Hunters have been a long time waiting for the Nov. 4 opening of rabbit, quail and pheasant season. Biologists have done their game forecasts and numbers are down slightly. Even though hunters might have to work a little harder this year, with a little effort they can still enjoy quality hunting.

Because of losses in early successional habitat, rabbit, quail and pheasant populations across Indiana have steadily declined from highs a half-century ago, but good small game numbers can still be found. According to Budd Veverka, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) farmland game research biologist, hunters during the 2010-11 hunting season harvested an estimated 246,000 rabbits, 19,500 quail and 9,300 wild pheasants.

The 2011-12 rabbit, quail and pheasant hunting dates and daily bag limits are as follows:

•Rabbit: Nov. 4-Feb. 15, 2012, with a daily limit of five

•Pheasant (cock only): Nov. 4-Dec. 18, with a daily limit of two

•Quail (north of Indiana 26): Nov. 4-Dec. 18, with a daily limit of five

•Quail (south of Indiana 26): Nov. 4-Jan. 15, with a daily limit of eight

Season dates and daily bag limits may vary on state-owned properties. Please contact each property for specific information.

To legally hunt rabbit, an individual must have an annual hunting license or a lifetime hunting or youth comprehensive hunting license. To hunt quail or pheasant an individual must have an annual hunting license and a game bird habitat stamp, or a lifetime comprehensive hunting or youth comprehensive hunting license.

Individuals with a lifetime basic hunting license must buy the game bird habitat stamp annually.

While hunting rabbit, quail, pheasant and squirrel, hunters must wear one solid florescent orange outer garment exposed at all times. Please gain permission before hunting on privately owned land.

For additional information, see the small game hunting guide at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw- upland_smallgame_guide.pdf

State parks close for special deer hunts

Select Indiana state parks will temporarily close for two rounds of controlled deer reduction hunts in the coming weeks. The first hunt is Nov. 14-15 and the second is Nov. 28-29. The participating parks will close to the general public the evening before each of the two special hunts and will re-open the morning after each two-day reduction.

The state parks temporarily closing for deer reductions are Brown County, Chain O’Lakes, Charlestown, Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, Harmonie, Indiana Dunes, Lincoln, McCormick’s Creek, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe, Turkey Run, Versailles and Whitewater Memorial.

Each year, DNR biologists evaluate which parks require a reduction based on habitat recovery and previous hunter success at each park. The state parks are home to more than 32 state-endangered plants and numerous significant natural communities. The hunts reduce browsing by deer to a level necessary to maintain habitat throughout the state parks.

Though the parks have had much success since the first reduction in 1993, a high no-show rate for hunters drawn and overselective hunting remain a challenge for the program.

Only individuals and the hunters listed on their applications drawn last September may participate at any park, besides Indiana Dunes, Turkey Run, Fort Harrison and Spring Mill state parks.

A public standby drawing to fill spots left vacant after 7:30 a.m. local time will take place at Indiana Dunes (firearms hunt), Turkey Run (firearms hunt), Spring Mill (firearms hunt) and Fort Harrison (archery hunt) state parks each morning.

To be eligible for the standby drawings, the candidate must be an Indiana resident (or possess an Indiana lifetime license to take deer), be 18 years old by Nov. 14 and possess a valid deer license for Indiana. You must present a photo ID and a valid filled or unfilled license to take deer. Standby drawings will take place at 8:30 a.m. local time.

Potential standby participants may apply onsite between 7:30-8:15 a.m. local time but may not enter the park before 7:30 a.m. Applications may include up to three individuals. The drawing is based on how many unclaimed spots there are for each day and is not first-come, first-serve.

Spots will be limited, as they are based on the number of no-shows each day. The need for stand-in hunters increases with each hunt day. If you have questions, please call the property of interest.

Goose reduction hunts at three state parks

The DNR will conduct controlled Canada goose reduction hunts at Ouabache, Shakamak and Whitewater Memorial state parks in November. Similar reductions have occurred since 2007 and are part of a management plan including non-lethal methods.

Goose hunts will take place Nov. 28-29. The dates coincide with goose hunting season and annual deer reduction efforts at Ouabache, Shakamak, Whitewater Memorial and several other state parks. The parks will close to the general public the evening of Nov. 27 and re-open the morning of Nov. 30.

Large amounts of goose waste at park beaches, picnic areas and in bank-fishing locations have raised health concerns, adversely affected visitor enjoyment, increased erosion and resulted in increased operating costs.

Reduction hunts are only one aspect of DNR’s approach to managing Canada geese, according to Mike Mycroft, chief of natural resources for DNR State Parks & Reservoirs.

“The high recreational demand on the parks during periods of more optimum goose hunting has caused us to combine the reduction effort with other techniques, including ongoing harassment and nest management,” Mycroft said. “Combining these techniques is beginning to show favorable results and fewer parks needing reductions this year.”

Participation will be allowed on a daily first-come, first-serve basis until available spots are filled. Spots will become available again throughout each day as hunters leave. Potential participants may arrive starting 90 minutes before sunrise local time.

Shooting hours will be one-half hour before sunrise to 4 p.m. local time. Though hunting parties of two to four are desired, individuals are allowed. Questions should be directed to the park of interest.

Participants must be Indiana residents and 18 years old by Nov. 28. A hunter must present a valid hunting license, state waterfowl stamp, HIP number and federal duck stamp on-site on the day of the reduction. Apprentice licenses are not applicable.

Dogs, boats and temporary blinds are allowed. Only Canada goose harvest is permitted, but all state and federal laws pertaining to waterfowl hunting will apply.

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.