Indiana youth turkey season, April 17 & 18

Indiana's 2010 youth turkey season takes place April 17 and 18. The special season is open to hunters age 17 or younger. Youth hunters are limited to one bearded or male wild turkey.

To participate, a youth hunter must be accompanied in the field at all times by an adult who is at least 18 years old and is not in possession of a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow. The adult does not need a hunting license, unless the youth is using an apprentice license. The youth must be properly licensed to take a wild turkey and comply with all tagging and check-in requirements. A list of check stations is available in the 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping Guide or at www.wildlife.IN.gov. Legal equipment includes 10-, 12-, 16-, or 20-gauge shotguns, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

An apprentice license is available to youths who have yet to complete the requirement of hunter education. All persons, regardless of age, are limited to three apprentice licenses in their lifetime.

Youth turkey hunters killed 978 turkeys statewide during the 2009 youth season and 956 turkeys statewide during the 2008 youth season.
The DNR is offering reserved youth turkey hunts at 21 DNR properties during the youth turkey season—Atterbury, Crosley, Glendale, Goose Pond, Hovey Lake, Jasper-Pulaski, Sugar Ridge, Kankakee, Kingsbury, LaSalle, Pigeon River, Tri-County, Minnehaha, Fairbanks Landing, Hillenbrand, Chinook, Winamac and Willow Slough fish and wildlife areas, as well as at Salamonie, Roush and Mississinewa lakes.

The hunts are limited. Youth hunters may be drawn for either or both hunt days, or not at all, depending on the number of applicants. Youth hunters, or an adult representing them, must register in person at the property of choice, March 15–26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drawings will be held March 29. All applicants will be notified of drawing results by mail. Applicants may sign up for only one property. Those wanting to sign up for Fairbanks Landing, Chinook or Hillenbrand hunts may do so at Minnehaha FWA. Find DNR property contact information at http://www.in.gov/dnr/3233.htm.

Hunts run one-half hour before sunrise until noon at properties in the Central Time Zone, and one-half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. on properties in the Eastern Time Zone.