New deer rules get preliminary approval

Indiana DNR Release:

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Natural Resources Commission on Tuesday approved preliminary adoption of recommended rule changes for deer hunting.

Components of the proposed changes include modification of the season structure, bag limits, hunting equipment, and licensing requirements. The changes address requests from the NRC and the NRC’s Advisory Council as part of their comprehensive review of fish and wildlife rules.

Key elements of the recommendation would allow use of a crossbow during the archery season and the urban zone season; establish separate crossbow and urban zone licenses; combine the early and late archery seasons into a single season from Oct. 1 through the first Sunday in January; and add a special antlerless only firearms season in select counties from Dec. 26 through the first Sunday in January.

The complete text of the proposed rule package and other information can be found at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2362.htm.

Once the rule language is posted on the NRC website (www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm), the public will be able to use the convenient online link to submit comments. Written comments also can be mailed to Division of Hearings, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Ave., Room N501, Indianapolis, IN, 46204-2200.

One or more public hearings will be scheduled to collect additional comment before the recommendations go back to the NRC for consideration of final adoption. NRC chairman Bryan Poynter said it is unlikely any changes would occur in the 2011 hunting seasons.

The NRC also voted on Tuesday for final adoption of rule amendments governing the use of gizzard shad, threadfin and alewife as bait; requirements for obtaining a wild animal rehabilitation permit; and placement of fish attractors on properties administered by the DNR.

In other actions, the NRC approved:

--Dedication of a 743-acre addition to the existing 859-acre Fourteen Mile Creek Nature Preserve at Charlestown State Park in Clark County;

--Preliminary adoption of a rule to remove Roush State Fish and Wildlife Area from lakes subject to drawings for fishing tournaments;

--Preliminary adoption of rule amendments to modify size limits on black bass taken from rivers or streams;

--Kristen Lutes as property manager at Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site in New Albany and Joseph Frost as property manager at Vincennes State Historic Sites, Vincennes;

--Permanent removal of objects from collections of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites.