TITLE 312 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION

Temporarily amends 312 IAC 9 to govern noncommercial hunts at Whitewater Memorial State Park. Under IC 4-22-2-37.1, IC 14-22-2-6, IC 14-10-2-5, and IC 14-22-6-13 (applicable to state parks), the director of the department of natural resources adopts the emergency rule set forth in this document. This emergency rule is adopted with the awareness the regulation of wild animals in Indiana is the responsibility of the department of natural resources, and with a heightened awareness of that responsibility (as well as a responsibility for the welfare of flora and other fauna), within Indiana state parks. The director finds that the density of the Canada goose population at Whitewater Memorial State Park has risen to a level that poses threats to the ecology of aquatic and terrestrial communities present and the personal safety of park patrons. Current conditions requiring this rule include eroded shorelines, increased sedimentation, and large amounts of goose waste in areas of high visitation and recreation. Effective November 10, 2014.

SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding 312 IAC 9-2-11, 312 IAC 8-2, and any other provision governing hunting a wild animal within a state park, individuals qualified under this SECTION may hunt Canada geese at Whitewater Memorial State Park one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise and the following two (2) hours and again two (2) hours before sunset each day during three (3) hunt periods of November 15 through December 7, 2014, December 20 through January 4, 2015, and January 18 through 31, 2015. The property has a preestablished number of necessary individuals or groups of individuals to be authorized under this SECTION with the intent to achieve population control of Canada geese.

(b) A Canada goose may be lawfully taken under this SECTION only by the use of a firearm that may be lawfully used to hunt geese in Indiana as determined under 50 CFR 20.

(c) In order to apply for a license or participate under this SECTION, an individual must satisfy all of the following requirements:

(1) Possess a current Indiana hunting license issued under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(2), IC 14-22-12-1(a)(3), IC 14-22-12-7(a)(2) before its repeal, IC 14-22-12-7(a)(4) before its repeal, or IC 14-22-12-7(a)(5) before its repeal to take Canada geese.

(2) Possess a current Indiana waterfowl stamp privilege issued under IC 14-22-7-4 to take Canada geese.

(3) Possess a current Harvest Information Program registration number issued under 312 IAC 9-4-2.

(4) Possess a current and signed federal duck stamp to take Canada geese under 50 CFR 20.

(5) Be at least eighteen (18) years old by November 15, 2014.

(d) An application for a license to participate in any of the three (3) hunt periods under this SECTION must be completed as described in this subsection as follows:

(1) Individual primary applicants must visit the property office at Brookville reservoir after November 10 for a first come, first served daily permit.

(e) Individual primary hunters can bring up to three (3) secondary participants. All secondary participants must satisfy all of the requirements in this SECTION.

(f) All eligible applications under this SECTION will be assigned dates on a first come, first served basis. Individual primary applicants who have been issued a daily permit must call or visit the property office at Brookville Reservoir to request a specific day(s) during the three (3) hunt periods.

(g) Each individual issued a license under this SECTION shall receive a random assignment to specific management units with designated parking assignments. Each license holder must comply with the requirements set forth in the assignment.

(h) The form of the license under this SECTION shall be as determined by the department. Each participant in the hunt must possess and display evidence of the license as specified by the department.

(i) During the hunt, an individual must not take more than the daily bag limit established under 312 IAC 9-4-5 .

(j) A participant must check in and out at the main gate of Whitewater Memorial State Park and must possess both:

(1) A hunter check-in card.

(2) A valid photo-identification.

(k) An individual who takes a Canada goose must deliver the goose to a check station designated within the state park before the person leaves the state park.

(l) An individual who participates in a hunt under this document must only use approved nontoxic shot. All legal shell lengths are authorized.

(m) Only electric trolling motors or oars are allowed on Whitewater Lake.

(n) All decoys, portable blinds and other equipment must be attended at all times and must be removed from the property after each assigned day. Equipment can only be set up during the assigned day.

(o) An individual who participates in the hunt must abide by all state and federal laws regarding the hunting of migratory game birds and waterfowl.

SECTION 2. SECTION 1 of this document expires on January 31, 2015.

DIN: 20141112-IR-312140455ERA

Composed: May 16,2024 10:00:07PM EDT

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