EHD Antlerless Bonus Quota Reductions

County bonus antlerless quotas reduced for 2024-2025

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is a common disease in the Indiana deer herd, and every year, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) receives reports of EHD throughout the state via our online reporting system at on.IN.gov/sickwildlife. DNR monitors the locations and numbers of sick and dead deer reports to evaluate the effect of EHD. In many cases, EHD only affects a small area within a county, often along a creek or stream. In some years, however, EHD can affect a larger-than-normal portion of the deer and becomes widespread across a county. In those instances, the DNR lowers the County Bonus Antlerless Quotas (CBAQ) in the impacted counties to offset the effect of the counties’ EHD outbreak.

As of Sept. 11, 2024, a significant EHD event is affecting Allen, Porter, and Wabash Counties. While this outbreak is severe, DNR expects it to be less impactful than the 2022 outbreak in Franklin, Fayette, and surrounding counties in southern Indiana. Therefore, DNR has lowered the CBAQs in Allen, Porter, and Wabash counties from a 2 to a 1. This reduction does not affect the deer reduction zones in Allen and Porter counties.

In mid-July and Aug., the Deer and Wildlife Health programs began mapping and evaluating the effects of EHD based on public reports, looking for counties where 10-15% of the estimated deer population was being affected by EHD. By Sept. 1, we found that the most heavily affected counties were Porter, Allen, and Wabash. Other counties such as Huntington, Miami, Steuben, Pike, and Warrick were evaluated; however, by the start of September, only Porter, Allen, and Wabash had hit the threshold for reducing the county quotas for this current year. If reports and effects of EHD continue to rise in these counties or others around the state, they will be considered when DNR provides recommendations for the 2025-2026 bag limits.

When evaluating the public reports, we consider the number of reports filed, the number of residents who live in that area (potential reporters), and other experience with EHD in Indiana to give biologists and administrators an estimate of the effect of the EHD event. During the winter, biologists will measure how EHD has affected the deer herd by estimating the decline in deer population densities using aerial flights and or game cameras in the affected areas.

For context, the Deer and Wildlife Health programs compare current events to the outbreak from Franklin County in 2022. During that year, Franklin County received 345 reports from the public. Because the reporting system is based upon public reporting, we also have to account for the number of potential reporters. Franklin County has 23,028 (2022 estimate) residents resulting in an average of about 15 reports per 1,000 residents. We measured a 70% reduction in the deer population post-harvest from both hunter harvest and EHD with approximately 60% of that change attributable to EHD. Deer population can withstand an annual mortality of 35-40% without an annual decline in the deer population. Therefore, when biologists estimate the total mortality from EHD, deer vehicle collisions, and harvest potentially affecting more than 40% in areas where the goal is to maintain the deer population at the current level, DNR will take actions to reduce the deer harvest. In areas where the goal is to reduce localized deer population (i.e., deer reduction zones), action is not generally taken until the total mortality is above 50%.

Allen County – As of Sept. 11, 2024, we have received 103 reports of sick and dead deer. Allen County has 391,449 residents (2022 estimate) resulting in 0.26 reports per 1,000 residents. The majority of reports have been within the city limits of Allen County. However, the reports coming from the surrounding rural area have been increasing. Based on the adjusted reports and the current pattern of reporting, we expect the effect due to EHD to be a reduction of 10 to 20% with most of that reduction being in the Fort Wayne area.

Porter County – As of Sept. 11, 2024, we have received 279 reports of sick and dead deer. Porter County has 174,791 (2022 estimate) residents resulting in 1.59 reports per 1,000 residents. While the total number of reports is approaching the number of reports from Franklin County, the number of potential reporters is significantly higher than more rural counties. When adjusting for the number of potential reporters, we expect the biological effect to be much less that the effect seen in Franklin County in 2022. Based on the pattern of reporting, we expect the mortality due to EHD to be 20 to 30% with most of that mortality between US highways 20 and 30.

Wabash County – As of Sept. 11, 2024, we have received 122 reports of sick and dead deer. Wabash County has 30,828 (2022 estimate) residents resulting in 3.96 reports per 1,000 residents. While the mortality in the area will be significant, we expect the overall mortality related to EHD to be between 20-30%.

Joe N. Caudell, Ph.D.
State Deer Project Leader