312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-3-2

Current through December 4, 2024
Section 312 IAC 9-3-2 - General requirements and licenses for hunting deer

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

Affected: IC 14-22; IC 35-47

Sec. 2.

(a) This section and sections 3, 4, 8, 9, and 10 of this rule govern the:
(1) hunting;
(2) transportation; and
(3) disposal; of deer.
(b) Species of deer other than white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are exempted from the following:
(1) This section.
(2) Sections 3, 4, 8, 9, and 10 of this rule.

An individual who claims the exemption provided under this subsection must prove the deer is other than a white-tailed deer.

(c) The licenses identified in this section are nonexclusive. An individual may apply for one (1) or more of these licenses.
(d) Except as provided under IC 14-22-11-1 and IC 14-22-11-11, an individual must not hunt deer:
(1) unless the individual possesses a valid, completed, and signed license authorized under this section bearing the individual's name; or
(2) with a deer license issued to another individual.
(e) A youth hunter may take a deer during the youth deer season established in section 4(b) of this rule only if:
(1) issued a license to hunt deer with:
(A) a resident youth consolidated hunting, trapping, and fishing license under IC 14-22-11-10(b) or IC 14-22-12-1(a)(24);
(B) a nonresident youth deer firearms license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(29);
(C) a nonresident youth deer muzzleloader license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(30);
(D) a nonresident youth deer archery license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(31);
(E) a nonresident youth extra deer crossbow license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(32);
(F) a nonresident youth extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(32);
(G) a nonresident youth extra deer bonus antlerless license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(32);
(H) a lifetime comprehensive hunting license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(4) before its repeal;
(I) a lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(5) before its repeal; or
(J) an apprentice license of the types identified in clauses (A) through (G) under IC 14-22-12-1.7; or
(2) hunting deer without a license under IC 14-22-11-1 and 312 IAC 9-2-14.
(f) An individual may take a deer with a long bow, a recurve bow, or a compound bow during the archery season established in section 4(c) of this rule only if:
(1) issued a license to hunt deer by bow and arrows with:
(A) a resident deer archery license under IC 14-22-11-10(a) or IC 14-22-12-1(a)(14);
(B) a nonresident deer archery license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(17);
(C) a resident youth consolidated hunting, trapping, and fishing license under IC 14-22-11-10(b) or IC 14-22-12-1(a)(24);
(D) a nonresident youth deer archery license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(31);
(E) a resident extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(18);
(F) a nonresident extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(19);
(G) a nonresident youth extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(32);
(H) a lifetime comprehensive hunting license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(4) before its repeal;
(I) a lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(5) before its repeal; or
(J) an apprentice license of the types identified in clauses (A) through (G) under IC 14-22-12-1.7; or
(2) hunting without a license under IC 14-22-11-1 and 312 IAC 9-2-14.
(g) An individual may take a deer with a crossbow during the archery season established in section 4(c) of this rule only if:
(1) issued a license to hunt deer with:
(A) a resident extra deer crossbow license under IC 14-22-11-10(a) or IC 14-22-12-1(a)(14);
(B) a nonresident extra deer crossbow license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(17);
(C) a resident youth consolidated hunting, trapping, and fishing license under IC 14-22-11-10(b) or IC 14-22-12- 1(a)(24);
(D) a nonresident youth extra deer crossbow license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(31);
(E) a resident extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(18);
(F) a nonresident extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(19);
(G) a nonresident youth extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(32);
(H) a lifetime comprehensive hunting license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(4) before its repeal;
(I) a lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(5) before its repeal; or
(J) an apprentice license of the types identified in clauses (A) through (G) under IC 14-22-12-1.7; or
(2) hunting without a license under IC 14-22-11-1 and 312 IAC 9-2-14.
(h) An individual may take a deer with a firearm during the firearms season established in section 4(e) of this rule only if:
(1) issued a license to hunt deer by firearms with:
