Sec. 8. (a) This section applies to a hunting season beginning after June 30, 2016.

     (b) A hunter may use a rifle to hunt deer on privately owned land subject to the following:

(1) The use of a rifle is permitted during hunting seasons established by the department.

(2) The rifle must be chambered for a cartridge that fires a bullet that is two hundred forty-three thousandths (.243) of an inch in diameter or larger.

(3) The rifle must fire a cartridge that has a minimum case length of one and sixteen-hundredths (1.16) inches, but is no longer than three (3) inches.

(4) A hunter may not possess more than ten (10) cartridges for the rifle while hunting deer under this section.

(5) The rifle must meet any other requirements established by the department.

     (c) The use of a full metal jacketed bullet to hunt deer is unlawful.

     (d) The department shall report on the impact of the use of rifles to hunt deer under this section to the governor and, in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6, the general assembly before February 15, 2020.

     (e) The department may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to authorize the use of rifles on public property.

As added by P.L.110-2016, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.195-2017, SEC.7; P.L.39-2018, SEC.6; P.L.164-2020, SEC.53.