Indiana conservation officers are reminding hunters the spring turkey hunting season is growing near and will run from April 25-May 13.

To hunt turkeys in Indiana, a resident must have a turkey hunting license and a game bird stamp. Individuals under the age of 18 may purchase a youth license for $7. An apprentice youth license is available for hunters born after Dec. 31, 1996, who would be required to have completed an Indiana Hunter Education Course before buying a license. An apprentice license may only be purchased three times before a completed hunter education course is mandatory to purchase a license.

Hunters under the age of 18 may participate in the youth season, which runs from April 21-22. For both youth and adult hunters, turkeys must be brought to a check station within 48 hours after the bird is harvested.

State Fish and Wildlife Areas (FWAs) may have reserve hunt days; please check with the areas before hunting the properties. Hunting hours at FWAs are from one-half hour before sunrise to noon CDT/1 p.m. EDT. In all other locations, turkeys may be hunted one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Check with the FWA for specific rules and regulations.

Turkeys may be hunted with a shotgun, a muzzle-loading shotgun, a bow and arrow or a crossbow. If hunting with a shotgun or a muzzle-loading shotgun, the shotgun must be a 10-, 12-, 16- or 20-gauge, loaded with pellets of size No. 4, 5, 6, 7 or 7-1/2.

Hunters are allowed to harvest only one male or bearded turkey, and all harvested birds must be delivered to an official turkey check station within 48 hours of harvest.

Turkey hunting is a pleasurable sport enjoyed by many Hoosiers for more than four decades. Conservation officers would like all turkey hunters to have a safe and enjoyable turkey season. Here are a few tips to keep you safe in the woods.:

•Select a calling position where you can see at least 50 yards in all directions and you’re protected from the backside

•Never shoot at unidentified sounds or movements

•Be careful when using turkey decoys

•Don’t wear red-, white- or blue-colored outerwear or exposed inner clothing, which could lead to a “mistaken for game” accident

•Don’t assume you are the only hunter in the woods, even on private property, and make sure you have permission before entering private property

•Positively identify your target and make sure of what is beyond your target

•Keep the muzzle of your firearm pointed in a safe direction, keep your safety on and keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot

•Alcohol or drugs and hunting do not mix; avoid consuming alcohol or drugs before or during your hunt

Turkeys may not be hunted by the aid of bait. All bait and baited soil must be removed 10 days prior to hunting. Every year, conservation officers respond to many complaints including over-bagging, hunting over bait, shooting from a vehicle and trespassing.  A TIP line has been established to report hunting violations; to report violations, call 800-TIP-IDNR (847-4367) or visit www.1800 tipidnr.org

The information will be sent to an officer in the area. For a complete listing of rules and regulations, places to hunt turkeys or check station locations, visit www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild and click on the “Spring Turkey Hunting” icon.

Uncontrolled subsistence, market hunting and habitat loss completely wiped out turkeys in Indiana by the year 1900. In 1956, Indiana started releasing wild-caught birds from Missouri to reestablish populations in areas of suitable habitat. In 1970, Indiana had its first turkey season with only three open counties, 62 total hunters and a total harvest of six birds.

Forty-one years later, in 2011, every county in Indiana was open for hunting during the spring season, approximately 60,000 hunters were afield and the spring harvest was 11,669 birds.

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.