Deer Hunter 2018 All Animals

[Derrick Drescher]

Tobetter understand the relative abundance and distribution of deer and other mammalian/avian wildlife species in the state, the DNR is developing a long-term database of deer hunter observation data. Past efforts have provided the agency with valuable information for managing many wildlife species.

Step 2) Scan the QR code below with the phone's camera and click on the link that appears, or open Survey123 and use the QR code reader in the Search bar. This will load and open the Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey in Survey123. If prompted to log in, click 'Continue without signing in' to proceed.

Step 3) Once the survey is installed, go to the X at the top left of the screen, then select "Close survey and lose changes." The Survey123 app and Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey are now loaded onto your phone and ready for you to record your observations. Upon your next sighting, open Survey123 and the Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey to record your sighting.

A resident youth hunt/trap, deer hunting, or comprehensive lifetime hunting license is required to hunt for deer unless you meet one of the license exemptions. All deer harvested in Indiana must be reported within 48 hours of the time of harvest at an on-site check station, online, through your Indiana Fish & Wildlife Account, or by phone at 1-800-419-1326. There is a $3 charge for the phone service, payable only by Visa or Mastercard. For more information, see our Deer Hunting Questions page.

There are several reasons why Indiana is such a great place to hunt for trophy bucks. First, the state has a large and healthy deer population. The Indiana DNR manages the deer herds in each county with the goals of providing ample opportunities for hunters to harvest deer and ensuring that white-tailed deer populations are sustained every year. The bag limit of one buck per season helps the buck population age and grow larger antlers, which provides greater opportunities for hunters to harvest a buck they want.

The vast amount of land available to hunt in Indiana also provides many opportunities to hunt trophy bucks. Between state DNR-managed lands and federally managed land, more than 1,000 square miles of public land is open to hunting in Indiana. Along with public land, there is also plenty of private land available for deer hunting through the Indiana Private Lands Access (IPLA) program.

In this day and age of hunting, with numbers continuing to fall, especially with the number of deer hunters, I think it's important we reach as many "non-hunters" as possible to explain the intricacies that people may not understand about hunting. Deer hunting is such a multi layered activity, and there's so many different levels to it. I think sometimes people get it misconstrued and think we only shoot big bucks for chess pieces on the wall, or that we don't respect whitetail deer. That couldn't be any further from the truth, and today I wanted to take the time to explain and convey the love and respect deer hunters have for deer with the hopes you'll share this with someone who may be on the fence about hunting, or someone who doesn't understand the connection between animal and hunter.

I want to start out by claiming that the whitetail deer is my favorite animal. "But how could you kill your favorite animal?" one may ask. The short answer is it's a big deal to take the life of an animal, and taking a deer's life isn't taken lightly. I have the utmost respect for deer and the way in which they are able to survive not only humans hunting them, but predators as well. This relationship can be difficult to understand to the casual onlooker, but this is one of the major reasons I encourage you as a hunter to help portray that respect through photos and words.

As a hunter, it's the reason we clean up a deer (or why you should) for photos and handle them with care. It all stems from that deep respect. The profound appreciation for deer leads to us not wanting to waste an ounce of venison. To me, it's why I want a mount when I shoot a mature buck. I don't get the mount to brag, or to show off my kills, it's to showcase a highly intelligent animal in a positive regard that I feel fortunate enough to have taken the life of. The venison provided from the animal will be consumed and eventually will be gone, but the memories will live through the mount for as long as I live.

I hope to minimally accomplish two things with this short blog post. If you are a hunter, I feel you are also an ambassador for hunting by default. I take that seriously, and want you to as well. That extends to how you talk about and promote hunting, and the more you convey the love and respect deer hunters have for deer, the better. The second thing I hope to accomplish is if you are reading this and happen to be someone who hasn't hunted before, I encourage you to listen to hunters and attempt to understand us. If you learn something maybe you hadn't ever thought of, there could be that much more of a chance you'll be willing to try hunting one day.

