Post by Woody Williams on Sept 25, 2008 17:25:17 GMT -5
Early archery season for deer starts Oct. 1
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With the recent warm weather, don't let early deer archery season, which runs from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30, take you by surprise. DNR deer research biologist Chad Stewart said he's expecting a banner year.
If you haven't participated in this season before or recently, this may be the ideal time to get a different experience from the more popular firearm season for deer, which runs Nov. 15-30.
"Archery season is a great time to be out," Stewart said. "The woods are far less crowded, the weather is cool but not too cold, and best of all, the deer are active because the season typically overlaps the pre-rut and rut, when deer are most active."
With the enhancements to the DNR license purchasing system, getting a license is more convenient than ever, but waiting until the last minute to get your license is still a bad idea. Licenses can be purchased at your local sporting goods store or online at dnr.IN.gov.
In the new system, a Customer ID number will be printed on all new licenses, including those for hunting, fishing and trapping.
Individuals can use that ID number, along with their date of birth, to speed the purchase of future licenses. That means hunters, anglers and trappers should keep their old licenses until the next year so they will have that ID number handy.
In assessing the prospects for this year's deer seasons, Stewart said that EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease), an insect-borne virus suspected to be present in more than 30 of the state's counties, last year, should have little effect on this year's hunting.
"We have had several EHD reports this year from the south central and west central counties, but nothing to the extent to what we received the past two years," Stewart said. "Much like the counties with EHD two years ago rebounded last year, the counties affected last year should rebound this year, though there may be some properties that are still feeling the effects into this year."
Stewart said that the overall deer harvest for the last three years has averaged around 124,400 to 125,500, numbers he expects to be met or exceeded this year.
"In terms of early archery season, the harvest has ranged from about 23,000 to about 26,000, and I anticipate similar numbers this year," he said.
Because of the overlap with firearm season, archery hunters must wear
hunter orange from Nov. 15-30. Each hunter can buy up to two Deer Archery licenses. The bag limit is two antlerless deer (one per license) or one antlered deer and one antlerless deer (one per license).
There are other opportunities for deer in selected counties, in addition to regular bag limits, with a Bonus Antlerless Deer License. The limit is one antlerless deer per license. See the Indiana Hunting Guide: www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3188.htm, page 9, for more information. The limit is one deer per antlerless license purchased.
For the urban deer zone, as listed in the Hunting Guide, the archery season runs from Sept. 15 to Nov. 30; and Dec. 6 through Jan. 4. Participation requires an Extra Archery license.
The bag limit is four antlerless deer (one per license) or three antlerless deer and one antlered deer (one per license). Bag limits for the Urban Deer Zone are in addition to regular bag limits.
- Deer questions: Chad Stewart, DNR deer research biologist, (814) 334-1137
- License questions: Kevin Hoffman, DNR Fish and Wildlife: (317) 234-5904.
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With the recent warm weather, don't let early deer archery season, which runs from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30, take you by surprise. DNR deer research biologist Chad Stewart said he's expecting a banner year.
If you haven't participated in this season before or recently, this may be the ideal time to get a different experience from the more popular firearm season for deer, which runs Nov. 15-30.
"Archery season is a great time to be out," Stewart said. "The woods are far less crowded, the weather is cool but not too cold, and best of all, the deer are active because the season typically overlaps the pre-rut and rut, when deer are most active."
With the enhancements to the DNR license purchasing system, getting a license is more convenient than ever, but waiting until the last minute to get your license is still a bad idea. Licenses can be purchased at your local sporting goods store or online at dnr.IN.gov.
In the new system, a Customer ID number will be printed on all new licenses, including those for hunting, fishing and trapping.
Individuals can use that ID number, along with their date of birth, to speed the purchase of future licenses. That means hunters, anglers and trappers should keep their old licenses until the next year so they will have that ID number handy.
In assessing the prospects for this year's deer seasons, Stewart said that EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease), an insect-borne virus suspected to be present in more than 30 of the state's counties, last year, should have little effect on this year's hunting.
"We have had several EHD reports this year from the south central and west central counties, but nothing to the extent to what we received the past two years," Stewart said. "Much like the counties with EHD two years ago rebounded last year, the counties affected last year should rebound this year, though there may be some properties that are still feeling the effects into this year."
Stewart said that the overall deer harvest for the last three years has averaged around 124,400 to 125,500, numbers he expects to be met or exceeded this year.
"In terms of early archery season, the harvest has ranged from about 23,000 to about 26,000, and I anticipate similar numbers this year," he said.
Because of the overlap with firearm season, archery hunters must wear
hunter orange from Nov. 15-30. Each hunter can buy up to two Deer Archery licenses. The bag limit is two antlerless deer (one per license) or one antlered deer and one antlerless deer (one per license).
There are other opportunities for deer in selected counties, in addition to regular bag limits, with a Bonus Antlerless Deer License. The limit is one antlerless deer per license. See the Indiana Hunting Guide: www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3188.htm, page 9, for more information. The limit is one deer per antlerless license purchased.
For the urban deer zone, as listed in the Hunting Guide, the archery season runs from Sept. 15 to Nov. 30; and Dec. 6 through Jan. 4. Participation requires an Extra Archery license.
The bag limit is four antlerless deer (one per license) or three antlerless deer and one antlered deer (one per license). Bag limits for the Urban Deer Zone are in addition to regular bag limits.
- Deer questions: Chad Stewart, DNR deer research biologist, (814) 334-1137
- License questions: Kevin Hoffman, DNR Fish and Wildlife: (317) 234-5904.
