Indiana Welcomes Deer Season!
Are you interested in learning about deer hunting in Indiana or are you looking for information on the health of the white-tailed deer herd in the state? This newsletter provides general information for those planning to hunt this fall and an update on how Indiana DNR is managing for a healthy white-tailed deer population. You will find the information divided into three sections: Deer Herd Management; Licenses, Rules, and Regulations; and Tips for Preparing for a Successful and Safe Season.
Photo Credit: Rob Seilheimer
Deer Herd Management
Indiana DNR is committed to monitoring and managing the health of the white-tailed deer population in the state. This includes understanding potential diseases and creating opportunities for people to participate in volunteer monitoring.
COVID-19 in Deer
Studies by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have confirmed that white-tailed deer are susceptible to the virus and have been exposed to it in several states. Similar studies have not been conducted in Indiana, but we would expect exposure to COVID-19 in Indiana’s deer to be similar to what researchers have found in other states. DNR will review the study’s findings once it is published. Based on our preliminary understanding, we see no immediate need to adjust deer management or hunting practices. View the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies website for more information.
 Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Surveillance
Indiana DNR is conducting targeted surveillance for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in six counties around the state: Steuben, Allen, Clinton, Boone, Washington, and Clark. Hunters may voluntarily submit samples for testing at select Fish & Wildlife areas (FWAs), state fish hatcheries (SFHs), and national wildlife refuges (NWRs) throughout the hunting season. Deer heads can be dropped into designated coolers at select FWAs, SFHs, NWRs, or hunters can make an appointment for their harvested deer to be sampled by a biologist during office hours. The 2021-22 sampling locations and their hours of operation are listed on the website.
Hunters interested in testing a deer for CWD that was harvested outside the CWD surveillance areas may take their deer to select FWAs, SFHs, or NWRs as well. Alternatively, for a fee, hunters may independently submit their deer to the Purdue Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab (ADDL) for testing. To do so, complete Purdue ADDL's submission form and follow the shipping instructions.
Hunters who submit a deer for CWD testing through DNR will receive a metal tag reminiscent of Indiana’s historical deer harvest confirmation process.
Sick or Dead Animal Reporting Form
People may report sick or dead deer online to Indiana DNR through the Sick or Dead Wildlife Report. These reports are sent directly to an Indiana DNR biologist who evaluates the report and arranges to sample the animal, if necessary. Not all reports generate an immediate response. Reports are used to monitor wildlife health over time, detect outbreak events (such as the most recent Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease outbreak in 2019), and identify areas for disease surveillance.
Photo Credit: Brandon Mescall
After Hunt Survey – Share Your Experience
The After Hunt Survey was created in 2017 to collect biological information on harvested deer and to evaluate hunters’ experiences. The survey will be available again for the 2021-2022 deer season. Any successful hunter may complete the online survey immediately after checking in their deer online or at a later date. Greater participation in this survey is needed for managing deer at the county level.
Deer Management Survey
The Deer Management Survey will be available again this year for any hunter or non-hunter who has an Indiana DNR account with a valid email address. This survey allows Indiana DNR to collect information about human and deer demographics, public opinions on deer management, and deer trends for individual counties to incorporate into deer management decisions. The 2021 Deer Management Survey will be emailed in early 2022. If you would like to receive a survey, please make sure your email address is current or create an account.
 Annual Deer Report Release
The 2020 Indiana White-tailed Deer Report will be available online by Oct. 8. In addition to summaries on harvest and disease surveillance, the report evaluates public opinion and harvest effects of the special antlerless firearms season and discusses the results of a regional CWD risk assessment conducted for the Midwest.
Introducing Indiana’s Deer Biologist
We are excited to announce that Joe Caudell, Ph.D., is returning to his role as deer biologist for Indiana DNR. Joe brings decades of experience in wildlife conservation to this position. Over the past five years, DNR has worked to have a more open and inclusive deer management process in Indiana by encouraging yearly input on the deer program in regular surveys, improving the annual deer reports, sharing data about the deer populations from each county, and making new deer data tools available online. Joe will continue to work toward the goal of having a transparent deer program in Indiana.
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 Licenses, Rules, and Regulations
There are several rules and regulations that hunters need to be aware of before venturing out for a hunt. These rules are designed to keep the public safe and to manage for a healthy wildlife population. Pick up the Hunting & Trapping Guide from a license retailer or DNR property or see an online version of the guide for a full list of regulations. If you plan to hunt at a Fish & Wildlife area or other public land, contact the property office with questions and property-specific rules. Questions about deer seasons and regulations can be directed to the Deer Hotline at INDeerHotline@dnr.IN.gov anytime or 812-334-3795, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
 How can I get a license?
There are a few options to purchase your deer license. You can purchase a license from participating retailers or most DNR properties. You can also get a license online through Access Indiana, the same system Hoosiers use to access many other state services. If you haven’t logged into Access Indiana for a while, or you’re new to the online system, we recommend signing in early to avoid last-minute technical issues.
What license do I need?
The license or licenses you choose should align with the seasons you will be hunting and the equipment you will be using. Only one antlered deer per hunter may be taken during the youth, archery, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons combined. Let’s go over a few of the more common options:
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Archery and crossbow license: The archery license and crossbow license allow you to hunt from Oct. 1, 2021 – Jan. 2, 2022. With either license, you can harvest up to two antlerless deer or one antlered deer and one antlerless deer per season. Only one deer can be harvested per license, but you may fill two archery or crossbow licenses in a season.
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Firearms license: This license allows hunters to use legal firearms, including rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and even some handguns from Nov. 13, 2021 – Nov. 28, 2021. Air rifles and airbows can also be used with a firearms license during firearms season. With this license, you can harvest one antlered deer.
