Section 312 IAC 9-3-3 - Equipment for deer huntingAuthority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-22-2-6
Affected: IC 14-22; IC 35-47-1-6
Sec. 3.
(a) During the youth special deer season established by section 4 of this rule, a youth hunter may hunt deer with the following equipment: (1) A bow and arrow as described in subsection (b)(1) through (b)(4).(2) A crossbow as defined in 312 IAC 9-1-5.3.(3) A shotgun as described in subsection (d)(1).(4) A muzzleloading long gun as described in subsection (d)(3).(5) A rifle, with the use of cartridges described in subsection (d)(4).(6) An air gun as defined in 312 IAC 9-1-1.2.(b) During the archery season under section 4 of this rule, an individual may hunt deer with the following equipment: (1) A long bow, recurve bow, or compound bow that has at least thirty-five (35) pounds pull, and a license to hunt deer under section 2 of this rule.(2) A crossbow and a license to hunt deer under section 2 of this rule.(3) An arrow or a bolt equipped with: (A) a metal or metal-edged;(D) an obsidian napped; broadhead.(4) A long bow, recurve bow, or compound bow with: (E) any other device; that attaches to the riser of the bow must not contact, support, or guide the arrow from a point rearward of the brace height of the bow. Use of a poisoned or an explosive arrow or bolt is unlawful.(c) During the firearms season under section 4 of this rule, an individual may take deer with the following equipment: (2) A shotgun with rifled barrel.(4) A muzzleloading long gun.(5) A muzzleloading handgun.(6) A rifle, with the use of a cartridge described in subsection (d)(4).(7) An air gun as defined in 312 IAC 9-1-1.2.(d) As used in sections 2, 4, and 8 of this rule and this section, a firearm must meet the following specifications: (1) A shotgun must have a bore of: (F) .410 caliber; loaded with a single projectile.(2) A handgun must: (A) conform to the requirements of IC 35-47-1-6;(B) have a barrel at least four (4) inches long;(C) fire a bullet at least two hundred forty-three thousandths (.243) of an inch in diameter; and(D) not be a rifle that has a barrel less than eighteen (18) inches. A handgun cartridge case, without a bullet, must be at least one and sixteen-hundredths (1.16) inches long. Use of a full metal jacketed bullet is unlawful. Use of .25-20 Winchester, .32-20 Winchester, .30 Carbine, or .38 Special ammunition is unlawful.
(3) A muzzleloading long gun must be at least .40 caliber, loaded with a bullet at least three hundred fifty-seven thousandths (.357) of an inch. A muzzleloading handgun must be single shot, at least .50 caliber, loaded with a bullet at least .44 caliber, and have a barrel at least twelve (12) inches long. The length of a muzzleloading handgun barrel is determined by measuring from the base of the breech plug to the end of the barrel, including the muzzle crown, excluding a tang or another projection. During the muzzleloading season under section 4 of this rule, a muzzleloading gun must be capable of loading only from the muzzle, including the powder and bullet.(4) A rifle must fire a cartridge that meets the following specifications: (A) Fire a bullet of at least three hundred fifty-seven thousandths (.357) of an inch in diameter.(B) Have a case length of at least one and sixteen-hundredths (1.16) inches.(C) Have a case length of not more than one and eight-tenths (1.8) inches. Use of a full metal jacketed bullet is unlawful.
(e) During the muzzleloader season under section 4 of this rule, an individual may take deer with a:(1) muzzleloading long gun as described in subsection (d)(3); or(2) muzzleloading handgun as described in subsection (d)(3).(f) During the deer reduction season established in section 4 of this rule, an individual may take deer with a: (1) bow and arrow or crossbow and bolt described in subsection (b) beginning September 15 and ending January 31; or(2) firearm described in subsection (c) or (d) beginning the first Saturday after November 11 and ending January 31.(g) An individual may not erect, place, or hunt from a permanent tree or ground blind on land owned or leased by the state. An individual may erect, place, or hunt from a temporary tree or ground blind that may be left overnight and placed on a: (1) department property as defined at 312 IAC 8-1.5-6;(2) U.S. Forest Service land; or(3) national wildlife refuge; beginning at noon September 15 and ending January 10, or beginning at noon September 1 and ending February 8 on a department property within a deer reduction zone under section 4 of this rule. An individual may not use a fastener with a tree blind and a tree or pole climber that penetrates a tree more than one-half (1/2) inch. A tree or ground blind must be legibly marked with the name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the tree or ground blind in the English language, or the customer identification number issued to the owner by the department.(h) An individual may not use an infrared sensor to aid in taking a deer.(i) An individual may not use an electronic deer call while hunting deer.Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 9-3-3; filed May 12, 1997, 10:00 a.m.: 20 IR 2703; filed Nov 13, 1997, 12:09 p.m.: 21 IR 1272; filed Dec 26, 2001, 2:40 p.m.: 25 IR 1530; readopted filed Jul 28, 2003, 12:00 p.m.: 27 IR 286; filed Sep 23, 2004, 3:00 p.m.: 28 IR 538; filed Jun 23, 2006, 2:24 p.m.: 20060719-IR-312050214FRA; filed Jun 29, 2007, 2:30 p.m.: 20070725-IR-312060272FRA; filed Sep 6, 2007, 12:20 p.m.: 20071003-IR-312070023FRA; readopted filed Nov 24, 2008, 11:08 a.m.: 20081210-IR-312080672RFA; filed Nov 3, 2009, 3:34 p.m.: 20091202-IR-312090044FRA; filed Dec 1, 2011, 4:01 p.m.: 20111228-IR-312110101FRA; filed Sep 13, 2013, 3:02 p.m.: 20131009-IR-312120670FRA; errata filed Dec 6, 2013, 11:12 a.m.: 20140101-IR-312130537ACA; Readopted filed 5/20/2014, 9:43 a.m.: 20140618-IR-312140017RFAFiled 6/15/2015, 3:43 p.m.: 20150715-IR-312140453FRAReadopted filed 9/18/2019, 1:16 p.m.: 20191016-IR-312190325RFAFiled 11/16/2020, 9:30 a.m.: 20201216-IR-312200069FRAFiled 5/11/2021, 1:07 p.m.: 20210609-IR-312200602FRAFiled 12/12/2024, 2:17 p.m.: 20250108-IR-312240049FRA