Frog Hunting Question.

[rwtaxidermy]

Speaking with a fellow Indiana Hunters Education instructor this afternoon about the upcoming frog season. I was called out on what I thought was perfectly legal but the instructor says "NO"....maybe you can clarify if these action are within the law...

Here is the scenario: Frog season is upon us and I plan to walk the creek local to where I reside. I will be wading the creek with waders, headlamp, thermacell, 5gal bucket, and my .22 rifle...the instructor said I would be in violation of state hunting laws shooting a frog with a .22 while wading through the creek....if I read the Law correctly it says you can shoot across waters to pursue wildlife while hunting....although I will not be shooting across the waters I will be standing in it, is it not legal to kill a frog in this manner?

[morrison]

I have posted the Indiana Code (shooting into or across water) and the Indiana Administrative Code pertaining to the taking of frogs below. From what you have stated, you should not have a problem as long as you have permission from the land owners and you are using the bird shot in the .22. Let me know if you have any additional questions or if I am miss reading what you are asking.


IC 14-22-6-10 Shooting into or across waters of the state
Sec. 10. A person may not shoot into or across:
(1) the waters of the state; or
(2) the boundary waters of the state;
except in the lawful pursuit of wild animals.



(h) An individual may take frogs as established in subsection (e) from June 15 through April 30 of the following year.
(i) An individual may take turtles by any of the following methods:
(1) A trap, a net, or another mechanical device that has no opening below the surface of the water.
(2) Hands.
(3) A gaff.
(4) Any method provided by 312 IAC 9-7-2 for sport fishing.
(j) An individual may take frogs by any of the following methods:
(1) A gig or spear having a head not more than three (3) inches wide and a single row of tines.
(2) A bow and arrows.
(3) A club.
(4) Hands.
(5) A single pole or hand line with not more than one (1) hook or artificial lure affixed.
(6) A .22 caliber firearm, as long as the projectiles discharged from the barrel of the firearm are birdshot, except on a state park.
(7) An air rifle, except on a state park. As used in this section, an air rifle must fire a projectile that is a lead pellet and a minimum of .177 in diameter and fire at least five hundred (500) feet per second.
(k) An individual may use:
(1) a spotlight;
(2) a searchlight; or
(3) another artificial light;
to assist in taking frogs.