Harvest season is upon us - hone your aim and pack your lures

In our most recent edition of Wild Bulletin, we made a mistake regarding the North Zone waterfowl, deer archery, red and gray fox, and coyote and striped skunk seasons. We apologize for the inconvenience. The dates have been corrected and bolded below:

North Zone (ducks, coots, and mergansers): Oct. 23 – Dec. 12
Deer Archery: Oct. 1 – Jan. 2, 2022
Red and Gray Fox: Oct. 15 – Feb. 28, 2022
Coyote and Striped Skunk: Oct. 15 – Mar. 15, 2022

You can find the season dates and regulations in the 2021-2022 Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide.

Find all deer information in one place

Find season dates, where to hunt, what you need, harvest numbers, and much more online. Make sure you are prepared for your deer hunt by checking out our special e-newsletter All About Deer.

Learn more about last year's harvest in the 2020 Indiana White-tailed Deer Report, available online.

Deer archery season is here

Dad and daughter with compound bow in hand heading to the stand

October is here and with it comes the start of deer archery season. The changing leaves and cooler temperatures make October a beautiful time to be in the woods. Deer behavior changes in a big way during this time, with bucks beginning to mark their territories with rubs and scrapes. Look for these signs while scouting to help you determine where deer are moving in your area.

Hunting with archery equipment is a challenging and rewarding activity that can provide some special opportunities. With a season that spans several months, there’s lots of time to get out in pursuit of your harvest. Also, since hunting with archery equipment is not as common as hunting with a firearm, you are more likely to have a hunting area to yourself. As with all hunting, make sure you’re familiar with your equipment and practice plenty before entering the woods.

Don’t wait and risk delays, buy your deer license now

Plan to buy your deer hunting license early and check that you can log into your Access Indiana account. Don’t risk delays due to potential technical difficulties.

If you typically buy your license at a store near you, skip the long lines the day before your hunt and buy now. Find a list of license retailers online. Check your license for accuracy before you leave the store.

Interested in harvesting multiple deer or hunting across multiple seasons? Consider buying a deer license bundle, which allows you to harvest up to three deer (only one may be antlered) during the Archery, Firearms, and Muzzleloader seasons.

Find more information about deer licenses, seasons, and regulations on our website. Remember, the resident youth consolidated hunt/trap license includes all deer hunting privileges.

Non-toxic shotgun shells laying the grass

Remember to use non-toxic shot for dove and waterfowl

With the ongoing ammo shortage, we know hunters are having trouble finding non-toxic shot to take advantage of dove and waterfowl hunting seasons. Non-toxic shot is required for dove hunting on DNR properties by state law, and federal law requires the use of non-toxic shot for waterfowl hunting across the country.

Both laws are intended to protect the species from the accidental ingestion of lead. On Fish & Wildlife properties, specific fields are set aside for hunters to use for dove hunting, and these fields encourage birds to feed on the ground. When several hunters shoot in the same direction in the same area over time, this causes an accumulation of shot on the ground where birds often feed. Using non-toxic shot protects doves while providing hunters with ample opportunity to hunt them over the fields they’re attracted to.

As you prepare for the upcoming waterfowl seasons opening or plan to hunt doves in November, buy your ammo well in advance. Find more information about waterfowl and migratory game bird season regulations online.

Take advantage of free CWD testing

Indiana DNR offers free testing for hunters interested in having their deer tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD). Hunters may voluntarily submit samples for testing at select Fish & Wildlife areas (FWAs) and state fish hatcheries (SFHs) throughout the hunting season. Deer heads can be dropped into designated coolers at select FWAs and SFHs, or hunters may make an appointment to have their harvested deer sampled by a biologist during office hours. Tongue tags will also be available for hunters who wish to have their deer’s head mounted and sampled for CWD – just follow the guidance provided at designated coolers or given by DNR staff. Testing results will available online.

Two tom turkeys hanging out in a mowed field

Harvest your Thanksgiving turkey this October

Now is the time to bring home your family’s Thanksgiving turkey. The fall archery wild turkey season is open in all Indiana counties from Oct. 1–31. Many counties also offer a fall firearms wild turkey season from Oct. 20–31. Purchase your fall wild turkey license and game bird habitat stamp online or at participating retailers. Avoid delaying your season because of long lines or technical difficulties – buy your license now.

The bag and possession limit for the fall seasons is one bird of either sex, regardless of hunting equipment used or what portion of the season you will be hunting. For a full list of wild turkey regulations, pick up a copy of the Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide from our Fish & Wildlife areas, or find regulations online. Visit Indiana’s Where to Hunt map to find possible hunting opportunities around the state. Turkey hunting in the fall is also a great time to prepare for deer season by scouting areas where you can hunt both game species.

Have questions about deer seasons or regulations?

