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
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