FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — Some Indiana deer hunters aren't happy with proposed changes to the state's deer-hunting rules, in part because they include shortening the current 16-day firearms season for deer by about a week.
State wildlife biologists say that and other changes are needed as part of a strategy to reduce the state's large herd of white-tailed deer by targeting female deer.
The state Department of Natural Resources says Indiana hunters are taking record numbers of deer even as the state is experiencing record numbers of deer-damage complaints.
Deer aren't just eating or damaging homeowners' plants and trees. They're also consuming native plants — some of them rare — in and outside of state parks.
DNR spokesman Phil Bloom told The Journal Gazette that basic science is at the heart of the state's new strategy to reduce the deer herd. He said the way to reduce the state's deer population is to target female deer so that fewer deer are born.
If the ratio was changed to kill more does and fewer bucks during the season — even if hunters took the same or fewer deer — he said it would eventually cut their numbers.
Fort Wayne resident Bonita Stevens, who has been hunting deer for about nine years during the archery and muzzleloader seasons, agrees with some of the proposed changes. But she feels others aren't a good idea and could cause the state to lose money.
"I think anybody I've talked to feels the same way," said Stevens, who made a recent hunting trip to southern Indiana's Brown County with her husband.
The state's plan calls for reconfiguring the traditional 16-day firearms and muzzleloader deer hunting seasons to nine days each, while adding new antlerless-only "seasons" of two days in October in designated counties and eight days in late December statewide.
It also requires hunters to take at least one antlerless deer before taking an antlered deer in urban zones, and it expands the use of crossbows.
The Indiana Natural Resources Commission gave preliminary approval to the comprehensive package in July. But after many of the thousands of comments on the proposal were negative, the panel was asked to consider alternatives.
Bloom said the proposed alternative plan isn't done yet but likely will be before the panel's Nov. 16 meeting. He said that at least two hearings will be held during which the public can comment.
The earliest any changes would take effect for Indiana's roughly quarter of a million deer hunters would be next year.
Justin Stump, a Fort Wayne area hunter who runs a forum for like-minded enthusiasts on Facebook called Bad Apple Outdoors, said hunters he's talked to are most upset with the shortening of the firearms and muzzleloader seasons.
Stump said they feel the rule changes are tailored to benefit bowhunters by allowing bowhunters more opportunities to take a buck.
He also feels the state is more concerned with managing trophy bucks to make the state appealing to out-of-state hunters, whose licenses, at $150 each, would bring in more revenue than $24 resident licenses.
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