btw, no "Special Anterless" this season... no 4 nor 8 'bonus county' either .... alot of 2's/ 3's and 1's ..

https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/animals/white-tailed-deer/

Good news IMO.

Interesting they have a whole page dedicated to explaining why they allowed a special late antlerless season last year, even though the bonus rating number for the counties did not allow it, by regulation. Main reason sounds like it was because "hunters said they like the season". So instead of managing the herd based on solid principles of wildlife management, decisions are now being made based on feelings? With 32 gun days and the entire 3 month archery season available to kill antlerless, it seems there's plenty of time to get all the does and baby bucks that a guy needs IMO.

I agree ...

Here is the reason for the season being closed from a email from Deer Biologist.(from another site)


To answer your question, the season is closed this year because the original rule language required the season be open only in counties with a County Bonus Antlerless Quota (CBAQ) of four or more. An emergency rule allowed the season to be open in 19 counties with CBAQs of two, during the 2019-2020 season. This was done because these southern counties had been set at CBAQs of 4 and then were lowered late in summer because of EHD, so they were retained in the Special Antlerless Firearms Season.


During the 2020-2021 season an emergency rule allowed 90 counties be included in the season, even though most had CBAQs of two. This was done after an analysis of historical harvest showed that the season did not significantly increase antlerless harvest and so would not negatively affect the deer population. However, as this was the first year allowing the season in so many counties we included a set of questions in the Deer Management Survey to gauge hunter participation and public support of the season. Our survey indicated that 27% of hunters were opposed to having this season. We also examined the effect on harvest of the season and found little effect.


This season was originally designed in 2012 to help increase antlerless harvest, but it was not effective at this. Since then it has been retained as a means to provide more hunting opportunity, but it has been met with continual pushback by many hunters who believe that it negatively affects the deer population. Therefore, the season will be retained unchanged (with a CBAQ requirement of 4+) as it has not been widely accepted as increasing hunting opportunity without affecting harvest. The season is closed until a county has a CBAQ of 4 or more at which time the special season will be open in that county(s) only.


-Moriah

Moriah Boggess
Deer Biologist

Where do you see this year’s bonus map 2100-2200…. All I see is last year’s ?

I looked at the years wrong ... . disregard ......... should have had my reading glasses ....

Link to 2021-2022 map

https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wil...-deer/special-antlerless-firearms-season

Wow, that's probably the most conservative it's been in a long time.

from the DNR regs ..

Special Antlerless Firearms Season Closed for 2021-2022
In 2012, a Special Antlerless Firearms season was implemented for the first time in 74 Indiana counties in which the DNR wanted to increase antlerless harvests. The original rule opened the special season only in counties that had county bonus antlerless quotas (CBAQs) of four or more. The special season ultimately had little effect on annual antlerless harvests. As DNR’s deer management strategy shifted, CBAQs were gradually lowered across the state; therefore, fewer counties had CBAQs high enough to be included in the special season.

In 2019, an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) across southern Indiana led to an emergency rule change that lowered all CBAQs to two or fewer. The 19 counties that had CBAQs of four prior to the EHD outbreak were left open to the special season. In 2020, no counties had CBAQs of four, and none were to be open for the special season under the original rule language; however, DNR had conducted an analysis to examine deer hunters’ opinions of the special season and its effects on harvest (2019 Indiana White-tailed Deer Report). Survey responses indicated most hunters liked the special season, and the season was projected to increase antlerless harvest between 6 and 7% across the state. Because of this, a temporary rule change was issued for the 2020-2021 hunting season that opened the Special Antlerless Firearms season statewide, except in Benton and Tipton counties.

After the 2020-2021 Special Antlerless Firearms season, DNR analyzed harvest data from the CheckIN Game system and responses to the special preseason survey and the Deer Management Survey. A complete report of these analyses is in the 2020 Indiana White-tailed Deer Report (deer.dnr.IN.gov). Of respondents to the Deer Management Survey, 43% supported the Special Antlerless Firearms season; 27% opposed it; 24% participated in the season in 2020-2021; and 22% of participants were successful during the season. A total of 5,065 deer were harvested during the 2020-2021 Special Antlerless Firearms season, accounting for 8.8% of the total antlerless harvest in all 2020-2021 deer seasons.

No counties have CBAQs of four or more for the 2021-2022 deer season. Per the original rule language, this means that no counties will be open for the Special Antlerless Firearms season. After reviewing hunter survey data and noting substantial opposition to the season, DNR determined that the original rule should be left unamended for the 2021-2022 deer season. Until a county has a CBAQ high enough to qualify for the season, the Special Antlerless Firearms season will remain closed statewide.