2007 DNR reserved hunt opportunities
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The Indiana Department of Natural Resources offers hunters reserved hunts for
mourning dove, military/refuge deer, Goose Pond FWA upland game, and game bird
habitat area pheasants. Hunters can also apply for state park deer reduction
hunts.
Hunters can apply online after July 1 for late-summer and fall 2007 reserved
hunts at:
http://www.in.gov/dnr/indianaoutdoor/ Hunters can also mail application cards from the 2007-08 Indiana Hunting and
Trapping Guide, which will be available in late July at most sporting goods
shops, outdoor stores and DNR properties throughout the state. A copy of the
mail-in applications will also be available after July 1 at
www.wildlife.IN.gov. Hunters may use a single mail-in application to apply for any or all of the
dove, pheasant, state park deer reduction, Goose Pond FWA upland game or
military/refuge deer hunts, as well as the spring 2008 spring wild turkey
reserved hunts. A person can apply for each type of hunt only once.
All applicants will be notified of drawing results by mail.
2007 reserved hunt application deadlines
--------------------------------
First date listed is mail-in application due date
Second date is online application deadline
- DNR Property Dove Hunts (July 20; Aug. 3)
- Military/Refuge Deer Hunts (Aug. 17; Aug. 31)
- State Park Deer Reduction Hunts (Aug. 17; Aug. 31)
- Goose Pond Upland Game Hunts (Sept. 21; Oct. 5)
- DNR Reserved Pheasant Hunts (Sept. 21; Oct. 5)
Mail-in applications for each hunt must be received at the DNR Customer Service
Center in Indianapolis by the due date to be eligible for the drawing. Late
applications and/or incorrectly filled-out applications will be disqualified. If
more than one application is received for the same hunter, all applications for
that hunter will be disqualified.
No faxed or over-the-phone applications will be accepted. Overnight mailed
applications are acceptable, but must be received at the DNR Customer Service
Center by the due date, not merely postmarked by that date. Walk-in applications
will be accepted at the DNR Customer Service Center until 4:30 p.m. on the due
date.
The DNR Customer Service Center is located in the Indiana Government Center
South, 402 W. Washington St., Room W160, Indianapolis. Service Center hours are
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
If you have any questions regarding the application process, contact DNR
Customer Service Center at (317) 232-4200.
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DNR Property Dove Hunts
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Mail-in application due by July 20
Online application deadline, Aug. 3
The Department of Natural Resources offers reserved mourning dove hunts by
random drawing at 12 properties.
Hunters can apply for the reserved dove hunts by completing the 2007 reserved
dove hunt application in the 2007-08 Indiana Hunting and Trapping Guide, or they
may apply online after July 1 at
www.IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov. The reserved hunts will take place the first two days of mourning dove season,
except at Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area, which will draw for the second and
fourth days of the season.
Migratory game bird hunting seasons, such as mourning dove, are subject to
approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and will not be set until late
summer. Dove season in Indiana typically begins Sept. 1.
Participating properties have managed hunting fields planted with sunflower,
millet or wheat to provide habitat for doves. Dove field growing conditions can
vary across the state. Wet weather can delay planting. Dry weather can stunt
sunflower growth. If traveling far to a hunt, contact the property office a week
or so before your hunt to check dove field conditions.
Kankakee and Pigeon River fish and wildlife areas require non-toxic shot for all
dove hunters.
Hunters will be selected through a random drawing. Hunters who are selected for
the reserved dove hunt may bring one hunting partner. Selected hunters and their
hunting partners must claim their reservation prior to 11 a.m. the day of the
hunt. Hunting spots on fish and wildlife areas and reservoirs that are not
claimed will be filled with stand-by hunters.
During the rest of dove hunting season, participating properties will have
drawings each day at 11 a.m. to allocate hunting sites in managed fields. To
participate in these drawings, arrive at the property by 10:30 a.m. Blue Grass
FWA will have open dove hunting on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays only after
the fourth day of dove season. Other DNR properties may also have open dove
hunting available.
