The Natural Resources Commission gave final adoption to rule changes that allows an electronic reporting system for checking in a deer or wild turkey that has been harvested. The electronic harvesting system will allow an individual to check in a deer or wild turkey and receive a unique confirmation number. Deer and turkey hunters will still have the option of checking in a deer or turkey at a check station as they do now, or they will be able to check it in via a new electronic reporting system.  The hunter will retain the permanent tag issued by the check station or the confirmation number received through the electronic reporting system until the deer or wild turkey is processed or gifted to  another individual.

Additional changes were made governing handgun license requirements to comply with state law in IC 35-47.  Changes were made to this state law in 2011 that no longer require an individual to have a handgun license of any type while hunting lawfully. 

Changes were also approved in 312 IAC 9-3-2(cc) to allow an individual who purchases a deer license bundle to also have the option of using it to take three antlerless deer. 

Changes were also approved in 312 IAC 9-3-10 governing the commercial processing of deer to require a deer processor to record the electronic harvest confirmation number on the record instead of the official metal tag number that is given by a check station.   Changes are also needed to require a deer processor to register prior to March 1 of each year

The changes in 312 IAC 9-4-11 governing wild turkey hunting are as follows:

1. Clarifies the ending date for the fall wild turkey firearm season
2. Allows another individual to call wild turkeys for another individual as long as that  individual is properly licensed. The individual who calls for another hunter may already have harvested a turkey.
3. Removes the requirements for a handgun license to carry a handgun while turkey  hunting to comply with state law in IC 35-47.
4. Allows for the checking in of a wild turkey through a new electronic harvest reporting system.  This change will gave hunters the option of checking in a turkey at a check station and receive a metal tag as they do now, or report it online and receive a unique confirmation number.

The proposed rule language can be found at: http://www.in.gov/nrc/files/deer_turkey_telecheck.pdf

The Natural Resources Commission gave final adoption to these rule changes on November 20, 2012. These changes will not take effect until approved by the Attorney General’s Office and Governor’s Office and filed with the Publisher.

MISCELLANEOUS/TECHNICAL RULE CHANGE PACKAGE

The Natural Resources Commission gave preliminary adoption to amendments to the following rules in May of this year:

