By Louie Stout

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) accepted preliminary adoption of amendments to some deer and wild turkeys hunting regulations and beaver trapping.

The preliminarily adopted amendments include allowing hunters the option of using a 28-, 16-, or 10-gauge shotgun and .410 shotguns to hunt wild turkeys. It also includes having the option of using other equipment that is already legal in the spring and fall turkey season, as well as adding the No. 9 tungsten super shot. Additionally, it removes the restriction requiring the powder used in muzzleloaders for deer hunting to be loaded only from the muzzle end of the muzzleloader.

The NRC also preliminarily accepted removing time restrictions for when beavers may be taken during the trapping season.

The preliminary adoption starts a long and deliberative process, including a public comment period that includes the ability to participate in public hearings conducted by the NRC’s Division of Hearings. The changes won’t go into effect until the final hearing.

Submit written comments to Natural Resources Commission, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N103, Indianapolis, Ind. 46204-2200.

In other action, the NRC:

• Accepted consideration of amendments to include the addition of the long-eared owl, grasshopper sparrow, black-billed cuckoo, Hudsonian godwit, boreal chorus frog, false map turtle, and northern brook lamprey to the special concerns list.
• Approved final action to amend 312 IAC 5-9-4 by adding the embayments respectively known as Campground Cove and Sailboat Cove as locations on Prairie Creek Reservoir where a person must not operate a boat at greater than idle speed.
• Approved final action to amend 312 IAC 5-6-5.6 by reducing the size of the Lake Manitou special boating zone.
• Approved final adoption to amend 312 IAC 5-6-11 to remove the expiration of the special boating zone on Simonton Lake in Elkhart County.
• Accepted DNR’s response to a citizen petition to not extend the no boating zone immediately downstream from the Twin Branch Dam on the St. Joseph River in Mishawaka.

More details on all actions taken by the NRC and supporting documents can be found at nrc.IN.gov/2354.htm.