Contact our Deer Hotline by emailing INDeerHotline@dnr.IN.gov or calling 812-334-3795, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

Man and his duck dog boating out to a submerged blind

Hunting seasons beginning soon

Wild Turkey Fall Archery: Oct. 1 – 31
Deer Archery: Oct. 1 – Jan. 2, 2021
Woodcock: Oct. 15 – Nov. 28
Red and Gray Fox: Oct. 15 – Feb. 28, 2021
Coyote and Striped Skunk: Oct. 15 – Mar. 15, 2021
Wild Turkey Fall Firearms: Oct. 20 – 31

Ducks, Coots, Mergansers: North Zone: Oct. 24 – Dec. 13 Central Zone: Oct. 30 – Nov. 7

Canada Geese: North Zone: Oct. 23 – Oct. 31 Central Zone: Oct. 30 – Nov. 7

Youth & Veteran Waterfowl North Zone: Oct. 16 – 17 Central Zone: Oct. 23 – 24 South Zone: Oct. 30 – 31

Mourning dove season will close on Oct. 17. Dog running season for raccoon and opossum will close on Oct. 25.

Booted feet climbing up the tree stand with the individual attached to a tree stand safety rope

Stay connected, Indiana!

Tree stands are a helpful tool during deer season, but it’s important to follow safe practices every time you use them. Falls from elevated hunting positions are the No. 1 cause of hunting incidents in Indiana. The most important step you can take to have a safe season is to use a full-body harness that is secured to the tree or a tree stand safety rope. Stay connected and use your harness system from the time you leave the ground, throughout your hunt, and until you descend back down. Here are some additional tree stand safety tips:

Use a haul line to raise and lower your bow, firearm, and other equipment. Make sure firearms are unloaded, actions are open, and that the safety is on. For bows, make sure broadheads are covered.
Follow your tree stand’s manufacturer guidelines.
Choose a live, straight tree that is the proper size for your stand.
Be aware of potential hazards from surrounding trees.
Use a hunt plan. Let someone know where you are hunting and when you plan to return.

Check in your deer, wild turkey, or river otter

The Indiana CheckIN Game system allows hunters and trappers to register ("check in") their harvested game from any device connected to the internet. You will receive a confirmation number that must be written down on a temporary transportation tag for the harvested game species (turkey, deer). Be sure to check your information to ensure accuracy before submitting. Deer and wild turkeys must be checked in within 48 hours of harvest; river otters must be checked in within 24 hours of harvest. Have your Customer ID and harvest information ready. Remember, you don’t need to log in to your account to check in game – you can do so by clicking CheckIN Game and entering your Customer ID number and date of birth.

Hunters still have the option of visiting traditional check stations where a confirmation number will be provided for you to place on your temporary transportation tag. There is also a phone-in option at 1-800-419-1326; however, there is a $3 charge for this service (payable by Visa or MasterCard only).

CheckIN Game data filters into real-time harvest tables available on the DNR website. Check harvest numbers for white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and river otter, updated daily during open seasons.

Waterfowl season is opening

Mallard decoy set on the water

October marks the beginning of hunting season for ducks, coots, and mergansers, and the midseason for hunting geese in Indiana’s North Zone and Central Zone. In the North Zone, Youth and Veteran season opens on Oct. 16, with all other waterfowl hunting open on Oct. 23. In the Central Zone, Youth & Veteran season begins on Oct. 23, with all other waterfowl available for hunting on Oct. 30. The season for hunting teal, which is considered a migratory bird, closed on Sept. 26 statewide. Many of Indiana’s Fish & Wildlife areas (FWAs) offer waterfowl hunting opportunities. Find a property near you with Indiana DNR’s Where to Hunt map, and visit Indiana FWAs’ webpages to find information on draw procedures and dates, property contact information, and rules and regulations specific to each property.

A list of approved non-toxic shot (required for hunting waterfowl), boundaries for the state’s North, Central, and South zones, and all waterfowl regulations can be found in the Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide. Waterfowl hunters must register for a free Harvest Information Program (HIP) number, and need to possess a valid hunting license, an Indiana waterfowl stamp privilege, and a Federal Duck Stamp. Register for a HIP number and purchase Indiana licenses and stamps online or at participating retailers.

Hunters can help feed hungry Hoosiers

Sportsmen's Benevolence Fund logo with a buck

Indiana hunters are encouraged to donate harvested deer to help feed hungry Hoosiers during the upcoming seasons. The Sportsmen’s Benevolence Fund administered by the DNR Law Enforcement Division provides grants to Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, Dubois County Sportsmen Club, and Hunters and Farmers Feeding the Hungry to pay for processing fees when hunters donate legally harvested deer.

The program is simple:

Enjoy a deer hunting experience.
Harvest a deer.
Drop off the field-dressed deer at a local participating processor.
Processing fees are paid for by the Sportsmen's Benevolence Fund.
The processor will create healthy venison burger to distribute to food banks.

For information on donating your harvested deer and participating processors, visit our website.

Blue points on a Monroe Lake map denoting fish habitat structure locations

Reservoir habitat map (available online). Blue marks fish habitat structure locations.

Improved fishing access at Paynetown SRA (Monroe Lake)

Our fisheries biologists recently installed fish habitat structures at Monroe Lake near the Paynetown State Recreation Area fishing dock. Structures are designed to bring fish closer to anglers while providing fish with places to feed and hide from predators. The materials used are smooth and rounded for snag resistance while still providing ample surfaces for algae and aquatic insects to colonize. During normal lake levels, the top of the structures are around 5 feet below the surface. The fishing dock is easy to access, granting anglers of all ages and abilities a comfortable spot to relax and cast a line.

