Indiana spring turkey season

2010 Reserved Turkey Draw Hunt posted at www.wildlife.IN.gov
To access, click on “Reserved Draw Hunt Results.” Type in your last name and date of birth to view your results. Successfully drawn hunters will have a link with important information regarding their hunt. Please call the property if you have any additional questions.

Indiana youth turkey season, April 17 & 18

Indiana's 2010 youth turkey season takes place April 17 and 18. The special season is open to hunters age 17 or younger. Youth hunters are limited to one bearded or male wild turkey. To participate, a youth hunter must be accompanied in the field at all times by an adult who is at least 18 years old and is not in possession of a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow. The adult does not need a hunting license, unless the youth is using an apprentice license. The youth must be properly licensed to take a wild turkey and must comply with all tagging and check-in requirements.

A list of check stations is in the 2009-2010 Hunting and Trapping Guide or at www.wildlife.IN.gov. Legal equipment includes 10-, 12-, 16-, or 20-gauge shotguns, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

An apprentice license is available to youths who have yet to complete the requirement of hunter education. All persons, regardless of age, are limited to three apprentice licenses in their lifetime.
---
For more information: Kevin Hoffman, Division of Fish and Wildlife, (317) 234-5904, khoffman@dnr.in.gov.
---

Safety tips for youth turkey season

Indiana conservation officers encourage youth turkey hunters participating in the April 17 and 18 youth turkey season to review the following basic turkey hunting safety guidelines and laws before going afield.

– Do not load your firearm until ready to use. Always keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction, and keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

– Always remember that other hunters or persons may be present in the area.

– Choose a hunting position that gives you a good field of view, not only of an approaching turkey, but also of other hunters who may be in the area.

– Call out or whistle to other hunters who may approach; never wave or stand up.

– Never wear clothing or use accessories that are red, white or blue. A gobbler turkey head can be any and all of these three colors.

– Always identify your target and what is beyond it before taking a shot. Never shoot at a movement or sound.

– Always use a flashlight when walking in the dark; it reduces the risk of being mistaken for game by an irresponsible hunter.

Wild turkeys may be hunted only from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Hunting hours may vary on some state properties.
---
For more information: Mark Farmer, DNR Law Enforcement public information officer, (317) 232–0658, mfarmer@dnr.in.gov.
---

Indiana spring turkey season, April 21–May 9

Indiana’s 2010 spring turkey season takes place April 21 through May 9.

The bag limit is one bearded or male turkey for the entire spring season. Bag limits and licenses do not carry over to the fall season. Game bird habitat stamp privileges are good for both spring and fall seasons in the same calendar year.

To hunt wild turkey, Indiana residents need a resident turkey hunting license and a game bird habitat stamp privilege, or a lifetime comprehensive hunting, or a lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing, or a youth consolidated hunt/trap (which includes the game bird habitat stamp).

For information on non-resident wild turkey licenses, see page 4 of the hunting guide at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2343.htm.

Turkeys may be hunted from ground level or from elevated stands. Turkeys can be called with mouth- or hand-operated calls. Artificial turkey decoys may be used. It is illegal to use or possess dogs, live decoys, electronically powered or controlled decoys or recorded calls when hunting turkeys. It is illegal to hunt turkeys over bait (an area is considered baited for 10 days after removal of bait).

---
For more information: Kevin Hoffman, Division of Fish and Wildlife, (317) 234-5904, khoffman@dnr.in.gov.
---