Finally, deer hunting season is upon us

WB

Find all deer information in one place

Find season dates, where to hunt, how to process your deer, recipes, and much more online. Make sure you are prepared for your deer hunt by checking out our special e-newsletter All Things Deer.


hunt

Deer archery season now underway

The deer archery season runs Oct. 1 through Jan. 5, 2020.

Buy an archery license, a crossbow license, or a deer bundle license online today at on.IN.gov/INHuntFish.

If you’re hunting from a tree stand, remember to use a safety harness to prevent falls. 

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

more

1

Hunting seasons beginning 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

Ducks, Coots, Mergansers:
North Zone: Oct. 19 – Dec. 8
Central Zone: Oct. 26 – Nov. 3

Canada Geese:
North Zone: Oct. 19 – Nov. 3
Central Zone: Oct. 26 – Nov. 10

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

Veteran Waterfowl
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 season for raccoon and opossum will close on Oct. 25.


Get the right license

Not sure what license or stamps you need? We have the solution. Our online sport license finder can help you determine what you need after you answer just four simple questions.

find out more

Deer disease and best practices for harvested wildlife

During deer season, DNR encourages hunters to stay informed about deer disease and best practices for handling any carcass or other raw meat.

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) has been confirmed in several central and southern Indiana counties. As a result of the outbreak, county bonus antlerless quotas were reduced to a maximum of two in areas affected by EHD. EHD does not affect humans, and deer infected with EHD is safe to consume. Learn more about EHD.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a bacterial disease that can affect cattle, deer, other mammals and humans. It is not believed to be established in Indiana’s wild deer herd. If hunters find white or tan lesions on harvested deer’s organs or the inner wall of the chest cavity, they should contact an Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) veterinarian by calling 877-747-3038 or visit boah.IN.gov/2396.htm.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has not been detected in deer tested from Indiana. CWD is found in free-ranging white-tailed deer in states close to Indiana, including Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. To learn more about CWD and CWD surveillance, visit on.IN.gov/CWD.

Regardless of the harvest, hunters and trappers should adhere to the following best practices when field-dressing or handling any carcass or other raw meat:

1.    Wear disposable gloves
2.    Always wash your hands afterward
3.    Clean and disinfect instruments after use
4.    Don’t handle or consume wild animals that appear sick or act abnormal
5.    Cook meat thoroughly
6.    Minimize contact with brain or spinal tissues

more

2

Stay safe on the road – Look out for deer

As the days shorten and the breeding season for deer approaches, the chances of encountering deer on Indiana roadways increases significantly. Motorists should pay particular attention while driving to decrease the risk of collision. Deer-vehicle accidents can be minimized by practicing good defensive driving skills.

Staying aware and keeping the following information in mind can help motorists reduce their chances of becoming another deer-vehicle collision statistic:

  • Deer are most active between sunset and sunrise.
  • Deer often travel in groups. If you see one deer, another is likely nearby.
  • Be especially careful in areas where you have seen deer before.
  • Use high beams when there is no opposing traffic. Scan for deer’s illuminated eyes or dark silhouettes along the side of the road.
  • If you see a deer, slow your speed drastically, even if it is far away.
  • Exercise extreme caution along wooded edges, at hills, and during blind turns.
  • Never swerve to avoid hitting a deer. Most serious crashes occur when drivers try to miss a deer, but hit something else.
more

walleye

Walleye to be stocked in October

Each October, DNR stocks more than 32,000 6-to-8 inch walleye fingerlings in select water bodies throughout northern Indiana. Stocking larger walleye in the fall allows for higher survival and recruitment in the glacial lakes. These stockings, along with other walleye stockings that take place throughout the year, create ample opportunity for anglers to catch these toothy critters.

Walleyes grow quickly and can reach legal size by their second or third year depending on the part of the state you are fishing. Check out our interactive Where to Fish map for fishing locations.

more

monroe

Monroe Lake aquatic habitat project completed

DNR fisheries biologists have concluded a two-year project designed to improve aquatic habitat in Monroe Lake.