Find out more information about the structures and other fish habitat structures around Monroe Lake through our reservoir habitat map.

Rock bass in hand with a fall stream in the background

Rock bass caught in the Blue River.

Cool temperatures heat up the bite

The air is getting cooler, and the leaves are changing, but fishing is heating up across Indiana. Cast away for muskie, striped bass, and hybrid striped bass with lures that look like baitfish. Flip jigs for crappie near underwater cover. Slip on some old sneakers and wade streams for smallmouth and rock bass. Pursue trout and salmon as they return to Lake Michigan tributaries. Bluegill and catfish continue to bite in waters across the state. Try fishing in the afternoon or early evening when the water is at its warmest and fish are the most active.

Escape to the water’s edge and away from the worries of the day. Being outdoors is good for your body and mind.

Looking for a new place to fish? Explore our Where to Fish map. Fishing tips and videos for all can be found online.

Campsites at night in the Salamonie Lake campground

Camping is available at Salamonie Lake.

Plan a weekend trip fishing and camping at a DNR property

Fall can be an excellent time to go fishing. The days are cooler and less humid than in summer months. Rivers and streams are more wade-able, allowing you to fish pools and other places you may miss other times of the year. And being outdoors is healthy, safe, and rejuvenating. Consider fishing while kayaking on a river, hiking with friends, or camping with the family. More than 40 DNR locations provide opportunities for both camping and fishing.

Explore our Where to Fish map for places to fish.

Want to eat your catch? Check out a video on how to fillet a fish and how to care for your catch back home. For more fishing tips and videos, visit our website.

Window with cords taped or tied down to the outside to prevent birds from hitting the glass

Paracord can be used to break up reflections and create bird-safe windows.

Protect migrating birds from your windows

Even if you have already experienced it, hearing the loud thud of a bird flying into a window will likely make you jump. As fall bird migration starts, these collisions are more likely. Up to 1 billion birds die annually after striking glass, making it the second largest human-caused killer of birds in the U.S.

It may be tempting to blame the birds for foolish flying, but birds fly into glass for multiple reasons. Birds often see reflections of open sky or another habitat in the window and perceive it as real as they try to reach that destination. They may also be startled or chased into glass by predators or be drawn into the area by birdfeeders and bird baths. Fortunately, there are ways that you can help birds safely navigate around your home:

Apply visible patterns to the outside of glass. Patterns need to be on the outside of the glass so they aren’t hidden by reflections. Make sure markings are spaced 2 inches apart and are a minimum of 1/8 inch thick. Make sure any pattern is visible from at least 10 feet away. The markings need to be close together, otherwise birds will try to fly around them. Get creative and consider using temporary paint on larger windows that can be safely be painted. Be sure to use bright or light colors that are visible to birds.
Install external insect screens.
Place birdfeeders, baths, or other objects that may attract birds at least 30 feet from windows, or right on the window (with suction cups). Birds are more likely to be killed from window collisions when birdfeeders are 15 to 29 feet away. Plant native shrubs near feeders so songbirds have a hiding place nearby if your yard is visited by a predator, such as a hawk.

For more information on bird conservation, visit https://abcbirds.org/. Find other ways to help wildlife on our website.

Northern harrier photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Try birdwatching with DNR at a Big Sit!

Birdwatching is an activity that anyone can enjoy, and the Big Sit! is designed for new birdwatchers and people who enjoy birdwatching while seated. On Sunday, Oct. 10, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, birdwatchers can stop by Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA) near Linton or Pisgah Marsh Wildlife Area near North Webster and enjoy the company of other birdwatchers while recording birds observed at each property. Whether you are new to birdwatching or an avid birder, come and share your excitement with others, bring a chair, and enjoy the birds.

Learn more and register for the Big Sit! at Goose Pond FWA or the Big Sit! at Pisgah Marsh Wildlife Area online.

Prescribed fire burning through fallen leaves in a forest

Fall fire brings spring wildflowers and more

Fall is the time for colorful leaves and frosty mornings – it’s also one of the best times for prescribed fire. Landowners and habitat managers often take advantage of the fall weather to conduct prescribed fire for many reasons, including improving wildlife habitat and managing invasive plant species.

Prescribed fire can be used to prepare an area for prairie grasses and wildflowers by providing better seed-to-soil contact, which promotes better seed growth. Depending on the timing, prescribed fire can also enhance existing native grasses by thinning out old material, opening up space for wildflowers essential to pollinators, or knocking back more aggressive maple and beech saplings for nut-generating hickories and oaks. Fire can also control invasive species and provide a greater diversity of favorable plants for many kinds of wildlife, from squirrels and songbirds to Northern bobwhite and turkey.

Prescribed fire is one of many tools used to establish or enhance habitat; however, a certain level of knowledge and skill is needed before planning a burn. Learn more about prescribed fire on our website. Get in contact with your district wildlife biologist if prescribed burning sounds like a good habitat management option for your property.

Harvest season is upon us - hone your aim and pack your lures

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