• 312 IAC 9-3-14:  Removes the restrictions for nonresidents from taking raccoons in Indiana, removes the restrictions on carrying a firearm while chasing raccoons and opossums, and removes the handgun license requirements. As of July 1, state law will no longer restrict the season for nonresidents to take raccoons in Indiana (HEA 1279).  Furthermore, the state law governing handgun license requirements was changed in 2011 that provided additional exemptions; therefore, this rule needs to be changed to comply with the state law in IC 35-47-2-1. 
• 312 IAC 9-4-2: These license requirements and the waterfowl stamp are currently required, but not listed in administrative rule, providing clarification.
• 312 IAC 9-4-5: Adds the special late season for taking a lesser snow goose or a Ross’s goose.  This special season has been allowed by temporary rule for several years as the result of a special federal conservation order, and needs to be placed in permanent rule.
• 312 IAC 9-4-7.2: Removes rusty blackbirds from the list of species that can be taken without a permit if committing or about to commit depredation or constituting a health hazard or nuisance as provided under federal law. The federal law was recently amended that removes rusty blackbirds from this list, and a federal permit is now required. Therefore, this rule needs to be modified to comply with federal law in 50 CFR 21.43.
• 312 IAC 9-4-15: Monk parakeets are proposed to be added to the list of birds that are exempted and taken without a permit since they are an exotic species and not protected under federal law.
• 312 IAC 9-6-1: Adds a definition of Asian carp, black bullhead, bloater, brown bullhead, kiyi, and yellow bullhead and modifies the scientific names of several other species.
• 312 IAC 9-6-6: Clarifies the area closed to fishing in the Little Calumet River in Porter county because the existing description of the area is problematic.  This is one of the seasonal closures to protect newly stocked trout and salmon as they migrate out to Lake Michigan.  New language is also proposed to close an area to fishing near the new sea lamprey control barrier in Trail Creek in LaPorte county.   An $800,000 sea lamprey control barrier was installed earlier this year.  Because it includes a fish ladder to allow movement of migrating fish, there are times when it will create concentrations of fish and become an attractive location for illegal snaggers to target trout and salmon.  At similar sites on the St. Joseph and Little Calumet rivers, the DNR has addressed this problem by prohibiting fishing within 100 feet upstream or downstream of the structures.
• 312 IAC 9-7-2:  This proposal would remove Oliver Lake from the location where smelt may be taken (there are few if any smelt in the lake) in subsection (l).  Additional changes will add Asian carp to the list of species that can be taken and add the use of the crossbow for the taking of suckers, carp, Asian carp, gar, bowfin, buffalo, or shad from rivers and streams.
• 312 IAC 9-7-3:  This proposed changes removes Gibson Lake from the locations where channel catfish can be taken without regard to bag limit. Gibson Lake in Gibson County was closed to public fishing by Duke Energy in 2007 based on selenium levels in the fish, and it doesn’t appear it will reopen to public fishing.  
• 312 IAC 9-7-12: This change will extend the 15 inch walleye size limit on the St Joseph River up the Elkhart River in Elkhart County from its confluence with the St. Joseph River to the first dam (about 0.6 miles).  The Elkhart River currently has a 14 inch walleye size limit.  The confluence of the two rivers is a walleye fishing hotspot.  The different size limits at this location make it tempting for some anglers to keep 14 inch walleyes they catch from the St. Joseph River and claim they were taken from the Elkhart a few yards away.  Regulating this defined area with a single walleye size limit (15 inches) will clear up this issue and support walleye management objectives.
• 312 IAC 9-7-13: This proposed change will eliminate the restrictions on taking lake trout in inland waters as unnecessary and possibly confusing language. In the late 1970’s, some lake trout were stocked at Oliver Lake, and a few were caught over the years.  However, the DNR does not plan to stock inland waters again with lake trout.  The bag limit for lake trout on Lake Michigan and its tributaries would remain the same at two.
• 312 IAC 9-7-16: These changes would add the crossbow as a legal means of taking exempted species of fish in subsection (c) and allow bowfishing equipment, crossbow, fish spear, gig, spear gun or underwater spear to take species such as Asian carp on the Ohio River.  Additional rule language has been added that clarifies that the snagging of paddlefish is prohibited in the Ohio River.  In 2009, the rule language allowing the snagging of fish in the Ohio River was removed with the intent to prohibit that activity.  However, enforcement of this prohibition has been difficult since snagging is not expressly prohibited as it is in the rule governing sport fishing in inland waters.
• 312 IAC 9-9-3: These changes remove the language that referred to a mussel buyer’s license.  The issuance of mussel buyer’s licenses was prohibited over ten years ago, and this grandfathering language needs to be removed since it is no longer applicable.
• 312 IAC 9-9-4: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently added the rayed bean to the list of federally endangered species in Indiana.  This addition provides consistency with federal law.
• 312 IAC 9-10-10: Theses changes eliminate requirements for submitting applications for a special permit for a hunter with a disability by a certain deadline, remove language that is no longer relevant (such as the use of the crossbow in subsection f), and make other technical corrections.

The proposed rule language can be found at: http://www.in.gov/legislative/iac/20120926-IR-312120403PRA.xml.pdf

The public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, December 6 at 6 pm at the Plainfield Public Library located at 1120 Stafford Road in Plainfield (EDT).

You can also give your comments regarding these proposed changes to the Natural Resources Commission by going to their website at: http://www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm and click on "Comment on Proposed Rule" next to the “Fish and Wildlife Technical Amendments”. Comments can also be mailed to the following address:

Natural Resources Commission
Indiana Government Center North
100 North Senate Ave., Room N501
Indianapolis, IN 46204

All comments must be submitted no later than Thursday, December 6. All comments sent to the Natural Resources Commission regarding these rule changes will be provided to Commission members and Department of Natural Resources staff and will be publicly disclosed and searchable on the internet and in a paper docket as part of the final report.

