As promised, here is the (lengthy) reply from the DNR:
Jesse, the answer to your questions are a little bit lengthy. I have
posted the complete rule at the bottom of my response for your
reference.
1. The DNR Property rules do permit the holder of a valid "Unlimited
License" (Personal Protection Permit) to possess a handgun on a DNR
Property, except for a reservoir owned by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, or Falls of the Ohio State Park.
2. It is entirely possible that there are more restrictive rules apply
while utilizing the range itself, such as no loaded firearms on the
range area except while actually in a shooting position. This is a
common safety type concern, and could apply to your personal protection
firearm also, while you are present on the range area.
Below, is an excerpt from the DNR Property Regulations pertaining to
Firearms.
312 IAC 8-2-3 Firearms, hunting, and trapping
Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-11-2-1; IC 14-22-2-6
Affected: IC 14-22-11-1; IC 35-47-2
Sec. 3. (a) A person must not possess a firearm or bow and arrows on a
DNR property unless one (1) of the following
conditions apply:
(1) The firearm or bow and arrows are:
(A) unloaded and unnocked; and
(B) placed in a case or locked within a vehicle.
(2) The firearm or bow and arrows are possessed at, and of a type
designated for usage on:
(A) a rifle;
(B) a pistol;
(C) a shotgun; or
(D) an archery;
range.
(3) The firearm or bow and arrows are being used in the lawful pursuit
of either of the following:
(A) A wild animal on a DNR property authorized for that purpose.
(B) A groundhog as authorized under a license.
(4) The person possesses a handgun on a DNR property other than a
reservoir owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
or Falls of the Ohio State Park:
(A) with a valid unlimited license to carry a handgun:
(i) issued under IC 35-47-2-3; or
(ii) recognized under IC 35-47-2-21(b); or
(B) pursuant to an exemption to handgun licensure requirements as
authorized under IC 35-47-2-2.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(4), a firearm or bow
and arrows may not be possessed on DNR properties
within any of the following:
(1) A nature preserve unless hunting is authorized under subsection (c).
(2) A property administered by the division of state museums and
historic sites.
(3) A campground.
(4) A picnic area.
(5) A beach.
(6) A service area.
(7) A headquarters building.
(8) A hunter check station.
(9) A developed recreation site.
(c) A person may hunt on the following DNR properties:
(1) A state forest administered by the division of forestry, including a
portion of a state forest that is a nature preserve.
(2) A reservoir property administered by the division of state parks and
reservoirs.
(3) A wildlife area administered by the division of fish and wildlife,
including a portion of a wildlife area that is a nature
preserve.
(4) A nature preserve not otherwise approved for hunting under this
subsection if approved in a written authorization by the
director of the division of nature preserves.
(d) A person hunting on any of the areas described in subsection (c)
must do the following:
(1) Comply with all federal and state:
(A) hunting;
(B) trapping; and
(C) firearms;
laws.
(2) On a fish and wildlife area and a reservoir property, obtain a one
(1) day hunting permit and record from a checking station.
The person must:
(A) retain the permit and record card while in the field for the
authorized date; and
(B) as directed, return them to the department.
(3) Refrain from hunting on a nature preserve if prohibited by signage
posted at the site.
(e) Unless otherwise posted or designated on a property map, a person
must not place a trap except as authorized by a license
issued for a property by an authorized representative. This license is
in addition to the licensing requirement for traps set forth in IC
14-22-11-1.
(f) A person must not run dogs, except:
(1) during the lawful pursuit of wild animals; or
(2) as authorized by a license for field trials or in a designated
training area.
A property administered by the division of fish and wildlife may be
designated for training purposes without requiring a field trial
permit. Only dogs may be used during field trials on a DNR property,
except where authorized by a license on a fish and wildlife
property.
PUBLIC USE OF NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL AREAS
Indiana Administrative Code Page 5
(g) Unless otherwise designated, a person must not discharge a firearm
or bow and arrows within two hundred (200) feet of
any of the following:
(1) A campsite.
(2) A boat dock.
(3) A launching ramp.
(4) A picnic area.
(5) A bridge.
(h) A person must not leave a portable tree blind or duck blind
unattended except for the period authorized by 312 IAC 9-3-
2(l).
(i) The following terms apply to the use of shooting ranges:
(1) A person must not use a shooting range unless the person is:
(A) at least eighteen (18) years of age; or
(B) accompanied by a person who is at least eighteen (18) years of age.
(2) A person must:
(A) register with the department; and
(B) pay any applicable fees;
before using a shooting range.
