Post by Woody Williams on Feb 23, 2011 12:22:38 GMT -5
Youth turkey hunt opportunities at Fish and Wildlife properties
Hunters under age 18 will have a chance to hunt 22 DNR properties for the reserved turkey hunts during the special youth wild turkey hunting season on April 23-24.
The youth hunts will be at Atterbury, Chinook, Crosley, Deer Creek, Fairbanks Landing, Glendale, Goose Pond, Hillenbrand, Hovey Lake, Jasper-Pulaski, Kankakee, Kingsbury, LaSalle, Minnehaha, Pigeon River, J.E. Roush, Sugar Ridge, Tri-County, Willow Slough and Winamac fish and wildlife areas, as well as at Mississinewa and Salamonie lakes.
A youth hunter may be drawn for either or both hunt days, depending on the number of applicants. Youth hunters, or an adult representing them, must register in person at the property they wish to hunt from March 21–April 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time. The drawing will be held April 4. All applicants will be notified of drawing results by mail.
Those wanting to sign up for Chinook, Deer Creek, Fairbanks Landing, or Hillenbrand hunts may do so at Minnehaha FWA.
A limit will be placed on the number of youth hunters allowed to hunt a property each day, to provide quality hunts. Each property will hold local early registrations and drawings at the property for the half-day hunts.
Hunts will run one-half hour before sunrise until noon at properties in the Central Time Zone, and one-half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. on properties in the Eastern Time Zone.
Applicants may sign up for only one property and must possess a valid 2011 Youth Hunting and Trapping License, Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting, or Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting and Fishing License. An Apprentice Youth Hunt/Trap license may also be used.
Youth hunters who are selected for the hunt may check in at any time each day until the end of legal hunting hours for that property. Properties that do not fill their quotas during early registration may fill remaining spots during regular office hours until the youth season opens, using a drawing each morning of the hunt, or first-come, first-served each morning of the hunt. Properties will not have a daily “no-show” drawing because there is no set time that selected youth hunters must check in during the morning hunts. Hunters interested in possible unfilled quotas at a property should contact that property for more information before showing up on the opening morning of the youth season.
During youth wild turkey season, youth hunters can only take a bearded or male wild turkey and must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age.
The youth hunter may use any legal shotgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow. The adult accompanying the youth hunter must not possess a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow while in the field. The adult does not need to possess a turkey hunting license unless the youth is using an apprentice license. A youth hunter may take only one bearded or male wild turkey during both the special youth season and regular spring season combined. The youth must be properly licensed to take a wild turkey and comply with all tagging and check-in requirements.
You can purchase a license at IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov. For wild turkey hunting regulations, safety and tips go to dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/2343.htm .
For additional information, go to dnr.IN.gov/fishwild.
