Hunting Archery Duck Deer

Helpful hints for the next hunting season
In the field, on the lake

Indiana deer hunters will creep into the woods this Saturday morning for their first time in the 2005-06 season. The early archery seasons begins on Oct. 1, and while you’re out there sitting in your tree stand, enjoying the morning, take advantage of this time and focus on the entire aspect of your sport. There are many ways hunters and fishermen can play an active role in sustaining the future of what many of us love to do.

The first and most obvious way to play an active role is the T.I.P. program. This program is based on the fact that outdoorsmen will report the unlawful acts of other outdoorsmen. Seeing someone, or a group of people breaking any game law, whether it be taking too many deer, squirrel, or any other game species; is grounds for calling a conservation officer. As with anything else in life, it always seems to a few who ruin for the everyone else. Knowing this, don’t hesitate to turn in a poacher. In the nine years that this program has been working, the 27,000 calls have led to 14,000 investigations and 900 arrests for breaking game and fish laws. Everyone has cell phones these days, and as much as it makes me laugh, many hunters take their phones into the woods with them. The DNR hotline for reporting unlawful acts is, 1-800-TIP-IDNR, and don’t’ be afraid to call, and stop someone else from ruining your recreational activity.

The second is to be aware of what species you might encounter and be prepared to report it to the Department of Natural Resources. One of the major concerns for deer hunters should be the Chronic Wasting Disease. This is a serious neurological disease affecting elk, white-tailed and mule deer. This disease has now been reported in free-roaming white-tail deer in the Midwest.

If you notice deer that are extremely skinny, have excessive salivation, excessive urination, and any other abnormal behavior, report the sighting of this deer to the DNR.

I like to say it will be the deer hunters who can report and control this type of disease, because who knows deer behavior better than deer hunters. Well, maybe the wildlife biologists, but there are thousands more hunters than biologists running around in the woods during fall. DNR biologists have to examine the brain of the animal before it can be determined to have CWD, so if you take a deer to check station and there is a conservation officer or some DNR employees there, let them take their sample. This disease has the capability to kill large numbers of deer and affect your seasons to come.

The last few recommendations deal with making sure you have the correct licensing, stamps, and any other paperwork you will need to be in the field this year.

Getting a hunting license is literally an at-home 15-minute process now that the licenses are available online. But along with the easy access, I’ve heard some hunters complain that they didn’t know what they needed. Check all regulations and even call the DNR to make sure you have what you need. Conservation officers are truly an outdoorsman’s best friend, but by not having the correct license, they will not be very friendly.

If you plan on hunting migratory birds, you will need a Harvest Information Program number on your license. You can get this very easily by calling 1-800-WETLAND. Have your license ready and follow the steps to participate in an important management survey. I mention the HIP number because I know guys that have hunted for a few years, not knowing that they even needed one.

So, as the temperature drops, and the leaves continue to fall, outdoorsmen and women will take to the fields and woods like they always have.

Try to remember these small recommendations and it will make your season not only more enjoyable, but more fulfilling for the entire outdoors community.

Think of it as doing your part in preserving the future of game, fish, and their habitats.
By Chris Jennings