NOVEMBER 2012 PROPOSED NEW FISH AND WILDLIFE RULE CHANGES

The Division of Fish and Wildlife has proposed to amend the following rules:

312 IAC 9-2-14 Fishing, hunting, or trapping without a license by owners and lessees of farmland

• Adds language to address land owned by an estate or trust. This has been an issue in recent years with enforcement of license requirements when the land is in the name of multiple people as part of a trust or an estate

312 IAC 9-2-15 Hunter Orange & Ground Blinds:

• If the hunter is required to wear hunter orange to hunt a species of wild animal, then a ground blind used by that hunter would also have to have hunter orange if used from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset during the deer special youth season, firearms season, muzzleloader season, new primitive muzzleloading season, and special antlerless only season.

312 IAC 9-3-2 General Requirements for deer hunting

• Adds the nonresident youth extra deer bonus antlerless license as a license type for a youth to take deer during the special youth deer season.
• Makes additional technical changes

312 IAC 9-3-3 Equipment for deer hunting

• Allows a draw-loc device to be used with archery equipment when crossbows are allowed to be used during the archery season
• Removes the prohibition on the use of over-and-under combination rifle-shotguns. This prohibition is no longer needed since certain rifle cartridges and shotguns can be used.
• Specifies the muzzleloaders that can be used during the new proposed primitive muzzleloader season
• Specifies that crossbows cannot be used in the archery season from Sept. 15 through Sept. 30

312 IAC 9-3-4 Deer Season dates and bag limits

• Changes the starting date for the archery season to September 15. During the dates of September 15-September 30, crossbows would not be legal to use.
• Adds a new primitive muzzleloader season that would start the first Monday in January and continue for an additional 6 consecutive days. The bag limit would be combined with the bag limit during the regular muzzleloader season (one deer of either sex).

312 IAC 9-3-14.5 Possession of furbearing mammals

• Makes technical corrections to new language to clarify the intent. The revisions approved in 2011 created some confusion, and a few minor changes are needed to clarify what can be done with a furbearer that is taken during the hunting or trapping season.

312 IC 9-3-15 Taking of specified nuisance wild animal to protect property

• Allows private property owners to take a nuisance mute swan on their own property without a permit, which is already allowed for raccoons, opossums, and several other species.
• Also clarifies that legal methods must be used to take nuisance wild animals under this rule

312 IAC 9-3-16 Cottontail Rabbits

• Modifies the rabbit season into a single statewide season beginning Nov. 1 and ending on February 28. This will add days to the current season, but start it later to avoid conflicts with research that shows that the breeding season runs from mid-February through September, with some young born or in nests through mid-October. The season for public and private land would be the same.

312 IAC 9-3-17 Squirrels

• Modifies the date when a squirrel hunter is required to wear hunter orange to start on Nov. 1 (to match the proposed new starting date for other small game species) and go through the remainder of the season.
• Clarifies who can take a southern flying squirrel

312 IAC 9-4-2: General requirements for migratory birds and waterfowl

• Exempts Eurasian collared doves from the species for which a person must register through the Harvest Information Program. They are not a federally protected species.
• Adds the requirement to use only non-toxic shot for hunting mourning doves on state properties in 312 IAC 9-4-2. Currently, this provision is only in the DNR property rule (312 IAC 8-2-3(k) which is effective on January 1, 2013), which has a penalty of an infraction instead of a Class C misdemeanor.
• Adds language to address Eurasian collared doves in the bag limit for mourning doves. When hunting mourning doves, Eurasian collared doves would be able to be harvested and not count against the individual daily bag limit if the head and at least one wing is left on all harvested doves while in the field.
• Because of the statutory change in IC 14-22-6-2 that removed the exemption for federal permit holders from having to get a state permit, the following changes are also proposed: (1) clarifies who can possess and take migratory birds, (2) adds exemptions for people to possess and sell raptors under a federal raptor propagation permit and waterfowl under a federal waterfowl sale and disposal permit without a permit from the DNR, (3) add exemptions for the possession of captive-reared mallard ducks in accordance with federal law without a permit from the DNR, and (4) adds a requirement for a depredation permit from the state to take a nuisance migratory bird.
• Adds language to allow an individual to take the nest and eggs of Canada geese between March 1 and June 30 in accordance with 50 CFR 21.50 without a permit from the DNR.
• Requires an individual to have a permit from the DNR to take a live Canada goose that is causing damage or threatening to cause damage to property or causing a health or safety threat to persons or domestic animals (we are already doing this for the most part).

