Indiana DNR: Wild Bulletin || The inside scoop on what's outside || Here's what you can harvest this December: Indiana's hunting and trapping opportunities
Photo courtesy of R3 Clearinghouse.
Deer seasons
If you haven’t harvested a deer yet this season, there’s still time. See the open hunting seasons below.
Reduction Zone: now – Jan. 31, 2025
Archery: now – Jan. 5, 2025
Firearms: now – Dec. 1, 2024
Photo courtesy of R3 Clearinghouse.
Muzzleloader season: Make history with your harvest
Are you interested in the heritage of hunting or looking to extend your hunting season this year? Try muzzleloader hunting during the open season, Dec. 7 – 22. Although the muzzleloader became Indiana’s state firearm only recently, in 2012, it has been used by Hoosier hunters for centuries.
Make your own history on your next hunt. Find more tips and tricks for deer hunting on our website.
New DNR system for licenses, harvests, and gift certificates launches Dec. 11
A new system that will enhance online customers’ ease of doing business with the Division of Fish & Wildlife will launch Dec. 11.
Called the Activity Hub, it replaces the current licensing system and includes core functionalities such as fish and wildlife license sales, game check-in, HIP (Harvest Information Program) registration, donations, and gift certificates. Improved functions and new features of the hub include options for the auto-renewal of licenses and purchases of durable license cards, as well as enhanced support during times of high-volume traffic.
The Hub will be accessible with an Access Indiana account. Those with existing accounts will be able to log in without any disruption. Customers with recent purchases, harvests, or existing licenses from January 2020 to the present will automatically be migrated into the new system and won’t need to take any additional steps to access their account.
Customers who want to retain license purchase information, information on past draws, or CheckIN Game data from before 2020 should take screenshots of their records before 11:59 p.m. Dec. 10. Customers who need help retaining older data or who have questions regarding their accounts should call the DNR Customer Service Center at 317-232-4200 or 877-463-6367, or email INHuntFish@dnr.IN.gov.
Winners of DFW’s first Art & Photo Contest announced
Hoosiers have talent far beyond being top hunters, trappers, and anglers. With almost 450 entries submitted to our durable license card art and photo contest, we increased the number of winners from four to six to include two more of our staff’s favorites.
These images will be the background art for the new durable license cards available early next year. Thanks to those who shared their art with us.
A: Short-eared Owl Photo. Photographer: Triston Vittorio
B: White-Tailed Deer Photo. Photographer: Mike Mosier
C: Wild Turkey Photo. Photographer: Carson Hughes
D: Hooded Mergansers Painting. Artist: Robin J. Myers
E: Largemouth Bass Drawing. Artist: Boris Angelkov, Age 11
F: Painted Turtle Photo. Photographer: Bill St.Clair
Open trapping seasons
Find current open trapping seasons below.
Species * Trapping Seasons
Red & Gray Fox * now – Jan. 31
Coyote & Striped Skunk * now – March 15
Raccoon & Opossum * now – Jan. 31
Mink, Muskrat, Long-tailed Weasel * now – Jan. 31
Beaver * now – March 15
River Otter * now – March 15 (or until quota is met)
For more information on furbearer trapping, such as best management practices, traps, and species reports, visit our trapping webpage.
Phillip Duracz, a past State Record Fish burbot title holder, with his 11.4-pound burbot.
Fish for a record
If you’re an angler looking for competition, be sure to check out Indiana’s Record Fish program, which recognizes State Record Fish and Fish of the Year.
Fish of the Year: Size is determined by a total length measurement, or fork length for shovelnose sturgeon. No weight measurement is required. Entries must be submitted online or emailed by Dec. 15 of the calendar year the fish was caught. Any FOTY entries received after Dec. 15 will be included in the next year’s competition.
State Record Fish: Size is determined by weight measurement first, then length (both measurements are required). The weight measurement must be taken on a scale certified by the State of Indiana.
Find more information for submitting your next big catch on our website.
See our Public Access team in action
Looking for more access to our state’s water resources? DNR’s public access manages more than 400 sites across the state that provide free access for fishing, boating, and paddling to everyone in Indiana. Take a look at the work this team does and learn how to find free access to Indiana waters in our latest YouTube video.
Photo courtesy of Central Indiana Land Trust, Incorporated.
Division of Nature Preserves dedicates Fern Station Nature Preserve
Last week, Division of Nature Preserves celebrated the dedication of Fern Station Nature Preserve in Putnam County. Fern Station is an unbroken forest that offers forest interior habitat for wildlife. Dominated by white oak, beech, and hickory trees, it is rich with woodland species, including wood thrush, Acadian flycatcher, and Northern parula. The site is home to an abundant population of Kentucky warblers, as well as red-shouldered hawks.
Rare species located within Fern Station include cerulean, worm-eating, and hooded warblers; broad-winged hawks; and Eastern box turtles. Tributaries of Snake Creek contain amphibian life. The wooded ravines support a rich understory of native shrubs and a variety of fern species, including maiden hair, broad beech, fragile, glade, sensitive, Christmas, silvery spleenwort, and crested ferns.
This project was funded by the Next Level Conservation Trust and donations from the Central Indiana Land Trust, Incorporated.
Check in on Indiana’s deer harvest
Do you want to see dynamic data of the statewide deer harvest? Updated once per day during deer hunting seasons, the interactive display shows harvest by county, equipment type, location, and more. View the dashboard online via desktop or mobile.
Watch wildlife from the comfort of your home
As temperatures drop, it can be harder to go outside and recreate. The DNR website provides local wildlife viewing opportunities for you to see from the inside of your house. If you’re a birder, visit Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area’s web camera page to see their live birding and barn owl nest cameras.
Celebrate World Wildlife Conservation Day
On Dec. 4, celebrate World Wildlife Conservation Day by doing what you can to care for Indiana’s wildlife. Whether you pick up trash at a park or throw your lead shot in the bin, your help is appreciated in conserving our state’s species.
Recent news releases
LARE applications are due Jan. 15
DNR to stock channel catfish statewide
Indiana deer hunters urged to remember safety tips
Upcoming events
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The Indiana Natural Resources Foundation celebrates and preserves Indiana’s natural legacy by raising funds to support the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and its programs. Together, we have helped expand public lands, restore wildlife habitat, and create outdoor educational and recreational opportunities for Hoosiers.
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 motor boat 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.