Indiana deer season isn't yet completely over.
Got a copy of an email sent out to northern regional conservation officers. Seems the new deer hunting rules went into effect for 2012 not just the 2012-2013 season. Apparently this early application involving urban zones was not intended. The text of the email 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."