(3) A person must shoot only at paper targets placed on target holders
provided by the department. All firing must be
downrange with reasonable care taken to assure any projectile is stopped
by the range backstop.
(4) Shot not larger than size 6 must be used on a shotgun range.
(5) A person must not:
(A) discharge a firearm using automatic fire;
(B) use tracer, armor-piercing, or incendiary rounds;
(C) play on, climb on, walk on, or shoot into or from the side berms; or
(D) shoot at clay pigeons, except on a site designated for shooting clay
pigeons.
Glass and other forms of breakable targets must not be used on a
shooting range.
(6) A person must dispose of the targets used by the person under
section 2(a) of this rule.
(7) Permission must be obtained from the department in advance for a
shooting event that involves any of the following:
(A) An entry fee.
(B) Competition for any of the following:
(i) Cash.
(ii) Awards.
(iii) Trophies.
(iv) Citations.
(v) Prizes.
(C) The exclusive use of the range or facilities.
(D) A portion of the event occurring between sunset and sunrise.
(8) On a field course, signs and markers must be staked. Trees must not
be marked or damaged.
(j) A person must not take a reptile or amphibian unless the person is
issued a scientific collector license under 312 IAC 9-10-6.
Exempted from this subsection are:
(1) turtles taken under 312 IAC 9-5-2; and
(2) frogs taken under 312 IAC 9-5-3;
from a DNR property where hunting or fishing is authorized. (Natural
Resources Commission; 312 IAC 8-2-3; filed Oct 28,
1998,3:32 p.m.: 22 IR 739, eff Jan 1, 1999; filed Nov 5, 1999, 10:14
a.m.: 23 IR 553, eff Jan 1, 2000; filed Jun 17, 2002, 4:13 p.m.:
25 IR 3714; filed Sep 19, 2003, 8:14 a.m.: 27 IR 456; readopted filed
Nov 17, 2004, 11:00 a.m.: 28 IR 1315; filed Sep 14, 2005, 2:45
p.m.: 29 IR 461, eff Jan 1, 2006; filed Jul 11, 2006, 9:04 a.m.:
20060802-IR-312060009FRA; filed Sep 6, 2007, 12:20 p.m.:
20071003-IR-312070023FRA; filed Mar 11, 2008, 9:34 a.m.:
20080409-IR-312070449FRA)
Capt. Michael Portteus
IDNR Law Enforcement
MPortteus@dnr.IN.gov
Jesse, the answer to your questions are a little bit lengthy. I have
posted the complete rule at the bottom of my response for your
reference.
1. The DNR Property rules do permit the holder of a valid "Unlimited
License" (Personal Protection Permit) to possess a handgun on a DNR
Property, except for a reservoir owned by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, or Falls of the Ohio State Park.
2. It is entirely possible that there are more restrictive rules apply
while utilizing the range itself, such as no loaded firearms on the
range area except while actually in a shooting position. This is a
common safety type concern, and could apply to your personal protection
firearm also, while you are present on the range area.
Below, is an excerpt from the DNR Property Regulations pertaining to
Firearms.
312 IAC 8-2-3 Firearms, hunting, and trapping
Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-11-2-1; IC 14-22-2-6
Affected: IC 14-22-11-1; IC 35-47-2
Sec. 3. (a) A person must not possess a firearm or bow and arrows on a
DNR property unless one (1) of the following
conditions apply:
(1) The firearm or bow and arrows are:
(A) unloaded and unnocked; and
(B) placed in a case or locked within a vehicle.
(2) The firearm or bow and arrows are possessed at, and of a type
designated for usage on:
(A) a rifle;
(B) a pistol;
(C) a shotgun; or
(D) an archery;
range.
(3) The firearm or bow and arrows are being used in the lawful pursuit
of either of the following:
(A) A wild animal on a DNR property authorized for that purpose.
(B) A groundhog as authorized under a license.
(4) The person possesses a handgun on a DNR property other than a
reservoir owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
or Falls of the Ohio State Park:
(A) with a valid unlimited license to carry a handgun:
(i) issued under IC 35-47-2-3; or
(ii) recognized under IC 35-47-2-21(b); or
(B) pursuant to an exemption to handgun licensure requirements as
authorized under IC 35-47-2-2.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(4), a firearm or bow
and arrows may not be possessed on DNR properties
within any of the following:
(1) A nature preserve unless hunting is authorized under subsection (c).
(2) A property administered by the division of state museums and
historic sites.
(3) A campground.
(4) A picnic area.
(5) A beach.
(6) A service area.
(7) A headquarters building.
(8) A hunter check station.
(9) A developed recreation site.
(c) A person may hunt on the following DNR properties:
(1) A state forest administered by the division of forestry, including a
portion of a state forest that is a nature preserve.
