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INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF STATE PARKS
2021 STATE PARK DEER MANAGEMENT HUNT INFORMATION SHEET
Whitewater Memorial State Park (765) 458-
THIS IS A FIREARMS ONLY HUNT
Please print a copy of this document for your reference. You are responsible for understanding all the following information.
Important Note
We appreciate your willingness to help manage the impact from deer browsing. For this management hunt to be effective, please harvest any deer that presents a safe and ethical shot (within established bag limits), especially those that are antlerless. Please make every effort to be present during the management hunt. The number of hunters allowed at each park is strategically calculated. Your absence affects how successfully we reach our objective of a balanced ecosystem. Our #1 concern during this hunt is safety. With this in mind, the following information and rules apply:
General: All IN DNR Property Rules and Indiana Hunting Regulations will be enforced. Hunters are permitted to harvest deer only. No other animals may be taken during the management hunt. Friends and family will not be permitted to wait for hunters on the property during the hunt periods.
Date & Time: The 2021 deer management hunts will be conducted on November 15 th^ & 16 th^ and on November 29 th^ & November 30 th. The park will be closed to the general public starting from 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m., CST) on the Sunday, November 14 th^ before the first hunt period through 8 a.m. EST ( a.m. CST) on Wednesday, November 17 th^ and 8 p.m. on Sunday, November 28 th^ before the second hunt period through 8 a.m. EST (7 a.m. CST) Wednesday, December 1st^ following the second hunt period. ALL HUNTERS WILL NEED A PHOTO ID TO ENTER AND EXIT THE PROPERTY.
Hunt Hours: Hunting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until 4:00 p.m. EST (3:00p.m. CST) on the days of the hunt. Hunters may enter the field no earlier than 5:30 a.m., and must check out at the gatehouse before 5:30 p.m.
Open House: No open house is planned. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the property by calling our Whitewater office by phone (765)458-5565, or stop in during office hours (8 a.m. - 4 p.m., 7 days a week.)
Hunter Sign-In: Hunters may sign in at the Whitewater front gate no earlier than 5:00 a.m. on the day of the hunt. A photo ID and hunting license will need to be shown to enter the property.
Bag Limit: During each hunt period for which you have been drawn you are allowed to take up to three deer, only one of which can be antlered. These deer do not count against your regular state deer hunting license or bag limit. Please do not pass on antlerless deer for deer with antlers.
Firearms: All firearms, which may be legally used to hunt deer on public land in Indiana (as seen in the 2021-2022 Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide) will be allowed. Archery equipment will NOT be permitted for these hunts, including the use of crossbows.
Check Station: All deer must be transported to the check station in the designated location on the property for biological data collection prior to leaving the property. You will be asked the sex of the deer and whether it is antlered or antlerless. Legal check-in is the responsibility of the hunter and is described below. Deer check-in will be held at the service area, which is the first left after the front gate. All check-ins must be completed by 5:00 p.m.
Deer Check-In: Hunters who successfully harvest a deer at state park deer management hunts must bring the deer to the designated location on the property for biological information to be recorded. The deer must have a temporary transportation tag completed and attached immediately upon harvest. Temporary transportation tags are provided below. The deer must also be checked-in through the online check-in system. Staff at parks are only keeping tallies of harvested deer, not checking them in. It is the hunter’s responsibility to complete the legal check-in.
Deer can be checked in 3 ways:
- Online CheckIN Game System: https://secure.in.gov/apps/dnr/portal/#/checkin/customer- information
- Traditional check stations: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and- wildlife/hunting-and-trapping/hunting-trapping-guide/hunting- check-stations/
- Phone-in option at 1-800-419-1326, however there will be a $ charge for this service (Visa or Mastercard only).
during the time you are hunting in the park. This gear should be worn at all times.
Lodging: The campground and cabins will be closed for reservations at the time of the management hunt.
Alcoholic Beverages: Absolutely NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES shall be possessed or consumed in the park or during the hunt.
Scouting: Pre-hunt scouting will be allowed and is encouraged. All normal park fees apply. Please contact the property office to let them know that you will be scouting off-trail.
Safety Zones: Safety zones have been established and you may not enter these areas except to retrieve a deer. Loaded firearms are not permitted in safety zones, buildings, or service areas. Do not shoot toward the safety zones if you are hunting near the boundaries. Shooting is not permitted into or across roadways, into or across waterways, towards permanent manmade structures, or into or across private property. If a deer needs to be retrieved from a safety zone, please contact DNR personnel before entering the safety zone.
Park Boundaries: There are no definitive markings for Whitewater Memorial State Park boundaries or private property – Fence and crop fields are the most notable boundaries. It is the responsibility of each hunter to know these boundaries and to safely confine all hunting activities to these prescribed areas. Public scrutiny demands you act as responsible hunters. Respect the property of adjacent landowners.
Field Dressing: Please do not field dress deer in any mowed or public area; field dress at least 50 feet from any road or trail and cover the entrails with leaf litter. Field dressing should occur out of sight from trails, roads, and off property residences. All items and equipment used to dress a harvested deer must be removed by the hunter upon departure.
Retrieval: You are responsible to retrieve your deer from the field. All deer must be brought to the check station prior to leaving the park. Never leave a wounded deer down inside the property. DO NOT leave the property and trespass on private property in an attempt to retrieve a downed deer. Contact the check station, park personnel, or Law Enforcement personnel immediately. The property will not retrieve a deer for you.
Assigned Unit: There are no assigned hunting units for these management hunts. You may hunt anywhere, except safety zones.
Meat Handling: You must take possession of all deer you harvest. All hunters will be responsible for the processing of their own meat. No harvested deer should be left at the park. Please plan in advance for donating your deer to charity or a foodbank if your freezer is full by the time of the hunt. It is up to you to pay all processing costs. When leaving the property with harvested deer, please cover them with a tarp or other suitable material.
Hunter Image: Please leave a positive image of deer hunters for other park users by removing any trash at the conclusion of your hunt, picking up all spent shells and casings, and covering any harvested deer while leaving the property. As a general rule, please take out anything you bring into the park. Please practice “leave no trace” ethics to ensure a clean and high quality park.
Parking: You may park only in designated areas. Do not park in front of gated roadways or access roads.
Other Information: If a boat is intended to be used to access your area, no power boat motors are allowed to be used – trolling motors only.
TAKING OF ANTLERED & ANTLERLESS DEER
Please keep in mind the purpose of your deer hunting opportunity on Division of State Parks properties is to manage the deer herd in order to prevent overbrowsing and the resulting damage to the properties’ vegetation.
Our primary goal is to take does since they have the largest long-term impact on a population. However, we recognize that antlered deer also directly contribute to the grazing impacts on the properties and appreciate your help with their removal. We are concerned that some hunters may be passing up antlerless deer and deer with small antlers. Those hunters who pass on opportunities to remove deer with no or small antlers are actually hurting our ability to reduce the overbrowsing problem. Whenever you have an opportunity to safely make an accurate, well-placed shot, please help us by taking that deer, regardless of the antler size.
We may also have hunters passing up deer because they have filled their freezer. While we do not want deer to be taken that will be wasted, if you do not need the meat from the 2nd or 3rd deer, please consider trying to locate someone prior to our deer management hunt who needs additional deer meat.
Thank you for your help in this important effort.
