Deer reduction zone season begins Sept. 15
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Deer Reduction Zones, previously called urban zones, give hunters opportunities to harvest deer in defined urban areas and along portions of Indiana highways, in addition to harvests allowed within statewide bag limits elsewhere in Indiana.
View an interactive map.
There is a statewide bag limit of 10 for deer harvested in reduction zones during the reduction zone season, but a doe must be harvested first in a deer reduction zone and be checked toward the bag limit for the deer reduction zone season before harvesting a buck to count toward the deer reduction zone bag limit.
The deer license bundle cannot be used to harvest a deer toward the deer reduction bag limit. Archery equipment and crossbows can be used in deer reduction zones starting Sept. 15.
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 Find the right deer license for you
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Deer season is quickly approaching. There are several license options available:
* Deer bundle license - If you hunt in more than one season, this is the license deal for you.
A deer bundle license can be used in all seasons (except the deer reduction zone season) using legal equipment during that season and gives the hunter the privilege to harvest up to three deer (3 antlerless OR 1 antlered and 2 antlerless deer).
Season dates, legal equipment, and all other deer hunting laws apply. Antlerless deer taken with a deer license bundle can count toward the archery season bag limit, muzzleloader season bag limit, or as a bonus antlerless deer in that county, depending on the season and equipment used.
* Youth hunt/trap combo license – Resident youth must purchase a youth combo license, which includes deer hunting privileges.
* Crossbow license - A crossbow license is required to use a crossbow during archery season.
* Archery license – The archery license allows long bows, recurve bows, or compound bows to be used during archery season.
* Firearms license – The firearms license can only be used for a buck during the firearms season.
* Muzzleloader license – This license can only be used in the muzzleloader season.
Licenses can be purchased online, at a retailer, or over the phone at 317-232-4200.
Remember, to get a discounted bonus antlerless license, you must first purchase a bonus antlerless license at the regular price. Purchasing a deer firearms license or deer bundle license does not qualify towards the discount.
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 Photo by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Applications open for waterfowl reserved hunts
Hunters can apply online for a reserved waterfowl hunt through Sept. 16.
Participating properties include Goose Pond, Hovey Lake, Kankakee, Kingsbury, LaSalle, and Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Areas. Monroe Lake and Province Pond Wetland Conservation Area are also participating.
The online method is the only way to apply.
 Inclement weather causes varying hunting conditions at Fish & Wildlife Areas
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Inclement spring and summer weather has impacted property management efforts at some Fish & Wildlife Areas and other properties in 2019.
Flooding has negatively affected several properties. Hunting conditions this year may differ from those in previous years.
If you have questions about the hunting conditions at a specific property, please contact that property directly during normal business hours. You can find contact information and other property-specific information for Fish & Wildlife Areas online.
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Hunting seasons beginning in September
Snipe: Sept. 1 – Dec. 16
Sora: Sept. 1 – Nov. 9
Early teal: Sept. 14 – 29
Dove: Sept. 1 – Oct. 20
Canada geese (all zones): Sept. 14 – 22
Deer reduction zone: Sept. 15 – Jan. 31, 2020
Youth deer: Sept. 28 – 29
Deer archery season: Oct. 1 – Jan. 5, 2020
 Reserve a spot for put-and-take pheasant
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You can reserve a spot for put-and-take pheasant hunts on designated DNR properties starting Sept. 7.
The cost is $30 per reservation. Participating properties this year include: Atterbury, Glendale, J.E. Roush Lake, Pigeon River, Tri-County, Willow Slough, and Winamac Fish & Wildlife Areas.
You can make your reservation online by clicking on Register Now under Reserved Hunts. You do not need to log in or have an online account to purchase a reservation. Reservations are non-refundable but can be transferred to another person. All hunters are required to have a current Indiana Hunting License and Gamebird Habitat Stamp to participate in pheasant hunting.
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 Youth deer season, Sept. 28-29
Youth age 17 or younger on the date of the hunt can participate but must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years of age.
The youth hunter must possess a valid license for hunting deer (youth hunt/trap combo or other) while in the field unless exempt from needing a license. The youth’s adult partner must possess a valid hunting license of any type that is not an apprentice license. All hunters must wear hunter orange.
EHD confirmed in dead, sick deer in seven counties
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Lab results were found positive for epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) virus in samples of dead deer from seven different counties. Results of deer samples from other counties are pending.
EHD is a viral disease that affects white-tailed deer to some degree every year and is spread by flies commonly known as biting midges, sand gnats, and “no-see-ums.” Humans are not at risk for contracting EHD.
Hoosiers who observe a deer that they suspect may have or may have died from EHD, can report it directly to the DNR through our website at deer.dnr.IN.gov.
