Bonus Antlerless Deer

Bonus Antlerless Deer

Antlerless Deer Bag Limit

The fundamental approach to controlling white-tailed deer populations is to harvest female deer. Hunters have the opportunity to help in this management effort by participating in the bonus antlerless program.

In addition to the basic bag limits, hunters can purchase bonus licenses to take additional antlerless deer. Bonus antlerless licenses can be used in any season, using the equipment that is legal for that season. One antlerless deer may be taken per bonus anterless license.

Bonus licenses may be used in any county, but you may not take more than the county quota for bonus antlerless deer in any specific county. The map on the right indicates county quotas for bonus antlerless deer.

County quotas range from A to 8. For counties designated as an “A”, a bonus antlerless license can be used to take one antlerless deer from Nov. 29 through Jan. 6 (muzzleloader and archery season). Bonus antlerless licenses cannot be used in an “A” county prior to Nov. 29.

There is no statewide bonus antlerless limit. You may take as many bonus antlerless deer as you desire as long as the county bonus antlerless bag limits and other deer regulations are followed.

Youth/Lifetime License Holders

Comprehensive lifetime hunting/fishing and resident youth hunt/trap license holders are not required to purchase bonus antlerless deer licenses, since they are included in those license types. Lifetime/youth license hunters must follow the bonus antlerless bag limits and all other deer regulations.

Special Antlerless Deer Firearm Season

The special antlerless deer (only) firearms season is Dec. 26, 2012 to Jan. 6, 2013, in counties with a bonus antlerless deer quota of 4 or more (shaded counties on map).

Bonus Antlerless License Restrictions on DNR Property

Many Indiana DNR properties (e.g., fish and wildlife areas, state forests, recreation areas, reservoirs, wetland conservation areas, etc.) restrict the use of bonus antlerless licenses. These areas receive sufficient hunting pressure to keep deer populations in check and do not require additional harvest of deer. Contact the property manager where you plan to hunt for information.

The areas listed below DO NOT allow the use of bonus antlerless licenses:

• Atterbury FWA
• Blue Grass FWA
• Chinook FWA
• Crosley FWA
• Deer Creek FWA
• Frances Slocum State Forest
• Glendale FWA
• Goose Pond FWA
• Hillenbrand FWA
• Hufford Trust Area
• Interlake State Recreation Area
• J. E. Roush Lake FWA
• Kingsbury FWA
• LaSalle FWA
• Manitou Island WCA
• Maxincuckee WCA
• Menominee WCA
• Mississinewa Lake (including adjacent lands administered by the DNR)
• Patoka Lake, except east of State Route 145 (in Orange County and Crawford County) and south of State Route 164 (in Dubois County and Crawford County)
• Pigeon River FWA.
• Salamonie Lake (including adjacent lands administered by the DNR)
• Salamonie River State Forest
• Stucker Fork FWA
• Sugar Ridge FWA
• Tri-County FWA
• Wabashiki FWA
• Wilbur Wright FWA
• Winamac FWA

The bonus antlerless license may NOT be used from Nov. 17, 2012 through Nov. 28, 2012 at the following properties:

• Badal Trust Area
• Hovey Lake FWA.
• Jasper-Pulaski FWA.
• Kankakee FWA.
• Minnehaha FWA.

The bonus antlerless license may NOT be used from Nov. 17 through Dec. 2, 2012 on the following properties:

• Anspaugh WCA.
• Cedar Swamp WCA.
• Curtis WCA.
• Deniston Resource Area.
• Durham Lake WCA.
• Eagle Lake WCA.
• Goose Lake WCA.
• Greene-Sullivan State Forest.
• Jimmerson WCA.
• Mallard Roost WCA.
• Marsh Lake WCA.
• Mendenhall WCA.
• Rome City WCA.
• Ropchan WCA.
• Splinter Ridge FWA.
• Turkey Creek WCA.
• Wawasee WCA.
• Whirledge WCA.
• Willow Slough FWA.

The bonus antlerless license may NOT be used on Fairbanks Landing Fish and Wildlife Area from Oct. 1, 2012 through Nov. 28, 2012, and from Dec. 3, 2012 through Jan. 6, 2013.