Post by Woody Williams on Jul 21, 2005 16:18:57 GMT -5
Parks seek volunteer hunters for deer herd reduction
One state nature preserve and 16 state parks will have controlled deer herd reduction hunts on Nov. 14, 15, 28 and 29.
Chain O''Lakes, Charlestown, Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, Harmonie, Lincoln,McCormick''s Creek, Ouabache, Pokagon, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run, Versailles and Whitewater Memorial state parks, as well as Twin Swamps Nature Preserve, show signs of too many deer and are slated for reductions.
Applications to participate in a deer herd reduction are available at state park and state reservoir offices, or at:
www.dnr.IN.gov
Properties holding a hunt will be closed to the public on the days of the reduction.
Park deer management history
---------------------------------
The Indiana DNR first began to reduce the size of deer herds at state parks in 1993 with a one-day reduction at Brown County State Park. An obvious browse line had developed in the park, with deer feeding on vegetation from the ground to as high as they could reach.
In 1994, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation mandating the director of the DNR to order a hunt in a state park when a species of a wild
animal would damage the ecosystem of that park.
Deer herd reductions have been conducted as needed at 20 of Indiana''s 22 state parks since 1995.
Over the years, with the assistance of Purdue University, DNR developed a scientific measure of park damage caused by deer, and a formula to determine
a schedule for deer herd reductions.
Data collected by DNR biologists and naturalists is used each year to determine the need for a reduction in each park. Three parks that had reductions last year will not be included this year and four parks, which
were not included last year, are included this year.
Volunteer hunter qualifications--------------------------------
Each year the DNR asks for qualified volunteer hunters in Indiana to participate in the herd reduction. To be eligible, an applicant must be an Indiana resident, at least 18 years old on Nov. 14, and hold a valid
resident hunting license to take deer. DNR will choose the participants by a random drawing from the pool of applicants.
Hunters who have completed the Indiana Hunter Education Course will be given preference to participate in the hunts. Firearm hunt weapons are limited to
shotguns, muzzleloaders and handguns. Two parks, Clifty Falls and Ft. Harrison, will be limited to hunters using archery equipment.
Hunters at the archery locations may submit either a hunter''s education course or bowhunter''s education course certificate.
A mail-in request for an application will also be in the DNR''s Indiana Hunting and Trapping Guide, available later this summer in sporting goods stores and DNR offices. Completed applications must be postmarked no later than Sept. 6, 2005. Completed applications also may be hand-delivered to 402 W. Washington St., Room W264 in Indianapolis any business day until noon
(Indianapolis time), Friday, Sept. 9.
Hunters with questions about the herd reduction application can call 317-232-4124.
INDIANA STATE PARKS – 2005 DEER REDUCTION – INFORMATION-
Dates: November 14th & 15th, 2005 –and- November 28th & 29th, 2005
Firearms Locations:
Chain O’ Lakes State Park – 110 hunters
Charlestown State park – 80 hunters
Harmonie State Park – 170 hunters
Lincoln State Park – 80 hunters
McCormick’s Creek state Park – 80 hunters
Ouabache State park – 50 hunters
Pokagon State Park – 60 hunters
Shades State Park – 155 hunters
Shakamak State Park – 60 hunters
Spring Mill State Park – 60 hunters
Tippecanoe River State Park – 130 hunters
Turkey Run State Park – 100 hunters
Versailles State Park – 295 hunters
Whitewater Memorial State Park – 85 hunters
Twin Swamps Nature Preserve – 30 hunters
Archery Locations:
Clifty Falls State Park – 130 hunters
Fort Harrison State Park – 200 hunters
You can print off applications at:
www.state.in.us/dnr/documents/new2005deerdraw.pdf
One state nature preserve and 16 state parks will have controlled deer herd reduction hunts on Nov. 14, 15, 28 and 29.
Chain O''Lakes, Charlestown, Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, Harmonie, Lincoln,McCormick''s Creek, Ouabache, Pokagon, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run, Versailles and Whitewater Memorial state parks, as well as Twin Swamps Nature Preserve, show signs of too many deer and are slated for reductions.
Applications to participate in a deer herd reduction are available at state park and state reservoir offices, or at:
www.dnr.IN.gov
Properties holding a hunt will be closed to the public on the days of the reduction.
Park deer management history
---------------------------------
The Indiana DNR first began to reduce the size of deer herds at state parks in 1993 with a one-day reduction at Brown County State Park. An obvious browse line had developed in the park, with deer feeding on vegetation from the ground to as high as they could reach.
In 1994, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation mandating the director of the DNR to order a hunt in a state park when a species of a wild
animal would damage the ecosystem of that park.
Deer herd reductions have been conducted as needed at 20 of Indiana''s 22 state parks since 1995.
Over the years, with the assistance of Purdue University, DNR developed a scientific measure of park damage caused by deer, and a formula to determine
a schedule for deer herd reductions.
Data collected by DNR biologists and naturalists is used each year to determine the need for a reduction in each park. Three parks that had reductions last year will not be included this year and four parks, which
were not included last year, are included this year.
Volunteer hunter qualifications--------------------------------
Each year the DNR asks for qualified volunteer hunters in Indiana to participate in the herd reduction. To be eligible, an applicant must be an Indiana resident, at least 18 years old on Nov. 14, and hold a valid
resident hunting license to take deer. DNR will choose the participants by a random drawing from the pool of applicants.
Hunters who have completed the Indiana Hunter Education Course will be given preference to participate in the hunts. Firearm hunt weapons are limited to
shotguns, muzzleloaders and handguns. Two parks, Clifty Falls and Ft. Harrison, will be limited to hunters using archery equipment.
Hunters at the archery locations may submit either a hunter''s education course or bowhunter''s education course certificate.
A mail-in request for an application will also be in the DNR''s Indiana Hunting and Trapping Guide, available later this summer in sporting goods stores and DNR offices. Completed applications must be postmarked no later than Sept. 6, 2005. Completed applications also may be hand-delivered to 402 W. Washington St., Room W264 in Indianapolis any business day until noon
(Indianapolis time), Friday, Sept. 9.
Hunters with questions about the herd reduction application can call 317-232-4124.
INDIANA STATE PARKS – 2005 DEER REDUCTION – INFORMATION-
Dates: November 14th & 15th, 2005 –and- November 28th & 29th, 2005
Firearms Locations:
Chain O’ Lakes State Park – 110 hunters
Charlestown State park – 80 hunters
Harmonie State Park – 170 hunters
Lincoln State Park – 80 hunters
McCormick’s Creek state Park – 80 hunters
Ouabache State park – 50 hunters
Pokagon State Park – 60 hunters
Shades State Park – 155 hunters
Shakamak State Park – 60 hunters
Spring Mill State Park – 60 hunters
Tippecanoe River State Park – 130 hunters
Turkey Run State Park – 100 hunters
Versailles State Park – 295 hunters
Whitewater Memorial State Park – 85 hunters
Twin Swamps Nature Preserve – 30 hunters
Archery Locations:
Clifty Falls State Park – 130 hunters
Fort Harrison State Park – 200 hunters
You can print off applications at:
www.state.in.us/dnr/documents/new2005deerdraw.pdf
