Indiana Hunting Laws Licensing & Regulations

Hunting in Indiana

Indiana hunting focuses on popular game animals such as deer, squirrels, and turkeys. In addition, there are opportunities to hunt small and woodland game in the state. Raccoons, coyotes, and foxes are among Indiana’s predators and furbearers.

Furthermore, hunting is quite popular in Illinois because of the numerous programs available to hunters. The Hunters Helping Farmers Program, for example, connects hunters with private landowners who want to get rid of antlerless deer on their property. Hunters can apply to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for this program.

Regulations for Hunting in Indiana

Indiana hunting is strictly regulated, with restrictions and standards imposed on all hunters. Violations of Indiana hunting restrictions could result in serious consequences. As a result, hunters in the state are recommended to abide by all rules at all times.

The follow There are some of the most important hunting restrictions in Indiana:

Indiana’s Legal Hunting Hours

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources establishes hunting hours for the state’s numerous games and wildlife. Among them are the following:

Turkey Hunting Times

Turkey hunting hours are one hour and thirty minutes before sunrise and sunset. Hunters should be aware that turkey hunting hours vary by hunting land in the state.

Hours of deer hunting

Deer hunting hours are 1 hour and 30 minutes before sunrise and 1 hour and 30 minutes after dusk.

Hours of Waterfowl Hunting

These are the hours for hunting ducks and geese. It is one hour and thirty minutes before sunrise and one hour and thirty minutes after dusk. This may differ in different public hunting areas in Indiana.

In Indiana, there are no set hunting hours for small game. On some Indiana DNR hunting lands, there is an exception for rabbits.

In the state, there are no hunting or trapping hours for furbearers.

Regulations for Dead Wildlife in Indiana

A conservation officer, police enforcement officer, or any official of the Indiana DNR can give any individual permission to possess a dead game animal or wildlife located in Indiana after being hit by a motor vehicle.

A conservation officer or anybody designated by him or her can issue a possession permit for game animals that die for another reason.

Wildlife and game animals found dead for unexplained reasons, on the other hand, must be reported to the Indiana DNR.

Disturbing Wildlife Habitats

Any hunter in Indiana is prohibited from disturbing wildlife and game animals in their homes, which includes dens, burrows, burrow nests, and so on. Disturbance, as defined by these regulations, can be any of the following actions, but is not limited to:

Shooting
Pursuing
Digging
Cutting
Chipping
Chemical application
Using tobacco
Using fire
To drive out large wildlife, use ferrets or other small game.

Although the use of mechanical devices to disrupt games in their homes is likewise illegal, legitimately set traps are an exception. It is illegal to introduce other mechanical devices into game homes or wherever else they are protected.

It is also illegal to wear any gadget that facilitates the climbing of trees and poles. You may also not use tools such as axes and saws to extract game animals from their hiding places for safety concerns.

Regulations on Trespassing

Trespassing on private property when hunting, trapping, or chasing a game is illegal. Landowners and hunters who ask permission from landowners before hunting on their property are exempt.

Hunters must always get permission to hunt on private property, and Indiana provides private land permission-seeking forms on their website.

Hunting with drones

For at least two weeks before the hunting season of that specific game animal, Indiana prohibits the use of any unmanned aerial vehicle to identify, search, detect, and scout game animals in order to take the animals for hunting.

However, the use of drones for wildlife control, research, and agricultural production may be permitted in Indiana.

Unmanned aerial vehicles are defined as the following for the purposes of this regulation:

The vehicle has no actual human operator.
The vehicle is capable of flight by remote control or other automated programming methods.

While hunting, use a spotlight.

It is illegal in Indiana for hunters to utilize a spotlight or any other form of artificial light from a vehicle while carrying hunting weapons such as rifles and archery equipment.

Furthermore, using a spotlight, artificial light, or any other sort of searchlight to hunt, attempt to hunt, or aid in the hunting of game animals is prohibited. While fishing in Indiana waterbodies, fur-bearing species and other aquatic life, such as frogs and crayfish, are exempt from this rule.

However, the use of red dot sights for hunting is permitted in the state.

Using a Vehicle for Hunting

It is illegal in Indiana to chase or hunt animals and play bird games with any motorized vehicle, including motorboats.

This regulation is subject to exceptions for the following reasons:

Hunters with disabled hunting permits may harvest game from an immovable vehicle.
Vehicles are used to inspect legally set traps on hunting grounds.
the use of beached motorboats to take games such as waterfowl. This means that the motorboat must be stationary, immovable, or at anchor.

It is also illegal to operate an off-road vehicle while carrying loaded firearms. Exceptions are permitted if:

The firearms are legally owned.
The vehicle’s owner is on his or her own land.
The vehicle’s owner has permission from the landowner to possess firearms on private property.

Dressing requirements for hunters

When hunting certain game in Indiana, hunters are required to wear fluorescent orange clothing. One or more outer clothes, such as caps, overalls, coats, hats, jackets, and so on, should be orange. The state also allows for minor variations in the color requirement.

