Indiana’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has opened a second public comment period for proposed changes to Indiana’s deer hunting rules before it votes on final adoption of the proposed changes. Most proposed changes intend to simplify Indiana’s deer hunting rules to make them easier to understand.

Public comments can be submitted online at IN.gov/nrc/rules/rulemaking-docket via the “Submit Comments Here” link in the Rulemaking Docket for the Deer Hunting Amendments. Comments can also be mailed to: Natural Resources Commission, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Ave., Room N103, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

The deadline for submitting public comments is May 20. A public hearing will be May 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET at Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area, 7970 S. Rowe St., Edinburgh, IN 46124. You can attend in person or online during the timeframe. There will also be an in-person-only open house immediately before the hearing, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. ET at the same location. To attend the public hearing online, starting at 5:30 p.m. on May 20, go to Microsoft Teams and enter Meeting ID 213 479 076 835 and Passcode Ack2vu.

Proposed changes include:

- A statewide bag limit of six antlerless deer as well as a newly created county antlerless bag limit instead of season antlerless bag limits. Because of the change, the bonus antlerless license would be the multiple-season antlerless license which could be used in the archery, muzzleloader, and firearms seasons.

- Hunters would not be able to harvest an antlerless deer on Fish & Wildlife properties with a firearm.

- The use of crossbow equipment would be allowed under the archery license.

- The minimum caliber for a muzzleloader would be reduced from 0.44 inches to 0.40 inches.

- If a deer is unfit for human consumption, DNR staff would be able to issue an authorization to take an antlerless deer in its place not counting toward the hunter’s statewide bag limit or county limit.

- Adding the deer reduction zones and county antlerless bag limits.

- Removing the special antlerless firearms season.

For more information on the proposed rule changes, visit wildlife.IN.gov/rule-regulation-changes/ Questions about the proposed deer regulation changes should be directed to 812-334-3795 or indeerhotline@dnr.IN.gov.

Governor plants ceremonial millionth tree

On April 26, Gov. Eric Holcomb celebrated the historic milestone of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources of planting one million trees throughout Indiana in five years by planting a tree on the Statehouse lawn.

 “With one million more trees now dotting Indiana’s landscape, we can preserve this love for our great outdoors for future generations of Hoosiers and continue Indiana’s important legacy of conservation,” Holcomb said.

In his 2020 State of the State Address, Holcomb directed the DNR to plant one million trees across Indiana over the next five years. The native trees were planted on state forests, state parks, fish & wildlife areas, and nature preserve lands. The trees planted were red oak, white oak, bur, chinquapin, swamp chestnut, Shumard, pin, cherry bark oaks, and black walnut. As the trees grow, they create habitat for wildlife.

Many private sector partners worked with the DNR and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (INRF) to help with volunteer plantings. The partners included Clif Bar, Duke Energy, the Hardwood Forestry Fund, Huston Solar, and the White Oak Institute. In addition, Bowles Mattress’ “Sleep IN Style” mattress retail sales support the INRF’s Indiana Tree Project, a partnership through which Bowles has contributed funds to help plant 1,000 trees.

In the 1800s, much of Indiana’s forested land was cut down to support building and to open fields for farming. In 1901, the now-Indiana DNR Division of Forestry was created to protect and conserve state forests for future generations.

Today we have even more forest than we had in 1900. Through our forestry system supported through the work of the DNR, our state is home to 4.8 million acres of forestland, including 160,000 acres across Indiana State Forests.

The tree Holcomb planted is a cucumber magnolia, native to southern Indiana. The 12-foot tree was grown on Clark State Forest. A plaque shown at the planting will later be installed next to the tree to recognize the achievement of planting one million trees over five years.

New features at Walter Cline Shooting Range

Interested in honing your marksmanship skills this spring? Take a trip down to scenic Friendship, Ind., and experience the new shooting range facilities at the Walter Cline Range.  The range is owned and operated by the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (NMLRA).

Thanks to a DNR shooting range grant, the Walter Cline Range now features modern restrooms, an updated trapshooting facility, including new concrete surfaces for improved access and wheelchair passage, a revitalized multi-station walking woods range and improved shooter support facilities. Federal Wildlife Restoration dollars helped fund the project.

You don’t have to be a muzzleloading rifle enthusiast to enjoy the Walter Cline Range. Modern centerfire rifle and rim fire competitions are held there on a regular basis. Check out the Walter Cline website at https://www.nmlra.org/the-range for details and the NMLRA calendar of events.

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication or e-mail Jack at jackspaulding1971@outlook.com.

Spaulding’s books, “The Best Of Spaulding Outdoors” and “The Coon Hunter And The Kid,” are available from Amazon.com as a paperback or Kindle download.