Waterfowl Seasons
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers
Waterfowl breeding habitat in the Canadian prairies is in fair to good condition, while the U.S. prairies are in fair condition on average. Eastern Canada is largely in good to excellent condition. Habitat was in excellent condition last year, but most of the prairies were considerably drier this spring.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates the mallard breeding population at 10.6 million, 15% above last year and 40% over the long-term average. Estimates of most species were higher than 2011, with only pintails and redheads declining (slightly). Scaup increased this year, and have increased by 60% since 2006. Total ducks, gadwalls, green- and blue-winged teal, shovelers, and redheads are at or near record levels in 2012.
| Zone | Dates |
|---|---|
| North Zone | Oct. 20, 2012 - Dec. 9, 2012 Dec. 22, 2012 - Dec. 30, 2012 |
| Central Zone | Nov. 3, 2012 - Dec. 25, 2012 Jan. 14, 2013 - Jan. 20, 2013 |
| South Zone | Nov. 3, 2012 - Nov. 4, 2012 Nov. 24, 2012 - Jan. 20, 2013 |
The daily bag limit for ducks is six. This includes any combination of goldeneyes, ruddy ducks, ring-necked ducks, buffleheads, gadwalls, long-tailed ducks, scoters, teal, wigeon and shovelers. Included in the daily limit of six are additional restrictions on the following:
- Mallards: Only four mallards may be taken daily, including not more than two females.
- Wood ducks: Only three wood ducks may be taken daily.
- Pintails: Only two pintails may be taken daily.
- Redheads: Only two redheads may be taken daily.
- Scaup: Only four scaup may be taken daily.
- Black ducks: Only one black duck may be taken daily.
- Canvasback: Only one canvasback may be taken daily.
- Mottled duck: Only one mottled duck may be taken daily.
- The daily bag limit for coots is 15.
- The daily bag for mergansers (which is separate from the duck limit) is five, including not more than two hooded mergansers.
- Possession limit for ducks, coots and mergansers is two times the daily bag limit.
- Shooting hours: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Shooting hours at some DNR properties may vary.
Canada Geese
A normal spring allowed for average nesting effort for both long-distance migrant populations that use Indiana. The Southern James Bay Population of Canada geese are expected to have average production this year. The Mississippi Valley Population is still recovering from two poor reproduction years in 2009 and 2010. Production is expected to be improved this year, but still average. We expect to see a below-average number of goslings in the flight of snow geese due to poor conditions in many parts of the Arctic this spring. The Mississippi Flyway giant population is at record levels. Breeding conditions in the Flyway were average to excellent, and conditions within Indiana for breeding geese were among the best in several years. The early, warm spring allowed nesting effort to occur early, which should result in a large number of Indiana-hatched goslings in the fall flight. Flooding occurred virtually statewide just as many nests would have hatched, so we expect reduced numbers of goslings to be available this fall.
| Zone | Dates | Daily Bag Limits |
|---|---|---|
| North Zone | Oct. 20, 2012 - Nov. 11, 2012 Nov. 22, 2012 - Jan. 6, 2013 Jan. 19, 2013 - Jan. 23, 2013 |
Canada Geese: 3 White-fronted Geese: 2 Brant: 1 |
| Central Zone | Nov. 3, 2012 - Dec. 25, 2012 Jan. 7, 2013 - Jan. 27, 2013 |
Canada Geese: 3 White-fronted Geese: 2 Brant: 1 |
| South Zone |
Nov. 3, 2012 - Nov. 11, 2012 Nov. 24, 2012 - Jan 27, 2013 |
Canada Geese: 3 White-fronted Geese: 2 Brant: 1 |
Light Geese
| Zone | Dates | Daily Bag Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Light (Snow/Ross) Geese Statewide |
Oct. 20, 2012 - Jan. 31, 2013 | 20 |
The possession limit for Canada geese, white-fronted geese and brant is two times the daily limit. There is no possession limit for light geese.
Youth Waterfowl Weekends
| Zone | Dates |
|---|---|
| North Zone | Oct. 13, 2012 - Oct. 14, 2012 |
| Central Zone | Oct. 27, 2012 - Oct. 28, 2012 |
| South Zone | Oct. 27, 2012 - Oct. 28, 2012 |
Hunters must be 15 years of age or younger to participate and must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age. An adult may accompany more than one youth. The accompanying adult may not hunt waterfowl that day (except light geese when and where the season is open). Bag and species limits are the same as those allowed in the regular season.
Late Canada Goose Zone Season
Indiana is once again offering a late season for Canada geese during the 2012 – 13 hunting season. This late season targets urban geese that are forced out of towns and cities to feed as the weather gets colder. Snow cover also helps to drive birds out of town.
The season runs from 1 – 15 February 2013 in the following counties only: Adams, Allen, Boone, Clay, DeKalb, Elkhart, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Huntington, Johnson, Kosciusko, La Porte, Lagrange, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Noble, Parke, St. Joseph, Shelby, Steuben, Starke, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, Wells, and Whitley.
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The bag limit is five Canada geese per day (possession limit 10).
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Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
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Hunters must have an Indiana hunting license, Indiana waterfowl stamp, federal waterfowl stamp, and a HIP number to participate.
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