Deer Hunting at Atterbury-Muscatatuck
White-tailed deer hunting has been an important recreational activity at Atterbury-Muscatatuck for decades. To ensure this resource continues to be available into the future, wise management of natural resources is required. At Camp Atterbury, Indiana (CAIN), this is conducted by the natural resources staff within the Directorate of Public Works(DPW), Division of Environmental Management(DEM). Population surveys and biological information are collected to provide indications of herd health used to develop deer harvest recommendations.
INNG has been collecting biometric data since 2012. We continue to improve the quantity and quality of the data. Continuous data collection increases the validity of our data and improves our ability to draw conclusions and make management decisions. Maintaining a sustainable deer population consisting of balanced sex ratio and age structure provides numerous ecological benefits and contributes to the hunter experience. A balanced population reduces competition for nutrients, which generally leads to better overall health of the individual deer and prevents excessive predation of plants/habitat.
Deer Management Mission
The primary goal of managing the deer herd is to produce a stable deer population that is balanced with the available resources so that the population is healthy. This information should be established from multiple sources, including deer surveys and harvest, as well as recommendations from the scientific literature and the most recent deer research. A secondary goal of deer management is hunter satisfaction. By producing a healthy deer population, harvest can be sustained at levels satisfactory to a majority of hunters at Atterbury-Muscatatuck.
Deer Managment Objectives
- Reach and maintain a deer density of 25 deer/mi²
- Reach and maintain a sex ratio of 1 buck: 2 does or better
- Reach and maintain a doe: fawn ratio - 1 doe: 1 fawn or better
- Reach and maintain an average buck harvest age of 3.5 years or greater
- Have 50 percent of fawn does reaching 70 pounds of live weight from November 1 to end of season
- Reach and maintain lactation rates of 30 percent for yearlings and 70 percent for adults
Meat Donation
Are you interested in hunting, but don't need/want the meat? Consider donating a harvested deer to help feed hungry Hoosiers. Several local processors work with programs like the Sportsmen's Benevolence Fund and Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry to provide free processing for donated deer. The donated meat is then given to local food pantries and hunger relief agencies.
Deer Harvest: 2023 Season
Adult Buck (≥ 1.5 Yrs): 115
Button Buck (0.5 Yrs): 18
Doe: 156
See the annual harvest by Hunt Zone: HERE
Archery Hunting
Archery hunting takes place at CAIN from October through mid-December. New to 2023, deer archery hunting will be available seven (7) days a week. Hunting hours will be from 0600hrs Sunday through end of legal shooting time on Saturday. Daily check-in is at 0600hrs each day. Hunters may harvest up to four (4) deer during the archery season. Only one (1) deer may be antlered for the combined archery and firearm seasons.
Public Archery Hunting
Members of the General Public can take part in a Public Archery Lottery from July through mid-September. A select number of chosen hunters will receive the ability to archery deer hunt on Camp Atterbury during any open hunting times in October. Information on how to enter the lottery system can be found on the Lottery Information page and at the bottom of the iSportsman Permits page.
Firearm Hunting
Atterbury-Muscatatuck does not observe a regular firearm season for deer hunting. All firearm deer hunts are done on the basis of special draws. Instructions on how to apply for each hunt can be found in the Atterbury-Muscatatuck Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping Guide. Many special draw firearm hunts will be utilizing the iSportsman lottery process in order to conduct the draws. Hunters wishing to participate in the hunt will need to acquire the lottery entry permit for the specific hunt. Once the lottery has closed, drawings will be made for the number of openings available for the hunt. Hunters that wish to hunt with another hunter MUST enter the lottery as a group to keep from having one member of the duo drawn but not the other. Information on how to enter the lottery system can be found on the Lottery Information page and at the bottom of the iSportsman Permits page.
Youth Firearms Hunt
Camp Atterbury hosts a youth firearms deer hunt in late September for hunters 17 years of age and under. Authorized hunters may sponsor a youth hunter for the hunt by completing the Youth Firearm Hunt application HERE. Sponsoring hunters are required to accompany the youth on the hunt and will hold the iSportsman permit for the youth hunter. The youth hunter will be checked in under the sponsor's accountwith name and birthdate the morning of the hunt. All youth hunters are required to have either a Hunter's Education Card or valid Apprentice License in order to be able to hunt. Youth hunters will have a bag limit of two (2) deer during the hunt with no more than one (1) being antlered. During the Youth Firearm Hunt, antler standards are not enforced, but all hunters are still encouraged to try and harvest only policy-compliant bucks.
