Opinions on proposed deer hunting changes sought through survey

Indiana DNR Release:

An online survey designed to gauge hunter and landowner support for proposed changes to deer hunting rules aimed toward better deer herd management is available to be taken at dnr.IN.gov until April 25.

The survey is at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5904.htm

The components of the proposed strategy, which were formed after meetings during the past several months with stakeholder groups to discuss objectives, strategies and components of deer management in Indiana, include deer donation programs, hunter access, antlerless quota system, season structure, bag limits, hunting equipment, licensing, and special deer control permits.

The stakeholders included representatives of the DNR divisions of Fish and Wildlife, and Law Enforcement, Bloomington City Council, Indiana Bow Hunters Association, Indiana Deer Hunter’s Association, Indiana Farm Bureau, Quality Deer Management Association, Indiana Sportsman’s Roundtable, Indiana Wildlife Federation, Indiana Woodland Owner’s Association, The Nature Conservancy, and a sporting goods retailer.

The group agreed that the objective of Indiana’s deer management strategy for the next five years should be to focus deer herd reduction in a strategically targeted manner to more adequately balance ecological, recreational and economic needs of the citizens of Indiana.