Spring Turkey Season Safety
Indiana Conservation Officers want to remind residents of the upcoming spring turkey season and encourage hunters to take the opportunity to get out and bag their spring bird.
The 2013 Youth Turkey Season is April 20-21. A youth, means an individual who is less than 18 years of age on the date of the hunt. A youth who hunts a wild turkey must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years of age. An adult accompanying a youth hunter must not possess a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow while in the field.
Turkey Season is April 24-May 12. Spring turkey season allows one male or bearded turkey to be harvested per licensed hunter. Legal turkey hunting requires a valid spring turkey license and game bird stamp. A person must not call wild turkeys for another individual unless licensed. Legal equipment is limited to shotguns and archery equipment.
Use of bait, or any substance or product for animal consumption, is restricted by law. Hunter orange is not required by law but is considered an important safety consideration when going afield or leaving their hunting areas.
Hunters are reminded to be sure of their intended target and what is beyond. Because turkey hunting involves calling active male turkeys it is also important to remember not all calls are from wild birds. An important safety tip would be to avoid wearing red, blue, or white clothing as these colors are commonly part of a male turkeys’ coloration.
Turkeys were extirpated from the state of Indiana by the 1900’s. Restoration efforts were launched in 1956. In 2012 all 92 counties in Indiana have resident wild turkey populations.
Licensed, ethical hunters know the rules and play by them but poachers don’t. Conservation Officers encourage hunters to use the TIP hotline to file a complaint. TIP is an acronym for Turn in a Poacher or Polluter. Anyone can use the TIP hotline. It’s quick and simple to report a violation. The toll-free TIP phone number is 1-800-TIP-IDNR (1-800-847-4367). Complaints also can be filed online at tip.IN.gov.