An online survey designed to gauge hunter and landowner support for proposed changes to deer hunting rules aimed toward better deer herd management is available until Sunday, April 25.

The survey is at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5904.htm

The components of the proposed strategy, which were formed after meetings during the past several months with stakeholder groups to discuss objectives, strategies and components of deer management in Indiana, include deer donation programs, hunter access, antlerless quota system, season structure, bag limits, hunting equipment, licensing, and special deer control permits.

The stakeholders included representatives of the DNR divisions of Fish and Wildlife, and Law Enforcement, Bloomington City Council, Indiana Bow Hunters Association, Indiana Deer Hunter’s Association, Indiana Farm Bureau, Quality Deer Management Association, Indiana Sportsman’s Roundtable, Indiana Wildlife Federation, Indiana Woodland Owner’s Association, The Nature Conservancy, and a sporting goods retailer.

The group agreed that the objective of Indiana’s deer management strategy for the next five years should be to focus deer herd reduction in a strategically targeted manner to more adequately balance ecological, recreational and economic needs of the citizens of Indiana.

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For more information: Kevin Hoffman, Division of Fish and Wildlife, (317) 234-5904, khoffman@dnr.in.gov.

About Fish and Wildlife Management in Indiana
Fish and wildlife management and public access are funded by fishing and hunting license revenue and also through the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Programs administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These programs collect excise taxes on sporting arms and ammunition, archery equipment, fishing equipment, and motor boat fuels. The money is distributed among state fish and wildlife agencies based on land size and the number of licensed anglers and hunters in each state. Find out more information about fish and wildlife management in Indiana at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/.