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Muzzleloader license: From Dec. 4, 2021 – Dec. 19, 2021, individuals may use the muzzleloader license to harvest one antlered deer or one antlerless deer with a muzzleloading rifle or handgun.
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Deer license bundle: This is a very popular choice for those who want to hunt across multiple seasons or want to harvest multiple deer no matter the season. This license allows an individual to harvest as many as three deer – one antlered and two antlerless, or three antlerless. The deer license bundle is also applicable across archery/crossbow, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons. If you are an Indiana resident, for just $65, you may hunt multiple seasons for multiple deer.
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Bonus antlerless license: A bonus antlerless license allows you to harvest one antlerless deer per license. Each county in Indiana is assigned a “bonus antlerless quota.” You can harvest up to each county’s quota with a bonus antlerless license. This is in addition to the allowed harvest for regular-season licenses. Visit the bonus antlerless quota webpage for more details, including appropriate use of deer license bundle with bonus antlerless quotas.
View a full list of seasons, licenses, and equipment. Please be aware that the special antlerless firearms season is closed for 2021-22.
For additional license information, legal hunting hours, hunter orange requirements, and tree stand information, see the Deer Regulations section of the Hunting & Trapping Guide.
Do I need Hunter Education in Indiana?
If you were born after Dec. 31, 1986, you must be certified in Hunter Education before you can purchase a hunting license. You can get this certification for FREE by attending an in-person course. You can also register and take the online option for $19.95.
Photo Credit: Jameson Hibbs
What do I need to do after I harvest a deer?
Tag Your Harvested Deer: As soon as you kill a deer, you need to fill out a temporary Deer Transportation Tag. This includes your name, address, license number, and some deer harvest information. Indiana DNR provides a template for these tags, which can be printed. If you leave sight of the deer at any time, you must attach the tag to the deer – we suggest having a zip tie in your pack to use for this purpose.
Check in Your Harvested Deer: Hunters are required to register (“check in”) their harvested deer within 48 hours of the kill. You can do this in three ways:
- Online through the DNR’s CheckIN Game system
- Call 800-419-1326 (a $3 fee applies)
- Find a check station or license retailer who will enter the information for you through CheckIN Game
Remember that the deer head must remain attached to the carcass until the deer is registered with CheckIN Game and a confirmation number is issued. Record the confirmation number on the transportation tag and keep it with the deer until processing begins.
Dispose of the Carcass: Do not dump carcasses of any animal in streams or other bodies of water. This has a very negative effect on water quality and can harm other species; it’s also illegal. Indiana DNR recommends all carcasses and unwanted animal parts be bagged and sent to a landfill. Contractor-grade garbage bags are a good option.
Preparing for a Safe and Successful Deer Season
Before you venture out this year, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances for a successful harvest and ensure an ethical hunt.
 Sighting in a Firearm
Taking the time to sight in a firearm is arguably the most important pre-hunt activity. Sighting in a rifle or shotgun means adjusting the sight so that your shots land exactly where you are aiming. This is the foundation of accurate shooting, and it gives you the confidence to make a clean shot when it matters most. New firearms are not sighted in, and the one you shot last year could have been bumped around during the offseason. So, new or old, be sure to sight yours in before heading into the field. Many DNR shooting ranges do not have a fee – find a range near you to sight in your firearm. You can also check out this detailed step-by-step video on how to sight in a rifle or shotgun.
Photo credit: Rob Seilheimer
Scouting for Deer
Preseason and pre-hunt scouting is one of the most beneficial activities you can do to increase your chances of a successful harvest. Scouting is a skill that is developed over years of practice. If you are relatively new to deer hunting, there are a few things you can focus on. Most of these require getting onto a DNR property or the property you intend on hunting; even if you don’t harvest a deer, you’ll receive all the benefits associated with being in nature while growing a new skill.
When should I begin scouting? Typically, you want to scout an area at least one week before you plan to hunt. Scouting further ahead is also good, but deer movements could be affected by hunting seasons, hikers, and other external pressures.
Deer bedding area in high grass
What are you looking for? Basically, you want to understand where the deer are sleeping, eating, and drinking, and how they move between those spots. Bedding areas where deer sleep are often in high grass or dense vegetation. They look like an oval with the vegetation pressed down inside of the shape.
Deer love to eat acorns and other nuts, grains, fruit, and other types of vegetation. Look for orchards, groves, and open areas near these. If you find a well-worn path through grass or woods to these areas, that’s a great sign they are eating here and using that path to travel between their bedding area and feeding area. If you have a trail camera, this is a good area to set it up. Pay attention to the times of day deer are using the path and the number of deer using it.
Also look for signs of buck activity, such as a vertical patch of rubbed off bark on a tree (often called a buck rub or antler rub). Bucks do this in late summer and early fall to mark territory and communicate with other deer. Finding a path of antler rubs can also provide information on the direction deer in the area are moving.
 Deer Hunting Safety
Did you know the most common injuries during deer seasons are accidents involving tree stands and elevated platforms? Hunters should follow these safety tips when hunting from an elevated position.
Process Your Deer
There are many companies in Indiana that will process your deer. View a list of commercial deer processors in Indiana.
If you’re interested in the full field-to-fork experience, consider processing your own deer. Several videos on deer processing can be found on the Indiana DNR YouTube Channel (skinning, quartering, loins and foreleg, hind quarter). Don’t be intimated – if you can debone a chicken, you have the skills to process a deer.
DNR encourages people to observe safe handling and cooking protocols for venison and other wild game as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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