It takes two: Take a youth deer hunting
Do you know a kid who loves deer hunting? Mark your calendars for youth deer weekend, Sept. 27-28. In the lead-up, we anticipate a high volume of license system traffic on Sept. 10, 17, and 26. Don’t wait until the last minute to access your account in DNR’s new license system, the Activity Hub.
If you previously had a child or other person linked to your account, you will need to reestablish that link in the new system. The process functions differently from the previous license system, so allow plenty of time to learn the steps. Click below for instructions. They describe how to:
- Link a youth under 13 years of age with an existing account to your own account
- Add and link a youth under 13 years of age who doesn’t have an account
- Link an account for someone 13 years and older to your account so that you can purchase on their behalf
💡Tip: In the previous system, youth accounts were for those younger than 18 years old. In the new system, youth accounts are for those under 13 years old. This change will affect how you manage a child’s account.
Have fun outside with your hunting buddy!
Get ready for fall: Sign in and secure your licenses early
Fall licenses are officially on sale, and DNR’s upgraded licensing system, the Activity Hub, works a bit differently than the prior method. To make sure you're ready to go, please sign in now, check your account, and grab your licenses early.
Getting set up ahead of time gives you plenty of room to troubleshoot, ask for help, or visit a retailer if needed. Don’t wait until the last minute. DNR wants you to get into the field without a hitch.
To log in:
- Go to GoOutdoorsIN.com and click the login button.
- You’ll be directed to Access Indiana, where you'll log in or create an account.
- Once logged in, you'll return to the Hub to verify your personal info, purchase licenses, and apply for reserved hunts.
Need help or have questions? Call: 317-232-4200 or 877-463-6367 or email INHuntFish@dnr.IN.gov.
Want helpful tips this fall? Sign up to receive emails in your Go Outdoors Indiana account so you don’t miss important updates.
Take advantage of Indiana’s Free Fishing Days
The final Free Fishing Day of 2025 is Saturday, Sept. 27, so mark your calendars! While there are no licenses or stamps required on Free Fishing Days, all regulations, such as seasons, bag limits, and size limits, still apply.
These special days offer Indiana residents the opportunity to try fishing for the first time without having to purchase a fishing license or trout/salmon stamps.
If you already have your annual fishing license, this is a perfect opportunity to take friends and family fishing who haven’t gone before. Additionally, you can plan a fishing trip with the click of a button using DNR’s new Fishing Trip Planner. After answering a few questions about your trip preferences, the planner charts your course and does the work for you.
Not sure where to go fishing? Check out the Where To Fish map and find your new favorite fishing spot.
Put-and-Take Pheasant Hunt Registration
Pheasant hunters, mark your calendars: Reservations for the 2025 Put-and-Take Pheasant Hunts open on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 7 a.m. ET and will continue to the end of the Put-and-Take Pheasant Hunt period or until hunts are sold out. This year, the hunts take place between Nov. 22 and 30. The fee is $30 per reservation and is first-come, first-served. There is a $1 tech fee for each hunt application.
Participating Fish & Wildlife areas (FWAs) include Atterbury, Glendale, J.E. Roush Lake, Pigeon River, Tri-County, Willow Slough, and Winamac. For property-specific information, contact the property at which you are interested in hunting.
Important notes about reserving a hunt:
In December 2024, a new license system, the Activity Hub, replaced the former system. Make sure to allow yourself plenty of time to log in and learn how the system works.
Additionally, when logging in to reserve a Put-and-Take, you will experience a new feature, a virtual waiting room that regulates the flow of customers through the purchasing process. This feature is designed to prevent bottlenecks and system crashes when sales volumes are high, add a layer of fairness, and prevent bots from impacting sales.
If you purchased a Put-and-Take in the past two years, watch for an email that will include tips for logging in and details about the new virtual waiting room.
Bring on the bass this fall
Autumn might mean fewer anglers on the water, but that could mean better bass fishing for you! Fall is an excellent time to fish a local river or stream, as the water is cooler and often clearer from fewer other recreational users.
If you decide to take advantage of the prime bass fishing conditions this fall, the DNR would love to hear about it. During the past year, biologists have been collecting anonymous fishing trip data on stream black bass (smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass) to monitor fishing pressure and populations.
Survey data include locations (rivers and streams only), time spent fishing, and the sizes of fish caught. Even if you don’t catch any fish, reporting your trip is still helpful for biologists.
Add squirrel hunting to your list of hobbies
If you find yourself skipping squirrel hunting every year, we hope 2025 is the year you give it a try. Who knows? Giving the sport a chance could result in your new favorite hobby!
Squirrel hunting is a good entry activity for new hunters. It doesn’t require special equipment or calling skills. All you need is a bit of patience, a good log to sit on, a trusty shotgun or .22 centerfire rifle, and the time to spend a fun-filled, low-pressure day in the woods.
Squirrel season is open until Jan. 31, 2026. Remember to purchase your hunting license or a hunt/fish combo license to participate.
Kokomo Reservoir receives habitat enhancement
DNR fisheries biologists recently evaluated the expansion of native aquatic vegetation that was planted three years ago at Kokomo Reservoir. The project began after previous DNR surveys indicated the reservoir was lacking vegetative habitat. Spatterdock (Nuphar advena) and water lily (Nymphaea odorata) were planted in 2022 and have since shown tremendous growth and expansion. Because of the project’s early success, an additional 220 water lily buds were planted in July.
Aquatic vegetation is the primary form of habitat for fish in Indiana lakes. Vegetation provides physical structure for aquatic organisms, holds nutrients, protects shorelines from erosion, and stabilizes lake sediments.
To learn more about aquatic habitat enhancement projects, please visit the DNR webpage.
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Upcoming events
- Sept. 11: Introduction to Squirrel Hunting, Atterbury FWA
- Sept. 13: Introduction to Squirrel Hunting, Sugar Ridge FWA
- Sept. 17: Introduction to Basic Fishing Workshop, Eagle Creek Park
- Sept. 20: Project WET & Project WILD Workshop: Pollinators, Zionsville
- Sept. 23: Project WET Workshop: Wonders of Wetlands, Bass Lake Beach
- Sept. 23: Project WET Workshop: Healthy Water, Healthy People at Pecar Nature Center, Avon
- Sept. 24: Introduction to Catfish Fishing Workshop, Eagle Creek Park
- Sept. 26: Project WET Workshop: Foundations, New Paris
- Sept. 27: Free Fishing Day, Statewide
- Sept. 27: Introduction to Bass Fishing Workshop, Atterbury FWA
- Sept. 27: Guided Hike and Habitat Cleanup, Pine Station Nature Preserve
- Oct. 04: Forests and Watersheds - a Project WET and Project Learning Tree Workshop, Paoli
- Nov. 01: Introduction to Deer Hunting, Atterbury FWA
Recent news releases
- Register now for upcoming Tree Stewards workshops
- Reserved hunt applications open for waterfowl, deer, and gamebirds
- Indianapolis angler catches state record Mooneye
- 30th/Northwood Trail opens in Jasper
- Visit the DNR at the State Fair
- Natural Resources Commission approves carbon sequestration rules
More
- Buy a license
- Hunting information
- Where to Hunt
- Fishing information
- Where to Fish
- Fish & Wildlife properties
- Donate to help rare and endangered species
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 motorboat 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.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife | Copyright 2025
402 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-234-8440