TITLE 312 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION

Temporarily amends 312 IAC 9 regarding noncommercial hunting in designated areas. Under IC 14-22-6-13, the director of the department of natural resources finds that deer cause measurable damage to the ecological balance in designated areas, and the ecological balance in the designated areas will not be maintained unless action is taken to control the population of deer. Effective June 30, 2023.

SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding 312 IAC 8-2, 312 IAC 9-2-11, and any other provision governing hunting a wild animal in a designated area, the department shall issue a license to hunt deer under this SECTION to an individual or unit selected by a random drawing under SECTION 2(b) of this document.

(b) The department shall determine the form of the license to hunt deer issued under subsection (a). Each individual participating in a scheduled hunt under SECTION 3(a) of this document shall possess evidence the individual is issued a license to hunt deer under subsection (a) throughout the duration of the scheduled hunt under SECTION 3(a) of this document.

(c) An individual may apply for a license to hunt deer issued under subsection (a) if the individual:

(1) is at least eighteen (18) years of age not later than November 13, 2023; and

(2) possesses at least one (1) of the following:

(A) A valid resident license to take deer issued under IC 14-22-12-1.

(B) A lifetime comprehensive hunting license issued under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(4), before its repeal.

(C) A lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license issued under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(5), before its repeal.

(d) An individual who is issued a license to hunt deer under subsection (a) may hunt deer in the following designated areas:

(1) Cave River Valley Natural Area.

(2) Chain O'Lakes State Park.

(3) Clifty Falls State Park.

(4) Fort Harrison State Park.

(5) Harmonie State Park.

(6) Indiana Dunes State Park.

(7) Lincoln State Park.

(8) O'Bannon Woods State Park.

(9) Ouabache State Park.

(10) Prophetstown State Park.

(11) Raccoon State Recreation Area.

(12) Shades State Park.

(13) Shakamak State Park.

(14) Spring Mill State Park.

(15) Tippecanoe River State Park.

(16) Turkey Run State Park.

(17) Versailles State Park.

(18) Whitewater Memorial State Park.

SECTION 2. (a) An individual who wishes to participate in a scheduled hunt in a designated area under SECTION 1(d) of this document must submit an application online to obtain a license to hunt deer under SECTION 1(a) of this document at https://secure.in.gov/apps/dnr/portal/home not later than September 24, 2023. The department shall begin accepting online applications not later than August 20, 2023.

(b) An individual who submits an application online under subsection (a) will be entered into a random drawing to be conducted by the department to participate in a scheduled hunt under SECTION 3(a) of this document. An individual who submits an application online under subsection (a) may check the results of the random drawing online beginning September 26, 2023, at https://secure.in.gov/apps/dnr/portal/home.

(c) An individual, or not more than three (3) individuals as a unit, may submit one (1) application online under subsection (a) for the scheduled hunt under SECTION 3(a)(1) of this document, the scheduled hunt under SECTION 3(a)(2) of this document, or both. All or none of the individuals who submit an application online under subsection (a) may be selected to participate in a scheduled hunt under SECTION 3(a) of this document.

(d) An individual, or an individual on behalf of a unit, who submits more than one (1) application for a scheduled hunt under SECTION 3(a) of this document disqualifies the individual and any other individual included on the application from participating in a random drawing under subsection (b).

SECTION 3. (a) An individual who is issued a license to hunt deer under SECTION 1(a) of this document may participate in a scheduled hunt on the following dates pursuant to the issued license:

(1) Beginning November 13, 2023, through November 14, 2023.

(2) Beginning November 27, 2023, through November 28, 2023.

(b) An individual participating in a scheduled hunt under subsection (a) may shoot beginning not earlier than thirty (30) minutes before sunrise until 4:00 p.m. EST (3:00 p.m. CST).

(c) An individual participating in a scheduled hunt under subsection (a) in a designated area under SECTION 1(d) of this document must wear hunter orange that meets the specifications under IC 14-22-38-7.

(d) The following individuals may enter a state park to participate in a scheduled hunt under subsection (a):

(1) An individual granted a license to hunt deer under SECTION 1(a) of this document.

(2) A representative of the media.

(3) An employee of the department.

(4) An individual who is at least eighteen (18) years of age not later than November 13, 2023, who:

(A) is assisting an individual who is issued a license to hunt deer under SECTION 1(a) of this document who possesses a Person with Disabilities Hunting Permit under 312 IAC 9-10-10; and

(B) does not intend to participate in the scheduled hunt under subsection (a).

(5) Any other individual with a credential issued by the department.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this document, an individual may not enter a state park where a scheduled hunt under subsection (a) is taking place unless the individual is participating in a scheduled hunt under subsection (a) during the following:

(1) Beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST (7:00 p.m. CST) on Sunday, November 12, 2023, until not later than 8:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.

(2) Beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, November 26, 2023, until not later than 8:00 a.m. EST (7:00 a.m. CST) on Wednesday, November 29, 2023.

(f) An individual issued a license to hunt deer under SECTION 1(a) of this document may be:

(1) randomly assigned to a designated area of the state park to hunt; and

(2) provided a designated parking assignment.

(g) An individual may not take more than three (3) deer during a scheduled hunt under subsection (a). Among the three (3) deer taken, there may not be more than one (1) antlered deer. A deer taken under this subsection does not apply to a bag limit for taking deer under 312 IAC 9. An individual who takes a deer under this subsection shall deliver the deer to a designated check station in the state park where the scheduled hunt under subsection (a) occurs prior to departure from the state park with the deer.

(h) Except for Clifty Falls State Park and Fort Harrison State Park, a deer may be taken by firearms as required under 312 IAC 9-3-3. At Clifty Falls State Park and Fort Harrison State Park, a deer may be taken by bow and arrow or crossbow as required under 312 IAC 9-3-3.

(i) Except for Clifty Falls State Park and Fort Harrison State Park, an individual who participates in a scheduled hunt under subsection (a) may only use a non-penetrating tree stand in a designated area under SECTION 1(d) of this document.

(j) Except for Clifty Falls State Park and Fort Harrison State Park, ground blinds (as defined by 312 IAC 9-1-7.6) are prohibited in a designated area under SECTION 1(d) of this document.

(k) An individual who is participating in a scheduled hunt under subsection (a) shall not possess or consume alcoholic beverages in a designated area under SECTION 1(d) of this document during a scheduled hunt under subsection (a).

SECTION 4. This document expires January 1, 2024.

DIN: 20230628-IR-312230521ERA

Composed: May 19,2024 9:38:07PM EDT

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