Just found out Deer season is still in, in Indiana
 

Due to a technicality of game laws that went into effect 1-1-12, I can still hunt. I already had everything packed up and dreaming of next year, and now I have 20 days of hunting left. It is like a small gift from the hunting gods!

A CO on another forum posted this after, some of us began to discuss the legallity of the new law and that technically season would be in. Beings the new law did not say, it was to begin starting January 2013 like it was intended. The laws went into effect 1-1-12, which means, right now. Previously our season ended the first Sunday of January and the new law, extends it to January 31st.

Now the bad news or the only bad I can find, It is for our UDZ (urban) Zones only. And the EAB program is in effect as well. So, you must shoot a doe before your buck.



Today I received a copy of an email sent out to northern regional conservation officers. The text follows:

"Subject: FW: Deer Season Is Still In

Gentlemen ….. Regarding the new rule package, there are many changes that we all need to be aware of. One that was not foreseen but opportunistic hunters saw right away was that the urban deer zone season is now extended until January 31st. The intent was never to have that season extended this first year but there is nothing in the rule that prevents it. As soon as the rule went into effect, the extended urban zone season went into effect. So... this means that deer season is still in! This of course creates some problems, the first being that most check stations have already had their tags and books picked up. We will obviously have difficulties checking any deer in that are harvested under this urban season. Each district that contains an urban zone is to contact at least one check station and inform them of the issue. We can then have an officer return some tags and books to that check station just for this purpose. If you let region know what check station is “back in business”, we can direct hunters to that station. If anyone has a better idea, please let me know.

Secondly, the urban deer season license is not available until sometime this spring, the fee for the license has not even been set yet. That means that the only persons that can legally harvest a deer under this rule are those with a valid youth comprehensive hunt/trap license, lifetime comprehensive hunting license, regular archery license, extra archery license, or bonus antlerless license.

I realize this will not affect everyone but I wanted everyone to be aware of this issue as you may get questions and you should know how the division is handling it. Please let me know if you see anything else that we are missing. You will need to make all officers under your command aware of these issues ASAP.

312 IAC 9-3-4 Season dates and bag limits

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-22-2-6

Affected: IC 14-22

Sec. 4. (a) An individual must not take more than one (1) deer with each deer license.

(d) The urban deer season is as follows:

(1) From September 15 through January 31 of the following year in an urban deer zone.

(2) Under this subsection:

(A) An individual must take not more than four (4) deer of which only one (1) may be antlered.

(B) At least one (1) antlerless deer must be taken in an urban deer zone prior to taking an antlered deer."

My season just ended last saturday. I gotta say I am happy. I spent more time in the woods this year then any other. OUr season runs from first sat. in October to first sat. in January here in Va.

But I am ready to back to the woods for crow, squirrel, and one more two week period of late turkey. I love it.

Oh yeah, I forgot yotes. I put a night vision scoped Remington VTR, in .22-250, together and didn't get a chance before deer season to use it in the field.

Boonechaser are you serious??? I was just on the DNR website yesterday and didnt see anything about this. If this is true this is wonderful news for some .

Unfortunately for me my season may still be over. At the moment, I do not have any hunting areas or permission to hunt in the urban deer zones. :sad0064:

This is bow only, correct? I do not believe muzzleloaders are allowed?

Yes Quake, it is for real and you are correct. UDZ zones are archery equipment only, vertical or horizontal.

Dang Boone I'd of figured all your Tags were filled by now with another P&Y or B&C Buck, still Chasen huh........:poke:Just Razzin Ya!
There must be some real smat guys doing all your new Regs, bet there feeling real stupid right about now.
Anyway take advantage of it and hope you have a Successful Hunt!
(BP)

What a mess!!! I'll take it though.

I wont kill doe untill my buck tags are filled and I will take anything 4.5 or older, no matter the score. In my area that seems to be 140" or better. If you would limit yourself to these size deer, you may have more B&C or P&Y bucks in your area:poke: Just Razzin Ya, Back!!

Took me a little longer than normal, this year. So, the freezer is a little light on venison. Just have one versus the normal three. I do not eat buck, they are donated on my dime to the local gleaners food bank.

As a follow up to the email that was sent Monday related to deer hunting in urban deer zones through Jan. 31, yesterday the Natural Resource Commission approved the fees for urban deer zone licenses as follows: resident urban deer zone license $24, non-resident urban deer zone license $150, non-resident youth urban deer zone license $24, apprentice resident urban deer zone license $24, apprentice non-resident urban deer zone license $150, apprentice non-resident youth urban deer zone license $24. To answer the question, “what license do I need to deer hunt in an urban zone?” the answer is an urban deer zone license, unless the hunter is exempt from needing a license. Remember the urban deer license is included in 1) the youth consolidated hunting license, 2) the lifetime comprehensive hunting license and 3) the lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license. The urban deer zone license is available for sale in the iPOS system.


There have already been questions regarding the earn-a-buck requirement that is now in effect for the 2011 urban deer zone season (Sept. 15, 2011 thru Jan. 31, 2012). Given that the urban zone deer bag limit remains the same at 4 deer (all 4 antlerless or 3 antlerless+1 antlered), below are a couple scenarios to help address those questions ….

Scenario 1 - if a hunter has already harvested an antlered deer in an urban deer zone, all (s)he can harvest thru Jan. 31 would be antlerless deer in an urban deer zone.

Scenario 2 – if a hunter hasn’t harvested an urban zone antlered deer and has already harvested an urban zone antlerless deer during the 2011 urban zone deer season, (s)he can harvest one urban zone antlered deer thru Jan. 31 in an urban deer zone.

Scenario 3 – if a hunter hasn’t harvested any urban zone deer, (s)he must harvest an antlerless deer in an urban deer zone prior to harvesting an antlered deer in an urban deer zone.

Boy I sure don't understand that philosophy??? This action would not work well in any deer management program I know. You would better off killing more does then bucks is you want to maintain a good trophy population.

I admit I am no expert, but have researched this for my hunt club. We have over 4000 acres and try to manage our deer pop as much as possible.

I doubt we have a lack of B&C Bucks where I live, Northern Chautauqua Co. has some of the Biggest Bucks in the Northeast, but our problem is they have too many good places to hide, most die of old age.
I dont eat Old Tough Bucks either, that's why I let the wife shoot a doe or two and if things get tough I will shoot a young buck, there good eating too. I hunt many private farms, we manage the deer, if we have too many does or a young buck that does'nt have the potential to be a good one, he's toast.
Im sure all of us on here hunt Big Bucks, but we can only be so lucky some of the time. I go every hunting season with a buck tag unfilled just for the one that never showed (I get 2 Buck Tags) but My Freezer always gets filled.
That's nice of you to donate some Venison to the needy, I have a Bumper Sticker that say's (Will Hunt for Food) From day 1 till the end of hunting season Im hunting for a BOONER, if they did'nt exist it would'nt be any fun.
Dont take my comments the wrong way, Im on your side:party0005:
(BP)