The Indiana Natural Resources Commission has given its preliminary approval to a package of proposed changes to deer-hunting rules in Indiana.

In a statement, the state's department of natural resources said key points of the proposal include:

• Changing the deer firearms season to nine days, beginning the Saturday before Thanksgiving
• Adding a two-day antlerless-only firearms season in October in counties that have a bonus antlerless quota of four or more
• Adding a statewide antlerless-only firearms season from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1
• Shortening the muzzleloader season to nine days
• Extending the urban zone season through Jan. 31
• Allowing the use of crossbows during archery season by hunters 64 years old or older
• Allowing the use of crossbows by hunters of any age during firearms season
• Allowing a hunter of any age to use a crossbow in an urban deer zone during the urban deer season
• Requiring hunters to take at least one antlerless deer prior to taking an antlered deer in an urban deer zone

The statement said further changes would add a new nonresident youth deer license, add license requirements for the new special antlerless seasons, add requirements to the use of ground blinds, allow a rifle cartridge to have a maximum case length of 1.8 inches instead of 1.625 inches, and require youth hunters to wear hunter orange during the youth special season.

A complete summary of the proposed changes is at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2362.htm

Comments on the proposal may be submitted online at www.IN.gov/nrc; by mail to Division of Hearings, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Ave., Indianapolis, IN, 46204; or at public hearings. Dates and locations for hearings are to be announced at a later date.

After the public input process is complete, the commission will consider final adoption of the rule package, the statement said.