DNR reserved dove hunt properties
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-Blue Grass Fish and Wildlife Area, (812) 789-2724
-Hardy Lake, (812) 794-3800
-Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area, (219) 843-4841
-Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area, (574) 896-3522
-Kingsbury Fish and Wildlife Area, (219) 393-3612
-LaSalle Fish and Wildlife Area, (219) 992-3019
-Mississinewa Reservoir, (765) 473-6528
-Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area, (260) 367-2164
-Roush Lake, (260) 468-2165
-Salamonie Reservoir, (260) 468-2125
-Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area, (219) 285-2704
-Winamac Fish and Wildlife Area, (574) 946-4422
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2007 Deer Reduction Hunts
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Mail-in application due Aug. 17
Online application deadline, Aug. 31
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will hold controlled deer herd
reduction hunts at 18 state parks and one nature preserve.
Deer herd reductions are sometimes required at state parks and nature preserves
to maintain a deer herd size that is compatible with the ecosystem of each state
park.
Hunters can apply for the deer reduction hunts by completing the 2007 state park
deer reduction application in the 2007-08 Indiana Hunting and Trapping Guide, or
they may apply online after July 1 at
www.IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov. Mail-in applications should also be available at the park properties after July
1. The mail-in application deadline is Aug. 17. Reductions will take place Nov.
26-27 and Dec. 10-11. Hunters will be selected using a random drawing. Deer
taken in these hunts are in addition to all other deer bag limits. You may bring
up to two buddies for this hunt. You must enter buddy information on the
application.
To be eligible for this hunt, you must be an Indiana resident, 18 years of age
by Nov. 26, 2007, and possess an Indiana license to take deer.
Each person may apply only once for each state park deer reduction event. Parks
where firearms are used will draw first from the pool of hunters who have a
valid Hunter Education Certificate. Parks designated for archery require an
International Bowhunter or Hunter Education Certificate to apply.
If you claim the hunter education preference and are drawn, you will be required
to present your hunter education card at the property
Deer Reduction Locations
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Firearm hunts
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-Chain O'Lakes State Park
-Charlestown State Park
-Harmonie State Park
-Indiana Dunes State Park
-Lincoln State Park
-McCormick's Creek State Park
-Ouabache State Park
-Pokagon State Park
-Potato Creek State Park
-Shades State Park
-Shakamak State Park
-Spring Mill State Park
-Tippecanoe River State Park
-Turkey Run State Park
-Versailles State Park
-Whitewater Memorial State Park
-Twin Swamps Nature Preserve
Archery hunts
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-Clifty Falls State Park
-Fort Harrison State Park
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Military/Refuge Deer Hunts
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Mail-in application due Aug. 17
Online application deadline, Aug. 31
Military/refuge deer hunts are offered for firearms hunters and archers on the
following areas: (Note age restrictions.)
- Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
- Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center (minimum age of 16 years old
unless accompanied by a parent) Hunter education certification and two pieces of
hunter orange required.
- Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center, (minimum age of 18 years old or 14 years
old if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian)
- Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge
Bonus antlerless deer licenses cannot be used for military/refuge hunts.
Handguns are not permitted on any military area.
Hunters can apply for the military/refuge hunts by completing the
Military/Refuge Deer Hunt mail-in application in the 2007-08 Indiana Hunting and
Trapping Guide, or they may apply online after July 1 at
www.IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov. The military deer hunt application contains blanks for first and second choices
for a firearms military/refuge hunt and an archery military/refuge hunt. If you
wish to apply for both hunts, you must apply for both on one application.
You may submit only one military/refuge application. However, you may fill out
and return the DNR property dove hunt, reserved pheasant hunt, and Goose Pond
FWA hunt applications at the same time as the military/refuge deer hunt
application.
If more than one application is received for the same hunter, all applications
for that hunter will be disqualified.
Hunters will be selected through a random drawing. All applicants will be
notified of the results by mail in late September. Information regarding success
in the drawing will not be available until after Oct. 1. If you have any
questions about the military/refuge deer hunt offerings, call the DNR Deer
Hotline at (812) 334-3795 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The drawing will not select partners. Every hunter selected through the drawing
may choose any person as a partner to hunt with him/her on any military/refuge
hunt. Selected hunters will have the option of hunting with or without a partner
on all areas that do not specifically require a partner. As in the past, Crane
NSWC and Big Oaks NWR require that you bring a partner.
