Indiana fall turkey hunting season to start

Indiana's fall turkey-hunting season will run Oct. 1 through Oct. 22.

Archery equipment can be used the entire season. Firearms will be allowed from Oct. 18 to Oct. 22. New this fall is the addition of all or portions of 13 counties to the fall turkey-hunting range for hunting with archery equipment.

New counties or portions of counties are highlighted within parentheses below. Counties open to fall turkey hunting with firearms remain the same as for last year's season.

Spring turkey hunting licenses are not valid for fall turkey hunting.

Hunters must have a resident or non-resident fall turkey license and a gamebird habitat stamp privilege unless exempt from needing a license. Indiana comprehensive lifetime hunting or comprehensive youth hunting licenses can also be used to hunt fall wild turkey. Some farmland owners or active military personnel on leave are eligible for resident license exemptions.

Non-resident hunters from states that require an Indiana resident to purchase an additional license to hunt turkeys must also purchase an annual non-resident hunting license to hunt turkeys in Indiana.

This means residents of the adjacent states of Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio need an annual non-resident hunting license, a non-resident fall turkey license and a gamebird habitat stamp privilege. Wisconsin and Michigan residents are OK with a non-resident fall turkey license and a gamebird habitat stamp privilege.

The fall turkey bag limit is one wild turkey of either sex per fall. Shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset. Hunters must immediately tag their turkey with a paper stating the hunter's name, address, date of kill and sex of bird.

Turkeys must be taken to a check station within 48 hours. The tag issued by the check station must be affixed to the leg of the turkey through a section of skin or flesh until processing.

Some DNR properties with high hunter use or high spring hunter demand may limit fall turkey hunting. All other spring turkey hunting regulations, such as restrictions on shot sizes, legal weapons, baiting, dogs and electronic calls and decoys, will be in effect for the fall season.

Counties where bow hunting will be allowed in this area are: (Carroll), (Benton), Cass, (Howard), Miami, Pulaski, Tippecanoe, and (White). Hunting licenses are available at most DNR property offices and sporting goods stores, or online at: www.in.gov/dnr/indiana outdoor/. Link to Indiana fall

turkey hunt range map at: www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/.