Authority: IC 14-22-6-1; IC 14-22-11-1

Affected: IC 14-22; IC 29-1-1-3; IC 30-4-1-2

Sec. 1. (a) An owner or a lessee of farmland, and immediate family members that live with the owner or lessee, if exempted under IC 14-22-11-1, may:

1. (1) fish;
2. (2) hunt; or
3. (3) trap;

on the farmland without obtaining a license under this article.

(b) As used in this section, "owner" means an individual:

1. (1) listed on the tax assessment roll and whose name appears on the title to the property;
2. (2) who is a shareholder, partner, member, or owner of a business entity comprised solely of the members of an immediate family; or
3. (3) serving as a trustee and any named trust beneficiaries that are comprised solely of the members of an immediate family for trust property as defined in IC 30-4-1-2.

The term does not include an individual that is an heir to an estate as defined in IC 29-1-1-3.

(c) As used in this section, "lessee" means either:

1. (1) an individual to whom a lease is made for the farmland and who farms that land; or
2. (2) a business entity to which a lease is made for the farmland and whose shareholders, partners, members, or owners are comprised solely of the members of an immediate family who farm that land.

(d) As used in this section, "business entity" means the following:

1. (1) A corporation.
2. (2) A limited liability company.
3. (3) A partnership.
4. (4) Any legal entity organized for a profitable or charitable purpose.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 9-2-14; filed Jun 23, 2006, 2:24 p.m.: 20060719-IR-312050214FRA; readopted filed Nov 24, 2008, 11:08 a.m.: 20081210-IR-312080672RFA; filed Sep 13, 2013, 3:02 p.m.: 20131009-IR-312120670FRA; 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)