Wearing camouflage-patterned clothing, on the other hand, does not match these conditions. Some of the game seasons where hunters must wear orange clothing include:

Turkey
Pheasant
Deer
Quail
Rabbit
Squirrel

Hunting Licenses, Permits, and Tags in Indiana

Indiana issues a variety of licenses, stamps, permits, and tags to both residents and non-residents. License categories are often based on age, grade, and game type.

The following are Indiana licenses, permits, and tags:

Licenses for minors

The following are the state’s youth licenses:

Residents Youth Consolidated Hunting and Trapping License

This license is accessible to Indiana adolescent residents for hunting and trapping in the state. There is an apprentice option on the license. It will set you back $7.

Annual juvenile hunting license for non-residents

Non-resident minors who want to hunt in Indiana can get this license. It features a one-year validity period and an apprentice option. It is priced at $17.

Youth deer hunting license for non-residents

Non-residents may purchase this license just for deer hunting in Indiana. It is $25 with an apprentice option.

Bundle of non-resident deer licenses

Non-residents may purchase this license just for deer hunting in Indiana. It is $65, with an apprentice option.

Spring Turkey Hunting for Non-Resident Youth

This license is exclusively accessible to non-resident youths in Indiana for spring turkey hunting. It is $25 with an apprentice option.

Non-resident youth turkey hunting in the fall

This license is exclusively accessible to non-resident youths in Indiana for fall turkey hunting. It is $25 with an apprentice option.

Annual Youth Trapping of Non-Residents

Non-resident teenagers can use this license to set traps for game animals in Indiana. It features a one-year validity period and an apprentice option. It is priced at $17.

Turkey hunting permits

The following types of turkey hunting licenses are available in Indiana: :

Spring Turkey Hunting Permit

Holders of this license may hunt turkeys during the spring season. Residents and non-resident hunters can purchase it for $25 and $120, respectively. Options for apprentice hunters are available at the same price.

Licenses for Fall Turkey Hunting

Hunting Postage Stamps

Indiana hunting stamps include the following:

Stamp for Game Bird Habitat

Holders of this stamp will be able to take game birds in Indiana. It costs $6.75 for locals and $6.75 for non-residents. For apprentice hunters, there are no options.

Stamp of Waterfowl

Holders of this stamp will be able to take waterfowl in Indiana. It costs $6.75 for locals and $6.75 for non-residents. For apprentice hunters, there are no options.

Hunting and fishing licenses in Indiana

This category of permits allows holders to participate in Indiana hunting and fishing.

Annual Hunting and Fishing Permit

This license entitles the holder to hunt and fish in Indiana. It is exclusively open to state residents, has an apprentice option, and costs $25.

Disabled American veterans can get hunting and fishing licenses.

This license is exclusively available to Indiana citizens who are handicapped veterans. There is no apprentice option for this sort of license, and it comes in two types based on the validity period: yearly licenses and 10-year licenses. The annual license costs $2.75, while the 10-year license costs $27.5.

Small Game Hunting Permit

This category of licenses allows hunters to take small game in the state. Among them are the following:

Annual hunting permits

This license is valid for one year and includes the option of becoming an apprentice. It is offered to both locals and non-residents, with prices ranging from $17 to $80.

Five-Day Hunting Permit

Non-residents of Indiana are not eligible for this license. It is good for 5 days, offers an apprentice option, and costs $31.

Annual Trapping Permits

To trap wildlife and games in Indiana, you must first obtain a one-year state-valid trapping license. This license does not have any apprentice alternatives. It is open to both locals and non-residents for $17 and $140, respectively.

Licenses and tags for fishing in Indiana

In Indiana, the following fishing licenses, permits, and tags are available:

Annual Fishing Permit

This license allows holders to engage in Indiana fishing activities for one year. Residents and non-residents can purchase it for $17 and $35, respectively. For apprentices, there are no options.

One-Day Fishing Permit

This license is only good for one day. Holders will be able to catch fish, such as salmon and trout, within a 24-hour period. It costs $9 and is valid for both residents and non-residents. For apprentices, there are no options.

Seven-Day Fishing Permit

Non-residents who want to fish in Indiana can obtain a 7-day license. There are no possibilities for apprentices, and it costs $20.

Seniors’ Annual Fishing License

This license is exclusively accessible to senior residents of Indiana aged 65 and up. The license allows for the harvest of trout and salmon species and is good for one year. It costs $3, and there are no alternatives for apprentices.

Seniors can get a lifetime fishing license.

This license is exclusively accessible to senior residents of Indiana aged 65 and up. The license allows for the harvest of trout and salmon species and is valid for the life of the holder. There are no options for apprentices, and it costs $17.

Fishing Stamps for Trout and Salmon

Anyone wishing to catch salmon or trout in Indiana will need to obtain a special stamp. Exceptions are allowed for fishermen who already have licenses, allowing them to fish for salmon and trout for a set length of time. It costs $11 and is available to both residents and non-residents. For apprentices, there are no options.

Annual Hunting and Fishing Permit

This license permits the holder to participate in both hunting and fishing in Indiana. It is only available to inhabitants of the state and costs $25. There is also an Indiana apprentice hunting license available for the same price.