(A) a resident deer firearms license under IC 14-22-11-10(a) or IC 14-22-12-1(a)(12);
(B) a nonresident deer firearms license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(15);
(C) a resident youth consolidated hunting, trapping, and fishing license under IC 14-22-11-10(b) or IC 14-22-12-1(a)(24);
(D) a nonresident youth deer firearms license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(29);
(E) a resident extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(18);
(F) a nonresident extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(19);
(G) a nonresident youth extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(32);
(H) a lifetime comprehensive hunting license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(4) before its repeal;
(I) a lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(5) before its repeal; or
(J) an apprentice license of the types identified in clauses (A) through (G) under IC 14-22-12-1.7; or
(2) hunting deer without a license under IC 14-22-11-1 and 312 IAC 9-2-14.
(i) An individual may take a deer with a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season established in section 4(f) of this rule only if:
(1) issued a license to hunt deer by a muzzleloader with:
(A) a resident deer muzzleloader license under IC 14-22-11-10(a) or IC 14-22-12-1(a)(13);
(B) a nonresident deer muzzleloader license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(16);
(C) a resident youth consolidated hunting, trapping, and fishing license under IC 14-22-11-10(b) or IC 14-22-12-1(a)(24);
(D) a nonresident youth deer muzzleloader license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(30);
(E) a resident extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(18);
(F) a nonresident extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(19);
(G) a nonresident youth extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(32);
(H) a lifetime comprehensive hunting license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(4) before its repeal;
(I) a lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(5) before its repeal; or
(J) an apprentice license of the types identified in clauses (A) through (G) under IC 14-22-12-1.7; or
(2) hunting deer without a license under IC 14-22-11-1 and 312 IAC 9-2-14.
(j) An individual may take a deer during the deer reduction season established in section 4(d) of this rule only if:
(1) issued a license to hunt deer with:
(A) a resident extra deer reduction zone license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(18);
(B) a nonresident extra deer reduction zone license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(19);
(C) a resident youth consolidated hunting, trapping, and fishing license under IC 14-22-11-10(b) or IC 14-22-12-1(a)(24);
(D) a nonresident youth extra deer reduction zone license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(32);
(E) an apprentice license of the types identified in clauses (A) through (D) under IC 14-22-12-1.7;
(F) a lifetime comprehensive hunting license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(4) before its repeal; or
(G) a lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(5) before its repeal; or
(2) hunting deer without a license under IC 14-22-11-1 and 312 IAC 9-2-14.
(k) An individual may take a deer during the special antlerless deer season established in section 4(h) of this rule only if:
(1) issued a license to hunt deer with:
(A) a resident extra deer bonus antlerless license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(18);
(B) a nonresident extra deer bonus antlerless license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(19);
(C) a resident youth consolidated hunting, trapping, and fishing license under IC 14-22-11-10(b) or IC 14-22-12-1(a)(24);
(D) a nonresident youth extra deer bonus antlerless license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(32);
(E) a resident extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(18);
(F) a nonresident extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(19);
(G) a nonresident youth extra deer license bundle under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(32);
(H) an apprentice license of the types identified in clauses (A) through (G) under IC 14-22-12-1.7;
(I) a lifetime comprehensive hunting license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(4) before its repeal; or
(J) a lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(5) before its repeal; or
(2) hunting deer without a license under IC 14-22-11-1 and 312 IAC 9-2-14.
(l) An individual may take an antlerless deer in a designated county, by authority of an extra deer bonus antlerless license, only as authorized under section 4(g) and 4(h) of this rule.
(m) An individual must, immediately upon taking a deer, record on a piece of paper the following:
(1) The name and address of the individual who took the deer.
(2) The license number (if applicable) of the individual who took the deer.
(3) The sex of the deer.
(4) The month and day the deer was taken.

