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Legislative deer management mandate is a bad idea

Just when it seems there is a clearing of controversies facing Indiana’s professional wildlife managers, another wing-dinger idea comes along.

The latest boondoggle is an attempt at political management by popular consensus, and comes in the form of Indiana House Bill 1585. HB 1585 would set arbitrary increases for deer limits in Indiana and would take away wildlife management from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and give it to our politicians.

You can be assured I am totally against any legislative action substituting politics or general consensus for sound wildlife management.

HB 1585 was introduced by Rep. Bill Friend (R- Macy). The bill politicizes wildlife management by permitting the legislature, not the state wildlife management agency, to have jurisdiction over setting seasons and bag limits.

According to the bill, the director of the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife is mandated to double the seasonal bag limit for deer in each of the 30 counties experiencing the highest number of deer-vehicle collisions as reported by the state police department. The new limits would begin in the 2009 hunting season and continue through the end of the 2011 season.

Historically, the DNR has been responsive to deer management needs based on deer vehicle collisions and has addressed areas of herd overpopulation and elevated deer-vehicle collisions with increased bag limits. I am a firm believer that our state’s wildlife managers are still quite capable of continuing to manage the deer heard in a responsible manner.

According to Rick Story, senior vice president of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, “It’s a slippery slope whenever politicians get involved in wildlife management. It is a highly scientific process that should be handled by the responsible agency and not be made a political football.”

Mr. Story, I couldn’t agree more.

DNR to present Canada goose management seminars

If Canada geese have become a problem on your property, you have the opportunity to attend one of six seminars being presented in March and April by the DNR Urban Wildlife Project. The first is scheduled for March 10 at the Bartholomew County extension office in Columbus, Ind.

Seminars also will be held March 12 at the Wesselman Woods Visitor Center in Evansville and March 19 at the Recreation Building inside Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis. The Tippecanoe County extension office in Lafayette will be holding a seminar on March 31, and others will be at the Potato Creek State Park Nature Center near North Liberty on April 1 and at the Salomon Farm Visitors Center in Fort Wayne on April 2.

All seminars run from 9 a.m.-noon. Interested landowners, managers of corporate campuses, golf course or park employees and the general public are invited. The seminars will cover various aspects of Canada goose management, including relevant laws, basic biology and methods to control goose damage.

A demonstration on the proper techniques for egg and nest destruction will follow.  (If eggs are broken or completely removed the females will just lay another clutch of eggs, so following proper techniques are vital.)

The population of Canada geese in the Mississippi Flyway exceeds 1.5 million birds, and is growing at a rate of 6 percent per year. Destroying eggs and nests in urban areas is helpful in controlling numbers of geese where hunting cannot, and the practice can reduce conflicts.

Federal rules allow landowners properly registered at www.fws.gov/permits/ mbpermits/gooseeggregistration.html to complete Canada goose egg and nest destruction on their own property. Registrants must provide a summary report of their Canada goose nest destruction activities to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by Oct 31. Failure to report can result in privileges being revoked for the forthcoming year.

The classes are free and no registration is required. If you need further information, call the urban wildlife biologist at 812-334-1137 or send an e-mail to swinks@dnr.in.gov

Responsible ORV operation

My good friend, Indiana Conservation Officer Matt Tholen, investigated another ATV accident two weekends ago. According to an eyewitness, the operator was driving a 2005 Honda ATV at 2:30 a.m., and for an unknown reason was thrown off the ATV and landed on the roadway.

The victim was dropped off at his residence in the morning. The family called for an ambulance and he was taken to Clarion Hospital for a head injury. Charges may be filed pending toxicology results, as alcohol and speed may have been a factor in the crash.
The recent scenario is just one of many instances across Indiana where off-road vehicle (ORV) operators lost sight of good judgment and found themselves a victim of their operating skills. Many owners of ORVs are unaware of the state laws concerning their operation:

•If you operate an ORV on public property, it must be registered through the DNR. The registration fee is $30 for three years.

•An ORV may be ridden on the public right-of-way adjacent to a public highway, except a limited access highway, when there is sufficient width to do so without endangering life or property.

•You may cross a public highway, other than a limited access highway, at a 90-degree angle to get from one area to another. You must come to a complete stop before crossing and yield to all traffic.

•Cities, towns and counties have individual laws pertaining to snowmobiles. Check before riding.

•An individual under 14 years of age may not operate an ORV without supervision.

•An individual may not operate an ORV on a public highway without a valid motor vehicle driver’s license.

•An operator of an ORV involved in an accident resulting in serious injury or death of an individual, or estimated property damage of $750 or more, must notify the nearest law enforcement authorities as quickly as possible.

An individual may not operate an ORV under any of the following conditions:

•At a high rate of speed greater than is reasonable or in a manner that endangers a person or property;

•While under the influence of alcohol, a narcotic, or other drug;
•Without a muffler in good working order;

•On any property without the consent of the landowner or tenant; or
•On a railroad track or right-of-way.

Tholen, along with all of Indiana’s Conservation officers, would like owners and operators to review the state laws of operation and be responsible ORV operators.

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.

2/18/2009