Indiana wants to change its rules for deer hunters. Here are the proposals, and how to comment

Ryan Reynolds, Evansville Courier & Press
·2 min read
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The state of Indiana wants to change its rules for deer hunting, but first it wants your input.

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has opened a public comment period for proposed changes to the rules before its members vote on final adoption of the proposed changes. Most proposed changes intend to simplify Indiana’s deer hunting rules to make them easier to understand.

Proposed changes include:

  • A statewide bag limit of six antlerless deer.

  • A newly created county antlerless bag limit instead of season antlerless bag limits. Because of this change, the bonus antlerless license would be the multiple-season antlerless license that could be used in the archery, muzzleloader, and firearms seasons.

  • Hunters would not be able to harvest an antlerless deer on fish and wildlife properties with a firearm.

  • The use of crossbow equipment would be allowed with the archery license.

  • The minimum caliber for a muzzleloader would be reduced from 0.44 inches to 0.40 inches.

  • If a deer is unfit for human consumption, DNR staff would be able to issue an authorization to take an antlerless deer in its place that will not count toward the statewide bag limit or county limit.

  • Adding the deer Reduction Zones and County Antlerless Bag Limits.

  • Removing the Special Antlerless Firearms season.

Public comments can be submitted online at IN.gov/nrc/rules/rulemaking-docket/ via the “Comment on this rule” link in the Rulemaking Docket for the Deer Hunting Amendments.

The deadline for public comments is March 20. A public hearing will take place March 20 from 4 to 8 p.m. Eastern at the Garrison at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis; you can attend in person or online anytime during that timeframe.

To attend the public hearing, starting at 4 p.m. on March 20, go to Microsoft Teams and enter Meeting ID: 296 491 887 327, Passcode: xTCuyW.

For more information on the proposed rule changes, visit wildlife.IN.gov/rule-regulation-changes/.

Questions about the proposed deer rule changes should be directed to 812-334-3795 or indeerhotline@dnr.IN.gov.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: What are the rules for hunting deer in Indiana?