If Canada geese have become a problem on your property, helpful information is available through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2996.htm

 

Most goose problems occur from March through June, during nesting season. Nesting season is when geese are especially aggressive, sometimes attacking and nipping at people to protect their nest or nesting mate.

 

Geese can cause localized damage if many young are hatched in

one area. After hatching, goslings can’t fly for about 70 days, so the young birds

and their parents will graze near the hatching area. Damage to landscaping

can be significant, and large amounts of excrement can render areas unfit for

human use. Geese will use land near any body of water, especially land with

short, well-groomed turf grass planted to the water’s edge. Small retention ponds

often fit the bill and become a hot spot for geese. Some people regard geese

as an annoyance without recognizing humans unintentionally encourage the

birds’ undesirable behavior with such landscaping.

 

Other solutions include goose annoyance techniques. The techniques

include using noisemaking devices, using herding dogs used to chase off the birds,

supporting goose hunting and obtaining a DNR relocation or euthanasia goose

permit. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) also allows landowners who are

properly registered to destroy resident Canada goose eggs and nests on their

property.

 

More details on registering for federal permission to destroy eggs and nests is at epermits.fws.gov/ercgr/gesi.aspx It’s against federal law to destroy a Canada goose nest containing one or more eggs without first securing permission through the USFWS. “It’s best to use preventive measures such as habitat modification or harassment before geese becomes a nuisance,” said Megan Dillon, urban wildlife biologist with the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife.

 

Turkey hunt offered to disabled veterans

 

Indiana Conservation Officers want to pass along information for a great opportunity to

wounded veterans for a guided turkey hunt.

 

Steve Davis in Fayette County is offering the opportunity for a wounded veteran

to turkey hunt and get into the woods. Steve wants to share his joy in the sport

to any disabled American veteran getting into the woods. Steve is offering a guided

turkey hunt on private property within Fayette County.

 

Steve suffered a serious injury to himself in 1983, which caused him to become a quadriplegic. He has since created a 14 by 18 feet hunting trailer designed to be wheelchair accessible. The trailer is designed to be taken offroad and placed as a hunting blind to assist with difficulties of movement by the hunter.

 

Steve has utilized the trailer since 2001 and has had many opportunities to get

back into the woods and hunt again. He hopes to pass the opportunity along

to others having the same difficulties getting into the woods.

 

Don and Dave Steinard are friends of Steve and are willing to help with the

hunt, as well. The hunt is planned for April 29-30, which falls on opening

weekend this year.

 

For more information or to request an opportunity to hunt with Steve and the

Steinard brothers contact Conservation Officer Travis Stewart at 812-340-

8323. If a large number of requests are received, the results will be based on a

random draw of a name.

 

Register for Becoming an Outdoors-Woman

 

Women can choose their own adventure at an outdoor sports workshop with

courses ranging from shotgun shooting to photography. The annual Becoming an

Outdoors-Woman will be May 5-7 at Ross Camp in West Lafayette. The workshop

is open to women ages 18 and older, and limited to around 100 participants.

 

Women interested in attending may register online at IndianaBOW.com

The cost for the workshop is $210 and includes all equipment, meals and

lodging.

 

The program is designed for women to learn outdoor skills in a relaxed, lowpressure

environment. Participants will choose four activities from more

than two dozen offerings, including fishing, archery, outdoor photography,

wild edibles, wildlife tracking, shooting puzzleloader guns and outdoor cooking.

The workshop is for women who have never tried the activities. It will give the

opportunity to learn for beginners hoping to improve, or for those who would like to

try new ones.

 

Women who enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded individuals and who seek

time away to reconnect with nature are also prime candidates for BOW.

 

Hardy Lake reopens

 

Hardy Lake State Recreation Area has reopened after being closed for storm

cleanup and repairs. Strong storms moved through southern Indiana the

night of Feb. 28 and into the morning of March 1, damaging trees and bringing

down power lines at the property. The Wooster boat ramp will remain

closed until further notice due to debris in the water.

 

Hardy Lake State Recreation Area (stateparks.IN.gov/2958.htm) is at 4171

E. Harrod Road, Scottsburg, 47170.

 

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

may contact Jack Spaulding by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing

to him in care of this publication.