For more information, contact the District 10 office at (317) 591-0904.

The Indianapolis Convention and Visitor's Association can be reached at (800) 958-4639 for assistance in locating lodging and maps, or visit their Web site at www.indygov.org/home.htm.

FT. WAYNE URBAN DEER ZONE
"The Fort Wayne Urban Deer Zone lies within the boundaries of interstates 69 and 469, which run around the city," biologist Hoey said.

About half the zone is within the Ft. Wayne city limits. In the northern half, a whole lot of hunting occurs where there are some farmlands, the St. Mary's and Wabash rivers and wooded areas off the rivers.

"The suburbs being developed have had deer problems because the rivers make an excellent corridor into the area. The urban area was developed because of the number of complaints that were coming in, particularly in the winter months when the deer would come in and eat the yews and shrubbery," Hoey said.

White-tailed deer seem to have adapted well to the presence of urban sprawl in the Ft. Wayne area, and without hunting pressure have the tendency to multiply out of control.

Businesses have not been immune to the overpopulated whitetail herd any more than the housing developments and area farmers.

"There are a lot of deer coming in on the General Motors plant," Hoey said. "GM even had a deer running up and down the assembly line."

Needless to say, hunters have responded and hunt the area within the urban zone heavily, with a lot of deer being taken every year. In 2003, over 1,200 deer were harvested in Allen County, and of those, 592 were antlered.

Are big bucks possible in a crowded area like this one? Absolutely!

"There are more and more archers getting into hunting and a lot more hunters want to hunt bigger and bigger bucks," Hoey said.

"That's why the rule came along that only one buck statewide could be taken by a hunter every year. This gives the 1 1/2-year-old bucks a chance to get larger."

Good nutrition and the chance to reach 2 1/2 to 3 years old are the necessary ingredients to bragging-sized racks; hunting areas where deer are sheltered from hunting pressure are the best places to find them.

Archery hunters have found surprisingly good hunting in areas that were previously closed to hunting. According to Hoey, archers can do well right outside of the county's many subdivisions.

The Ft. Wayne Urban Deer Zone covers the portion of Allen County lying within the bounds of interstates 69 and 469.

For additional information, contact the District 8 office at (260) 468-2165.

The Fort Wayne/Allen County Convention and Visitor's Bureau can be reached at (800) 767-7752. Their Web address is www.visitfortwayne.com.

GARY URBAN DEER ZONE
"There are some pretty good archery hunting opportunities," said Bob Porch, wildlife biologist with District 6.

"The urban deer zone is pretty much north of U.S. Route 30 and the Crown Point area. The southern part of Lake County has a lot of good farm ground along the Kankakee River, while the northern half is pretty bleak. The northern section has pockets of good habitat, but it's getting squeezed out and is pretty much built up with lots of subdivisions coming in."

The Gary area isn't known for its wilderness, but there are a surprising number of deer here. According to Porch, over 1,000 deer were reportedly taken in Lake County in 2004. Of these, 574 were bucks.