The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has unveiled and presented a new package of recommended changes for deer hunting rules to the Natural Resources Commission (NRC), at a Jan. 11 meeting at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.

The recommendations were developed after the NRC withdrew its preliminary approval of an earlier plan because overwhelming public comment opposed shortening some segments of the deer hunting seasons. DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) staff biologists believe the proposed multiple shorter seasons in the earlier plan, some for antlerless deer only, would have contributed to the goal of reducing deer numbers by placing greater emphasis on hunting of antlerless deer.

“The new proposal has the same objective: To focus deer herd reduction in a strategically-targeted manner to more adequately balance ecological, recreational and economic needs of the citizens of Indiana,” said Mark Reiter, director of the DFW.

“Our responsibility is to manage wildlife for all Hoosiers. Some pointed to the previous proposal as an effort to manage the herd for trophy animals or increase license revenue. That was not the case.”

The new recommendations maintain the focus but leave the firearms and muzzleloader seasons at their traditional 16-day lengths, and drop a proposed two-day October season.

“This new proposal was created by staff within the DNR, using historic data gathered for deer management in Indiana, feedback from comments received during the initial proposal and data from surrounding states,” said Mitch Marcus, wildlife section chief for the DFW.

“We can’t emphasize enough that the goal is to reduce deer numbers in a strategic manner; not everywhere, but certainly in areas of the state where it’s needed to address the balance we’re trying to achieve.”
Three key points of the new recommendation are carryovers from the previous proposal:

•Adding a special antlerless only firearms season from Dec. 26 through the first Sunday in January of the following year in counties with a bonus antlerless quota of four or more deer

•Extending the urban zone season through Jan. 31 of the following year
•Requiring hunters hunting in an urban zone during the urban zone season to take at least one antlerless deer before taking an antlered deer
New components in the proposal include:

•Changing the current split archery season to a single season from Oct. 1 through the first Sunday in January

•Allowing a crossbow to be used by any hunter during the archery season, and establishes a special crossbow license

•Adding two new licenses (a crossbow license for use in the archery season, and an urban zone license) and offering a license bundle at a reduced price, allowing one antlered deer and two antlerless deer to be taken during the special youth, archery, firearms, muzzleloader and special antlerless seasons combined

The full text of the recommended rules package can be found in the January meeting agenda on the NRC website at www.in.gov/nrc/2350.htm
Additional information from the DNR is available on the Division of Fish and Wildlife Web pages at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild - click on the “Rule/Regulation Changes” link in the left column.

“The Division of Fish and Wildlife recognizes that modifying regulations is only part of a larger effort that must be addressed,” said Gary Langell, private lands program manager for the DFW. “Simply changing regulations will not achieve our objective.

“Although we continue to depend on deer hunters to help us manage our deer herd, we also believe that landowners will need to be more actively involved in providing hunter access and encouraging more intensive antlerless harvest on their properties. Likewise, urban communities will need to recognize the importance of balanced, regulated deer management.”

The NRC granting preliminary adoption at its Jan. 11 meeting is only the fifth step in a 34-step checklist requiring as much as a year to complete. There is now a public comment period overseen by the NRC Division of Hearings. The recommended rule changes and a convenient online comment link will be posted at www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm

The NRC will also accept written comments mailed to: Division of Hearings, Indiana Government Center North, 100 N. Senate Ave., Room N501, Indianapolis, IN, 46204-2200.

State law sets a minimum period for receiving public comments, and the period may be extended by the NRC hearing officer assigned to the topic. The hearing officer also presides over at least one public hearing and prepares a report for the NRC to use in its consideration of final adoption of the proposed rule changes.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Jack Spaulding may contact him by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.