312 IAC 9-4-8: Ring-necked Pheasants

• Modifies the pheasant season dates to be concurrent with the quail season in the north zone from November 1 – December 15. Pheasant habitat is disappearing across the Indiana range and our public lands in northern Indiana likely have or will become the reservoirs for pheasants to repopulate marginal habitat after significant weather disturbances. Wild pheasant populations are in decline across their range in Indiana, and hen pheasant survival is of utmost importance.

312 IAC 9-4-9: Bobwhite Quail:

• Modifies the north/south boundary of the bobwhite quail zones by making I-74 the dividing line. The north/south boundary changes fit both climate data and research/monitoring data more appropriately than the current boundary. This would allow for an earlier start to the quail season (Nov. 1) and can reduce additive mortality without significantly reducing the season length. There is a lack of appropriate quail habitat north of Marion County when compared to habitat south of Marion County. This would give small game hunters an additional weekend to hunt prior to the deer firearms season.
• Also modifies the quail season dates by subtracting 2 days from the season in the south (Nov. 1- Jan. 10) and reduce the bag limit in the north to 4 (north quail season would run from Nov. 1 – Dec. 15).

312 IAC 9-4-14: Endangered species of birds (Peregrine Falcon)

• Removes the peregrine falcon from the list of state endangered species. Following a successful restoration in the Midwest and Indiana, the population of peregrine falcons has increased steadily in Indiana and adjacent states.  This species was removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999.  The Bird Technical Advisory Committee, in its advisory role to Indiana’s Wildlife Diversity Program, established de-listing criteria for this species in early 2011.  These criteria are to have 16 occupied territories annually for 3 consecutive years with a minimum productivity level of 2.0 young /active nest.  This goal was achieved in 2011 with 17 territories and productivity of 2.3 young/active nest.  Historically, the number of peregrine falcons was 3-4 pairs and the initial goal of Indiana’s restoration effort was to establish and maintain four pairs in the state.

312 IAC 9-7-6: Black Bass

• Changes the black bass 12-15 inch slot size limit at Scales Lake in Warrick County back to the statewide 14 inch minimum size limit.  The key management objective at this lake is to provide a high quality bluegill fishery, in line with angler preference as measured at the lake.  This change is expected to increase bass densities, which is the key to maintaining a balanced bluegill population that exhibits optimal growth rates.
• Removes the special language for black bass in Gibson Lake in Gibson County because it was closed to public fishing by Duke Energy in 2007 based on selenium levels in the fish, and it doesn’t appear it will reopen to public fishing.  
• Adds a 12-15 inch protected slot length limit for bass (standard 5 bass bag limit) with not more than two bass over 15 inches at Big Long Lake in LaGrange County. The DNR has documented an overabundance of small bass over several years that limits bass fishing quality and threatens to negatively impact a very good bluegill fishery. Meetings with the lake association indicate their support for this proposal.

312 IAC 9-7-12: Walleye

• Adds a special 16 inch walleye size limit and 2 walleye bag limit for Wall Lake in LaGrange County. This proposal is supported by the Wall lake Fisherman’s Association who funded the first three walleye stockings until the Division of Fish and Wildlife was in a position to assume this responsibility as planned. This plan to develop a walleye fishery to help combat a stunted, slow-growing bluegill population dates back to 2003. This is a unique situation where additional and larger predator fish can make a difference in not only adding good walleye fishing but could also improving bluegill fishing. Walleye harvest is currently believed to be limiting achievement of these objectives.

312 IAC 9-7-14 Fish with no bag limit, possession limit, or size limit

• Removes lake whitefish from the list since a new rule is proposed in 312 IAC 9-7-15 that would create a bag limit
• Since bowfin are a roe-bearing species and the harvesting and selling of roe is prohibited by statute and rule except with a roe harvester’s license, rule language is needed to clarify that a sport angler cannot remove and possess or sell the roe from bowfin. Bowfin can be taken and eaten, but the roe could not be taken out of the fish except with a roe harvester’s license.

312 IAC 9-7-15: Lake Whitefish

• Allows no more than twelve (12) lake whitefish to be taken per day. Lake whitefish catches are becoming more common along our Lake Michigan shoreline and there currently is no bag limit.  Illinois is preparing a 12 fish limit which will be consistent with this proposal.  Lake whitefish are in the salmon family.

