Big Lake Calls - All
Hunting Perch with Waterfowl Calls
From mid-winter through ice-out, Devils Lake guide Jason Feldner “hunts” perch with a system he says can’t be beat. Relying on highly detailed GPS mapping and electronics, signs from Mother Nature and a ‘three call’ system, Feldner quickly locates and ices big perch, day-in-day-out.
“When it comes to finding fish, you’ve gotta key in on slight 1-foot depth contours—especially for perch. In mid- and late winter, a good place to start is that 8- to 15-foot range,” says Feldner.
Like birds following a migration path, perch slowly travel specific depth contours from mid-winter through late ice to reach their spring spawning areas. “If you can’t get right on those one-foot contours and follow the perch, you’re gonna have a tough time staying on the action,” says Feldner.
But to get the contour right, sink an Aqua-Vu camera, and you’ll spy a stockyard of yellow, green and black bars moving amidst swarms of shrimp. “That’s what I try to put my clients on. You look down there and it’s like hordes of Green Bay fans moving out of the stadium and into the streets. They’re hungry and looking for a fight.”
To find just the right contours, Feldner utilizes the new Version 4 LakeMaster Nebraska/Dakotas map card in a Humminbird 597ci HD ice unit. “Fishing Devils without a LakeMaster card is like shooting pool with a rope,” says Feldner.
“Once I find the contour the perch are following, I simply choose the chart menu in my 597 and highlight that key depth contour in green. Now, with a glance, I know where the money areas are and simply drill my holes throughout that green shaded area on the graph.”
Pull up the new Version 4 LakeMaster card and anglers will immediately notice that Devils Lake is set to its current elevation of 1455 feet, which means areas that have recently flooded and are underwater show up as water on the map. But even if that changes, Feldner can readjust the depths on the map with the press of a button. Water’s down three feet? Simply set Water Level Offset to -3 feet.
He also adds that fishing Devils Lake without accurate GPS mapping can quickly get anglers in trouble, as the lake is a mine field of barely submerged roadbeds, timber fields, and other structure that can wreck the lower units of the unsuspecting or overzealous. And in the winter, it’s crucial to set a route and be able to follow it back into shore if the wind picks up and anglers face whiteout conditions.
Following the waterfowl analogy, once he’s located schools of jumbos, Feldner likes to use a ‘three call’ system to lure the traveling butterballs into biting.
Hunting Seasons in Indiana 2025: Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide
Plan your 2025–26 IN hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to wild turkey to ducks. Whether you’re drawing a compound bow in oak‑lined woodlots for mature bucks or setting a shotgun for early‑season teal over flooded timber, Indiana offers diverse seasons and clear regulations to ensure safe, ethical harvests.
What Is There to Hunt in Indiana?
Indiana’s landscape of hardwood forests, agricultural fields, and riverine wetlands supports a variety of game. Hunters can target whitetail deer across DMU zones, call in wild turkeys in spring’s blossoming forests, or pursue black bears under limited‑entry hunts. Small game like rabbits, squirrels, ring‑necked pheasants, and ruffed grouse thrive in coverts, while wetlands and lakes draw migrating ducks, geese, and rails for waterfowlers deploying decoys at dawn.
Indiana Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26
Whitetail Deer
Youth Firearm Weekend: Oct 17–18, 2025
Archery: Oct 20 – Nov 26, 2025
Shotgun & Deer Rifle: Nov 22 – Nov 28, 2025
Muzzleloader: Dec 1 – Dec 7, 2025
Late Antlerless Deer: Dec 26 – Dec 31, 2025
Indiana’s deer seasons span archery, modern firearm, and muzzleloader windows tailored to manage herd size and ensure broad hunting access. Bag limits and DMU tags guide how many antlered and antlerless deer each hunter can legally harvest.
Wild Turkey (Spring & Fall)
Spring Gobbler (Archery): Apr 4 – May 5, 2026
Modern Gun Spring: Apr 25 – May 5, 2026
Youth/Women’s Spring: Mar 28 – Apr 3, 2026
Fall Archery Only: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025
Indiana blends archery and shotgun methods for spring turkey seasons, with youth and women’s days encouraging new hunters. A fall archery season provides an additional opportunity, emphasizing turkey habitats and calling techniques.
Indiana Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26
Small Game & Upland Birds
Ring‑necked Pheasant: Oct 17, 2025 – Jan 10, 2026
Ruffed Grouse: Sept 16 – Feb 28, 2026
Cottontail Rabbit & Squirrel: Oct 17, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026
Shotgunners and bird dogs thrive during upland seasons, walking CRP fields and woodlots for pheasants, grouse, and cottontails. Bag limits and daily possession rules keep populations stable.
Waterfowl & Migratory Birds
Ducks (three zones): Nov 7 – Nov 27 & Dec 16 – Jan 31, 2026
Canada Goose: Oct 24 – Dec 4; Jan 16 – Jan 31, 2026
Youth Waterfowl Day: Sept 26, 2025
Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Nov 9, 2025
Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 9; Dec 1 – Jan 15, 2026
Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; non‑toxic shot required
Indiana’s waterfowl seasons align with peak migrations, drawing hunters to WMA impoundments and private wetlands. Federal duck stamps, HIP registration, and a valid state license are mandatory for all migratory‑bird hunts.
Bag Limits by Species
Whitetail Deer: 1 antlered buck; antlerless deer by DMU permit
Wild Turkey: 1 gobbler per spring; 1 per fall season
Ring‑necked Pheasant: 2 per day; 4 in possession
Ducks: 6 per day; species sub‑limits apply (teal, mallard, wood duck)
Canada Goose: 3 per day
Rabbit & Squirrel: 8 rabbits; 8 squirrels per day
Coyote & Furbearers: No limits on private land; WMA rules vary
Bag limits protect healthy wildlife numbers while providing ample opportunity for hunters. Always confirm season‑specific limits and possession rules in the official regulations summary.
License & Tags Information for Indiana Hunters (2025–26)
All hunters must carry a valid Indiana hunting license and any required permits or tags:
DMU Deer Permits: Over‑the‑counter or managed by lottery for antlerless quotas
Turkey Permits: Spring applications; fall archery open at license purchase
Migratory Bird Stamps & HIP Registration: Required for ducks, geese, and rails
Hunter Education Certification: Mandatory for first‑time youth and adult hunters
Licenses fund wildlife management and habitat conservation; secure yours early and note application deadlines for limited tags.
Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader
Indiana authorizes multiple hunting methods:
Archery: Compound and recurve bows, crossbows (with permit)
Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) during firearms seasons
Muzzleloaders: Designated season following general firearms
Dogs & Bait: Allowed for waterfowl, turkey, and furbearers on certain WMAs
Choose your method based on season, species, and personal skill. Indiana regulations specify legal calibers, draw weights, and use of dogs and bait.
Regulations & Resources
Indiana DNR regulations outline:
Shooting Hours: Sunrise to sunset; migratory‑bird hours vary
DMU & WMA Boundaries: Critical for legal harvest; maps available online
Mandatory Harvest Reporting: Deer and turkey must be checked online or at stations
Special Management Areas: Certain WMAs, CRP fields, and CWD zones have additional rules
Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Indiana Department of Natural Resources website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt.
This guide was created based on information from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR): https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/files/fw-hunting_trapping_seasons.pdf
With well‑defined archery, firearms, and migratory‑bird seasons, straightforward bag limits, and clear licensing requirements, Indiana offers diverse hunting experiences across its forests, fields, and wetlands. Plan ahead, follow regulations, and