(2) A reservoir property administered by the division of state parks and
reservoirs.
(3) A wildlife area administered by the division of fish and wildlife,
including a portion of a wildlife area that is a nature
preserve.
(4) A nature preserve not otherwise approved for hunting under this
subsection if approved in a written authorization by the
director of the division of nature preserves.
(d) A person hunting on any of the areas described in subsection (c)
must do the following:
(1) Comply with all federal and state:
(A) hunting;
(B) trapping; and
(C) firearms;
laws.
(2) On a fish and wildlife area and a reservoir property, obtain a one
(1) day hunting permit and record from a checking station.
The person must:
(A) retain the permit and record card while in the field for the
authorized date; and
(B) as directed, return them to the department.
(3) Refrain from hunting on a nature preserve if prohibited by signage
posted at the site.
(e) Unless otherwise posted or designated on a property map, a person
must not place a trap except as authorized by a license
issued for a property by an authorized representative. This license is
in addition to the licensing requirement for traps set forth in IC
14-22-11-1.
(f) A person must not run dogs, except:
(1) during the lawful pursuit of wild animals; or
(2) as authorized by a license for field trials or in a designated
training area.
A property administered by the division of fish and wildlife may be
designated for training purposes without requiring a field trial
permit. Only dogs may be used during field trials on a DNR property,
except where authorized by a license on a fish and wildlife
property.
PUBLIC USE OF NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL AREAS
Indiana Administrative Code Page 5
(g) Unless otherwise designated, a person must not discharge a firearm
or bow and arrows within two hundred (200) feet of
any of the following:
(1) A campsite.
(2) A boat dock.
(3) A launching ramp.
(4) A picnic area.
(5) A bridge.
(h) A person must not leave a portable tree blind or duck blind
unattended except for the period authorized by 312 IAC 9-3-
2(l).
(i) The following terms apply to the use of shooting ranges:
(1) A person must not use a shooting range unless the person is:
(A) at least eighteen (18) years of age; or
(B) accompanied by a person who is at least eighteen (18) years of age.
(2) A person must:
(A) register with the department; and
(B) pay any applicable fees;
before using a shooting range.
(3) A person must shoot only at paper targets placed on target holders
provided by the department. All firing must be
downrange with reasonable care taken to assure any projectile is stopped
by the range backstop.
(4) Shot not larger than size 6 must be used on a shotgun range.
(5) A person must not:
(A) discharge a firearm using automatic fire;
(B) use tracer, armor-piercing, or incendiary rounds;
(C) play on, climb on, walk on, or shoot into or from the side berms; or
(D) shoot at clay pigeons, except on a site designated for shooting clay
pigeons.
Glass and other forms of breakable targets must not be used on a
shooting range.
(6) A person must dispose of the targets used by the person under
section 2(a) of this rule.
(7) Permission must be obtained from the department in advance for a
shooting event that involves any of the following:
(A) An entry fee.
(B) Competition for any of the following:
(i) Cash.
(ii) Awards.
(iii) Trophies.
(iv) Citations.
(v) Prizes.
(C) The exclusive use of the range or facilities.
(D) A portion of the event occurring between sunset and sunrise.
(8) On a field course, signs and markers must be staked. Trees must not
be marked or damaged.
(j) A person must not take a reptile or amphibian unless the person is
issued a scientific collector license under 312 IAC 9-10-6.
Exempted from this subsection are:
(1) turtles taken under 312 IAC 9-5-2; and
(2) frogs taken under 312 IAC 9-5-3;
from a DNR property where hunting or fishing is authorized. (Natural
Resources Commission; 312 IAC 8-2-3; filed Oct 28,
1998,3:32 p.m.: 22 IR 739, eff Jan 1, 1999; filed Nov 5, 1999, 10:14
a.m.: 23 IR 553, eff Jan 1, 2000; filed Jun 17, 2002, 4:13 p.m.:
25 IR 3714; filed Sep 19, 2003, 8:14 a.m.: 27 IR 456; readopted filed
Nov 17, 2004, 11:00 a.m.: 28 IR 1315; filed Sep 14, 2005, 2:45
p.m.: 29 IR 461, eff Jan 1, 2006; filed Jul 11, 2006, 9:04 a.m.:
20060802-IR-312060009FRA; filed Sep 6, 2007, 12:20 p.m.:
20071003-IR-312070023FRA; filed Mar 11, 2008, 9:34 a.m.:
20080409-IR-312070449FRA)
Capt. Michael Portteus
IDNR Law Enforcement
MPortteus@dnr.IN.gov
