Thousands of Indiana hunters have hung their tree stands and patiently waited for the beginning of the early archery deer season, which came in on Oct. 1. Deer are easier approached in the early season, and archery hunters often see many more deer now than later, when the firearms seasons open.

To be legal afield, hunters must possess a valid deer hunting, youth, lifetime comprehensive hunting or apprentice deer hunting license to legally pursue deer. Hunter education is required for anyone born after Dec. 31, 1986; however, individuals of any age may buy an apprentice license without having to take hunter education, provided they are hunting with a licensed mentor. Individuals are limited to three apprentice hunting licenses in their lifetime.

Legal archery equipment includes long bows, compound bows and recurve bows. A bow must have a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds. Arrows must be tipped with metal, metal-edged or napped flint, chert or obsidian broadheads. Crossbows are not legal for use in the early season, but are legal in the late season, Dec. 3-Jan. 1.

“Last year archery deer hunters harvested approximately 28,000 deer,” said Mitch Marcus, wildlife section chief of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “Providing the weather cooperates and deer hunters take to the field, this should prove to be another great deer hunting season.”

Hunters should stay safe in the field by following basic tree-stand safety rules.

“Hunters should always wear a harness and have three points of contact with the tree during their ascent and descent,” said Lt. Bill Browne, DNR law enforcement. “Falling from a tree stand accounts for a large percentage of hunting-related accidents and is totally preventable.

“Don’t fall asleep. If you feel drowsy, move your arms and splash water on your face until feeling alert.”

Anyone with questions regarding deer hunting rules, regulations and safety should consult the Indiana 2011-12 Deer Hunting Guide at www.hunting.IN.gov

Anglers will soon have the opportunity to pursue muskellunge at Eagle Creek Reservoir, right here in Indianapolis. The DNR will introduce muskellunge, commonly called muskies, to the 1,350-acre reservoir late this fall.

Muskies are popular sport fish native to Indiana, yet there are limited opportunities to fish for them in the central part of the state. Stocking muskie in Eagle Creek Reservoir is intended to provide anglers with a unique sport fishing opportunity, while using the abundant population of gizzard shad.

In the most recent fish community survey of the lake, gizzard shad and the other non-sport fish muskie commonly prey upon accounted for 40 percent of the fish collected. When shad densities are high, they can have a negative impact on the survival and growth of sport fish.

Muskie diet studies have documented muskie feed heavily on gizzard shad and seldom prey upon largemouth bass, bluegill or crappie.

Indiana muskie populations are dependent upon stocking. The DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife currently stocks the species in 12 Indiana lakes. Eagle Creek Reservoir will be stocked at a rate of one fish per acre, which is less than the traditional five-fish-per-acre stocking rate in other Indiana muskie lakes.

The DNR will closely evaluate survival and growth of the stocked muskellunge and the entire fish community in coming years to assure stocking muskellunge does not negatively impact other sport fish in the reservoir. Eagle Creek Reservoir will continue to be stocked annually with fingerling walleye, at the rate of 100 fish per acre. Eagle Creek Reservoir is operated and managed by Indy Parks.

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has approved a package of changes to deer hunting rules going into effect in the 2012 season. None of the changes will be in effect for deer hunting this year.

The final adoption vote came after preliminary approval by the NRC in January and a six-month public comment period, which included hundreds of written comments and two public hearings.

The rule changes include creating a crossbow license and authorizing its use during the entire archery season; extending the archery season without interruption from Oct. 1 through the first Sunday in January; extending the urban zone season from Sept. 15 through Jan. 31; requiring hunters in urban zones to harvest an antlerless deer before harvesting an antlered deer; establishing a special antlerless season from Dec. 26 through the first Sunday in January in designated counties; adding the non-resident youth licenses and a new deer license bundle; requiring display of hunter orange on occupied ground blinds; and extending the rifle cartridge length used in the firearm season to 1.8 inches.

The changes must still be approved by the attorney general’s and governor’s offices and published in the Indiana Register before taking effect.

The 2011 Waterfowl Draw Hunt Results are now posted online at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5583.htm

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