Does this count?
FIRST OPEN SEASON

The White-tailed Deer Investigation had progressed to the point in 1951 that we knew where the deer were, approximately how many, something of their rate of increase, and limiting factors. Many of the basic facts necessary for proper management were still unknown but it became increasingly apparent that an open hunting season was needed to scatter herds, relieve crop damage, and curb illegal kills. The 1951 population estimate was 4,943 animals, quite an increase from 1944. About 4,500 of these were in 17 counties which were believed to be ready for an open season.

The 1951 General Assembly gave the Director of the Division of Fish and Game discretionary powers to issue orders regulating the hunting and killing of deer. A hunt plan including regulations was formulated and submitted to the Director of Fish and Game.

The first open deer hunting season in 58 years was held November 1, 2, and 3, 1951. In brief, it was an "any deer" season in 17 counties, with shotgun slugs and bow and arrows only. The number of licenses sold was not limited. They were issued at a cost of five dollars to residents only. Information on the hunt was collected by compulsory return of postal card reports issued with licenses, while Pittman-Robertson personnel and conservation officers manned 6 checking stations in 5 herd areas where successful hunters were interviewed and deer examined.

Well it's good to know that when our deer herd gets down to 5000 animals we'll still have a gun season.

Thanks, Weed. Yeah, like I said, was wondering if this really was the first time the IGA had made a law concerning hunting/fishing/etc.

My curiousness led me the IGA's website. I don't know the history of these pieces of code, so I don't know how they passed with or without the DNR's "public" input.

IC 14-22-35
Requiring the department to establish a hunter safety course and the department must designate a CO to administer the program.

IC 14-22-7
Individuals may not hunt migratory waterfowl without a stamp issued by the department.

IC 14-22-8
Individuals may not hunt game birds without a stamp issued by the department.

IC 14-22-10
Individuals may not fish, hunt, trap or chase on private land without consent of landowner or tenant. Also regulates taking wild game across state borders.

IC 14-22-9
Regulates how an individual may fish (equipment restrictions) on state owned land. Also regulated minnow and crayfish handling.

IC 14-22-11
Regulates licenses and permits.

The legislature passes some laws every year that directly affect the DNR and the fish & game rules. The NRC does most of the hard work overseeing the day-to-day operation of the department. This is a special case where the NRC/DNR withdrew the original rifle proposal (which happens maybe once every few years) and the legislature picked up that proposal and turned it into law.

The controversy is not whether the legislature has that authority. Of course they do. The problem is that the DNR/NRC spent nearly a year gathering opinions and holding meetings across the state to garner an idea of what sportsmen wanted. All of that work was erased by a few folks in Indianapolis voting against what the DNR/NRC had achieved. While I have no problem with the outcome (I was the one person) to testify in the Senate hearing, I know most people cannot attended these meeting at the drop of a hat and scurry off to face legislators.

In short, it was the manner that this happened not the outcome.

Jack

P.S. I have no idea where the 5 cartridges/calibers came from. When I testified I was testifying to all .243 and above rifles. I know the author has a .243 and one of the Senators had a .300 Win Mag. Also, the NRA asked that 30-06 be added to the list.

Thanks for the post Hatchetjack.

I came across this today, clarification of the legal calibers. Definitely doesn't make any sense to me to allow certain calibers but not others.
Rifle Caliber Clarification

This is getting weird now. Never seen that clarification before, maybe another one will clarify more calibers.

This part of that article pretty much sums up the law. If the cartridge falls within these limits, it's legal.


• The rifle must have a barrel length of at least 16 inches
• The rifle cartridges must have a cartridge case length of least 1.16 inches
• The rifle cartridge must fire a bullet with a diameter that is
o .243 inches (or 6 mm); or
o .308 inches (or 7.62 mm)
• No cartridges with a bullet diameter between .243 and .308 are legal (such as the .270 Winchester)
• A hunter may not possess more than 10 such cartridges while in the field

the ruger .243 is sighted in 2 inches high at 100 yds. Good to go to 300 yds here!