About 300 habitat structures were dropped into Monroe Lake in a 17-acre area to provide fish with a place to feed and hide from predators. Current structure locations can be found online. The habitat structures were placed in 7-to-14 feet of water during summer. Four different types of structures were used for the project. Each is designed for different fish species, fish life stages, and water depths.

more

turtle

Provide cover for wildlife this winter

As crisp autumn air arrives and reminds us that winter is around the corner, it is also a good time for Hoosiers to think about winter habitat for wildlife. Naturally, decaying leaves, grass clippings, and dead wood are great resources for wildlife in winter. As a bonus, broken down plant matter releases valuable nutrients back into the soil.

  • Leave fallen leaves alone - Birds such as robins and thrushes seek out insects overwintering in leaves for winter food. Leaves can also serve as insulation and cover for wildlife such as eastern box turtles and red bats, both of which are species of special concern in Indiana.
  • Don’t cut back tall wildflower or grass stems - Quail and pheasants, among other wildlife species, can use wildflower or grass stems from the previous growing season as nesting material. These stems also house overwintering pollinators.
  • Build brush piles or leave dead trees - Decaying woody vegetation and brush piles can be a great source of winter cover. Standing dead trees, called snags, provide nesting spaces for many birds and mammals. Downed logs can retain heat and moisture in winter months, providing habitat for salamanders and frogs. Brush piles can protect species, such as rabbits, snakes, and some birds from harsh winter conditions.

For more information about creating brush piles or other habitat in your back yard, contact your district biologist at wildlife.IN.gov/2716.htm.


turkey

(Photo from G. Johnson)

Thank you, turkey brood observers

Earlier this summer, Indiana DNR asked the public to report sightings of turkey hens with poults. These brood surveys inform wild turkey management efforts statewide.

For 2019, biologists received a total of 1,195 usable observations from 409 participants. This was a 47% increase in observations and a 76% increase in participants from 2018. In 2019, there were only nine counties without a single report, compared to 20 in 2018. Thank you to those who participated or intended to participate.

Results indicated that this was not an ideal summer for turkey brood production. Overall brood production was down 21% with all regions of the state showing some decline, likely due to above-normal precipitation through much of June. We hope this year’s participants continue to help us monitor turkey brood production into the future and encourage others to report their sightings.

Watch for the complete 2019 Turkey Brood Report in October.

more

bird

(Photo from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Waterfowl counts are underway

Indiana DNR has conducted waterfowl counts during fall and winter migration since 1986. In most areas, counts are performed from the last week of August through January to gather migration data during potential waterfowl hunting seasons. Waterfowl counts occur on several fish & wildlife areas (FWAs), Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, and two southern Indiana rivers.

During the monitoring period, FWA property staff follow a mapped route and record all waterfowl observations once a week. Staff send property data to the waterfowl biologist. The river counts occur on two segments: one in the South Zone and one in the Central Zone. The segments are flown in a helicopter only from November through January because waterfowl usage of the rivers is very low until ponds and marshes begin to freeze.

Three-year averages of data are used to determine when migration occurs in each waterfowl hunting zone. This information helps time hunting season with the likely peak migration each year. In addition, data are posted online to share bird usage at the various participating properties. Waterfowl counts are not a census of all birds in the state at any given time; rather, count data provide an index of migration at the zone scale. Waterfowl usage of individual locations can vary widely depending on many factors.


duck

(Photo from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Participate in the Big Sit! at Goose Pond, Oct. 13

On Sunday, Oct. 13, join DNR and Friends of Goose Pond during The Big Sit!, an international event focused on recording all bird observations at one location over the course of a day.

Meet fellow birders and nature enthusiasts to share food, observations, and stories about birding adventures. Birders with any level of experience or those with an interest in learning more about birding are welcome. The Big Sit! is also a chance to learn more about Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA) and Friends of Goose Pond. Friends of Goose Pond supports Goose Pond FWA through education, research, and programs.

more

cranes

Nongame Wildlife Fund at Work: Birds

There’s nothing like the sound of hundreds of sandhill cranes bugling as they fly overhead or dance in a field.

Thousands of eastern sandhill cranes stop at Jasper-Pulaski FWA, where visitors are welcome to view these natural spectacles from a safe distance.

Each October, biologists coordinate survey efforts to assist in a federal population census of sandhill cranes. Survey data inform research priorities and help detect threats to the population. With more than 70,000 sandhill cranes estimated in the Eastern population, it's hard to imagine they were once nearly extirpated.

Your donation to the Nongame Wildlife Fund will continue this legacy of successful sandhill crane conservation.

Donate

Upcoming events


More

 


inrf
donate

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.