Reserved hunt applications open July 6
Reserved hunt applications for dove, waterfowl, deer, and pheasant will be accepted starting July 6 and will close Aug. 17.
Individuals must apply online for these hunts. To apply, go to on.IN.gov/reservedhunt and click “Apply for a reserved hunt.” Only one application per hunt is allowed and no changes can be made once an application is submitted. Applicants must possess a valid hunting license for the hunt for which they are applying.
To find out more about reserved hunt applications that are open or opening soon, visit on.IN.gov/reservedhunt.
2020 spring turkey season results
During the 2020 spring season, hunters harvested 14,492 wild turkeys in 90 of 92 Indiana counties. This spring’s harvest is a 21% increase compared to that of the 2019 spring season. The 2020 spring season also broke the 2010 record high harvest of 13,742 birds.
Spring harvests increased in 76 counties with 12 counties exceeding 300 birds, compared to three in 2019. A total of 1,635 birds (11% of total harvest) were taken during the youth-only weekend prior to the regular season. The estimated number of hunters afield was 74,500 in 2020 (25% increase compared to 2019) with an estimated hunter success of 19%.
A detailed breakdown of spring harvest data, including previous seasons, is available on the wild turkey spring harvest data website.
A time honored tradition – Yellow Perch on Lake Michigan
Summer’s arrival in Indiana means that yellow perch in Lake Michigan will start showing up close to shore in relatively shallow water. For decades, the Lake Michigan fishery has offered easy access to small boaters seeking these delicious fish.
After yellow perch are finished spawning by early June, they begin to concentrate in the 20-50 foot depths, seeking out food and water temperatures from 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They’ll remain there all summer long, with the best fishing action usually happening during July, August, and into September. Often schooling in huge groups and offering fast action, yellow perch make for a perfect family outing on a hot summer day. On a good day, anglers can expect to catch dozens of perch, and take home their 15-fish per person bag limit in short order.
Anglers need a valid Indiana fishing license to fish for yellow perch. More information about how to fish for perch on Lake Michigan, including tactics, best baits, and prime fishing locations, is available online.
Wear it Indiana!
Personal flotation device. PFD. Life jacket. Life preserver. Whatever you call this life-saving piece of equipment, remember to wear it while boating or swimming. Each summer, too many lives are lost on the water. Wearing a PFD can prevent most, if not all, of these tragedies.
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
Attend hearing on proposed rule changes
The Natural Resources Commission’s Division of Hearings has scheduled two hearings to accept public comments on proposed rule changes. The hearings are scheduled for Wednesday, July 29 at Mounds State Park and Thursday, July 30 at McCormick’s Creek State Park.
For a complete list of proposed amendments with additional information about each proposal, see wildlife.IN.gov/2362.htm.
Count wild turkey hens and young this summer
Can you think of a spot where you usually see wild turkey broods (hens and poults) in the summer? These observations help Indiana DNR biologists calculate the annual wild turkey Production Index (number of poults per adult hens). The Production Index helps estimate wild turkey populations in the state and provides guidance for future management.
DNR biologists can’t collect brood observations across the state alone. In order to reach the goal of 3,000 observations this year, we need your help! If you’re interested in sharing your turkey brood observations with DNR, visit on.IN.gov/turkeybrood and register as a participant. Record observations any time from July 1 to Aug. 31, 2020. Recording observations takes less than five minutes.
We greatly appreciate your help to document turkey broods around the state.
How to help neighbors notice natives, not weeds
Many conservation-minded individuals are aware of the benefits provided by native grasses and wildflowers. However, sometimes it can be difficult to convince others that natie plants are a better alternative than mown turf grass and ornamental plants often found in landscaping around neighborhoods, business complexes, and public parks. To help highlight your native backyard habitat, consider incorporating educational signage, mowed pathways, or edge borders to indicate that your yard is still being maintained.
If your property meets the qualifications, some programs through DNR, the Indiana Wildlife Federation, and Monarch Waystation provide avenues to acquire professional educational signage. Educational signage may also help show that your habitat may be meeting exemptions to local ordinances for creating habitat. Check local conservation organizations for more backyard habitat educational resources.
Find more information about creating habitat on your property online or consider contacting your district wildlife biologist for advice.
State tax deadline approaching, consider donating
The state tax deadline is July 15 this year. If you have not filed your Indiana state taxes yet, consider donating all or a portion of your state tax refund to the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund.
The fund supports more than 150 species of greatest conservation need, including barn owls and Eastern hellbender salamanders. Help conserve fish and wildlife for future generations.
Find out more about how to donate on your state taxes.
Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund at Work: Amphibians
Indiana has three native leopard frog species: the Northern (Lithobates pipiens), Southern (L. sphenocephela), and plains leopard frog (L. blairi).
The plains leopard frog has been one of the rarest and most difficult frog species to find in Indiana. Few records existed in the state through the early 2000s. However, over the past year, DNR herpetologists and their research partners have begun locating new populations along the Wabash and Iroquois rivers in west-central Indiana.
Last fall, the frogs were found at three new sites, and five more sites have been added so far this year. This has been an exciting development for understanding the species’ distribution and habitat use in our state. DNR plans to continue monitoring for plains leopard frogs in the coming years using a combination of call surveys, visual surveys, and automated recording units deployed at western Indiana sites.
Monitoring efforts are supported by the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund. Consider making a donation directly or contributing a portion of your state tax refund (Indiana’s deadline is July 15) to help biologists’ research and conserve Indiana’s species of greatest conservation need.
NRC to meet in July
The Indiana Natural Resources Commission is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, July 21, at Fort Harrison State Park, at the Garrison in Indianapolis.
Upcoming events
July 17 – Learn to Hunt: Frogs, Martinsville
July 25 – After the Shot: Tips for Tracking and Recovering Deer, Danville
July 25 – Learn to Hunt: Squirrel, Kankakee Fish & Wildlife Area
August 8 – Learn to Hunt: Dove, Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area
August 8 – Bike with a Biologist, Amo
August 8 – Learn to Hunt: Deer, Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area
August 22 – Learn to Hunt: Dove, J.E. Roush Lake Fish & Wildlife Area