Are Canadian Geese Protected in Indiana? Permits, Hunting, Penalties

Canada geese are protected in Indiana under both federal and state law. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to kill, capture, sell, or harm the birds, their nests, or their eggs without authorization, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources enforces the rules alongside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.1U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 You still have legal options: non-lethal harassment needs no permit, nest and egg destruction is available through a free federal registration, and regulated hunting seasons run from September into February.

What the Protection Covers

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 prohibits hunting, capturing, killing, selling, trading, or transporting any protected migratory bird, along with its parts, nests, or eggs, unless a federal permit or regulation specifically allows it.1U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 Misdemeanor violations carry fines up to $15,000 and up to six months in jail for each offense.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 USC 707 – Violations and Penalties Felony-level violations involving commercialization can reach $250,000 in fines and two years of imprisonment.3U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Criminal Provisions of the US Criminal Code and Other Statutes

Federal rules split the species into two categories. “Resident” Canada geese are birds that nest within the lower 48 states or stay there from April through August; these are the year-round geese at parks, golf courses, and retention ponds.4eCFR. 50 CFR 21.6 – Definitions Because resident populations have grown, federal regulations give landowners and states broader authority to manage them. Migratory populations that pass through Indiana in spring and fall receive stricter protection.

Indiana works within that federal framework. State law complements the MBTA, and the IDNR coordinates with USFWS on seasons, depredation permits, and summer roundups.5Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Canada Geese Abatement, Hunting and Permits

Non-Lethal Harassment Without a Permit

You can chase geese off your property today without any permit. Air horns, visual scare devices, trained dogs, laser pointers, and habitat modifications like tall vegetation along shorelines are all fair game. The one hard line: no goose can be injured, touched, or physically handled by a person, dog, or equipment during harassment.5Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Canada Geese Abatement, Hunting and Permits Cross that line and the MBTA applies.

Habitat modification tends to work best long-term. Geese prefer open sight lines near water, so native plantings and buffer strips often succeed where noisemakers alone fail.

Destroying Nests and Eggs

Once the first egg appears in a nest, you cannot touch it without federal authorization. Landowners, homeowners’ associations, and local governments must register each year through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s online portal at epermits.fws.gov before destroying any resident Canada goose nests or eggs.6eCFR. 50 CFR 21.162 – Depredation Order for Resident Canada Geese Nests and Eggs Registration is free and valid for one nesting season.7U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Resident Canada Goose Registration FAQ

Approved methods include oiling eggs with 100 percent corn oil, which prevents embryo development without removing the egg, and physically removing and disposing of eggs and nest material.6eCFR. 50 CFR 21.162 – Depredation Order for Resident Canada Geese Nests and Eggs Every registrant must file an annual report by October 31 summarizing the dates, numbers, and locations of nests destroyed. Miss the report and you cannot register the following year.

Trapping During the Summer Molt

Canada geese lose their primary wing feathers all at once in early summer, becoming completely flightless for roughly three weeks from mid-June through early July. Flocks can be herded into enclosures during this window using boats, dogs, or people on foot, then crated for relocation or euthanasia. Direct capture like this requires permits from the IDNR and, in many cases, the USFWS.5Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Canada Geese Abatement, Hunting and Permits If non-lethal methods haven’t resolved a persistent flock, contact the IDNR; the agency can coordinate roundups or connect you with USDA Wildlife Services.

Legal Hunting

Regulated hunting is Indiana’s primary management tool, and the IDNR encourages it. Waterfowl hunters need all of the following:

Indiana runs three zones (North, Central, South), each with a split season that opens in early September and closes February 15, 2026. All three share a long late-season stretch from November 22 through mid-February. The daily bag limit is five Canada geese and brant in the aggregate, with a possession limit of three times the daily bag.11Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Migratory Game Bird Seasons and Regulations Shooting hours run from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

What Happens If You Skip the Rules

Destroying a nest without registering, shooting a goose outside of season, or relocating a live bird without a permit all violate the MBTA. Each individual bird, nest, or egg can count as a separate offense. At $15,000 per violation with jail time on the table, the math gets ugly fast for someone who decided to quietly clear a dozen nests from an HOA retention pond.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 USC 707 – Violations and Penalties The federal nest-destruction registration is free and takes minutes. There is no good reason to skip it.