312 IAC 8-2-3 Firearms, hunting, and trapping

Sec. 3. (a) A person must not possess a firearm or bow and arrows on a DNR property unless one (1) of the following conditions apply: (1) The firearm or bow and arrows are: (A) unloaded and unnocked; and (B) placed in a case or locked within a vehicle. (2) The firearm or bow and arrows are possessed at, and of a type designated for usage on: (A) a rifle; (B) a pistol; (C) a shotgun; or (D) an archery; range. (3) The firearm or bow and arrows are being used in the lawful pursuit of either of the following: (A) A wild animal on a DNR property authorized for that purpose. (B) A groundhog as authorized under a license. (4) The person possesses a handgun on a DNR property other than a reservoir owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or Falls of the Ohio State Park. (b) Except as provided in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(4), a firearm or bow and arrows may not be possessed on DNR properties within any of the following: (1) A nature preserve or another property administered by the division of nature preserves unless hunting is authorized under subsection (d). (2) A property administered by the division of state museums and historic sites. (3) A campground. (4) A picnic area. (5) A beach. (6) A service area. (7) A headquarters building. (8) A hunter check station. (9) A developed recreation site. (c) A person must not discharge a firearm or bow and arrows on a DNR property except as follows: (1) As authorized for a law enforcement officer. (2) In the lawful defense of persons or property. (3) Under a department permit that authorizes the discharge. (4) As authorized at a shooting range. (5) In the lawful pursuit of wild animals. The exception provided in this subdivision does not apply within two hundred (200) feet of any of the following: (A) A campsite. (B) A boat dock. (C) A launching ramp. (D) A picnic area. (E) A bridge. (d) A person may hunt on the following DNR properties: (1) A state forest administered by the division of forestry, including a portion of a state forest that is a nature preserve. (2) A reservoir property administered by the division of state parks and reservoirs. (3) A wildlife area administered by the division of fish and wildlife, including a portion of a wildlife area that is a nature preserve. (4) A nature preserve or another property administered by the division of nature preserves, if approved in a written authorization by: (A) the director of the division of nature preserves; and (B) the owner of the nature preserve, if the owner is other than the state of Indiana. (e) A person hunting on any of the areas described in subsection (d) must do the following: (1) Comply with all federal and state: (A) hunting; (B) trapping; and (C) firearms; laws. (2) On a fish and wildlife area and a reservoir property, obtain a one (1) day hunting permit and record from a checking station. The person must: (A) retain the permit and record card while in the field for the authorized date; and (B) as directed, return them to the department. (3) Refrain from hunting on a nature preserve if prohibited by signage posted at the site. (f) Unless otherwise posted or designated on a property map, a person must not place a trap except as authorized by a license issued for a property by an authorized representative. This license is in addition to the licensing requirement for traps set forth in IC 14-22-11-1. (g) A person must not run dogs, except: (1) during the lawful pursuit of wild animals; or (2) as authorized by a license for field trials or in a designated training area. A property administered by the division of fish and wildlife may be designated for training purposes without requiring a field trial permit. Only dogs may be used during field trials on a DNR property, except where authorized by a license on a fish and wildlife property. (h) A person may construct or place a tree stand or hunting blind on a DNR property during the hunting season for the animal being hunted under the following terms: (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (2) and (3), a stand or blind may only be left overnight if it is legibly marked with the: (A) name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the stand or blind in the English language; or (B) owner's customer identification number issued by the department. (2) A blind or stand used for deer hunting must comply with 312 IAC 9-3-3. (3) A blind used for hunting migratory birds or waterfowl must: (A) comply with 312 IAC 9-4-2; and (B) be legibly marked with the: (i) name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the stand or blind in the English language; or (ii) owner's customer identification number issued by the department. (i) The following terms apply to the use of shooting ranges: (1) A person must not use a shooting range unless the person is: (A) at least eighteen (18) years of age; or (B) accompanied by a person who is at least eighteen (18) years of age. (2) A person must: (A) register with the department; and (B) pay any applicable fees; before using a shooting range. (3) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, a person must shoot only at paper targets placed on target holders provided by the department. An authorized representative may approve the use of alternative targets on a supervised shooting range if the department determines a hazard to public safety would not result. (4) A person must fire downrange and take reasonable care to ensure any projectile is stopped by the range backstop. (5) Shot not larger than size 6 must be used on a shotgun range. (6) A person must not: (A) discharge a firearm using automatic fire; (B) use tracer, armor-piercing, or incendiary rounds; (C) play on, climb on, walk on, or shoot into or from the side berms; or (D) shoot at clay pigeons, except on a site designated for shooting clay pigeons. Glass and other forms of breakable targets must not be used on a shooting range. (7) A person must dispose of the targets used by the person under section 2(a) of this rule. (8) Permission must be obtained from the department in advance for a shooting event that involves any of the following: (A) An entry fee. (B) Competition for any of the following: (i) Cash. (ii) Awards. (iii) Trophies. (iv) Citations. (v) Prizes. (C) The exclusive use of the range or facilities. (D) A portion of the event occurring between sunset and sunrise. (9) On a field course, signs and markers must be staked. Trees must not be marked or damaged. (j) A person must not take a reptile or amphibian unless the person is issued a scientific purposes license under 312 IAC 9-10-6. Exempted from this subsection are: (1) eastern snapping turtles; (2) smooth softshell turtles; (3) spiny softshell turtles; (4) bullfrogs; and (5) green frogs; taken under 312 IAC 9-5-6 from a DNR property where hunting or fishing is authorized. (k) A person must not possess lead shot while hunting mourning doves on a DNR property. (l) A person may place a trail or game camera as follows: (1) The trail or game camera must be legibly marked with the: (A) name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the camera in the English language; or (B) individual's customer identification number issued by the department. (2) A trail or game camera may only be placed on the following DNR properties: (A) A property administered by the division of fish and wildlife, including a portion of that property that is a nature preserve. (B) A state forest or recreation area administered by the department, including a portion of that property that is a nature preserve. (3) Placement of a trail or game camera must not damage a tree. (m) A person must not place bait on a DNR property, except as follows: (1) Bait or food placed for management as authorized by the department. (2) The result of authorized agricultural operations on the property. (3) A bird feeder placed by a department employee. (n) As used in this section, "bait" includes: (1) a food that is transported to and placed for consumption, including, but not limited to, piles of corn and apples placed on the property; (2) a prepared solid or liquid that is manufactured and intended for consumption by livestock, wild deer, or birds, including, but not limited to, commercial baits and food supplements; (3) salt; or (4) mineral supplements.