Post by Woody Williams on Aug 2, 2012 15:03:27 GMT -5
Free beginner waterfowl hunting workshops to be offered this fall
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will offer three free waterfowl hunting workshops this fall. The same material will be covered at all events—there is no need to attend more than one.
All are on Saturdays. The first will be at Farmland Conservation Club (Winchester), Aug. 18, from 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. The second is at Glenns Valley Conservation Club (Martinsville), Aug. 25, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The third is at Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area (Linton), Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
The workshops are for novice waterfowl hunters and those who want to try waterfowl hunting for the first time. All ages are welcome.
“We have had a wide range of ages, from 8 to 73,” said DNR waterfowl biologist Adam Phelps. “All beginners are welcome.”
Parents who already hunt waterfowl are welcome to bring children, but the material is tailored for beginners; experienced waterfowl hunters are unlikely to learn much from the workshops. Organizers hope to build on the successes of workshops held in recent years.
“We have had well over 100 people at previous events,” Phelps said. “Feedback from participants has been excellent and helped us fine-tune the presentations for this year.”
Partly because of such feedback, this year’s workshops will include some information on duck hunting but focus on goose hunting.
“We have found that lots of participants are most interested in goose hunting,” Phelps said. “Canada geese are definitely the easiest place to start hunting waterfowl, because they are abundant, they frequently use private land, and they are easy to identify.”
Presentation topics will include waterfowl hunting regulations; goose and duck identification; and equipment and techniques, including a show-and-tell segment. Waterfowl hunting equipment, including blinds, waders, clothing, decoys and gadgets, will be displayed and discussed.
“Despite all the equipment you can use, we stress that you can hunt geese and ducks with a minimum outlay, so we focus on what you must have,” Phelps said.
DNR Law Enforcement and Fish & Wildlife personnel will be available to answer questions. Lunch will be provided at the morning workshops. Goose sausage will be available to sample.
Workshops will vary, but all will occur at least partially outdoors. Participants should consider bringing a lawn chair and weather-appropriate clothing (a jacket or raincoat).
All workshops are free, but registration is required.
Location information:
Winchester: Farmland Conservation Club, Aug. 18, 1:30 – 4 p.m. 1464 N 500 W Winchester, IN 47394. For more information and to register, call Wilbur Wright FWA at (765) 529-9581.
Martinsville: Glenns Valley Conservation Club, Aug. 25, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., 7115 Waverly Road, Martinsville, IN 46151. For more information, call Josh Griffin at (812) 526-4891. To register, call (765) 349-2060.
Linton: Goose Pond FWA, Oct. 13, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., 1815 S.R. 59 S. For more information, call Adam Phelps at (812) 334- 1137. To register, call Goose Pond FWA at (812) 659-9901.
For more information: Adam Phelps, DNR waterfowl biologist, (812) 334-1137.
