I won't be able to attend, but maybe some of you might, or at least contact them by the website.
My main concern was the drastic shortening of the gun season, which will simply encourage even MORE out-of-season 'poaching', which will decrease the quality of DNR data collectable (those hunters clandestinely butcher and don't take their deer to a check-station), increase the dangerous-cartridge guns used (if you're already breaking the season law, why not use that 7mm Magnum you have in the closet), and DECREASE THE YOUTH HUNTING due to the fact that they'll have fewer possible days afield during the main firearms season.
Generally, it also makes the whole process much more complicated than needed.
Most of the stated goals of herd management could be accomplished without such complexity and change.
Not that it's really a BIG deal, but I think the cartridge length increase for rifles is obviously to add the .460 S&W, which out of a rifle is unnecessarily powerful and is NOT a common-enough RIFLE round that it needs added (few if any existing rifles out there now for that round, so anyone buying a NEW gun could stick with a more reasonable .44 Mag, .45 Colt, .454 Casull power level). Same for the .450 Bushmaster, which has at least the benefit of allowing 'evil black rifles' to be used in demonstration of their potential use for hunting vs. gang-bangers (but you can bet if ANY hunting mishap happens with one, it will be all over the news, which is the downside).
Granted, it would also allow Rolling-block rifles in .50-70 Government chambering to be used, which is a more reasonable cartridge, but I'm betting that you'll see more nuts getting Handi-Rifle or Encore barrels for the .460 S&W, or even stock Ruger No. 1's, than you will nostalgia-buffs with Rolling-block rifles.
I already hear people in gun shops all the time buying .45-70's, .444 Marlins, and so forth, saying they just don't want to trust a mere .44 Magnum to take down a deer. Of course, there have always been ones using .300 Win Mag and .30-06 and .270, just because they do it out west, where the hunting style, terrain, and population density is totally different. If you can't get a deer with a .44 Magnum in Indiana, you shouldn't be allowed to hunt, in my opinion.
> This is a reminder of the NRC DEER meeting this coming Tuesday.
>
> The IDNR Fish and Wildlife deer proposal that will be presented for preliminary adoption to the Natural Resources Commission at the July 20th meeting.
>
> The Natural Resources Commission will next meet on July 20, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., EDT (9:00 a.m., CDT), at the Garrison, Fort Harrison State Park, 6002 North Post Road, North Ballroom, Indianapolis, Indiana. The July agenda is posted at:
>
> http://www.in.gov/nrc/2350.htm
>
> The deer rule proposals are Agenda Item #12
>
> Please try and attend if possible and ask other ask concerned people to attend and voice their concerns at that time.
>
> If you and them cannot make the meeting you may contact the NRC Division of Hearings at:
>
> Indiana Government Center North
> 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N501
> Indiana Government Center North
> 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N501
> Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
> (317) 232-4699
> (317) 233-2977 Fax
>
> OR online at
>
> http://www.in.gov/nrc/.
>
>
> This was sent out via email yesterday by the IDNR Fish and Wildlife:
>
>
> " The proposed changes to deer rules are being presented to the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) at their meeting on July 20 for preliminary adoption. Everyone will have an opportunity to submit comments regarding these proposed changes to the Natural Resources Commission after preliminary adoption is given. The public comment period will last for several months, and there will be at least one public hearing scheduled. After preliminary adoption of a deer rule proposal, you may submit comments to the NRC through their website at http://www.in.gov/nrc/. The DNR will provide a response to the comments and the Natural Resources Commission will have an opportunity to review all of the comments and vote on final adoption at a meeting early next year. Please note that the proposed changes to deer rules will not be in effect this year."
>
>
> The Summary of Proposed Deer Rule Changes
>
> Definitions
>
> Moves the definition of crossbow to the definitions section, instead of defining it in 312 IAC 9-3-3
>
> Adds a definition of ground blind
>
> General Requirements and Licenses
>
> Adds the new nonresident youth deer license types
>
> Adds license requirements for the new special antlerless seasons
>
> Requires hunter orange for youth hunters during the youth special deer season and during the new antlerless only seasons; hunter orange is already required for all deer hunters during the firearms and muzzleloader seasons
>
> Requires at least 144 square inches of hunter orange material on a ground blind used while deer hunting during a season when a hunter is already required to wear hunter orange
>
> Requires the owner's name and address on ground blinds used on department properties
>
> Hunting Equipment
>
> Allows a crossbow to be used by hunters who are at least 64 years old during the early archery season
> Allows a crossbow to be used during the deer firearms and muzzleloader seasons by hunters of any age
> Allows a hunter of any age to use a crossbow in an urban deer zone during the urban deer season.
