Indiana DNR stops state park deer hunts for 2025

(WXIN/WTTV) - Indiana DNR has announced that deer management hunts will not be held in any state parks this year.

Deer management hunt

The first deer management hunt at an Indiana state park was held in 1993 at Brown County State Park, and hunts have been held annually since 1995. The events allow hunters to "mitigate damage to vegetation and unique habitat" by fighting the overpopulation of white-tailed deer.




For nearly 30 years, over 20 Indiana state parks have participated in the tradition. In 2024, over 6,700 Hoosier hunters took part in the hunts and harvested over 1,500 deer.




"Deer management hunts are a long-time established method for scientifically supporting healthy wildlife and vegetation by managing deer browse at healthy levels," DNR said in a statement to FOX59/CBS4.




However, no such hunts will be held for the rest of 2025.

No state park hunts this year

An Indiana Department of Natural Resources alert sent out this week confirms that state park deer management hunts will be put on pause this year "due to regulatory timelines."




To hold these deer management hunts in Indiana State Parks, DNR said regulations must be adopted into the Indiana Administrative Code. The process for this rulemaking can be found here. A statement sent by DNR to FOX59/CBS4 explaining the decision can be found below:




"In past years, previous rulemaking authority allowed DNR to establish interim rules to support the timing of reserved hunts at state parks. DNR must now follow the permanent rulemaking process. Because of this change, the timelines for rulemaking did not align with the 2025 hunting season. We look forward to having a permanent rule in place so that hunts can move forward in 2026."




IDNR said details on 2026 hunts will come soon. However, other hunting options are still available in the meantime.

Hunting options still available

While Hoosiers can no longer participate this year in state park deer hunts, they can still apply to hunt white-tailed deer at certain Fish and Wildlife Areas and nature preserves throughout Indiana. Applications are still being accepted through Sept. 17.




For more information on 2025 Reserved Hunts, or to apply for a deer hunting license before time expires, click here.





via: https://fox59.com/indiana-news/indiana-dnr-stops-state-park-deer-hunts-for-2025/