Hunting & Trapping Guide
The 2011-12 Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide is now in online format. You can pick up a smaller printed format at your local retailer or download the PDF from the link below. The Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide is a summary of Indiana hunting regulations. It is designed as a service to hunters and is not intended to be a complete digest of all hunting and trapping regulations. Most regulations are subject to change by administrative rule.
- 2011-12 Hunting & Trapping Guide (compact version in PDF format)
- 2011-2012 Turkey Hunting Guide (PDF, 1.96 megabytes)
- New! 2011-2012 Deer Hunting Guide
- New! 2011-2012 Upland and Small Game Guide
To view the online version, click on the links and icons below:
GENERAL HUNTING REGULATIONS | HUNTING SEASONS
CHECK STATIONS | RESERVED HUNTS
Hunting License Exemptions
You must have and carry a valid license and applicable state stamps to hunt any wild animal, with exceptions as follows:
- Residents or non-residents participating in a field trial sanctioned by the DNR director.
- Landowners, or lessees of farmland who farm that land and are residents of Indiana, their spouses and children living with them, while hunting, fishing or trapping on the land they own or lease. This exemption does not apply to land owned by a business, corporation or partnership unless the shareholders, partners, members or owners are comprised solely of the members of an immediate family and farm that land. Farmland means agricultural land that is devoted or best adaptable for the production of crops, fruits, timber or the raising of livestock, or is assessed as agricultural land for property tax purposes.
- The law does not exempt non-residents who lease land in Indiana. Non-resident lessees are still required to purchase non-resident hunting and trapping licenses.
- Residents of Indiana engaged in full-time military service and who are carrying their leave orders and a valid Indiana driver’s license or Indiana voter registration card.
- Non-resident military personnel on active duty and stationed within Indiana may hunt or fish with a resident license.
- An individual who is less than 13 years of age; does not possess a bow or firearm; and is accompanied by an individual who is at least 18 years of age and holds a valid license.
(For information regarding non-residents who own land in Indiana, click here License Regulations)
General Hunting Regulations
To reveal a section, click on a link below.
An individual of any age, resident or non-resident, can buy an apprentice hunting license without having to take a hunter education class. An individual can purchase up to three apprentice hunting licenses, of any combination, in his/her lifetime. While hunting, the apprentice hunter at all times must be in close proximity to and be able to communicate with a hunter who is at least 18 years old and has a valid hunting license (unless exempt from needing a hunting license). The individual who accompanies the apprentice hunter cannot accompany more than two apprentice hunters at one time while afield.
The apprentice resident youth consolidated hunting and trapping license includes the same licenses and stamps as the regular resident youth consolidated hunting and trapping license; it only exempts the license holder from needing to take a hunter education class. Landowners or lessees of farmland and their children living with them who meet the requirements for hunting license exemptions also are exempt from needing an apprentice hunting license.
It is illegal to possess, ship, carry or transport more than two times the daily bag limit of a wild animal after the beginning of the second day of the season established to take that animal. It is illegal to take more than the daily bag limit of a wild animal in a calendar day.
You must maintain possession of any wild animal taken while you are hunting or re turning to your vehicle after hunting, unless the animal is properly tagged. You cannot transport a wild animal for another person, which is in excess of your bag limit, unless the animal has a tag signed by the person who killed the animal. The tag must include the person’s address, total number and species of wild animals taken, and the date the wild animals were taken. When transporting pheasant, the head and head plumage of the bird must remain attached until processing.
Hunting and trapping regulations may vary on some state or federal properties. Please check with the property manager for up-to-date regulations before hunting or trapping on state or federal areas.
It is illegal to intentionally interfere with the legal taking of a game animal by another person on public land, or on private land without permission of the landowner.
In order to purchase a hunting license, anyone born after Dec. 31, 1986 must successfully complete a hunter education class offered by the DNR (See the Apprentice License exception). Hunters certified in another state or Canada can also present a card or certificate and purchase an Indiana hunting license.
The DNR hunter education program teaches hunter responsibility and ethics, wildlife conservation and management, firearm safety, wildlife identification, game care, survival and first aid. Hunter education is not just for children and not just for hunters. The program is for all Hoosiers who enjoy the outdoors and have an interest in conservation. The course can also be an excellent refresher for veteran hunters. The DNR offers hunter education courses in counties throughout the state. The program takes approximately 10 hours to complete. For information on classes in your area, visit the DNR Law Enforcement's website.
Animals and birds may not be hunted from, by, or with the aid of any motor-driven vehicle or boat, except:
- By authorized persons with a Persons with Disabilities Hunting Permit.
- To check traps that are lawfully set and maintained.
- To hunt waterfowl from a motorboat if the boat is beached, resting at anchor, tied to a stationary object, or otherwise without motion except as provided by wind, water current or hand-operated oars or paddles.
- To hunt any animal (except furbearers) from a motorboat, provided the boat is not under power derived from the motor.
It is illegal to hunt furbearers from any boat. It is illegal to ride an off-road vehicle with a loaded firearm (unless permitted with a valid concealed carry permit). If the individual does not have a valid concealed carry permit, the firearm must also be encased or made inoperative with a trigger lock.
No license is required to possess a rifle, shotgun or muzzleloading firearm (including muzzleloading handguns). Hunters are exempt from needing a handgun license under IC 35-47-2-1.
With a valid unlimited license to carry a handgun, or an exemption under IC 35-47-2-2, a hunter may carry a handgun during any hunting season except on a DNR reservoir owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or Falls of the Ohio State Park. Landowners may hunt with, or carry, a handgun on their own property without a handgun license.