The hunter selected in the drawing will be provided with two forms for admission
to the hunt (Notification I) and two license request certificates (Notification
II). While each individual can only submit one hunt drawing application, each
individual can participate in multiple hunts if chosen as a partner in addition
to being selected in the drawing. However, on any one hunt day, an individual
cannot be both a partner and a selected hunter or be a partner with more than
one selected hunter.
There is no limit on how many times a hunter can participate as a partner. A
hunter chosen as a partner by more than one person can use the partner license
request certificate from each selected hunter to obtain multiple licenses. A
partner can take one deer for each license provided, but may not exceed the
daily bag limit for the hunt area.
Big Oaks NWR Youth Hunt
-----------------------------
A youth deer hunt will be held at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge. To apply,
send a postcard postmarked by Oct. 1 with the youth's name, date of birth, phone
number and address to: Big Oaks NWR, 1661 W. JPG Niblo Rd., Madison, IN 47250.
For information about all Big Oaks hunts, visit:
www.fws.gov/midwest/bigoaks. Newport Chemical Depot
-----------------------
There will be no public hunt at the Newport Chemical Depot during the 2007
season.
Muscatatuck NWR
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Muscatatuck will have two separate special permit hunts, an archery hunt from
Oct. 27 - Nov. 11 and a muzzleloader hunt from Dec. 8 - Dec. 23.
The muzzleloader hunt must be placed as a firearms choice on the application.
Hunters may apply for both hunts but can be drawn for only one day during each
hunt. There is no choice of hunting dates. Handguns and crossbows are not
allowed. For information, call the refuge at (812)522-4352.
Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center
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Only one deer per person per hunt day may be taken with a firearm at Crane.
There will be no archery hunt.
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Goose Pond FWA Upland Game/Migratory Gamebird Hunts
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Mail-in application due Sept. 21
Online application deadline, Oct. 5
The Department of Natural Resources will offer two-day (Saturday and Sunday)
upland game hunts at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area near Linton.
Hunters can apply for the Goose Pond upland game hunts by completing the 2007
Goose Pond upland game hunts application in the 2007-08 Indiana Hunting and
Trapping Guide, or they may apply online after July 1 at
www.IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov. Selected hunters may hunt rabbit, quail, woodcock and snipe when in season.
Hunting hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Non-toxic shot is required. The daily
bag limit for quail is four birds. A selected hunter may bring one hunting
partner.
All applicants will be notified of the drawing results by mail.
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Gamebird Habitat Area Reserved Pheasant Hunts
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Mail-in application due Sept. 21
Online application deadline, Oct. 5
The DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife offers reserved hunts by random drawing on
Game Bird Habitat Areas in northern Indiana.
Hunters can apply for the pheasant hunts by completing the 2007 Pheasant Hunt
application in the 2007-08 Indiana Hunting and Trapping Guide, or they may apply
online after July 1 at
www.IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov. All applicants will be notified of the drawing results by mail. Successful
applicants may bring up to two hunting partners.
Game Bird Habitat Areas are managed specifically for ring-necked pheasant. Since
1986, hunters have harvested more than 12,000 pheasants on the managed areas.
This year, tracts in Jasper, Benton, Newton and White counties will be open for
hunting. The dates for the special hunts are Nov. 9, 10, 14, 17, 21, and Dec. 1,
8, 15 and 22.
For the 14th year, a one-day pheasant youth hunt has been reserved for youth
hunters under the age of 18. The youth pheasant hunt is Nov. 23.
Indiana requires anyone born after 1986 to successfully complete a hunter
education program in order to purchase a hunting license.
To apply, complete the Pheasant Hunt application in the 2007-08 Indiana Hunting
and Trapping Guide, and mark the Youth Hunt box for Nov. 23.
Youth hunters applying for the youth hunt date may not apply for regular hunt
dates. Successfully drawn youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult and may
invite one other hunting companion.
These Gamebird Habitat Area reserved pheasant hunts are not put-and-take hunts.
Hunters can apply for DNR put-and-take hunts online after Sept. 1. Stay tuned to
Wild Bulletin (
www.wildife.in.gov) for put-and-take hunt application updates.
