MyDNR - Fall into the great outdoors

MyDNR

Enjoy Indiana's fall foliage

It's going to be a beautiful autumn at Indiana State Parks. Make your reservation at one of the seven State Park Inns and take full advantage of Mother Nature's colorful show. Call 1.877.LODGES 1 or visit IndianaInns.com to reserve your room.


Turkey run

Award-winning photo from Turkey Run taken by Emily Monticue

Vote for your favorite DNR trails

Voting is open for Visit Indiana’s 2019 Best of Indiana people's choice campaign, and one of the categories is favorite hiking trails, many of which are managed by the DNR.

Hiking was the No. 1 thing mentioned in a recent State Parks survey. This is a chance to support your favorite trail on which to do that No. 1 activity.

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field trip

Video above of students benefiting from this grant.

Field trip grant program benefits more than 4,900 children

Students at 67 Indiana schools will experience the outdoors thanks in part to a grant program that supports field trips to Indiana State Parks.

The Discover the Outdoors Field Trip Grant Program is administered through the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (INRF), the supporting non-profit of the DNR.

An estimated 4,921 K-12 students will benefit from the grant program in 2019-20. The program expects to distribute $11,624 through 72 grants.

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Archery


Deer archery season begins Oct. 1

The deer archery season runs from Oct. 1 through Jan. 5, 2020. Are you prepared? Buy an archery license, a crossbow license, or deer bundle license online today at INhuntfish.com. If you’re hunting from a tree stand, remember to use a safety harness to prevent accidental falls. 

For more information on bag limits and quotas, check out the Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide.

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Halloween camping available

Many Indiana State Parks are offering Fall Festival and Halloween events, Oct. 18-20 and Oct. 25-27. Some parks still have camping openings for these weekends. Check your favorite park for availability and reserve your site at camp.IN.gov.


waterfowl


Multiple hunting seasons opening in October

The following hunting seasons will open in October:

  • Wild Turkey Fall Archery: Oct. 1 – 27
  • Deer Archery: Oct. 1 – Jan. 5, 2020
  • Woodcock: Oct. 15 – Nov. 28
  • Red and Gray Fox: Oct. 15 – Feb. 28, 2020
  • Coyote and Striped Skunk: Oct. 15 – March 15, 2020
  • Wild Turkey Fall Firearms: Oct. 16 – 27
  • North Zone Goose: Oct. 19 – Nov. 3
  • North Zone Duck: Oct. 19 – Dec. 8
  • Central Zone Duck: Oct. 26 – Nov. 3
  • Central Zone Goose: Oct. 26 – Nov. 10

Youth waterfowl weekends:

  • North Zone: Oct. 12 – 13
  • Central Zone: Oct. 19 – 20
  • South Zone: Oct. 26 – 27

Veteran waterfowl hunting:

  • North Zone: Oct. 12 – 13
  • Central Zone: Oct. 19 – 20
  • South Zone: Oct. 26 – 27

Mourning dove season will close on Oct. 20. Dog running for raccoon and opossum will close on Oct. 25.

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State Parks director now president of national group of peers

Bortner

Dan Bortner, director of DNR’s Division of State Parks, was recently elected to a two-year term as president of the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD).

Bortner was installed at the NASPD’s annual conference, held this year in Rogers, Arkansas. He previously served a one-year term as secretary-treasurer and a two-year term as vice-president. 

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fish


Do you remember the first time you experienced the great outdoors?

If you grew up with nature at your fingertips, consider yourself lucky. City dwellers often have less opportunity to experience the wonders of nature so readily, and experiencing nature from a young age has been proven to increase the quality of life.

Read about the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation and DNR Fish & Wildlife working to give outdoor adventure to young people.

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Sandhill cranes begin fall migration at Jasper-Pulaski

Sandhill cranes can be seen at Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area from late September through December. Crane numbers peak in mid-November. The best time to view is sunrise, from the Goose Pasture viewing area.

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DNR Reclamation receives regional award

An Indiana DNR Division of Reclamation (DOR) project in southwest Indiana has received the highest regional award the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) issues annually.

The award is for the Narrow Lake project in Sullivan County. The project addressed public safety concerns posed by a large highwall left by the Sullivan #27 mine, which operated between 1944 and 1947 in what is now a frequently visited section of Greene-Sullivan State Forest.

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fish


Learn to fish this fall

Hoosiers interested in learning how to fish are invited to attend one of our upcoming fishing workshops:

Oct. 12 – Learn to Fish for Muskie, Indianapolis
Oct. 18 – Learn to Fish for Trout, Fort Wayne
Oct. 26 – Learn to Fish for Trout, Evansville


learn


Interested in learning to hunt or shoot?

Are you new to hunting or interested in learning how to hunt a different species? Do you or a friend want to learn how to shoot in a safe, controlled environment? Consider attending one of our upcoming workshops:

Oct. 5 – Learn to Hunt: Squirrel, Crosley Fish & Wildlife Area
Oct. 5 – Learn to Hunt: Quail, Coatesville
Oct. 5 – Learn to Hunt: Waterfowl, Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area
Oct. 6 – Learn to Hunt: Pheasant, Evansville
Oct. 19 – Family Pheasant Hunt, Martinsville


turkey

(Photo by G. Johnson)

Thank you to turkey brood observers

Earlier this summer, Indiana DNR asked members of the public to report sightings of turkey hens with poults. These brood surveys are used to inform wild turkey management efforts statewide. For 2019, biologists received a total of 1,195 usable observations from 409 participants. 

Results indicated that this was not an ideal summer for turkey brood production: overall brood production was down 21 percent with all regions of the state showing some decline, likely due to above normal precipitation through much of June.

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Fall for Outdoor Indiana

Subscribe to Outdoor Indiana magazine to see autumn in the Hoosier state as you’ve never seen it before. View excerpts of the September/October issue.


events

INRF

The Foundation celebrates and preserves Indiana’s natural legacy by raising funds to support the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and its programs.

Donate now