Indiana deer hunters should expect another productive season in 2014; however, when the firearms season begins Nov. 15, they may see fewer deer than in previous years.

“There are several factors contributing to reduced deer numbers in certain areas of the state,” Department of Natural Resources (DNR) deer management biologist Chad Stewart said. “Some are by design and some are by external forces.”

The DNR is in the third year of a management effort to reduce deer numbers in targeted areas. Another reason for fewer deer was a serious 2012 outbreak of hemorrhagic disease – an often-lethal virus transmitted by small flies known as biting midges.

“These numbers are more in line with what should be seen on the landscape,” Stewart said.

“We recognize these declines and have been responsive in our management by reducing our antlerless quotas in many areas and dropping some counties from the special late antlerless season. In many cases, these are the levels at which we are trying to manage our herd.”

In addition to basic bag limits, hunters may purchase bonus licenses to take additional antlerless deer based on a county’s assigned quota.  Bonus licenses may be used in any season, except the Urban Deer Zone Season, using the equipment legal for the season.

The bonus antlerless quota was reduced this year for 19 counties. As a result of the reductions, six fewer counties are eligible for the special late antlerless season (Dec. 26-Jan. 4, 2015) than a year ago.

With no hemorrhagic disease reported in 2014 and few reports of deer being affected by last year’s hard winter, Stewart anticipates a deer harvest similar to 2013 (126,635 deer) but short of the record set in 2012 of 136,248 deer.

The firearms season runs Nov. 15-30. Hunters with a firearms license may take one antlered deer. Bonus licenses are required to take additional deer with firearms.

“Hunters in the north are likely to see deer numbers at lower levels than they are accustomed to seeing,” he explained. “Historically, deer herds tend to rebound quickly from outbreaks of hemorrhagic disease, but that hasn’t been the case in northern Indiana.”

Stewart sees a different picture in southern Indiana. “Hunters there should continue to see good numbers of deer. The balance of deer cover and the absence of lingering effects from any disease outbreak have produced ample opportunities for hunters to be successful.”

18 state parks closed

for deer reduction hunts

Select Indiana state parks will close temporarily to allow for controlled deer reduction hunts in the coming weeks. The dates for the temporary closings are Nov. 17-18 and Dec. 1-2.

The state parks affected are Brown County, Chain O’Lakes, Charlestown, Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, Harmonie, Indiana Dunes, Lincoln, McCormick’s Creek, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe River and Whitewater Memorial.

The parks will close to the general public the evening before each of the two efforts and reopen the morning after each two-day reduction.

Only individual hunters drawn last September and the hunters they listed on their applications may participate at Brown County, Chain O’Lakes, Charlestown, Clifty Falls, Harmonie, Lincoln, McCormick’s Creek, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shakamak, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe River and Whitewater Memorial. There will be no standby drawings at those parks.

For Fort Harrison (an archery hunt) and Indiana Dunes and Spring Mill (both firearms hunts), a public standby drawing to fill spots left vacant will take place on-property each morning of the reduction.

Indiana Dunes State Park will conduct daily standby drawings at 8 a.m. CST. Potential standby participants may apply on-site between 7-7:45 a.m. but may not enter the park before 7.

Spring Mill and Fort Harrison will conduct daily standby drawings at 8:30 a.m. EST. Potential standby participants can apply on-site between 7:30-8:15 a.m. but cannot enter the park before 7:30.

Eligibility for daily on-site standby drawings is limited to Indiana residents who are 18 years of age by Nov. 17 and have any valid license to take deer in Indiana. Residents who possess an Indiana lifetime license to take deer are also eligible. Participants must wear a hunter orange hat or cap and vest, coat, jacket or coveralls at all times while on the property.

Applications may include up to three individuals. The number of participants drawn will be based on the number of unclaimed spots for each day; it is not a first-come, first-served process. The need for stand-in hunters tends to increase with each hunt day. Questions about participating in the standby drawings should be directed to the property of interest.

DNR biologists evaluate which parks require a reduction each year based on habitat recovery and previous harvest rates at each park. The state parks are home to more than 32 state-endangered plants and numerous significant natural communities.

The reductions help control browsing by deer to a level needed to maintain habitat throughout the state parks for all plants and animals.

NRC to meet Nov. 18

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will conduct its bimonthly meeting on Nov. 18 at Fort Harrison State Park. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Garrison Ballroom, 6002 North Post Road, Indianapolis. An agenda and downloadable related materials are available online at www.in.gov/nrc/2354.htm

The NRC is an autonomous board addressing issues pertaining to the DNR. The commission includes the DNR director, heads of three other state agencies (Environmental Management, Tourism and Transportation), six citizens appointed by the governor on a bipartisan basis, the chair of the NRC’s advisory council and the president of the Indiana Academy of Science.

The Academy of Science president and the agency heads, other than the DNR director, may appoint designees to serve the commission in their absences.

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 may contact Jack Spaulding by email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.