State Fair, reserved hunts and turkey observations

Indiana Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 07/10/2018 09:33 AM EDT

Sign up for a reserved hunt

Applications for reserved hunts are now being accepted online.

State Fair Fishin’ Pond volunteers needed

We need volunteers to help kids around the DNR Fishin’ Pond during the Indiana State Fair, Aug. 3–19. Volunteers get free admission to the Fair on the day they work, a free Fishin’ Pond T-shirt, and the opportunity to teach kids how to fish. Volunteers are also needed to register youth and assist them with a fish coloring activity.

Visit us at the Indiana State Fair

This year DNR Fish & Wildlife will offer several free education presentations during the State Fair, Aug. 3–19. Please be sure to join us at the DNR Building for as many of these programs as you can:

Friday, Aug. 3: Paddlefish & Sturgeon, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 4: Wild Game Cookout, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 4: Native Plants & Pollinators, 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 11: Fish Cooking Demonstration, 2–4 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 12: Wild Game Cooking Demonstration, 2–4 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 17: Living with Wildlife, 2–4 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 19: Pond Management, 1 p.m.

Be careful when mowing

In spring and summer months, consider waiting to mow unused areas of your property to protect vital wildlife habitat. Many species of wildlife are rearing young during this time period, including rabbits, deer, wild turkey and bobwhite quail. Tall grasses provide good hiding places for young wildlife to escape predators. By not mowing you’ll also avoid destroying the nests of birds that nest on the ground. Mowing is best done outside the April 1 to Aug. 1 window.

Report wild turkey observations online

Wild turkey summer production success is critical information needed for managing wild turkey populations. The turkey brood survey is now open through August. The public can report observations of wild turkey hens and their young poults.

Urban Wildlife Program

Fish & Wildlife’s Urban Wildlife Program specializes in supporting sustainable, wildlife-friendly practices in Indiana’s most populated areas. Urban wildlife biologists work with private businesses, local government, and individual citizens to promote conservation and develop attractive landscapes.

The Urban Wildlife Program provides technical assistance for wildlife-friendly habitat development, cost-share opportunities for habitat establishment and maintenance, educational outreach, and guidance to prevent and reduce concerns with wildlife around the home.

Purple paint means no trespassing

Hunters, anglers, trappers and anyone else who enjoys time in the woods will need to be aware of a new law that took effect July 1.

Per Indiana Code (IC 35-43-2-2), landowners may mark no-trespassing areas of their property with purple paint instead of no-trespassing signs.

The purple-paint perimeter serves the same legal purpose as a “No Trespassing” sign. Painting can be done around the perimeter of the area where entry is denied on either trees or posts.

The purple marks must be readily visible to any person approaching the property. For more information, see IC 35-43-2-2 at iga.IN.gov.

July is National Lake Appreciation Month

To monitor and preserve Indiana’s lakes, DNR Fish & Wildlife conducts annual surveys across the state through the Status and Trends Program. Since 2010, fisheries biologists have monitored fish communities, water quality, and aquatic vegetation at 155 lakes, totaling nearly 30,000 acres through this program. Each of these surveys provides valuable information that resource managers and stewards use to conserve clean water, diverse fish-and-wildlife communities, and outdoor recreation for future generations.

Vote for Eagle Creek Reservoir

Eagle Creek Reservoir has officially been named a Top Mom-Approved Place to Fish and Boat in Indiana. DNR Fish & Wildlife manages this fishery, and now we need your votes. To earn the honor of being named in the Top 10 Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat in the nation. Voting is open through July 20, and each vote is a chance to win a family fishing and boating trip in Florida.

Fishing’s Future one-millionth participant in Indiana

An important milestone in aquatic education will take place July 28 in Indianapolis at Fort Harrison State Park. Fishing’s Future, a national 501(c)(3) organization, will celebrate and recognize its one-millionth participant attending an angling education Family Fish Camp. Participants must register to attend this event. For more information or to register

NRC to meet July 17 at Fort Harrison State Park

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, July 17, at the Garrison at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.

Bird of the Month: wood duck

Wood ducks (Aix sponsa) are a common duck species found throughout the U.S., Mexico and parts of Canada. They were threatened with extinction in the late 1800s and early 1900s, primarily due to year-long hunting seasons, and a lack of bag limits and regulations.

Thanks to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918, which enacted hunting regulations, as well as efforts to increase breeding habitat and the installation of nest boxes, their population has steadily increased since the 1950s. Their revival was also due in part to heavily vegetated swamplands in Florida and other Southern states that offered more protection than many other regions.

Wood ducks are a favorite of Indiana waterfowl hunters and birders. They are preferred not only because of their lovely colors and features, but also because many hunters claim they are the tastiest of duck species. There was a ban on hunting wood ducks from 1918 until 1941, when a handful of states opened a one-bird bag limit on wood ducks. The Mississippi Flyway (including Indiana) closed wood duck hunting again from 1954-56, and resumed one-bird bag limits in 1957.

By 1962, populations were deemed sufficient to set a daily bag limit of two, where it remained until 2008. Since 2008, the bag limit for wood ducks has been three per day.

Wood ducks can be seen in Indiana throughout the early spring and summer, and well into the fall. Most usually leave by the end of November or early December (earlier in the North and later in the South Zone), though a few are reported throughout the winter months. The best hunting opportunity for wood ducks in Indiana is typically at the start of the season in October.

Free events throughout Indiana in July

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 Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs administered by the U.S. Fish & 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 Wildlife.IN.gov.

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