Published: November 09, 2008 12:07 am         

Record deer harvest could be awaiting hunters

Favorable weather and a few other factors could combine to produce a record harvest this deer firearm season, which opens Saturday.

“We continue to have a healthy deer herd in Indiana,” said DNR deer management biologist Chad Stewart. “Hunters can expect to have a tremendous season in 2008. I wouldn’t be surprised if we produced a record harvest this year.”

Stewart noted that the weather so far this year has been cooler than in recent years past, which should increase deer movement and get more hunters in the field because the weather will be more comfortable for hunting. He said he expects that these two factors could lead to an increased number of deer taken this year.

He also emphasized that EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease), a deer disease that was detected in many parts of the state last year, will hardly be a factor this season.

“The number of counties [with reports of EHD] is down drastically from last year, as are the total number of reports,” Stewart said. “In most of those counties, only one or two reports were received. Counties affected over the past two years should recover somewhat this year, and should contribute to more deer harvested by hunters this upcoming season. More deer ‘on the hoof’ in many areas compared to last year should again contribute to a successful year by hunters.”

Buy early

Turns out hunters, like some holiday shoppers, like to buy late. But that can be risky.

According to DNR wildlife information specialist Kevin Hoffman, approximately 30 percent (about 55,000) of all licenses sold in November of last year were sold on the Friday before firearm season opening day. He hopes that those numbers change this season.

“You shouldn’t wait until the last minute to buy your firearm license,” he said, “It’s a good idea to purchase them a few days in advance to avoid any problems.”

Computer-related glitches from too many people buying at the same time can be one such setback.

Helping the Hungry

An increased harvest this year could benefit not only hunters but also Hoosiers who need help feeding themselves and their family. Harvesting more deer means a possible increase in donations of venison to organizations that help feed Indiana’s needy.

One such group, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH), provided more than 200,000 individual meals last year. To donate a deer, hunters should contact a participating nearby meat processor, as listed in the 2008-09 DNR Hunting/Trapping Guide (also available at wildlife.IN.gov, under Hunting Guide), then take the deer to that location. FHFH pays the processing fees. It’s also possible for hunters to donate only a portion of a deer.

Stewart said there are additional benefits besides helping feed the hungry.

“First and foremost, the meat is being used by those who need it the most,” he said. “But it also provides hunters the opportunity to hunt longer because they can harvest more deer than they need, yet not waste the meat. This has the potential for hunters to show goodwill toward their fellow Hoosiers while effectively managing the deer population.”

The Sportsman’s Benevolence Fund is raising money to support statewide deer donation programs through partnerships with non-profit organizations like FHFH.

The Department of Natural Resources supports the fund by selling metallic pins sporting the image of a deer. This year, 25,000 pins were purchased by the DNR Division of Law Enforcement and are being sold for $5, which can potentially generate $125,000 to help feed the hungry.

Information on where to purchase a pin is at dnr.IN.gov/lawenfor. To make a donation to FHFH, please contact Deb Treesh at treesh@fhfh.org.

Q and A

on regulations

1. What kind of license do I need to hunt deer with a firearm? How much does it cost?

Generally, a deer license is required for each deer taken. Specific exemptions can be found on pages 2 and 3 of the 2007-08 Hunting and Trapping Guide (also available at wildlife.IN.gov). The kind of license needed depends on which portion of the season in which you choose to hunt and the equipment you use. You must have a firearm license or bonus antlerless license to hunt with a handgun, shotgun, rifle or muzzleloader during the firearm season. A firearm license is not valid during the muzzleloader season. You must have a muzzleloader license or a bonus antlerless license to hunt with a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season. Resident deer licenses cost $24.

