First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
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SENATE ENROLLED ACT No. 280
AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning natural and cultural
resources.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
SECTION 1. IC 14-22-2-8, AS AMENDED BY P.L.164-2020,
SECTION 53, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 8. (a) This section applies to a hunting season
beginning after June 30, 2016. 2025.
(b) A hunter may use a rifle to hunt deer on privately owned land or
on public property 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 centerfire rifle cartridge
that fires a bullet that is at least two hundred forty-three
thousandths (.243) of an inch five and fifty-six hundredths
(5.56) of a millimeter 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) (3) A hunter may not possess more than ten (10) cartridges for
the rifle while hunting deer under this section.
(5) (4) Except as provided in subsection (d), 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
SEA 280 — Concur 2
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.
(d) The department may not adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 that
include centerfire rifle case length limitations for subsection (b).
(e) The department may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to authorize the
use of rifles on public property.
SEA 280 — Concur President of the Senate
President Pro Tempore
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Governor of the State of Indiana
Date: Time:
SEA 280 — Concur