Wounded Hero Firearms Hunt
Camp Atterbury hosts a wounded hero firearms deer hunt in late October for invited hunters. The hunt focuses on veterans that have been wounded in combat. The hunt requires all participants to go through an application process. To receive an application send an email to ng.in.inarng.mbx.hunting-program@army.mil titled “Wounded Hero Hunt”. All chosen hunters will be required to have an iSportsman account in his/her name, and acquire all applicable iSportsman permits. All hunters are required to have a Hunter's Education Card in order to be able to hunt. Wounded hero hunters will have a bag limit of two (2) deer during the hunt with no more than one (1) being antlered.
Indiana National Guard (INNG) Invitation Hunt
Every November, Atterbury-Muscatatuck hosts the INNG Invitation Hunt. This two day event will be conducted using our Zone format. Expect to be hunting in a hunt zone with a Zone Leader assisting and coordinating your zone's hunt concept. The first day of the event is dedicated to scouting and setup with a social gathering in the evening. The second day of the event is strictly devoted to hunting. This hunt brings together both military and civilian hunters for the event. Military participation is restricted to only persons who have received an official invitation. Members of the General Public may enter into the iSportsman INNG Public Lottery for a chance to participate in the event. A predetermined number of lottery winners will be selected to participate in the event. Those general public hunters wishing to hunt together with another person will need to enter the lottery together as a group. More information about iSportsman lotteries can be found on the Lottery Information Page and on the iSportsman Permits page.
During the INNG Invitation Hunt, hunters can expect to use Day One as a day for setup and scouting with a possible social event in the evening. Day Two will be an entire day of hunting until the end of legal shooting.
Reservation Firearm Hunt
The weekend after Thanksgiving, Atterbury-Muscatatuck hosts the Reservation Firearm Hunt. This two day firearm hunt will be conducted using our Zone format. Expect to be hunting in a group with a Zone Leader assisting and coordinating your zone's hunt concept. This hunt brings together both military and civilian hunters for the event. Hunters are chosen through an iSportsman lottery process. A predetermined number of lottery winners will be selected to participate in the event. Those hunters wishing to hunt together with another person will need to enter the lottery together as a group. More information about iSportsman lotteries can be found on the Lottery Information page and on the iSportsman Permits page.
CAIN Antler Standards
A key aspect of the INNG deer herd management strategy involves protecting younger age class antlered deer. A 4-point antler standard (4-point on one side) was implemented in 2012 to encourage the harvest of older age class antlered deer. In 2017 a 15-inch antler spread standard was added to limit “high grading” of young antlered deer by better protecting 2.5-year-old antlered deer that meet the 4 point on one side rule (young 8 and 10 point deer). 2018 was the first year standard consequences became formally enforced in accordance with this policy. In 2022 an 18-inch main beam length standard was added as an alternative to the 15-inch antler spread standard, and the 4-point antler standard was discontinued. The new standards allow hunters more flexibility in harvesting a mature buck that may not meet the 15-inch antler spread standard.
A “Spike” deer with antlers less than 3 inches are considered antlerless and are not subject to the antler standards; however hunters are strongly encouraged to not harvest any spike deer to aid with herd management goals. Additionally hunters are discouraged from harvesting fawn bucks, also known as “button bucks.” By protecting younger age class antlered deer and increasing antlerless deer harvest, we expect to improve our buck:doe ratio and overall herd health
Antler Standards support the following goals:
- Increase the buck-to-doe ratio to as close as 1:2 as possible.
- Diversify age structure so the average male deer harvested is 3.5 years old.
- Shorten duration of the primary rut to reduce stress on bucks.
- Condense fawning season to reduce effects of predation and reduce late season births.
- Increase opportunities to witness mature buck activity.
- Improve the quality of hunt.
What is Quality Deer Management (QDM)?
Quality Deer Management is a management strategy that produces healthy deer herds with balanced adult sex ratios and improved buck age structures. This approach typically involves the protection of young bucks combined with an adequate harvest of female deer to maintain a healthy population in balance with existing habitat conditions. Other key components of QDM include habitat management, hunter management, and record keeping.
Indiana Archer's Index
The Archer’s Index relies on volunteer archery hunters to report wildlife observations while they are afield in the fall. The hours archery hunters spend sitting quietly provide great opportunities to see a variety of wildlife. There are currently 14 species reported through the Archer’s Index, including birds like wild turkeys and pheasants, and mammals such as gray squirrels, cottontail rabbits, coyotes, bobcats, and white-tailed deer.
We encourage all archery hunters to participate in the Archer's Index. More information on the Archer's Index can be found HERE