Antlered deer: A deer with at least one antler that is at least three inches long
Antlerless deer: Any deer other than an antlered deer. Bag limit: The quantity of individual wild animals that may be taken in any one day of the specified season for a specified wild animal or during the entire season.
Baiting: Placing a food product in the field for consumption to attract wildlife to an area being hunted. Examples of baits include salt, mineral blocks, solid licks, grains, and liquids or powders spread on the ground for the purpose of being eaten by animals.
Furbearer: Indiana furbearing game animals include beaver, coyote, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, mink, muskrat, opossum, raccoon, red fox and skunk.
Game bird: Indiana game birds include ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, wild turkey and mourning dove.
Hunt: To take any wild animal except by trapping.
Motor driven conveyance: An automobile, truck, tractor, combine, wagon, bus, off-road vehicle, ATV, recreational vehicle, motorcycle, moped, dune buggy, go-cart, motorboat, airplane, or other motorized conveyance capable of transporting an individual.
Possession limit: Two times the daily bag limit or the bag limit for the entire season depending on the species.
Take: To pursue, shoot, kill, trap, capture, collect, catch, or otherwise take or attempt to take.
Laser sights are legal for all hunting.
When hunting for migratory game birds and waterfowl (i.e., doves, ducks, geese, woodcock, etc.), it is illegal to use a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler that is incapable of being removed without disassembling the gun. There are no restrictions on magazine capacity for hunting of any other species.
Non-resident hunters wishing to hunt wild turkey in Indiana must buy a non-resident turkey license and a Game Bird Habitat Stamp privilege. In addition, if Indiana residents are required to purchase another license in order to hunt turkeys in a non-resident’s state, the non-resident must purchase an annual nonresident hunting license in order to hunt turkeys in Indiana.
Federal regulations require non-toxic shot for all migratory waterfowl (ducks and geese).
State regulations require non-toxic shot statewide for hunting mourning doves, public or private land.
Deer Creek, Goose Pond, Kankakee (including Dick Blyth and Bittern Bog Wetland Conservation Areas), and Wabashiki Fish and Wildlife Areas require non-toxic shot for everything. ("Shot" refers to bird shot, not single shot projectiles, like slugs for deer hunting, or .22 bullets for squirrel hunting.)
The DNR issues permits to individuals with a disability that prevents them from taking wildlife under regular hunting regulations. The DNR may issue a special permit to an individual with a physical impairment resulting from an injury or disease, excluding impairment that is attributable to the normal aging process.
Special permits allow those who cannot walk or have serious walking limitations to hunt from a vehicle. On state and federal lands, permit holders must obtain permission in advance from a property manager to gain vehicle access to lands or roads that are otherwise closed to vehicular traffic. Those who have a disability that prevents them from using a regular bow may be issued a permit to use a crossbow or draw-loc.
Rules for use of a Persons with Disabilities Hunting Permit and application forms are available from the Division of Fish and Wildlife, 402 W. Washington St., W273, Indianapolis, IN 46204; (317) 232-4102 or at wildlife.IN.gov. To be considered for fall hunting seasons, applications must be received no later than Aug. 1.
Protected or regulated wild animals, live, dead, or the meat therefrom, cannot be sold, traded or bartered. (Exceptions: lawfully taken furbearers, squirrel tails, deer hides, antlers, hooves, and cured gamebird feathers may be sold).
It is illegal to hunt, shoot at or kill any animal or to shoot at any object from within, into, upon or across any public road. It is illegal to shoot across a body of water, except in the lawful pursuit of wildlife.
It is illegal to possess a silencer while hunting.
It is illegal to hunt, trap, chase or retrieve game on private land without the consent of the landowner or tenant. Always ask permission before entering private property. A sample private landowner permission form is provided.
It is illegal to kill or cripple any wild animal without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the animal to include in your daily bag limit. It is illegal, however, to enter private property without permission to retrieve downed game. Before hunting, individuals must make sure they have permission to track game on land adjoining their hunting area.
Youth free hunting days for 2011 are Sept. 3-4 and Nov. 26-27. Any resident age 17 or younger on the date of the hunt, and accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age, can take any legal game in season during these youth free hunting days. The youth hunter does not have to possess a hunting license, HIP number or any state stamp but must comply with all other hunting regulations. To hunt waterfowl, a Federal duck stamp is required for all persons 16 years or older.
The accompanying adult must be in close enough proximity to monitor and communicate with the youth hunter at all times and may assist the youth hunter, including calling, but may not carry a firearm or bow and arrow. The accompanying adult must possess a valid hunting license, unless exempted from needing a license.
The resident youth consolidated hunting and trapping license, for resident youth 17 and younger, covers the annual resident hunting and trapping licenses, turkey licenses, game bird habitat, Indiana migratory waterfowl, trout/salmon stamp privileges and all deer licenses. Non-resident youths 17 and younger may purchase the appropriate non-resident youth license: annual hunting, deer, turkey, or trapping. However, a non-resident under 18 years of age, who has a parent, grandparent or legal guardian who is a resident of Indiana, may purchase a resident youth consolidated license to hunt or trap in Indiana.
A Harvest Information Program (HIP) number is required to hunt migratory birds, except during the free youth hunting days. The federal migratory bird stamp is not covered by the youth licenses and is required for youth hunters age 16 and older. All youth hunting licenses are valid for the designated license year, even if the individual turns 18 during that year. In order to purchase a hunting license, anyone born after Dec. 31, 1986 must successfully complete a hunter education class offered by the DNR. See Apprentice Hunter exception.
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