2. How does the bonus antlerless permit system work?

The bonus antlerless permit system allows hunters to kill additional deer in some counties. A map on page 17 of the 2007-08 Hunting and Trapping guide (also available at wildlife.IN.gov) indicates the county quota for bonus antlerless deer. If you are hunting in a county that has a county quota of one or more, you may use bonus antlerless deer licenses starting in the early archery season and continuing throughout the firearm, muzzleloader, and late archery season, using the equipment that is legal during the season in which you are hunting. You may take one bonus antlerless deer per bonus antlerless license. These licenses may be used in any county, but, of course, you may not take more than the county quota for bonus antlerless deer in any specific county. All current bonus antlerless licenses have been valid for hunting since Oct. 1.

3. What types of firearms can be used during the firearm deer season?

Shotguns, handguns, rifles with certain cartridges, muzzleloading long guns and muzzleloading handguns are legal during the firearm season. Muzzleloading firearms are legal during the muzzleloader season and firearm season, but non-muzzleloading firearms are not legal during the muzzleloading season.

Hunters may carry more than one type of legal firearm when hunting during the firearm season only. Shotguns must be 10-, 12-, 16- or 20-gauge or .410 bore loaded with slugs or saboted bullets. Rifled slug barrels are permitted. Combination rifle-shotguns are not allowed.

Muzzleloading firearms must be .44 caliber or larger loaded with a single bullet of at least .357 caliber. Saboted bullets are allowed, provided that the bullet is .357 caliber or larger. A muzzleloading firearm must be loaded from the muzzle. Multiple-barrel muzzleloading long guns are allowed.

Hunters have the option of using rifles chambered for specific cartridges. Rifles that fire a bullet of .357-inch diameter or larger; have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches; and have a maximum case length of 1.625 inches are legal to use only during the deer firearm season. Some cartridges legal for deer hunting include the .357 Magnum, .38-.40 Winchester, .41 Magnum, .41 Special, .44 Magnum, .44 Special, .44-.40 Winchester, .45 Colt, .454 Casull, .475 Linebaugh, .480 Ruger, .50 Action Express, and .500 S&W.

Handguns, other than muzzleloading, must have a barrel at least 4 inches long and must fire a bullet of .243-inch diam¬eter or larger. The handgun cartridge case, without the bullet, must be at least 1.16 inches long. Full metal-jacketed bullets are not permitted. Handguns are not permitted on any military areas. Some types of hand¬gun cartridges legal for deer hunting include .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .44 Special, .45 Colt, .45 Long Colt, .45 Winchester Magnum, .35 Remington and .357 Herrett.

Some illegal handgun cartridges for deer hunting are .38 Special, .38 Smith and Wesson, .38 Colt New Police, .38/200, .38 Long Colt, .38 Super, .38 ACP, .38 Colt Auto, .45 ACP, .45 Automatic and .45 Auto Rim. All .25/.20, .32/.20 and .30 carbine ammunition is also prohibited.

Muzzleloading handguns are allowed. The muzzleloading handgun must be single shot, .50 caliber or larger, loaded with bullets at least .44 caliber and have a barrel at least 12 inches long, measured from the base of the breech plug, excluding tangs and other projections to the end of the barrel, including the muzzle crown.

It is legal to carry a handgun while hunting deer during the archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons, as long as the handgun is possessed under a handgun permit. It is not legal to take a deer with a handgun, except during the firearm and muzzleloader seasons and in compliance with DNR regulations.

4. If someone harasses me while I’m hunting is there anything I can do about it?

Yes, it is illegal to intentionally interfere with the legal taking of a game animal by another person on public or private land without permission of the landowner.

Call your local conservation or the DNR Division of Law Enforcement headquarters at (317) 232-4012.

5. I see a lot of baiting products for sale at sporting goods stores, such Deer Can and, Stump Likker. Is it OK to use these for hunting deer?

No, these products are considered bait; it is illegal to use bait to take deer. Bait is considered any product that is transported into a hunting area and placed there for animal consumption.

Baits can be in the form of salt, mineral blocks, prepared solid or liquid that is intended for the animal to eat, including the products mentioned above and others like them. An area is considered to have been baited for 10 days after the removal of the bait and any affected soil.

6. If food products like that are illegal, what about cover scents that smell like acorns or apples?

Using a product to mask your own scent, including products designed to eliminate scent, is legal.