by Jack Spaulding
Outdoors WriterSome big changes are in the works for Indiana deer hunters. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) presented a new package of recommended changes for deer hunting rules to the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) at the Jan. 11 meeting at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis. The rule changes were voted on and the new plan adopted.
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 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 DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. “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 Division of Fish and Wildlife.
“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 establishing 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 (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 Division of Fish and Wildlife. “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 granted preliminary adoption at its Jan. 11 meeting. Adoption would be only the fifth step in a 34-step checklist requiring as much as a year to complete.
The vote for preliminary adoption will be followed by a public comment period overseen by the NRC Division of Hearings. The recommended rule changes and a convenient online comment link would be posted at
www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm. The NRC also would 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.
Information sought on killing of peregrine falcon DNR Law Enforcement officers are seeking information on the shooting of a peregrine falcon found severely injured in Floyd County near the I-64 bridge in New Albany Dec. 22.
The injured bird, identified as a captive-bred female, was brought to the Hardy Lake Raptor Rehabilitation Center by Indiana Conservation Officer Gary Pennington. The center’s personnel took the falcon to a local veterinarian, and a subsequent X-ray determined the bird had been shot. Despite efforts to save the falcon, it died on Dec. 31.
According to the DNR’s nongame bird biologist, John Castrale the falcon, which he banded and released in Evansville in 1994, had not been reported since 1995. The bird was named Phoenix, and may have been in the New Albany/Louisville area where peregrine falcon pairs nest on tall buildings and under bridges. Most peregrine falcons are banded as nestlings and later identification of adults is possible if the birds can be approached. The biologist said the bird was relatively old for the species. The oldest he’s aware of in the Midwest lived to age 19.
Peregrine falcons were removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999 but remain a state endangered species in Indiana.
Anyone with information about the shooting should call 1-800-TIP-IDNR (847-4367) or go online to
TIP.IN.gov.
Lt. Mark Farmer, public information officer for DNR Law Enforcement, said combined federal and state penalties for a conviction could result in a fine of $15,000, six months incarceration and loss of equipment.
till next time,
Photo ©Jupiterimages
Jack Spaulding is a state outdoors writer and a consumer of RushShelby Energy from Milroy. Readers with questions or comments can write to him in care of Electric Consumer, P.O. Box 24517, Indianapolis, IN 46224; or e-mail jackspaulding@hughes.net.