An advanced drawing has selected participants who can bring up to three non-registered fellow participants along. A standby drawing for Indiana residents who were 18 and older by Nov. 8, 2010, will take place each morning of the hunts 90 minutes before local sunrise to fill spots still remaining vacant. Group sizes are limited to four individuals.

All state and federal laws regarding waterfowl hunting apply. State and federal waterfowl stamps, state hunting license and HIP number are required for any participant to be eligible. Apprentice licenses are not applicable. Questions regarding the standby drawing can be directed to the park of interest.

Online deer hunting guide

With the Indiana deer firearms season having started last Saturday, the DNR has posted a handy Deer Hunting Guide on its website. Users can scan the 37-page guide online at www.dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/2343.htm or download it to a mobile phone capable of reading PDF files, or print it as a single document.
The guide includes basic information on license requirements, bag and possession limits, season dates and equipment regulations. The guide also has a county-by-county list of public hunting areas, from Yellowwood State Forest in Brown County to Blue Grass Fish & Wildlife Area in Warrick County.

The 10-page list includes the property name, phone number, hunting opportunities, available acres and other amenities, such as camping or shooting range.

In addition to basic information, the guide provides hyperlinks to complete language on hunting rules and regulations in Indiana, plus a hyperlink to a searchable database of mandatory check stations where successful hunters can take their deer.

Small game season

The 2010-11 hunting season for rabbit, quail and pheasant opened statewide on Nov. 5. Season dates and daily bag limits may vary on state-owned properties. Please contact each property for specific information.

Statewide seasons are:
•Rabbit season – Nov. 5-Feb. 15, 2011, with a daily limit of five
•Pheasant season (cock only) – Nov. 5-Dec. 19, with a daily limit of two
•Quail season (North of Indiana 26) – Nov. 5-Dec. 19, with a daily limit of five
•Quail season (South of Indiana 26) – Nov. 5-Jan. 15, with a daily limit of eight

To hunt rabbit or squirrel, an individual must purchase an Annual Hunting license or have a Lifetime Hunting or Youth Comprehensive Hunting license.

To hunt quail and/or pheasant, an individual must purchase an Annual Hunting license and a Game Bird Habitat Stamp, or have a Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting or Youth Comprehensive Hunting license. Individuals with a Lifetime Basic Hunting license must purchase the Game Bird Habitat Stamp annually.

Fluorescent orange clothing is required while hunting rabbit, quail, pheasant, and squirrel (starting Nov. 5) throughout the 2010-11 hunting season. Hunters must wear one outer garment exposed at all times that is solid fluorescent orange.

 Hunters should remember to gain permission before hunting on privately owned land. For additional information, go to www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2343.htm

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.