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2009-2010 Waterfowl Seasons and Regulations

Ducks, Coots and Mergansers

Waterfowl breeding habitat is wetter in much of prairie Canada, and much wetter in the U.S. prairies, than last year. Production this year is expected to be good throughout the most of the prairies and good in the northern Canadian parklands. Habitat conditions in eastern Canada are also good.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates the mallard breeding population at 8.5 million, 10% more than last year and 13% over the long-term average. Estimates of most species increased, with redhead, black duck, and wigeon numbers remaining stable. Scaup increased by 12% over last year, and have increased by 28% since 2006. Canvasbacks increased by 35%, prompting USFWS to re-open the canvasback season.

The daily bag limit for ducks is six. This includes any combination of goldeneyes, ruddy ducks, ring-necked ducks, buffleheads, gadwalls, long-tailed ducks, scoters, teal, wigeon and shovelers. Included in the daily limit of six are additional restrictions on the following:

• Mallards: Only four mallards may be taken daily, including not more than two females.
• Wood ducks: Only three wood ducks may be taken daily. 
• Redheads: Only two redheads may be taken daily.
• Scaup: Only two scaup may be taken daily.
• Black ducks: Only one black duck may be taken daily.
• Pintails: Only one pintail may be taken daily.
• Canvasback: Only one canvasback may be taken daily.
• Mottled duck: Only one mottled duck may be taken daily.
• The daily bag limit for coots is 15.
• The daily bag for mergansers (which is separate from the duck limit) is five, including not more than two hooded mergansers.
• Possession limit for ducks, coots and mergansers is two times the daily bag limit.
• Shooting hours: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Shooting hours at some DNR properties may vary.

Canada Geese

A very late spring affected nesting for both long-distance migrant populations that use Indiana. The Mississippi Valley Population likely experienced little production this year, but is still at about average population levels. Moderate to poor production is expected from the Southern James Bay Population of Canada geese this year, but these geese likely did better than the MVP. The Mississippi Flyway giant population remained stable this year. Overall breeding conditions in the Flyway were good, and conditions within Indiana for breeding geese seemed to be better than the past two years.

Snow Geese, Brant and White-fronted Geese

The possession limit for Canada geese, white-fronted geese and brant is two times the daily limit. There is no possession limit for light geese.

Youth Waterfowl Weekends

Hunters must be 15 years of age or younger to participate and must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age. An adult may accompany more than one youth. The accompanying adult may not hunt waterfowl that day (except snow geese or brant when and where the season is open). Bag and species limits are the same as those allowed in the regular season.

Late Canada Goose Zone Season

• Indiana Late Goose Hunting Permits

Indiana is once again offering a late season for Canada geese during the 2009-10 hunting season. This late season targets urban geese that are forced out of towns and cities to feed as the weather gets colder. Snow cover also helps to drive birds out of town. The 2009 season was a big success, with approximately 6,300 Canada geese harvested.

The season runs from 1 – 15 February 2010 in the following counties only: Adams, Allen, Boone, Clay, De Kalb, Elkhart, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Huntington, Johnson, Kosciusko, La Porte, Lagrange, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Noble, Parke, St. Joseph, Shelby, Steuben, Starke, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, Wells, and Whitley.

Many years of surveying and research went into the preparation of this season before it was approved by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Below are listed some of the important regulations of which you need to be aware when participating in this season. These regulations will be in effect for three to four years while we evaluate this late season.

1. The bag limit is five Canada geese per day (possession limit 10).
2. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
3. Hunters must have an Indiana hunting license, Indiana waterfowl stamp, federal waterfowl stamp, and a HIP number to participate.
4. Hunters must also have a special free permit to participate. These permits will be available beginning in early December at Indiana Fish and Wildlife Areas or electronically via the internet. More details on acquiring the free permit will be available later this winter. The permit has a brief survey attached to it. Hunters must return this survey to us. These surveys help us determine if we are meeting the federal requirements for this season. Failure to return the survey will make hunters ineligible for participation in this late season next year. The survey is postage-paid—no stamps are required. 
5.  Regular waterfowl regulations apply. It is illegal to take Canada geese using electronic callers, shotguns capable of holding more than three shells, or to shoot after sunset. 
6. All Canada geese harvested during this season must be checked at a state goose check station within 48 hours of kill or by noon on February 15th, whichever is sooner (see attached for a list of locations, dates, and times). Hunters will need to tell the check station operator the date and county of kill. Check station personnel will age and sex the bird. If the bird is an adult, the head will be kept, and the rest of the bird returned to the hunter. Juvenile birds will not have the head removed. We need to measure the heads to determine the proportion of Indiana giant Canada geese taken during this season. Hunters will be given a check receipt for their birds, which must be shown to a conservation officer upon request. Birds may be breasted out before being checked, but the head, tail, reproductive parts, and at least one fully-feathered wing must be attached at the time of check.
7. Hunters are encouraged to report any banded geese harvested. This will help augment the data gathered through the check stations. Goose bands may be reported by calling toll-free 1-800-327-BAND, or online at http://www.reportband.gov/

The check stations will be open from 11am – 3pm on Fridays through Monday and Wednesdays of the late season (February 1, 3, 5-8, 10, 12-15). They may be open at other times, but hunters should call ahead to make sure there is someone there who can check birds if going outside of these published times.

Fish and Wildlife Areas

• Kankakee: 4320 W Toto Rd, North Judson; (574) 896-3522
• Kingsbury: 5344 S Hupp Rd, LaPorte; (219) 393-3612
• Pigeon River: 8310 E 300 N, Mongo; (260) 367-2164
• Tri-County: 8432 N 850 E, Syracuse; (574) 834-4461
• Atterbury: 7970 S Rowe St, Edinburgh; (812) 526-2051
• Minnehaha: 2411 E SR 54, Sullivan; (812) 268-5640
• Goose Pond: two miles south of Linton on SR 59; (812) 659-9901

Reservoirs

• Hardin Lake (Raccoon SRA office parking lot): 1588 S Raccoon Pkwy, Rockville; (765) 344-1884
• Cagles Mill (Lieber SRA office): 1317 W Lieber Rd, Cloverdale; (765) 795-4576
• Salamonie (service area): 9214 W Lost Bridge, Andrews; (260) 468-2125
• Roush Lake (office): 517 N Warren Rd, Huntington; (260) 468-2165

State Parks (Please leave birds in your vehicle and inform staff that you have geese to check—they will accompany you to your vehicle.)

• Ouabache (main gatehouse): 4930 E SR 201, Bluffton; (260) 824-0926
• Mounds (visitor center parking lot): 4306 Mounds Rd, Anderson; (765) 642-6627
• Turkey Run (nature center parking lot): 8121 E Park Rd, Marshall; (765) 597-2635
• Potato Creek (nature center parking lot): 25601 SR 4, North Liberty; (574) 656-8186
• Ft. Harrison (maintenance building): 5753 Glenn Rd, Indianapolis; (317) 591-0904

• Cikana State Fish Hatchery (East Unit, metal buildings): 2650 SR 44, Martinsville; (765) 342-5527
• Michigan City Fisheries Office: 100 W Water St, Michigan City; (219) 874-6824
• Northeast Regional Office: 1353 S Governors Dr, Columbia City; (260) 244-6805

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