>
> Allows a rifle cartridge to have a maximum case length of 1.8 inches instead of 1.625 inches
>
> Seasons and Bag Limits
>
> Allows youth hunters to take the number of antlerless deer allowed in each county during the special youth deer season (in addition to one antlered deer)
>
> Extends the urban deer season through January 31 of the following year
>
> Requires hunters to take at least one antlerless deer prior to taking an antlered deer in the urban deer season
>
> Expands the urban deer zones in Lake and Porter counties to all of those counties
>
>
> (WW - The biggies)
>
> * Changes the deer firearms season to start on the first Saturday before Thanksgiving and continue for only 8 additional days
>
> * Shortens the deer muzzleloader season to only 9 days
>
>
>
> Adds an antlerless deer only firearms season in October (2 days only) in counties with an antlerless quota of 4 or more. The hunter may take the number of antlerless deer in each county allowed under the bonus county quota.
>
> Adds another antlerless deer-only firearms season from December 25 through January 1 of the following year. The hunter may take the number of antlerless deer in each county allowed under the bonus county quota.
>
> Military Reserves and National Wildlife Refuges
>
> Opens the firearms season on designated military reserves and national wildlife refuges on October 1 instead of November 1
>
> Adds the new nonresident youth deer hunting license types
>
> The long form is at:
>
> http://www.in.gov/nrc/files/Item_12_July_2010.pdf
>
>
>
> The Results from the IDNR On Line Deer Hunting Survey
>
> Two out of three people responding to a recent Department of Natural Resources online survey said they use both archery and firearms to hunt deer, and 91 percent said they would be willing to harvest one or more additional antlerless deer if money were not an issue.
>
> Respondents also expressed strong support for a variety of license packages, including a "sportsman's bundle" that would include one archery, one firearms, one muzzleloader and one bonus antlerless license for $72. To purchase each of those licenses separately under the current setup would cost $96.
>
> The survey, conducted by the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, is part of a process to review and revise Indiana's deer management strategy. After meeting with a stakeholder committee, the DFW asked deer hunters and landowners to complete the online questionnaire pertaining to deer season structure and equipment use.
>
> A total of 9,516 responses were received.
>
> "Because online surveys pose several problems in obtaining scientifically valid results, this questionnaire will be best served as a general indicator for gauging public support or opposition for various deer regulation alternatives," said Mark Reiter, director of the Division of Fish & Wildlife. "The DFW will be using this information, along with input from a deer stakeholder committee and public input given as part of the administrative rule process, to promulgate a deer rule package."
>
> The questionnaire was available online from April 19-25. Questions were formatted based on suggestions and recommendations from the deer stakeholder committee to meet the objective of focused deer herd reduction in a strategically targeted manner that would more adequately balance ecological, recreational and economic needs of the citizens of Indiana.
>
> Before being placed online, the questionnaire was reviewed by a social scientist from Purdue University's Department of Forestry and Natural Resources to ensure the integrity of each question.
>
> The questionnaire was designed using an online provider (www.surveymonkey.com).
>
> Slightly more than 93 percent of the survey respondents said they were Indiana deer hunters while 4.6 said they were not and just over 2 percent left the question blank.
>
> Approximately 5,300 respondents identified themselves as resident license buyers; 2,600 as lifetime license buyers; 700 as landowners exempt from license purchase; 300 non-resident license buyers; 50 youth license buyers, and 10 military-exempt license holders.
>
> Additional survey results showed that:
>
> --Eight of 10 respondents said they use shotguns to hunt deer; 74 percent use archery equipment, 71 percent muzzleloader, 20 percent handguns, 19 percent rifles, and 10 percent crossbows. Of those respondents, 27.5 percent said they use only firearms, and nearly 5 percent said they use only archery equipment.
>
> * Total responses favored the current opening date for firearms season. Moving the opening date one week later ranked second, with strong opposition to moving it two weeks later.
>
> * Total responses strongly favored no change to the structure of firearms and muzzleloader seasons, and strongly opposed any choice with fewer days to hunt.
>
> (* This is different than what the IDNR is now proposing. WW)
>
> --Total responses supported all options for a strategically targeted antlerless-only firearms season, with most supporting a two-day October season.
>
> --Total responses supported expanding the use of crossbows in the early archery season for hunters age 65 and older. Use in urban deer zones ranked second, followed by expansion into firearms season, and expansion into all of the early archery season.
>
> --Respondents expressed strong support for several proposed license packages. The greatest support (75 percent) was for a reduced-cost bonus antlerless license available for early purchase, followed by a "sportsman's bundle" mentioned previously (71 percent approval). Other options were two bonus antlerless licenses for $34 (66 percent approval) and three bonus antlerless licenses for $49 (58 percent approval). Fifteen percent of respondents did not support any of the license packages.
>
> --Asked how many additional antlerless deer they would be willing to harvest if money were not an issue, nine percent said zero, 17 percent one, 32 percent two, 15 percent three, 9 percent four, and 17 percent more than four.
>
> --Respondents identified the cost of additional licenses as the most likely reason they do not harvest an additional deer. Other factors influencing antlerless harvest include processing costs, and no need for an additional deer. Items not perceived to be a hindrance are lack of hunting time, deer herd ability to support additional take, and meat storage capacity.
>
>
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