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Chronic wasting disease surveillance
Indiana DNR will conduct targeted chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance in northwest and northeast Indiana during the 2019-2020 deer hunting season.
Hunters may submit samples for testing at Fish & Wildlife Area properties from Sept. 28 – Jan. 31, 2020. Indiana DNR biologists will be intensively sampling hunter-harvested deer at check-in stations across the surveillance areas on Nov. 16 and 17.
Hunters who submit a deer for CWD testing will receive a Deer Management Partner magnet and a metal tag reminiscent of historical confirmation tags.
Hunters interested in testing a deer for CWD that was harvested outside the CWD surveillance areas may submit their deer to Purdue Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab for a fee or take their deer head to a nearby Fish & Wildlife Area to be sampled.
Additional information can be found at Purdue’s ADDL website. Fish & Wildlife property details and locations will be available soon.
 Strip disking and strip spraying for wildlife
Landowners can use strip disking and strip spraying to manage habitat for quail, songbirds, turkey, deer, rabbits, and pollinator species.
These management tools delay natural succession, stimulate beneficial plants, and create appropriate habitat structure for several early successional species.
Strip spraying and disking should be performed outside of the nesting season, and are usually used from August to March. Sprayed or disked strips should be 20-to-50 feet wide and separated by undisturbed strips that are twice the width of the sprayed or disked strip.
Contact an Indiana DNR biologist for specific recommendations on improving your property using strip spraying and strip disking.
 Celebrate two upcoming national days, Sept. 28
This year, National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day both fall on Sept. 28.
National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrates and recognizes hunters and anglers for their contributions to fish and wildlife conservation. Celebrate both by choosing to hunt, fish, or volunteer on one of Indiana’s many public properties on this day.
You can also support Indiana public lands by donating your hours at one of our volunteer events:
Sept. 14 – Wood Duck Box Construction, J.E. Roush Lake Fish & Wildlife Area
Sept. 28 – National Public Lands Day Cleanup, Blue Grass Fish & Wildlife Area Sept. 28 – National Public Lands Day 3-D Archery Setup, J.E. Roush Lake Fish & Wildlife Area
Visit calendar.dnr.IN.gov for specific event details.
Wuestefeld new Director of DNR Fish & Wildlife
Amanda Wuestefeld, who has worked full-time in the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife for more than 25 years, was recently promoted to division director. Wuestefeld replaces Mark Reiter, who retired in July. She is the first woman to hold the position for Indiana DNR Fish & Wildlife (DFW).
“It has been an honor to work beside some of Indiana’s most dedicated staff at DNR and I look forward to this next chapter in my career to continue working to ensure great public access to our fish and wildlife resources,” Wuestefeld said.
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NRC meets Sept. 17
The Natural Resources Commission will conduct its regular bi-monthly meeting on Sept. 17 at The Garrison Conference Center. The agenda will be posted before the meeting.
 Nongame Wildlife Fund at work: mammals
Once common in southern Indiana, the swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus acquaticus) is now considered a state endangered species due to habitat loss through land conversion to agriculture, development, and roadways.
Most populations are found in a few counties along the Wabash River. DNR biologists captured the above photographs during winter surveys.
Donations to the Nongame Wildlife Fund aid biologists in conducting surveys for these elusive rabbits, like the camera-trap survey above, and support new research initiatives.
For more information on how you can help swamp rabbits and other species of concern, visit Wildlife.IN.gov/2356.htm.
Upcoming events in September
- 12 – Learn to Kayak Fish, Bloomington
- 14 – Learn to Catch & Cook, Driftwood State Fish Hatchery
- 14 – Fishing Triathlon, Indianapolis
- 19 – Shoreline Fishing Trip Down the White River, Muncie to Mounds
- 20 – Shoreline Fishing Trip Down the White River, Noblesville to Martinsville
- 21 – Family Learn to Shoot and Fish, Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area
- 21 – Learn to Hunt: Waterfowl, Evansville
- 21 – Learn to Catch & Cook, Fort Wayne
- 26 – Learn to Kayak Fish, Indianapolis
- 27 – Learn to Fly Fish, Fort Wayne
- 28 – Learn to Catch & Cook, Krannert Park
- 29 – Learn to Shoot: Archery Workshop, Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area
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About Fish and Wildlife Management in Indiana
Fish and wildlife management and public access are funded by fishing and hunting license revenue and also through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. These programs collect excise taxes on sporting arms and ammunition, archery equipment, fishing equipment, and motor boat fuels. The money is distributed among state fish and wildlife agencies based on land size and the number of licensed anglers and hunters in each state. Find out more information about fish and wildlife management in Indiana at Wildlife.IN.gov.
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