The Indiana Natural Resources Commission will host two hearings in June to seek public comment on proposed changes to a number of fish and wildlife rules.

The hearings will be Monday, June 10, at Mounds State Park in Anderson and Thursday, June 13, at Spring Mill Inn in Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell. Both hearings will start at 6 p.m. EDT.

Proposed rule changes for discussion include:

– Requiring hunter orange on ground blinds used during the day when hunting any species for which the hunter is required to wear hunter orange.

– Allowing the use of the draw-loc device when deer hunting.

– Adding a new primitive muzzleloader season.

– Adding 15 days to the deer archery season without crossbows.

The complete list is at dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/2362.htm.

Those who are unable to attend the hearings can view the proposed new rule language and submit comments online at nrc.IN.gov/2377.htm. Look for the rule package titled “Fish and Wildlife Miscellaneous Rule Amendments.”

Comments can also be mailed to:

Natural Resources Commission
Indiana Government Center North
100 North Senate Ave., Room N501
Indianapolis, IN 46204

All comments must be submitted by Thursday, June 13. All comments sent to the NRC will be provided to commission members and Department of Natural Resources staff, and will be publicly disclosed and searchable on the Internet and in a paper docket as part of the final report.

The final report is expected to be presented to the NRC to request final adoption of the rule changes at its meeting on July 16.