Contact: Kim Brant
Phone: 317-233-4003
Email: dnrnews@dnr.in.gov
DNR to hold meetings about fenced deer hunting
Public forums to be across the state throughout June
A series of five meetings from June 7 to June 30 have been scheduled by the Department of Natural Resources to hear from the public about the issue of fenced deer hunting in Indiana.
"Hunting deer behind fences in Indiana is a topic that has been debated and discussed for a number of years," said DNR Director Kyle Hupfer. "It is time that the DNR took a more assertive role and a decision is made once and for all whether fenced hunting is something that Hoosiers want in their state, and if allowed, what rules will govern such hunting."
The dates and times for the meetings are:
 | Tuesday, June 7, 6:00-8:00pm: Kankakee F&WA (Starke County) |
| Tuesday, June 14, 6:00-8:00pm: Chain O'Lakes S.P. (Noble County) |
| Thursday, June 16, 6:00-8:00pm: Clifty Falls State Park, Clifty Inn (Jefferson County) |
| Thursday, June 23, 6:00-8:00pm: Sugar Ridge F&WA (Pike County) |
| Thursday, June 30, 6:00-8:00pm: Fort Harrison State Park, The Garrison (Marion County) |
"These forums will provide the type of open discussion of issues that Governor Daniels pledged would be standard operating procedure during his time in office. I look forward to hearing from as many people as possible so that a complete view of public opinion on this issue will be available before final decisions are made."
The Citizens Advisory Council on Captive Cervid, an advisory group created by the DNR two years ago, held a series of meetings between August 2003 and April 2004. They were unable to reach consensus and, therefore, no rules were promulgated as a result of the council’s efforts.
This year the Indiana General Assembly briefly visited the issue of fenced hunting but left it to the DNR to examine the state’s options to regulate the practice through rule rather than a change in statute.
In order to facilitate the effectiveness of the public forums, the DNR has put together 19 talking points that will serve as a starting point for discussions about proposed regulations. The 19 points are based on the work product and notes from the captive cervid council meetings and additional research by the DNR of the laws and regulations from other states. The following are the 19 talking points:
| Threshold issue: Should fenced deer hunting be allowed to take place in Indiana? This is a threshold issue that we would like public comment on. If the ultimate answer is yes, then rules regarding the approved conduct of fenced deer hunting must be established. The remaining talking points provide a starting point for such rules in the event that a complete prohibition is not the outcome of this process. |
| Minimum size of facility: 300 acres. |
| Existing facilities & sunset date: Existing facilities must show proof of hunting on property in 2003 &/or 2004. Existing facilities must have a minimum of 50 acres to allow hunting in the 2005 season. These facilities must comply with the 300 acre requirement by hunting season 2006. No new permits will be issued for fenced deer hunting locations. These rules would sunset as of February 1, 2015, at which time there would be a complete prohibition on the hunting of deer behind fences in Indiana. |
| Fence height: Single 10-foot fence for for white-tailed deer or double 8-foot fence; single 8-foot fence for other cervids. |
| Escape cover: 40% minimum, |
| Artificial feeding: Must remove 10 days before hunting can take place. |
| Stand location from perimeter fence: minimum of 75 yards. |
| New animal release: Must release new cervid at least 10 days before hunting occurs. It is permissible for new cervid to be released throughout the season, but operators must allow for the 10-day "cooling off" period before additional hunting takes place. |
| Hunter density: one hunter per 20 acres per day. |
| Season: October 1-January 1 (consistent with military base hunts). Would allow any method of taking that is legal in Indiana during entire season. |
| Deer density/acre: one deer per acre |
| Bag limits: none |
| Required license (hunter): Shooting preserve license for each deer to be harvested ($250/buck, $50/doe), plus required Indiana hunting licenses (deer must be checked & tagged on site, before leaving the property--and all BOAH rules and regulations followed) |
| Required license (shooting preserve): IDNR-issued Game Breeder's License, current cost $15. Application would be altered to require applicant to declare if s/he is a "Cervidae Livestock Operation" or a "Shooting Preserve." In order to check shooting preserve, proof of prior hunting will be required. All shooting preserves already holding a Game Breeder's License will be required to re-submit a Shooting Preserve request and receive a Shooting Preserve permit prior to conducting hunts in the 2005 season. |
| Hunting fees & DNR fees: Individual animals can NOT be sold. Facility operators may charge fees at their discretion (I.e. a base fee for all cervid, or a fee scale based on antler size). 30% of ALL fees paid by hunters to a Shooting Preserve are to be paid to the DNR for program implementation and as an additional fee for receiving a Shooting Preserve permit. |
| Cervid identification: Ear tag (unique and visible from a distance) & implanted radio frequency ID device. Cervid must be identified according to BOAH regulations (345 IAC 2-7). |
| Post-harvest antler marking: 1/4 inch hole drilled into an antler prior to leaving the property. |
| CWD testing: CWD testing will continue according to BOAH regulations (345 IAC 2-7). |
| Accounting/auditing: The DNR or any of its agents may, at any time, audit a Shooting Preserve operator's records to confirm compliance with required fee payment to DNR. |
"The parameters we are using as a starting point will not necessarily be the final rules," Hupfer said. "They are intended only as a mechanism to produce meaningful dialogue on the topic."
For further information about fenced deer hunting, or to email comments regarding these parameters, visit dnr.in.gov/fencedhunting.
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