Orange On Deer Blinds...

[BOBinIN]

I know there is a new regulation regarding 144 Sq. Inches of orange on deer blinds...but does that apply during bow season as well as gun season?

Also, does that apply to a "natural blind" constructed from limbs, grass, corn stalks, etc.? Thanks, BOBinIN

[morrison]

As you read through the statutes and rules that I posted below, you will find that a ground blind is any structure within four feet of the ground that is used to conceal a hunter. The hunter orange is required during Archery Season when it overlaps the designated seasons listed below that require hunter orange.

If you need further information, let me know.


312 IAC 9-1-7.6 "Ground blind" defined
Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-22-2-6
Affected: IC 14-22
Sec. 7.6. "Ground blind" means a structure or visual screen of any type that is located on or within four (4) feet of the ground that includes manmade or synthetic materials and results in concealing a hunter so that the hunter orange worn by the hunter may not be visible from one (1) or more directions.

312 IAC 9-3-2 General requirements and licenses for hunting deer
(t) A ground blind that is:
(1) Occupied must contain a minimum of one hundred forty-four (144) square inches of material on each side that is solid hunter orange and is visible from any direction during:
(A) a season set forth in section 4(b), 4(e), 4(f), and 4(h) of this rule; and
(B) that portion of the archery season set forth in section 4(c) of this rule that overlaps a season set forth in section 4(e), 4(f), and 4(h) of this rule.
(2) Left unoccupied on department property must visibly bear the name and address of the owner written in the English language in a conspicuous location on the outside of the blind near the entrance.

312 IAC 9-3-4 Season dates and bag limits
Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-22-2-6
Affected: IC 14-22
Sec. 4.
(b) The special youth deer season is two (2) consecutive days beginning on the Saturday immediately before October 1 or as approved annually by the director.
(c) The archery deer season is from October 1 through the first Sunday in January. An individual must take not more than two (2) deer of which only one (1) may be antlered under this subsection.
(e) The firearms deer season is from the first Saturday after November 11 and continues for an additional fifteen (15) days. An individual must take not more than one (1) antlered deer under this subsection.
(f) The deer hunting season for only using a muzzleloading long gun or muzzleloading handgun is from the first Saturday after the closing day of firearms season as established in subsection (e) and continues for an additional fifteen (15) days. An individual must not take more than one (1) deer of either sex under this subsection.
(h) The special antlerless deer season is from December 26 through the first Sunday in January of the following year in counties with an antlerless quota of four (4) or more deer. An individual may take only antlerless deer under this subsection and may take only the number established under subsection (g) for the county being hunted.

[morrison]

Upon further review, in order to be considered a ground blind, the structure must have some type of manmade or synthetic material. a tree limb is not manmade whereas a 2X4 would be manmade.