Dust off the calls and the decoys: Indiana’s waterfowl hunting season began last Saturday in the North Zone, Oct. 22 in the South Zone and Oct. 29 in the Ohio River Zone.

Waterfowl hunting season in Indiana is divided into three zones. Each has different a season for ducks and Canada geese. Light (snow/Ross) geese, brant and white-fronted geese are regulated statewide.

The North Zone is defined as the part of Indiana north of a line extending east from the Illinois border along State Route 18 to U.S. Highway 31; north along U.S. 31 to U.S. 24; east on U.S. 24 to Huntington; and southeast on U.S. 224 to the Ohio border.

The South Zone is the portion of the state south of the North zone boundary and north of the Ohio River Zone. The Ohio River Zone is the portion of the state south of a line extending east from the Illinois border along Interstate 64 to New Albany; east on Indiana 62 to Indiana 56; east on Indiana 56 to Vevay; along Indiana 156 along the Ohio River to North Landing; north on Indiana 56 to U.S. 50; and northeast on U.S. 50 to the Ohio border.

The daily bag limit for ducks is six, including any combination of golden eyes, ruddy ducks, ring-necked ducks, buffleheads, gadwalls, long-tailed ducks, scoters, teal, widgeon and shovelers. There are additional bag limit restrictions on numerous duck species. Review the restrictions online at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3569.htm

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.

The youth waterfowl seasons are also zone-specific. The North Zone youth waterfowl season was Oct. 8-9, South Zone was Oct. 15-16 and Ohio River Zone is Oct. 22-23. The youth seasons are open to hunters 15 years of age or younger. To participate, youth must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age. An adult may accompany more than one youth.

The licensed accompanying adult may hunt only snow geese, brants and white-fronted geese (if those species are in season). If the accompanying adult does not intend to hunt and does not possess a firearm, the adult does not need to be licensed. Bag and species limits are the same as allowed in the regular season.

A hunter must possess a hunting license, resident youth consolidated hunting license or disabled American veteran’s hunting license, in addition to a state waterfowl stamp privilege and HIP registration number. Any hunter 16 years or older must have a signed federal duck stamp when hunting ducks and geese.

Hunters possessing valid lifetime hunting or lifetime comprehensive hunting licenses do not need the Indiana waterfowl stamp; however, they still need to have an HIP registration number and a federal duck stamp if they are 16 years or older.

Resident landowners or lessees, hunting on farmland they own or lease, are exempt from the state license requirement, with the exception that a federal duck stamp and HIP registration are still required.

See the website www.hunting.IN.gov for additional waterfowl hunting regulations. The various hunting dates for each zone can be found at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3569.htm

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Jack Spaulding may contact him by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.