INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Natural Resources Commission has given preliminary approval to a comprehensive package of proposed changes to deer-hunting rules in Indiana. The DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife developed the rules proposal to focus deer-herd reduction in a strategically targeted manner to more adequately balance the ecological, recreational and economic needs of the state's citizens.


Key points of the proposal include:

-Changing the deer firearms season to nine days beginning the Saturday before Thanksgiving
-Adding a two-day antlerless-only firearms season in October in designated counties
-Adding a statewide antlerless-only firearms season from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1
-Shortening the muzzleloader season to nine days
-Extending the urban zone season through Jan. 31
-Expanding the use of crossbows
-Requiring hunters to take at least one antlerless deer prior to taking an antlered deer in an urban deer zone


Hunters have harvested more than 100,000 deer in the state in 15 of the last 17 years, topping 125,000 in four of the last five years, including a record 132,752 in 2009.

The NRC's preliminary approval moves the proposed changes into the public input phase of the rules-making process. Comments on the proposal can be submitted online, mailed in or given at public hearings. Dates and locations for a minimum two hearings will be announced at a later date.

After the public input process is complete, the NRC will consider final adoption of the rule package.

If adopted, the new rules would take effect in 2011 and would be evaluated over a five-year period.