Administrative Rule (Regulation) Changes
WILD TURKEY PROPOSED RULE CHANGES
The DNR has proposed changes that will allow individuals, including licensed taxidermists, to sell the heads, feet and skin of wild turkeys (312 IAC 9-2-3). The Association of Indiana Taxidermists requested the change to allow taxidermists to purchase the heads of wild turkeys to use for specimens that they are mounting for customers. By allowing their sale, taxidermists can purchase heads from hunters and other sources legally.
Changes to the rule governing wild turkeys (312 IAC 9-4-11) will allow turkey hunting statewide in the spring season by opening turkey hunting in Henry county. The changes also prohibit the possession of a dog, domesticated animal, live decoy, recorded call, electronically powered or controlled decoy or bait while in the field hunting wild turkeys to clarify that they can neither be possessed or used while in the field. Additional changes clarify license requirements and clarify that a hunter who tags a turkey must include the name and license number of the person who killed the turkey (not someone else) on the tag, and the person who takes the turkey to the check station must give the check station operator true and accurate information about who killed the turkey.
The proposed rule language can be viewed at: Wild Turkey Rule Package
The Natural Resources Commission gave preliminary adoption to these rule proposals on September 16, 2008.
A public hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 1:00 pm (EST) at the following location: Indiana Government Center South, Conference Center Room 12, 402. W. Washington Street in Indianapolis.
Public comments can now be sent to the Natural Resources Commission by e-mail at: nrcrules@nrc.in.gov; please include your name and city and state of residence. Comments can also be mailed to the following address:
Natural Resources Commission
Indiana Government Center North
100 North Senate Ave., Room N501
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2200
COYOTE RULE CHANGES
Coyotes taken between March 16 and October 14 can no longer be sold, traded, bartered, gifted, or possessed for more than 24 hours as of August 31, 2008. They can still be taken (hunted or trapped and killed) throughout the year in accordance with IC 14-22-6-12 and 312 IAC 9-3-12.
In response to the public comments through the rule promulgation process, the DNR proposed a modification to the original rule proposal to allow only carcasses and parts of coyotes to be possessed (retained) if obtained outside the hunting and trapping season. These parts can be sold in accordance with 312 IAC 9-2-3 and to licensed fur buyers per IC 14-22-19. A live coyote cannot be possessed, sold, traded, bartered or gifted if obtained between March 16 and October 14. Live coyotes can still be sold during the hunting and trapping season (October 15 through March 15) in accordance with IC 14-22-19.
These changes were approved unanimously by the Natural Resources Commission on July 15, 2008 and subsequently approved by the Attorney General’s Office and Governor’s office.
The final rule language can be viewed at: Coyote Rule Package
FURBEARER AND TRAPPING-RELATED RULE CHANGES
These rule changes clarify the possession dates for untanned hides and carcasses of furbearing mammals taken lawfully during the season and removes the use of the term trap-sized No. 3 for foot-hold traps and uses measurements instead. Changes also include the addition of a hunting season for skunks to allow additional methods to be used (such as firearms), and extends the skunk trapping season to March 15. Additional changes are made to the nuisance wild animal control permit rule.
The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) gave these rule proposals final adoption at their meeting on March 18, 2008 and they have been approved by the attorney general and governor. These rule changes are now law and can be viewed at: Furbearer Rule Package Final.
