Spaulding Outdoors by Jack Spaulding 

 

One thing I have discovered over the years is misinformation among sportsmen spreads like wildfire. Sometimes, I am amazed how so many sportsmen come up with far-gone conclusions and assumptions about game laws.

In helping wage war on deer hunting misinformation, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Fish & Wildlife put together the top five frequently-asked-questions by deer hunters – who, a lot of times, have it wrong!

•”I cannot harvest an antlerless deer in firearms season.” FALSE: An antlerless deer may be harvested in firearms season with the proper license (such as a bonus antlerless license). A deer firearms license is valid for one antlered deer.

•”When hunting in an urban deer zone, I have to follow all urban deer zone regulations.” TRUE and FALSE: If you’re hunting in an urban deer zone, using an urban deer zone license and working toward the designated bag limits, you must follow the regulations (earn-a-buck).

If you’re hunting in an urban deer zone and working toward statewide bag limits (archery, firearms, muzzleloader and the like), you would follow the statewide bag limits and regulations.

•”I need both a hunting license and a deer license to hunt for deer.” • FALSE: A small game hunting license is not required to hunt deer. Only a deer license for the appropriate season is required.

•”There is an acreage requirement to qualify for the farmland license exemption.” • FALSE: There is no acreage requirement. To see if you qualify, check out the Hunting & Trapping Guide.

•”The license vendor is responsible for knowing what license I need.” • FALSE: It’s always the hunter’s responsibility to have the right license for the right season.

Report hunting violations

According to statistics, fewer than 1 percent of Indiana’s nearly 400,000 hunters are found to be violating the law while hunting.  Finding the violators often requires the input of law-abiding hunters and other citizens who see violations taking place.

Hoosier hunting seasons are in full swing, and the Indiana conservation officers charged with enforcing the state’s wildlife laws ask concerned hunters and citizens to keep two phone numbers handy and enter them on their cell phones.

The 24-hour Central Dispatch number is 812-837-9536; it documents the caller’s name. The Turn in a Poacher (TIP) hotline number is 800-TIP-IDNR (847-4367); it allows the caller to remain anonymous.

If you see a suspected violation:

•Safely gather as much information as you can (vehicle description, plate number, clothing description, number of people, location, direction of travel) without approaching the subject

•Immediately call the appropriate number

•Do not communicate with the subject by yelling or informing them you have called a conservation officer

•Continue to stay out of the subject’s area – allow the officer to approach the situation

•Cooperate with the conservation officer

Trapper education class

The Indiana conservation officers of District 3 will offer the Indiana trapper education course again this year. The course is open to the public, and there is no charge.

The course is a minimum of six hours covering topics dealing with trapper responsibility, firearms safety, water safety, trapping laws and wildlife management.

The date for the course will be Nov. 1, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The course will be held at the Prophetstown State Park main office. A map will be displayed when you click on the link to sign up for the class. Pre-registration is required; there is a limit of 25 students for the class.

To register for the course, go to http:// inhea.com/PassItOnIndiana and once you are on the page, click on “Indiana Trapper Education” in the “Other Programs,” scroll down to the Prophetstown State Park and click on it to register.

Lifejackets necessary in winter

It can be a life-threatening mistake to forget wearing a lifejacket during a season when many enjoy kayaking or canoeing, duck hunting from a jon boat, or taking a late-winter ice fishing trip. Water temperatures plummet, increasing the chance of hypothermia and the risk of drowning, particularly if a person goes overboard while not wearing a lifejacket.

Indiana law requires all vessels to carry one wearable U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD (personal floatation device) for each person on board. In addition, vessels 16 feet in length or longer (except a canoe or kayak) must have one USCG-approved PFD on board and readily accessible.

Common sense, however, requires you wear a lifejacket at all times while on the water, no matter what the season.

Indiana Boating Law Administrator Lt. Kenton Turner said, “Lifejackets are a yearlong priority and should be the first thought on everyone’s mind when enjoying Indiana’s waterways.”

These views and opinions are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with comments may contact Jack Spaulding by email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.