Fast forward through college, and I was now attending a primitive survival school, first as a student, and eventually as an instructor. Though still a strict vegetarian, I began to gravitate toward deer as a species and soon found myself delivering hide-tanning lectures and field-dressing demonstrations. To acquire demonstration subjects, I would routinely drive the local roads looking for roadkill I could wrestle into the trunk of my Nissan Sentra.

I ended up joining a local group that practiced bushcraft and primitive skills, and I soon became part of the organizing team. One day, another organizer invited a few of us up to his hunting cabin for the weekend. That was the first time I ever held a modern crossbow or compound bow. It was also the first time I ever carried a rifle or a shotgun. Target practice quickly transitioned into hunting, and I felt the woods come alive in a way I had never experienced before.

Consider also that all living things eventually die. Wild critters will eventually succumb to disease, starvation, predation, drowning, wildfires, or maybe getting hit by a vehicle. Often, they are eaten alive. Of all the ways they could possibly die, being killed by a hunter is one of the least painful ways to go. The goal of a hunter is always to ensure the quickest death possible. This is not only ethical from an animal suffering standpoint, but it helps the hunter recover the animal and makes for higher-quality meat.

Hunters are also uniquely concerned with the survival of the species they hunt, and they provide more funding for conservation programs than any other segment of society. They do this by way of hunting license fees, a self-imposed 11% tax on hunting equipment, and membership in conservation non-profits. This benefits many non-game species as well, such as birds, butterflies, turtles and countless others.

All hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1961 must successfully complete a hunter education course before purchasing a hunting license. Hunter education is not required if purchasing an Apprentice License or short-term license, if you are hunting on your own land, or if you are hunting pen raised game birds on a licensed shooting preserve.

The Adventure Together - Hunt Georgia website contains valuable information for new hunters like how to go hunting, where to find hunter ed classes, and what licenses you'll need. There's also over 70 videos on topics ranging from planning your hunt, to selecting a firearm or bow, to how to process your game meat!

Venison is the ultimate high-protein, low-fat, organic meat. You can help get this quality protein from the woods to a local food bank, and onto the tables of those in your community that need it most. Participate by donating a deer to a participating processor near you, donating to the Georgia Wildlife Federation or becoming a sponsor.

Note: The General Assembly passed a law in 2022 allowing Sunday hunting on public land for all game species. Many public landowners are taking advantage of this new hunting opportunity and opening their public lands for hunting on Sundays. For details on how public landowners will implement Sunday hunting on their lands please contact the public landowner.

A valid State Forest Use Permit and valid hunting license is required and may be purchased from license agents or online. Hunting is allowed on these properties only in accordance with state hunting regulations. No motorized vehicles, including ATVs, are permitted on gated roads and trails whether the gate is open or closed.

Bait shall mean any food, grain, or other consumable substance that could serve as a lure or attractant; however, crops grown for normal or accepted agriculture or wildlife management purposes, including food plots, shall not be considered as bait.

Beginning at a point on Rt. 10 where it intersects the Isle of Wight County line, then along this highway to its intersection with the corporate limits of Suffolk, then through Suffolk to its intersection with Rt. 642 (White Marsh Road) and then along this highway in a southwest direction to Rt. 604 (Desert Road), and then southerly along this highway to the North Carolina state line.

The act of or the attempted act of taking, hunting, trapping, pursuing, chasing, shooting, snaring, or netting birds or animals, and assisting any person who is doing the same, regardless of whether birds or animals are actually taken.

The following animals: house mouse, Norway rat, black rat, coyote, groundhog, nutria, feral hog, European starling, English sparrow, mute swan, and pigeon (rock dove) are designated as nuisance species and may be taken at any time by use of a firearm or other weapon (unless prohibited by local ordinances) and on some public lands during certain time periods (see National Forest-Wildlife Department Regulations).

Prohibited lands are any parcels of property, public or private, where established rules and regulations for public access or explicit permission (verbal or written) have not been granted to hunt upon or enter the property.

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