INDIANAPOLIS -- Hunters in Indiana will be allowed to use rifles on state and federal property despite a legislative error that banned their use.
The Department of Natural Resources issued an emergency state rule that will allow rifle to be used during the 2017-18 firearms deer-hunting season that begins Nov. 18. You can find the complete season schedule on the Indiana DNR website.
Rifle use was called into question because of a mistake in a bill approved by the General Assembly this year. Republican Rep. Sean Eberhart who was the bill's sponsor said the bill was meant to clarify rules regarding the use of high-velocity ammunition on private property.
READ | Indiana law says deer hunters can't use rifles on public land
Eberhart says he hopes to fix the law when the Legislature reconvenes in January.
The DNR’s emergency rule expires Feb. 1.
A summary of some rifle requirements for deer hunting on private land are as follows:
- 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 and have a maximum case length of 3 inches
- The cartridge must fire a bullet with a diameter that is .243 inches (same as 6mm) or larger
- A hunter may not possess more than 10 such cartridges for each of these rifles while hunting deer
- Full metal jacketed bullets are illegal
For more information on rifle requirements for deer hunting on private land, visit the DNR website.
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