312 IAC 9-7-20: Shovelnose sturgeon

• Since shovelnose sturgeon are a roe-bearing species and the harvesting and selling of roe is prohibited by statute and rule except with a roe harvester’s license, rule language is needed to clarify that a sport angler cannot remove and possess or sell the roe from shovelnose sturgeon. Shovelnose sturgeon can be taken and eaten, but the roe could not be taken out of the fish except with a roe harvester’s license.

312 IAC 9-9-4: Mussels:

• Adds the Round Hickorynut as an endangered species of mussel. Research by our malacologist around the state has indicated that this species meets the requirements of the law as an endangered species and now needs to be listed as endangered to prevent extirpation.

You can view the proposed new rule language by going on-line here.

A public hearing has not yet been scheduled. More information will be available at a later date regarding the submission of comments and the public hearing(s).

PROPOSED LICENSE AND PERMIT RULE CHANGES

The Division of Fish and Wildlife has proposed to amend the following rules:

312 IAC 9-5-11: Turtle Possession Permit

• Allows both eastern box turtles and endangered species of turtles to be possessed under this one permit. Currently, individuals need to obtain this permit to possess an eastern box turtle and possess a wild animal possession permit for an endangered species of turtle. Because eastern box turtles are similar in appearance to ornate box turtles (an endangered species), and many individuals have both eastern box turtles and endangered species, they have to obtain both permits, which have different expiration dates and requirements, creating confusion for applicants. This turtle possession permit is free of charge and does not require the examination by a veterinarian each year.
• Removes the requirement to microchip (PIT-tag) turtles possessed under this permit. The microchip has caused injuries to some of the turtles already held under permits, and another type of unique permanent identification, such as notching the shell, would be required.

312 IAC 9-10-7: Field Trial Permit

• Removes the requirement that a sanctioning organization submit a list to the DNR of upcoming events by a certain deadline. Most sanctioning authorities are posting approved events on their website and are no longer mailing or faxing lists to the DNR.
• Requires applications for a field trial permit to be submitted at least 10 business days before the proposed field trial instead of 21 days as is currently required

312 IAC 9-10-6: Scientific Purposes License

• This change would clarify that an applicant must be associated with one of the institutions listed in this rule to qualify for a scientific purposes license. This rule language was modified in 2010 as part of the comprehensive rule enhancement project, and it inadvertently changed the intent of the rule language in subsection (f).

312 IAC 9-10-11: Nuisance Wild Animal Control Permit

• Allows carcasses to be possessed for up to 7 days, instead of the 48 hours in the current regulations
• Allows gifting of carcasses and other parts to scientific or educational institutions as long as the carcass is properly tagged and there is no compensation of any kind (like what we allow for wild animals harvested under a hunting license)
• Allows animals to be retained for human consumption

312 IAC 9-10-13.1 Falconry License

• Allows the taking of unbanded, juvenile peregrine falcons from the wild for falconry purposes in accordance with federal regulations and with prior written approval from the
  DNR since the peregrine falcon is being removed from the state’s endangered species list (see other rule package). Under the current flyway allotment, 1-2 peregrines could be taken statewide during the September 20 – October 20 period.  Birds have to be unbanded and feather samples from the captured birds need to be collected and sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Some falconers would welcome the opportunity to try to capture and train a passage peregrine falcon for the sport of falconry.  The very limited take would have minimal impact on peregrine falcon populations.  The federal guidelines for take are set up so that migrant (primarily arctic) peregrines are targeted and breeding populations in Indiana are at low risk for capture.  

• Makes other technical changes by combining language from 2 subsections into one and adding the requirement to submit a 3-186A form within 10 days of releasing a raptor, which is required in the federal regulations and was overlooked in the revisions to the state regulations last year

312 IAC 9-10-22 Shooting Preserve License

• Adds a rule for shooting preserve licenses to provide the specifications for signs that are required to be posted around the preserve pursuant to IC 14-22-31-6

312 IAC 9-10-23 Migratory Bird Depredation Permit

• Adds a new state migratory bird depredation permit. Because of the statutory change in IC 14-22-6-2 that removed the exemption for federal permit holders from having to get a state permit, rule language is needed to specify requirements for taking nuisance migratory birds. This permit would deal with nuisance migratory birds such as woodpeckers, vultures, and other species that cause damage to property or are posing a health or safety threat. This permit would be free of charge.