The individual that takes the deer must retain possession of the completed piece of paper until the paper is attached to the deer. The piece of paper must be attached to the deer if the individual who takes the deer does not maintain direct physical control of and constant visual contact with the deer carcass.

(n) An individual who takes a deer must cause delivery of the deer carcass to an official checking station for registration in the name of the individual who took the deer or cause the reporting of the take by providing true and accurate information required on the department's electronic harvest reporting system on the occurrence of the earlier of the following:
(1) Within forty-eight (48) hours of the taking of the deer.
(2) Before the deer is removed from this state.

The individual who delivers the deer carcass to an official checking station for registration or reports the take on the department's electronic harvest reporting system must provide true and accurate information that includes the information on the piece of paper described in subsection (m).

(o) The head of a deer must remain attached to the carcass until the deer is registered either at an official checking station or through the department's electronic harvest reporting system.
(p) When a deer is registered:
(1) at an official deer checking station, the checking station operator must:
(A) record the information from the piece of paper described in subsection (m);
(B) report the take on the department's electronic harvest reporting system; and
(C) give the individual the confirmation number, which must be recorded on the piece of paper described in subsection (m); or
(2) using the department's electronic harvest reporting system, the individual who took the deer must record the confirmation number on the piece of paper described in subsection (m).
(q) The department's electronic harvest confirmation number must be maintained with a deer until processing of the deer begins.
(r) An individual must not hunt deer except from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one-half (1/2) hour after sunset. (s) An individual must wear hunter orange:
(1) in a season set forth in section 4(b), 4(e), 4(f), and 4(h) of this rule;
(2) in that portion of the archery season set forth in section 4(c) of this rule that overlaps a season set forth in section 4(b), 4(e), 4(f), and 4(h) of this rule;
(3) when firearms are authorized under section 8(b) of this rule;
(4) in that portion of the deer reduction season set forth in section 4(d) of this rule when firearms are authorized under section 3(f) of this rule; and
(5) in the special antlerless season in the locations where the season is authorized in section 4(h) of this rule.
(t) An individual must not take more than one (1) antlered deer during the special youth, archery, firearm, and muzzleloader seasons authorized in section 4 of this rule from the first day of the special youth deer season of one (1) calendar year through the last day of the archery season in the following calendar year.
(u) An individual must not hunt deer with the use or aid of:
(1) bait, which includes:
(A) a food that is transported and placed for consumption, including, but not limited to, piles of corn and apples placed in the field;
(B) a prepared solid or liquid that is manufactured and intended for consumption by livestock or wild deer, including, but not limited to, commercial baits and food supplements;
(C) salt; or
(D) mineral supplements;
(2) snares;
(3) dogs; or
(4) other domesticated animals.

The use of manufactured scents and lures or similar chemical or natural attractants is not prohibited.

(v) An area is considered baited for ten (10) days after the removal of the bait and the baited soil. Hunting an area, such as an orchard, which may be attractive to deer as the result of normal agricultural activity, is not prohibited.
(w) Notwithstanding subsection (u), an individual may use dogs only while on a leash to track or trail wounded deer.
(x) Notwithstanding subsection (u), an individual may use:
(1) donkeys;
(2) mules; and
(3) horses; for transportation to and from a hunt but not while hunting.
(y) An individual may possess a handgun in accordance with IC 35-47 while hunting deer.
(z) "Deer license bundle" means a multiple privilege deer license that replaces a valid deer hunting license and allows an individual to take one (1) antlered deer and two (2) antlerless deer or three (3) antlerless deer in accordance with this section and sections 3 and 4 of this rule in the following seasons combined in one (1) year:
(1) Special youth.
(2) Archery.
(3) Firearms.
(4) Muzzleloader.
(5) Special antlerless only.

312 IAC 9-3-2

Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 9-3-2; filed May 12, 1997, 10:00 a.m.: 20 IR 2702; filed Dec 26, 2001, 2:40 p.m.: 25 IR 1528; readopted filed Jul 28, 2003, 12:00 p.m.: 27 IR 286; filed Sep 23, 2004, 3:00 p.m.: 28 IR 536; filed May 12, 2006, 10:38 a.m.: 29 IR 3344; filed Jun 23, 2006, 2:24 p.m.: 20060719-IR-312050214FRA; errata filed Jul 21, 2006, 1:56 p.m.: 20060802-IR-312050214ACA; filed Jul 10, 2007, 2:09 p.m.: 20070808-IR-312060572FRA; readopted filed Nov 24, 2008, 11:08 a.m.: 20081210-IR-312080672RFA; filed Nov 3, 2009, 3:34 p.m.: 20091202-IR-312090044FRA; filed Dec 1, 2011, 4:01 p.m.: 20111228-IR-312110101FRA; errata filed Jan 10, 2012, 1:19 p.m.: 20120125-IR-312120006ACA; filed Jul 9, 2012, 3:00 p.m.: 20120808-IR-312120065FRA; filed Dec 18, 2012, 2:00 p.m.: 20130116-IR-312120115FRA; filed Sep 13, 2013, 3:02 p.m.: 20131009-IR-312120670FRA; Readopted filed 5/20/2014, 9:43 a.m.: 20140618-IR-312140017RFA
Filed 6/15/2015, 3:43 p.m.: 20150715-IR-312140453FRA
Readopted filed 9/18/2019, 1:16 p.m.: 20191016-IR-312190325RFA
Filed 11/16/2020, 9:30 a.m.: 20201216-IR-312200069FRA

Emergency Rule, LSA Document #20-353(E), temporarily supplements subsection (s)(4), effective September 15, 2020. See LSA Document #20-353(E) posted at 20200624-IR-312200353ERA. LSA Document #20-353(E) expires February 1, 2021.