Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-22-2-6

Affected: IC 14-22-20; IC 14-22-31

Sec. 16. (a) A person may take northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) or ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) that have been raised in captivity for the purpose of training dogs only pursuant to a permit issued under this section.

(b) An application for a dog training ground permit must be completed on a department form and filed with the division. A person must demonstrate the applicant owns or controls a contiguous tract of land of at least five (5) and not more than twenty (20) acres to be used as the dog training ground.

(c) A permit shall not be issued under this section for land located within one (1) mile of a state-owned or state-controlled public hunting area.

(d) Only one (1) dog training ground may be licensed by the department on a contiguous tract of land.

(e) A person issued a permit under this section shall mark the entire boundary of the land permitted as a dog training ground with signs:

1. (1) at least sixteen (16) inches wide and sixteen (16) inches long;
2. (2) having a white background;
3. (3) stating "dog training ground" in one (1) inch high lettering; and
4. (4) placed not more than five hundred (500) feet apart.

(f) A person issued a permit under this section shall:

1. (1) band the northern bobwhite quail or ring-necked pheasants with a standard metal or plastic leg band before release on the dog training ground;

2. (2) have in possession a:

   1. (A) bill of sale for the game birds released for training; or
   2. (B) copy of the person's game breeder license; and

3. (3) maintain a daily record of the training activities on the dog training ground that includes the:

   1. (A) name and address of each trainer using the ground;
   2. (B) number and species of birds released; and
   3. (C) number and species of birds taken.

(g) A person must not take bobwhite quail or ring-necked pheasants under this section except between sunrise and sunset.

(h) A person issued a permit under this section shall not sell or possess a bobwhite quail or ring-necked pheasant in captivity for more than five (5) days unless the person possesses a valid game breeder license under IC 14-22-20 and section 4 of this rule.

(i) The dog training ground cannot be used for any of the following:

1. (1) A field trial, unless a permit is held under section 7 of this rule.
2. (2) A shooting preserve, unless a license is held under IC 14-22-31.
3. (3) The purpose of possessing or breeding game birds for release unless the person is licensed under IC 14-22-20 and section 4 of this rule.

(j) A permit issued under this section expires December 31 of the year in which the permit was issued.

(k) A conservation officer may enter the premises of the permit holder at all reasonable hours to inspect those premises and any records relative to the permit.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 9-10-16; filed May 12, 1997, 10:00 a.m.: 20 IR 2736; readopted filed Jul 28, 2003, 12:00 p.m.: 27 IR 286; filed Apr 1, 2008, 10:28 a.m.: 20080430-IR-312070735FRA; readopted filed Nov 24, 2008, 11:08 a.m.: 20081210-IR-312080672RFA; filed Jul 6, 2010, 1:55 p.m.: 20100804-IR-312090616FRA; readopted filed May 20, 2014, 9:43 a.m.: 20140618-IR-312140017RFA; readopted filed Sep 18, 2019, 1:16 p.m.: 20191016-IR-312190325RFA; readopted filed Mar 25, 2025, 9:50 a.m.: 20250423-IR-312240574RFA)