 ‘Tis the season for more turkey
Thanksgiving is over, but you can still enjoy a delicious turkey dinner. Fall turkey archery season is open from Dec. 9 until Jan. 7. If you haven’t harvested your fall turkey yet, this is your last chance until spring. At this time of year, turkey are looking for food, so you may have the most success setting up near a crop field.
Note: our current Hunting & Trapping Guide inaccurately lists fall turkey season as Dec. 2, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024. The correct date for fall turkey season is Dec. 9, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024 and can be found in our eRegulations.
Keep in mind, it’s archery season only. No rifles are allowed, and hunter orange is required.
Stay safe and good luck!
Connect with Indiana’s hunting heritage
Did you know Indiana is one of the five states that has a muzzleloader, the Grouseland rifle, as its state firearm? If you’re looking to connect more with your Hoosier heritage, join us outdoors from Dec. 9 – 24 this muzzleloader season. Whether you’re joining with a modern inline or a more traditional percussion cap or flintlock, we have the perfect property for you to hunt. You may hunt with a muzzleloading rifle/shotgun or muzzleloading handgun that meets these requirements:
Muzzleloading Rifle/Shotgun:
Barrel caliber: .44” minimum
Bullet diameter: .357” minimum
• powder and bullet loaded from muzzle and single bullet (can have powder loaded from the breech end only during the youth and firearms seasons)
• saboted bullets permitted
• multiple barreled guns permitted
Muzzleloading Handgun:
Barrel length: 12” minimum, measured from the base of the breech plug (excluding tangs and other projections to the end of the barrel, including the muzzle crown) Barrel caliber: .50” minimum
Bullet diameter: .44” minimum
• loaded from muzzle and single shot
Get your smokepoles ready!
Photo submission from Lena Kim, 2020 hybrid striped bass Fish of the Year winner.
Record Fish program submissions close soon
Are you the next Record Fish winner? The Record Fish program recognizes two categories of award winners each year: State Record Fish and Fish of the Year. All entries must be submitted by Dec. 31.
Remember, for both categories, you’ll need to snap a high-quality side-view photo of your fish and provide a photocopy of your fishing license. Find more specific requirements on our website.
Want to see how previous winners measure up? You can view our list of previous winners online.
We can’t wait to see what you catch!
Aerial photo of the Buchanan Unit of Mallard Roost WCA.
DNR dedicates new public land in Noble County
In November, Gov. Eric J. Holcomb joined the DNR and partners to celebrate the addition of 158 acres of upland prairie and wetland to Mallard Roost Wetland Conservation Area (WCA) in Noble County. The new property, named the Buchanan Unit of Mallard Roost WCA, was made possible by a partnership between the DNR and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation with significant support from donors and the Next Level Conservation Trust.
This property conserves prime wildlife habitat near the south branch of the Elkhart River and provides additional public land for hunting, trapping, and fishing in northeast Indiana. The property will open to the public in spring of 2024. Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area, which manages Mallard Roost WCA, is currently restoring upland bird habitat on the Buchanan Unit and plans to add a parking area before opening the property.
 Invasive carp removal on the Ohio River
Indiana DNR has been working with neighboring states to address the invasive carp problem in our waters. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has been using contract fishers to harvest invasive carp from the middle Ohio River at the leading edge of invasive carp’s established population, and the Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife provides support as needed. The contract fishing program will be operating through the winter and spring. Most fishing will occur from Leavenworth to Cannelton, Indiana, in small tributaries and backwaters off the Ohio River. Agency staff will ride along with contract fishers to collect data and ensure native fish populations are not negatively impacted.
Throughout the year, biologists are involved in several other collaborative research and monitoring projects to slow the spread of invasive carp within the Ohio River basin. If you encounter an invasive carp and are wondering what to do with it, try eating it! Our website includes information on how to clean and prepare silver carp for a tasty meal, as well as descriptions of other DNR projects that address invasive carp.
A dark-eyed junco. Photo courtesy of National Parks Service.
Build your own winter birding habitat
If you love birding in the winter, you can increase your chances of seeing native birds in your area by providing ample sources of food and cover in the colder months to help them thrive.
In your landscaping, incorporate native shrubs that produce berries, such as dogwood, serviceberry, and viburnum, and trees such as oaks and hickories that bear hard seeds. Because evergreen trees such as red cedar, spruce, and pines do not lose their leaves in the winter, they help shield birds and other wildlife from harsh winds and snowfall. Consider planting trees and shrubs in clumps or rows for even more shelter.
