Indiana February Canada Goose Season to Continue

   12.10.13

Indiana February Canada Goose Season to Continue

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is again offering a late season for hunting Canada geese.

The season runs Feb. 1-15 in 30 counties: Steuben, LaGrange, Elkhart, St. Joseph, La Porte, Starke, Marshall, Kosciusko, Noble, DeKalb, Allen, Whitley, Huntington, Wells, Adams, Boone, Hamilton, Madison, Hendricks, Marion, Hancock, Morgan, Johnson, Shelby, Vermillion, Parke, Vigo, Clay, Sullivan and Greene.

The late season helps control the population of the breeding “giant” subspecies of Canada geese around urban areas, a common issue in Indiana and surrounding states. Indiana has offered hunters a late Canada goose season in select counties every February since 2008.

A valid hunting license, Indiana waterfowl stamp privilege, signed federal duck stamp and a HIP (Harvest Information Program) number are required to hunt during this season.

No special permit is needed for the late Canada goose season, and birds no longer need to be checked.
Indiana hunters harvested 8,100 Canada geese during the 2013 late season, the same number as in 2012, according to estimates from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The total late-season harvest for Indiana across all six years is estimated at 41,600 geese.

The season may be closed or the bag limit reduced in future years if local Canada goose populations are sufficiently reduced. Based on the population reductions Indiana has seen, the bag limit is likely to be reduced to three for the 2015 late season, DNR waterfowl biologist Adam Phelps said. However, the bag limit will remain five for the upcoming February 2014 season.

More information is at dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/3570.htm.

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The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the U.S. state of Indiana charged with maintaining natural areas such as state parks, state forests, recreation areas, etc. There are many divisions within the DNR and each has a specific role. The DNR is not only responsible for maintaining resource areas but also manages Indiana's fish and wildlife, reclaims coal mine ground, manages forested areas, aids in the management of wildlife on private lands, enforces Indiana's conservation laws, and many other duties not named here. According to the department's website, their mission is "to protect, enhance, preserve, and wisely use natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the benefit of Indiana's citizens through professional leadership, management, and education."

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