Deadline nears for state park deer reductions

INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) - Time is running out for hunters to apply for deer reduction hunts at Indiana state parks this fall.

According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources , applications must be completed online by Aug. 28. Hunters can find details and apply at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5834.htm. and paper applications are not available.

Reduction hunts will take place Nov. 14 and 15 and then again Nov. 28 and 29.

The following state parks will host firearms hunts:

Brown County, Chain O’Lakes, Charlestown, Harmonie, Indiana Dunes, Lincoln, McCormick’s Creek, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run, Versailles, Whitewater Memorial.

The following state parks will host archery hunts:

Fort Harrison
Clifty Falls

The odds of being drawn are highest for Brown County, Harmonie, McCormick’s Creek, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Shakamak and Versailles state parks.

Designated areas are available for hunters with special needs.

Applicants must be Indiana residents, be 18 years of age by Nov. 14, 2011, and possess at least one valid Indiana deer license. Each person may apply only once for each state park deer reduction effort, regardless of primary or buddy status. All applications sharing duplicate names will be disqualified.

Deer reduction hunts are necessary to reduce the ecological impact of overabundant deer.