As of July 6, hunters can now apply for a variety of reserved hunts online by visiting on.IN.gov/reservedhunt. The online method is the only way to apply for the hunts listed below. No late entries will be accepted. Applicants must possess a hunting license valid for the hunt for which they are applying.

Hunters will be selected through a random computerized drawing. Applicants will be able to view draw results online within two weeks after the application period has closed. An email will be sent to all applicants when draws have been completed.

Applications for the following hunting opportunities opened as of July 6. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on August 9:

• Dove hunts: Applicants may select the desired date and property. Due to inclement spring weather, other crops may have been planted in place of or along with sunflowers. Participating properties include Atterbury, Goose Pond, Jasper-Pulaski, Kankakee, Kingsbury, Pigeon River, Glendale, J.E. Roush Lake, Willow Slough, Blue Grass and Winamac Fish & Wildlife areas (FWAs).

• FWA Waterfowl hunts: Participating FWAs include Goose Pond, Hovey Lake, Kankakee, Kingsbury, LaSalle, and Willow Slough. Province Pond Wetland Conservation Area, managed by J.E. Roush Lake FWA, will also participate.

• FWA Deer hunts: Participating FWAs include Deer Creek and Fairbanks Landing. 

• State park deer hunts: State Parks participating include Chain O’Lakes, Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, Indiana Dunes, Lincoln, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run, Versailles and Whitewater Memorial. Trine State Recreation Area and Cave River Valley Natural Area will also participate.

• Military and National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Deer hunts: Properties participating include Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Big Oaks NWR, and Muscatatuck NWR. Muscatatuck NWR will host one reserved firearms deer hunt for youth.

• Indiana Private Lands Access (IPLA) hunts: IPLA will offer deer, waterfowl and game bird hunts. Applications for the deer and waterfowl hunts will be accepted July 6 through Aug. 9. Applications for the game bird hunts will be accepted Aug. 16 through Sept. 30. Applicants may select the date(s) and location when applying.

• Pheasant hunts: The application period for pheasant hunts will open Aug. 16 and close Sept. 30. Additional information about the hunts will become available at a later date.

Please note only one application per hunt is allowed. No changes may be made once an application is submitted.

The application process is now consolidated into the license system website along with CheckIN Game and HIP registration. An online account is not required to apply, but a Customer ID number is needed.

In the system, hunts without a registration fee will follow the same process as those with a fee. To register for hunts with no fee required, applicants will be asked to “Add to Cart,” “Proceed to Checkout” and “Place Order.” If the transaction total is $0, the applicant will not be asked to enter credit card information. Applicants must hit “Place Order” to finish their application.

To view draw results, applicants can log in to their license system account or click “View hunt draw results” at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt. From there, applicants should select “Click here” under Reserved Hunts to see the status of registered hunts. The link will show only upcoming hunts an individual has registered for. Logging into their online account is required to see the full history of past hunt registrations.

Time to tally Indiana wild turkeys

Volunteers can help DNR learn more about Indiana’s wild turkey populations by reporting turkey broods as of July 1 through August 31. The report form has been improved and updated to be more convenient for volunteers.

Each summer, wildlife biologists and volunteers from across Indiana conduct brood surveys, counting the number of turkey hens with or without broods to estimate how many young turkeys survive through the summer. Summer brood survival is one of the primary factors influencing wild turkey population trends in various regions of the state and informs wild turkey management. This year DNR hopes to collect 3,000 reports across the state with a goal of at least 25 reports per county.

Individuals will have an easier time submitting sightings using the new form, which requires no password and can be found at https://bit.ly/3z2Vx5h. The link includes instructions for the survey and an illustrative guide on how to report wild turkey broods and hens, as well as the results of the previous summers’ brood surveys.

Volunteers for state fair fishin’ pond

The Division of Fish & Wildlife is looking for volunteers to help at the State Fair Fishin’ Pond. You can help families register onsite, teach kids how to fish with cane poles or tie fishing knots and untangle lines.

The Fishin’ Pond is open on Opening Day of the fair (Friday, July 30), then every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4 p.m.-7 p.m. throughout the fair. The fair ends August 22.

Volunteer shifts last four hours. Volunteers will receive free parking, a free State Fair ticket, and a free T-shirt. With four volunteer stations, there’s an opportunity for everyone.

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication, or e-mail to jackspaulding@hughes.net. Spaulding’s books, “The Best of Spaulding Outdoors,” and his latest, “The Coon Hunter And The Kid,” are available from Amazon.com.