Hunting Season in Indiana

The type of animal and the weapons used to take the game determine Indiana’s hunting season.

Indiana’s shooting season for various wildlife in 2020–21 includes the following:

Deer season in Indiana

Hunting Season in Reduction Zones (15th September to 31st January)
Youth Hunting Season (September 26th to September 27th)
Archery Season (October 1st to January 3rd)
Firearms Season (November 14th to November 29th)
Muzzleloader Season (December 5th to December 20th)
Antlerless Season (December 16th to January 3rd)

The bag restrictions for deer hunting in Indiana differ depending Turkey hunting in Indiana As a result, hunters must research the deer limit for their specific Indiana hunting zone.

Turkey Season in Indiana

Fall Firearms Season (October 21st to November 1st)
Fall Archery Season (October 1st to November 1st and December 5th to January 3rd)
Spring General Hunting Season (April 21st to May 9th)
Spring Youth Season (April 17th to April 18th)

Small Game Hunting Season in Indiana

Hunting Season for Gray and Fox Squirrels (15th of August to 31st of January)
Pheasant Hunting Season (November 1st to November 15th)
Hunting Season for Quail (November 1st to January 10th)
Rabbit hunting season runs from November 1st to February 28th.
Crow Hunting Season (July 1st to August 15th and December 13th to March 1st)
Hunting Season for Green Frogs and Bullfrogs (15th of June to 30th of April)
Eastern Snapping Turtle Season (July 1st to March 31st)

Bag limits, special hunting seasons, and hunting standards, legislation, and regulations in Indiana depend on the game animals. Licensed hunters must learn everything they can about the specific game they are hunting.

Indian Game, Fishing, and Wildlife

The following games and fauna are available for hunting in Indiana:

Deer hunting in Indiana

Deer hunting in Indiana is possible due to the state’s numerous acres of land and woods. Indiana contains both national and state land regions where hunters can hunt deer in plenty. Deer are found in most counties’ forests and are extensively scattered throughout the state. Harrison Crawford Forest, on the other hand, is well-known for its deer shooting.

Indiana Turkey Hunting

Turkey hunting is permitted in all counties in Indiana. They are plentiful in the state. They become much more abundant in the spring, with as many as four turkeys found per square mile. Wild turkey harvests are more widespread in Indiana’s southern region. However, only a few counties in northern Indiana, including LA Porte, St. Joseph, Starke, and Marshall, contain a large population of wild turkeys.

Fox hunting in Indiana

Red foxes are the most frequent fox species in Indiana, and they prefer to live in the state’s scrublands and woodlands. They live in pastures, agricultural fields, forests, and brushlands. They are also at ease in both urban and suburban areas of the state. Fox hunting is permitted in all counties in Indiana.

Bobcat hunting in Indiana

Indiana is home to only one species of wildcat: the bobcat. Their population is higher in the state’s southern and central regions, although it is increasing in the northern region. They are intelligent and cautious since they blend in with their surroundings and are quiet animals.

Coyote hunting in Indiana

Coyote hunting in Indiana is mostly done in the winter, when they are most active. They are evenly distributed throughout the state, even in highly populated places like South Bend, Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne.

Hunting for Quail in Indiana

The Northern Bobwhite Quail, which is found in all eastern states, is the quail species associated with Indiana. They live in the state’s agricultural landscape.

Hunting for ducks in Indiana

Duck hunting in Indiana takes place in marshy areas far from human settlement. They can be found in the state’s wildlife refuges and live in shallow areas of bodies of water, such as ponds and lakes.

Raccoon hunting in Indiana

Raccoons can be found in every section of Indiana. They live in shallow areas of bodies of water, agricultural croplands, and woodlands. However, they are most common in the northeastern region of Indiana, particularly in glacial lakes. In addition, farmlands in the state’s central region are well-known for raccoon hunting in Indiana.

Hunting and shooting ranges in Indiana

The following are some of the shooting ranges open to the general public in Indiana:

Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Service
Crooked Creek Gun & Conservation Club
Pistol Range in Eagle Creek Park
Five Points Conservation Association
Five Points Conservation Association
Frontier Rifle Club
Izaak Walton at Glen Park
Fulton County Conservation Association
America’s Griffith Izaak Walton League
Izaak Walton at Glen Park
Shooting Sports on the Hill
The Indian Creek Shooting Range

Hunting Lands in Indiana for Sale and Lease

Indiana hunting lands for sale include the following:

164 acres in Covington, Indiana (Fountain County).
250 acres in Columbus, Indiana (Brown County).
8 acres in Montgomery, Indiana (Davies County).
95 acres in Campbellsburg, Indiana (Washington County).
400 acres in Shoals, Indiana (Martin County).
4.75 acres in Auburn, Indiana (DeKalb County).
126 acres in Cloverdale, Indiana (Owen County).

Indiana hunting lands for lease include the following:

10,000 acres of deer and turkey hunting land accessible in Medora, Indiana (Jackson County):
600 acres of high-fenced trophy whitetail hunting are available in Indiana (Whitley County).
40 acres of whitetail deer and turkey forests in Noble County
9-acre hunting and camping paradise near Indianapolis (Marion County)