With so much to know about deer hunting in Indiana, it can be overwhelming. This deer hunting guide will provide you with the information you’ve been looking for.
New deer rules
The most significant rule changes include:
• A special antlerless deer firearms season will be offered beginning in late December in designated counties.
• Hunters can use a crossbow during archery season.
• Early archery season and late archery season have been merged into a continuous archery season.
• Youth hunters can now harvest more than one deer during youth season.
• An “earn-a-buck” requirement for hunters working toward urban deer zone bag limits has been made.
• A new deer license bundle is offered.
Check out a video summarizing the changes.
2012 Hunting & Trapping Guide
The Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide is a summary of Indiana hunting regulations. It's designed as a service to hunters. More information
Tree stand safety
Just a few weeks into deer season, there have already been five reported tree stand accidents in 2012. Please be careful. Check out our tree stand safety video and share with fellow hunters.
Bundle is a new license option for deer hunters
The bundle license can be used in just one or multiple seasons, including youth, archery, firearms, muzzleloader, and special antlerless seasons. The bundle allows the harvest of one antlered and two antlerless deer, total. Read more
Dos and don'ts of field-dressing
Field dress the deer as soon as possible to reduce body heat and prevent possible tainting of the meat from intestinal gasses, which can migrate into the muscle. Read more
Urban deer zones
Urban deer zones give archery hunters opportunities to harvest deer in defined urban deer zones, in addition to statewide bag limits. More information
It may be hard to believe but a little over 75 years ago there was no deer hunting in Indiana due to low herd numbers. Deer reintroductions were made possible by sportsmen and women who purchased licenses and certain hunting and fishing equipment. For more about how the Division of Fish & Wildlife is funded, check out our video on the Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration 75th anniversary.
1893—Last wild deer harvested in Indiana until 1951.
1934-1942—A total of 296 deer were brought in from Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to start re-establishing a deer herd in Indiana.
1951—The first deer hunting season in 58 years took place for three days in November, and 1,590 deer were harvested.
1956-1961—A total of 500 deer were trapped and relocated to expand deer numbers throughout the state.
1971—5,099 deer were harvested.
1985—32,182 deer were harvested, and bonus antlerless licenses were introduced in three counties.
1995—The number of deer harvested more than tripled from just 10 years prior, to 117,729 deer harvested.
2011—129,018 deer were harvested.
Top 5 deer hunting misconceptions
1. I cannot harvest an antlerless deer in firearms season.
• FALSE—An antlerless deer can be harvested in firearms season with the proper license (such as a bonus antlerless license). A deer firearms license is valid for 1 antlered deer.
2. When hunting in an urban deer zone, I have to follow all urban deer zone regulations.
• TRUE and FALSE—If you're hunting in an urban deer zone, using an urban deer zone license and working towards those bag limits you must follow those regulations (i.e.: earn-a-buck). If you're hunting in an urban deer zone, when working towards statewide bag limits (archery, firearms, muzzleloader, etc.) you would follow the statewide bag limits and regulations.
3. I need both a hunting and a deer license to hunt for deer.
• FALSE—A “hunting” license is not required to hunt deer, only a deer license for the appropriate season is required.
4. There is an acreage requirement to qualify for the farmland license exemption.
• FALSE—There is no acreage requirement. To see if you qualify check out the Hunting & Trapping Guide.
5. The license vendor is responsible for knowing what license I need.
• FALSE—It's always the hunter’s responsibility to have the right license for the right season.
For more frequently asked questions, check out the deer hunting FAQs.
Learning to hunt—an adult perspective
Many people are surprised when they hear I’m a hunter. Maybe this is because I didn't start hunting until I was an adult or because I don't look like the typical hunter. Regardless, I am a hunter and proud to be able to say that I am. Read more
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD): How will it affect deer season?
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease or EHD is a disease affecting the deer population in Indiana every year. The severity of the outbreak of this disease increases in years of drought. This year Indiana had confirmed cases of EHD in eight counties in both captive and wild deer. The counties that had the most significant outbreaks were Putnam and Morgan counties in central Indiana. This deer season, hunters in counties with high numbers of EHD-related deaths should expect to see fewer deer, and harvest in those counties will be down. However, history has shown us that within three years the populations in these counties will be back to the levels before the large EHD outbreak. So, will it affect your deer season? Possibly, but don’t worry, it won’t affect your deer hunting for long. For more information on EHD, check out the wildlife diseases webpage.
Unwritten (until now) rules of hunting and trapping
In most sports there seem to be as many unwritten rules as written ones.
In football, for example, there’s the unwritten rule that defense wins championships when in reality it’s whoever scores the most points.
In basketball, some will say if there’s no harm, there’s no foul.
And baseball players are told never to throw behind a runner or to mention a no-hitter when it’s in progress.
Hunting and trapping in Indiana is a privilege available to residents and non-residents provided they follow the rules and regulations.
As important as these rules and regulations are, they are just the beginning of ethical behavior for hunters and trappers. In the end, it is up to individuals to be considerate of one another and the general public. Read more
Outdoor Indiana magazine’s November-December issue will feature a removable 2013 wall calendar packed with the best outdoor photography in the state. Subscribe and get it and five other full-color issues in for $12, a 33 percent savings over the cover price.