You can also use brush piles to create shelter by putting logs and larger branches on the bottom of the pile and layering smaller branches on the top in a crisscross pattern. If you’re raking leaves in the fall, rake them under trees and shrubs. Leaves provide an environment for the insects that many birds eat.
Plant native grasses and wildflowers to create a mini-prairie and leave standing dead vegetation over the winter. Seed-eating birds benefit from plants going to seed, so doing so can save you the cost of purchasing and stocking birdfeeders.
View our website for more information on wildlife habitat.
 It’s still squirrel season
If you’re searching for an adventure beyond deer season, squirrel might be the species for you. Our 2023-24 Hunting & Trapping Guide features our favorite tips and tricks for squirrel hunting, as well as recipes for your harvest. Until Jan. 31, 2024, you can enjoy a long season in the woods—and you can even bring your hunting dogs along. Find more squirrel tips, recipes, and stories in our guide.
 Stay warm in a shooting range this winter
If you’re looking for a place to shoot this season, head to a DNR shooting range. We operate 19 ranges across the state that offer archery, rifle, shotgun, handgun, trap, and skeet, depending on the location.
As the temperatures drop, our range hours will shift to winter hours. Normal operating hours will resume in March. Be sure to check each range’s information before you plan your visit.
 Planting the next 100 years of conservation
In early November, volunteers planted 100 sapling trees at Kankakee Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA) to support its forest habitat. This tree planting completed a year of celebrating Kankakee FWA’s 100th anniversary! Kankakee FWA has provided habitat for wildlife and outdoor activities for visitors since 1923. Throughout the year, visitors and Kankakee FWA staff have been marking the milestone with stories of the FWA's history as well as opportunities to enjoy this unique area in Starke County. The wetlands, riparian forests, and 11 miles of the Kankakee and Yellow rivers make for excellent birding and waterfowl hunting.
The oak saplings that were planted will help Kankakee FWA continue to provide habitat and outdoor opportunities for the future. Thank you to the volunteers who contributed to the next 100 years of conservation! Learn more about Kankakee FWA’s history and plan your visit using the Kankakee FWA webpage.
Wildlife wins of 2023
In 2023, we saw wildlife wins for many rare and endangered species. We found a very young hellbender salamander in the Blue River and increased public awareness and interest in bat conservation. We discovered the banded pygmy sunfish at Twin Swamps Nature Preserve and doubled the number of active barn owl nests from five years ago.
These wildlife wins would not have been possible without those who support the Nongame Wildlife Fund. To all of you who help care for Indiana’s rare and endangered wildlife, thank you!
If you’d like to make a positive impact on Indiana’s wildlife, consider getting involved today. Subscribe to our newsletter, Instagram, and Facebook to stay up to date on our latest wildlife wins. Make a volunteer profile and learn more about how to become a DNR volunteer, or make a donation to the Nongame Wildlife Fund. For every $50 given to the Nongame Wildlife Fund, an additional $43 is unlocked in federal funding, making every dollar you donate go even further for Indiana’s wildlife.
An X-ray of lead ingested by an animal.
Learn about lead: Avoiding lead ingestion in wild game
Did you know that wild game shot with lead ammunition can sometimes contain lead fragments all the way to the dinner table? Adopting different shot placement and butchering techniques can help alleviate the problem.
When shooting: Avoid shooting animals in heavily boned areas, such as the front shoulders, as this is more likely to cause bullet fragmentation. Instead, shoot animals in softer tissue, such as around the heart and lungs, to decrease fragmentation.
When butchering: Carefully observe the wound channel in the animal and generously trim away any meat that shows bullet trauma. This will help keep fragments out of your finished meat product. Properly dispose of your trimmed meat by sending it to the local landfill or burying it on private property.
Looking for another way for you and your family to avoid ingesting lead fragments? Talk to your local retailer about finding a nontoxic ammunition that’s right for you.
 Celebrate World Wildlife Conservation Day
Dec. 4 was World Wildlife Conservation Day, a day to join in on the world’s efforts to conserve wildlife. Here are some resources you can use to help DNR conserve Indiana’s fish and wildlife all year round.
Help us spread awareness about the importance of Indiana’s wildlife and habitat.
Recent news releases
Indiana Hunt for Hunger will feed hungry Hoosiers
Gov. Holcomb, DNR dedicate new public wetland and prairie land in Noble County
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