Early migratory bird 2010 season dates

The 2010 early migratory bird season dates have been submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the Indiana DNR as listed below.
As in other years, these dates are not final until the USFWS approves them, which typically happens by the end of August. The season dates fall within the framework provided by USFWS, so no changes are anticipated. A later Wild Bulletin will notify you of approval or change.
Indiana’s requested seasons have never been altered by USFWS after submission; however, there is always the slight possibility of change; therefore, the dates below should not be interpreted as being final.
Bag limit, possession limit and licensing information is at hunting.IN.gov.
–Mourning Doves

Statewide, 15-bird bag/30-bird possession limit: Sept. 1–Oct. 17 & Nov. 5–27

–Sora Rails

Statewide, 25-bird bag/25-bird possession limit: Sept. 1–Nov. 9

–Woodcock

Statewide, three-bird bag/six-bird possession limit: Oct. 15–Nov. 28

–Common Snipe

Statewide, eight-bird bag/16-bird possession limit: Sept. 1–Dec. 16

–September Teal

Statewide, four-bird bag/eight-bird possession limit, blue- and green-winged teal only: Sept. 4–19

–Canada Geese

Statewide, five-bird bag/10-bird possession limit: Sept. 1–15

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For more information: Adam Phelps, DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife, (812) 334-1137, aphelps@dnr.in.gov

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Regular-season 2010 waterfowl season dates
The regular-season waterfowl dates, as proposed to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) by the Indiana DNR, are listed below. The dates are not final until approved by the USFWS in mid- to late September. Look for another Wild Bulletin around that time that will either confirm or amend these dates. Historically, they have been accepted as proposed.
–Ducks, coots, and mergansers:
North Zone: Oct. 16–Dec. 14
South Zone: Oct. 23–31 and Nov. 24, 2010–Jan. 13, 2011
Ohio River Zone: Oct. 30–31 and Nov. 27, 2010–Jan. 23, 2011

The bag limit is six ducks daily, including no more than four mallards (no more than two of which may be hens), three wood ducks, two pintails, two redheads, two scaup, one canvasback, one black duck, and one mottled duck. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

–Canada geese:
North Zone: Oct. 16–17 and Nov. 6, 2010–Jan. 16, 2011
South Zone: Oct. 23–31 and Nov. 24, 2010–Jan. 27, 2011
Ohio River Zone: Oct. 30–31, 2010 and Nov. 21, 2010–Jan. 31, 2011
Bag limit is two Canada geese daily; possession limit is four.
–Late Canada Goose Zone: Feb. 1–15, 2011
The late Canada Goose Zone includes the following counties: Adams, Allen, Boone, Clay, DeKalb, Elkhart, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Huntington, Johnson, Kosciusko, LaPorte, LaGrange, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Noble, Parke, St. Joseph, Shelby, Steuben, Starke, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, Wells and Whitley. Special restrictions apply: a free permit is required.
Special Regulations: Terre Haute Subzone (Vermillion, Parke, Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, and Greene counties)

All birds harvested in the Terre Haute subzone during this special season must be checked at a state goose check station. Check-station locations and hours will be sent to participants with their permit, and will be available beginning in December at wildlife.IN.gov.

–Light geese and brant:
Statewide: Oct. 16, 2010–Jan. 28, 2011
Bag limit of 20 light geese (snow and/or Ross' geese) and one brant. Possession limit is two brant. There is no possession limit on light geese.

Light goose conservation order: Feb. 1–March 31, 2011, EXCEPT
within the Late Canada Goose Zone: Feb. 16–March 31, 2011
No bag or possession limit. A free permit is required. Details will be available later in the winter.

–White-fronted geese
Nov. 6, 2010–Jan. 30, 2011
Bag limit of one white-fronted goose. Possession limit is two.

–Youth waterfowl hunt:
North Zone: Oct. 9–10, 2010
South Zone: Oct. 16–17, 2010
Ohio River Zone: Oct. 23–24, 2010
Bag and possession limits are the same as for the regular seasons. Season is open to youths 15 years of age or younger, accompanied by an adult.

–Extended Falconry:
Ducks, coots and mergansers:
North Zone: Sept. 27–30, 2010 and Feb. 14–March 10, 2011
South Zone: Oct. 16–22, 2010 and Feb. 17–March 10, 2011
Ohio River Zone: Oct. 23–29, 2010 and Feb. 17–March 10, 2011
Late Canada goose season will continue
The Late Canada Goose Zone season will continue. This season will be open Feb. 1-15, 2011, in the following counties: Adams, Allen, Boone, Clay, DeKalb, Elkhart, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Huntington, Johnson, Kosciusko, La Porte, LaGrange, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Noble, Parke, St. Joseph, Shelby, Starke, Steuben, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, Wells and Whitley. During this season, hunters may take five Canada geese per day.
The evaluation of the late seasons for the past three years has shown that most of the state exceeds the 80 percent giant harvest required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for special late seasons; however, the Terre Haute subzone did not reach 80 percent. The Service has allowed Indiana DNR to continue the hunt in this subzone as long as we continue to evaluate harvest there. See below for special regulations in the Terre Haute subzone.
Hunters will still be required to obtain a special permit. However, only birds taken in the Terre Haute subzone (Vermillion, Parke, Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, and Greene counties) will need to be checked at a DNR check station. Details will be available later this winter.
In the Late Canada Goose Zone, the Light Goose Conservation Order does not open until Feb. 16, the day after the Late Canada Goose season closes.
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More information: Adam Phelps, DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife, (812) 334-1137, aphelps@dnr.in.gov

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2010 Dove Draw Results Posted
The 2010 Dove Draw Results are now posted online at hunting.IN.gov. Click on the Reserved Hunt Information link, then view draw results.




About Fish and Wildlife Management in Indiana
Fish and wildlife management and public access are funded by fishing and hunting license revenue and also through the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Programs administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These programs collect excise taxes on sporting arms and ammunition, archery equipment, fishing equipment, and motor boat fuels. The money is distributed among state fish and wildlife agencies based on land size and the number of licensed anglers and hunters in each state. Find out more information about fish and wildlife management in Indiana at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild.