Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Twenty-eight state conservation officers and two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents descended on the area over the weekend in an effort to saturate Kosciusko and surrounding counties and enforce waterfowl regulations.
Agents checked 371 waterfowl hunters, 16 fishermen and 10 small game and deer hunters. Fifty-eight enforcement actions were written.
The majority of the actions written included hunting without a license, hunting before or after hours, hunting with a gun capable of holding more than three shells, hunting without waterfowl stamps and possession of toxic shot. Another person was cited for hunting deer with a firearm out of season and there were also lesser violations.
The waterfowl detail is an annual event held in a different part of the state each year, said Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lt. John Sullivan. This is the third year in a row it has been held in this area.
The men and women are divided into 15 teams and cover lake, marsh and swamp areas in Whitley, Kosciusko, Marshall and Fulton counties.
Sullivan said hunters have so many places to hunt that are out of the way, they can't cover them all. "That's why we bring so many (officers) in," he said.
Officers patrolled the water areas on boat and foot and there were two dog units. The helicopter was not available for this year's patrol.
The dog units are not "attack" dogs but dogs that can sniff out game a hunter may have hidden if he's shot too many waterfowl.
"They're a really good asset to have," said Indiana Conservation Officer Mark Richter.
Limits are set for waterfowl in an effort to protect resources. The bag limit for ducks is six per day and two for Canada geese. Along with the bag limit for ducks is further restrictions. For example, a hunter can have only one redhead, one canvasback, one pintail, one blackduck and two scaup.
"We're primarily looking for priority violations," said Sullivan. A priority violation is one that directly affects the number of waterfowl, he said.
Violations are misdemeanors and violators can face jail time and fines. Serious violations could result in the loss of hunting privileges and/or hunting equipment being confiscated by the officers.
"We probably run into more convicted felons with guns than we think we do," Sullivan told the officers at the briefing Friday night. He also told them that Saturday may be a good time to catch some late-night shooters.
Saturday and Sunday, the officers covered places like the backwaters of Webster, Palestine and Tippecanoe lakes, Lake Wawasee and the Tri-County Fish and Wildlife area, to name a few.
They used equipment like the hot shot checker and plug checker. The hot shot checker tests to see if the hunter is using the proper shot, which can't be lead and must be non-toxic, said Richter. The plug checker makes sure there are only three shots in a hunter's gun.
Each team was provided with maps of the areas they were to patrol. The maps were highlighted in yellow where it was predicted expert hunters would be. The predictions were based on past experience and kept the officers from "going in circles," Richter said.
Those hunters who don't break the law, Richter said, appreciate the work the conservation officers do because they are protecting the resources. "Most of the hunters are good," he said. And officers "don't find a lot (of violations), but it keeps (the hunters) honest."
Hunters who don't like to see the DNR patrolling, he said, are usually those who may be in violation.
Hunting for waterfowl can be from a half-hour prior to sunrise until sunset. Most of the hunting, Richter said, is in the first hour, so officers like to get out before hunting is allowed to begin.
While patrolling, officers act like hunters themselves in an effort to watch other hunters.
Richter said they'll check hunters for licenses, the federal and state stamps for those over 16 and the hunter's Harvest Information Program number.
If the hunter is using a boat, a safety check will be performed. More waterfowl hunters die from boating accidents than the hunting itself. Richter said, "We make sure hunters are doing it safe."
Officers also verify that hunters are hunting on property where they have permission. Sometimes, Richter said, it's their No. 1 concern and most frequent call.
"We do have laws to protect hunters, too," said Richter. If hunters are hunting properly, Richter said, they can't be harassed. However, he said, the DNR still gets complaints from people who oppose hunting. It happens mainly where there are homes near lakes, marshes or swamps, he said.
Richter said, "Most of the officers here are waterfowl hunters so they know what to check for."
