Section 312IAC8-2-3. Firearms, hunting, and trapping

   (a) A person must not possess a firearm or bow and arrows on a DNR property unless one (1) of the following conditions apply:

(1) The firearm or bow and arrows are:

(A) unloaded and unnocked; and

(B) placed in a case or locked within a vehicle.

(2) The firearm or bow and arrows are possessed at, and of a type designated for usage on:

(A) a rifle;

(B) a pistol;

(C) a shotgun; or

(D) an archery;

range.

(3) The firearm or bow and arrows are being used in the lawful pursuit of either of the following:

(A) A wild animal on a DNR property authorized for that purpose.

(B) A groundhog as authorized under a license.

(4) The person possesses a handgun on a DNR property other than a reservoir owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or Falls of the Ohio State Park:

(A) with a valid unlimited license to carry a handgun:

(i) issued under IC 35-47-2-3; or

(ii) recognized under IC 35-47-2-21(b); or

(B) pursuant to an exemption to handgun licensure requirements as authorized under IC 35-47-2-2.

  (b) Except as provided in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(4), a firearm or bow and arrows may not be possessed on DNR properties within any of the following:

(1) A nature preserve or another property administered by the division of nature preserves unless hunting is authorized under subsection (d).

(2) A property administered by the division of state museums and historic sites.

(3) A campground.

(4) A picnic area.

(5) A beach.

(6) A service area.

(7) A headquarters building.

(8) A hunter check station.

(9) A developed recreation site.

  (c) A person must not discharge a firearm or bow and arrows on a DNR property except as follows:

(1) As authorized for a law enforcement officer.

(2) In the lawful defense of persons or property.

(3) Under a department permit that authorizes the discharge.

(4) As authorized at a shooting range.

(5) In the lawful pursuit of wild animals. The exception provided in this subdivision does not apply within two hundred (200) feet of any of the following:

(A) A campsite.

(B) A boat dock.

(C) A launching ramp.

(D) A picnic area.

(E) A bridge.

  (d) A person may hunt on the following DNR properties:

(1) A state forest administered by the division of forestry, including a portion of a state forest that is a nature preserve.

(2) A reservoir property administered by the division of state parks and reservoirs.

(3) A wildlife area administered by the division of fish and wildlife, including a portion of a wildlife area that is a nature preserve.

(4) A nature preserve or another property administered by the division of nature preserves, if approved in a written authorization by:

(A) the director of the division of nature preserves; and

(B) the owner of the nature preserve, if the owner is other than the state of Indiana.

  (e) A person hunting on any of the areas described in subsection (d) must do the following:

(1) Comply with all federal and state:

(A) hunting;

(B) trapping; and

(C) firearms;

laws.

(2) On a fish and wildlife area and a reservoir property, obtain a one (1) day hunting permit and record from a checking station. The person must:

(A) retain the permit and record card while in the field for the authorized date; and

(B) as directed, return them to the department.

(3) Refrain from hunting on a nature preserve if prohibited by signage posted at the site.

  (f) Unless otherwise posted or designated on a property map, a person must not place a trap except as authorized by a license issued for a property by an authorized representative. This license is in addition to the licensing requirement for traps set forth in IC 14-22-11-1.

  (g) A person must not run dogs, except:

(1) during the lawful pursuit of wild animals; or

(2) as authorized by a license for field trials or in a designated training area.

A property administered by the division of fish and wildlife may be designated for training purposes without requiring a field trial permit. Only dogs may be used during field trials on a DNR property, except where authorized by a license on a fish and wildlife property.

  (h) A person must not construct or place a tree blind or other hunting blind except under 312 IAC 9-3-3 and 312 IAC 9-4-2.

  (i) The following terms apply to the use of shooting ranges:

(1) A person must not use a shooting range unless the person is:

(A) at least eighteen (18) years of age; or

(B) accompanied by a person who is at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(2) A person must:

(A) register with the department; and

(B) pay any applicable fees;

before using a shooting range.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, a person must shoot only at paper targets placed on target holders provided by the department. An authorized representative may approve the use of alternative targets on a supervised shooting range if the department determines a hazard to public safety would not result.

(4) A person must fire downrange and take reasonable care to assure any projectile is stopped by the range backstop.

(5) Shot not larger than size 6 must be used on a shotgun range.

(6) A person must not:

(A) discharge a firearm using automatic fire;

(B) use tracer, armor-piercing, or incendiary rounds;

(C) play on, climb on, walk on, or shoot into or from the side berms; or

(D) shoot at clay pigeons, except on a site designated for shooting clay pigeons.

Glass and other forms of breakable targets must not be used on a shooting range.

(7) A person must dispose of the targets used by the person under section 2(a) of this rule.

(8) Permission must be obtained from the department in advance for a shooting event that involves any of the following:

(A) An entry fee.

(B) Competition for any of the following:

(i) Cash.

(ii) Awards.

(iii) Trophies.

(iv) Citations.

(v) Prizes.

(C) The exclusive use of the range or facilities.

(D) A portion of the event occurring between sunset and sunrise.

(9) On a field course, signs and markers must be staked. Trees must not be marked or damaged.

  (j) A person must not take a reptile or amphibian unless the person is issued a scientific purposes license under 312 IAC 9-10-6. Exempted from this subsection are:

(1) eastern snapping turtles;

(2) smooth softshell turtles;

(3) spiny softshell turtles;

(4) bullfrogs; and

(5) green frogs;

taken under 312 IAC 9-5-6 from a DNR property where hunting or fishing is authorized.

  (k) A person must not possess lead shot while hunting mourning doves on a DNR property. (Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 8-2-3; filed Oct 28, 1998,3:32 p.m.: 22 IR 739, eff Jan 1, 1999; filed Nov 5, 1999, 10:14 a.m.: 23 IR 553, eff Jan 1, 2000; filed Jun 17, 2002, 4:13 p.m.: 25 IR 3714; filed Sep 19, 2003, 8:14 a.m.: 27 IR 456; readopted filed Nov 17, 2004, 11:00 a.m.: 28 IR 1315; filed Sep 14, 2005, 2:45 p.m.: 29 IR 461, eff Jan 1, 2006; filed Jul 11, 2006, 9:04 a.m.: 20060802-IR-312060009FRA; filed Sep 6, 2007, 12:20 p.m.:20071003-IR-312070023FRA; filed Mar 11, 2008, 9:34 a.m.: 20080409-IR-312070449FRA; filed Mar 12, 2010, 1:25 p.m.: 20100407-IR-312090470FRA, eff Jan 1, 2011; readopted filed Mar 25, 2010, 2:58 p.m.: 20100421-IR-312100037RFA; filed Feb 6, 2012, 3:07 p.m.: 20120307-IR-312110442FRA, eff Jan 1, 2013; filed Nov 5, 2012, 2:30 p.m.: 20121205-IR-312120218FRA, eff Jan 2, 2013; readopted filed Sep 27, 2016, 1:57 p.m.: 20161026-IR-312160151RFA)