312 IAC 9-11-1, 9-11-2, 9-11-4, 9-11-7, 9-11-8, 9-11-10, 9-11-11, and 9-11-14 Wild Animal Possession Permit

• Requires an application to be submitted within 5 days of taking possession of a Class I or II wild animal, instead of requiring an application prior to taking possession
• Eliminates the permit requirement for hybrids of wild cats and canines with a domestic animal
• Eliminates the requirement for a recapture plan for Class I and II species; these animals are native to Indiana and are not considered to pose a real or direct threat to public safety
• Adds a requirement for sunlight or artificial light of some sort for mammals
• Defines commercial purpose

You can view the proposed new rule language by going on-line here.

A public hearing has not yet been scheduled. More information will be available at a later date regarding the submission of comments and the public hearing(s).

COMMERCIAL FISHING, ROE HARVESTER & DEALER RULE CHANGES

The Natural Resources Commission approved amendments to the following rules:

• 312 IAC 9-1-9.7: Adds a new definition of “Inland Water” to match the new statutory definition in IC 14-8-2-131.7 that will be in effect starting July 1.
• 312 IAC 9-1-13.5: Adds a definition of seine to help clarify the difference between nets and seines used throughout 312 IAC 9.
• 312 IAC 9-6-2: Clarifies the measurement of paddlefish to start at the foremost point of the eye
• 312 IAC 9-7-17: Changes “charter boat operator license” to “fishing guide license” to comply with state statute in IC 14-22-15.  The reporting and other requirements will remain the same, but this license is now required by statute for individuals that take others sport-fishing for hire on public waters with or without a boat.
• 312 IAC 9-7-19: A roe harvester’s license is now required by state law (IC 14-22-13-2.5) to take paddlefish.
• 312 IAC 9-8-1: Adds definitions of terms used throughout the commercial fishing and roe harvesters and dealers license rules.
• 312 IAC 9-8-2: Changes terminology for locations for commercial fishing on inland water ( using the new definition in IC 14-8-2-131.7 as of July 1), removes the reference to helpers in subsection (b) since helpers are now described in 312 IAC 9-8-1(e), specifies that shovelnose sturgeon can only be taken with a roe harvester’s license, and allows license holders to submit an inactive license form if they stop commercial fishing for the year (currently allowed for fishing guides)
• 312 IAC 9-8-4: Rewords sentences and changes the length of the seine to 100 yards to comply with state statute in IC 14-22-13-1(b) and requires the gear to be removed from the shoreline or the waters fished upon the completion of fishing in subsection (d) (each item of gear is already required to be removed from the waters fished immediately upon the completion of fishing)
• 312 IAC 9-8-5: Makes technical corrections with the use of the new term “inland water” and   requires the gear to be removed from the shoreline or the waters fished upon the completion of fishing in subsection (d) (each item of gear is already required to be removed from the waters fished immediately upon the completion of fishing)
• 312 IAC 9-8-6: Specifies that shovelnose sturgeon and paddlefish can only be taken with a roe harvester’s license (per state law); specifies in (i) that commercial gear cannot be used within 50 yards of the mouth of  stream, bay or inlet; clarifies that commercial gear must be removed immediately after the completion of fishing in (j); corrects the tagging requirements for seines and nets in subsection (k); allows a license holder to submit an inactive license form;  and requires the gear to be removed from the shoreline or the waters fished upon the completion of fishing in subsection (j) (each item of gear is already required to be removed from the waters fished immediately upon the completion of fishing)
• 312 IAC 9-8-7 and 9-8-8: As a result of the creation of the roe harvesters and roe dealer’s licenses in state law (IC 14-22-13-2.5) last year, corresponding rules are needed to administer these licenses and specify requirements.  License requirements were established this year in a temporary rule. 

The proposed rule language can be found at: http://www.in.gov/legislative/iac/20120808-IR-312120381PRA.xml.pdf

The NRC gave these rule changes final adoption at their meeting on November 20. They will take effect after approval is granted from the Attorney General’s Office, Governor’s Office, and are published in the Indiana Register.