2026 state park passes and permits now available
The 2026 Indiana state park passes, lake permits, off-road cycling permits, and horse tags are now available at property offices, front gates, and online.
A resident annual entrance pass costs $50. Golden Hoosier Passports cost $25 and are available to Indiana residents 65 and older.
2-for-1 winter special at State Park Inns
Now through Feb. 26, 2026
Stay any night, Sunday through Wednesday, and get a second consecutive night free.
Not valid with any other offer or with group bookings. Book online or call 1-877-LODGES1 to reserve today.
New durable license card design winners
DNR has chosen the winning images for the second round of durable license cards, which will be available in 2026. Last year’s art and photo contest yielded an incredible number of submissions for the card designs, with almost 450 entries. This allowed DNR to select even more amazing images from those submissions and hold a second round of staff voting for the 2026 designs.
Congratulations to the following: Lesley Nelson (fish art), Mark Luecke (wild turkey photo), Christopher Whalen (frog photo), Christi Bennett (deer photo), Kathleen Gregory (sunlight through trees photo), and Sara Day (duck photo).
Check out the video above for a glimpse of Indiana’s great outdoors and the adventures the DNR has to offer.
Celebrate MLK Day of Service by volunteering for DNR
Celebrate Martin Luther King’s vision of service and community by volunteering at one of Indiana’s DNR properties.
The DNR offers countless opportunities for citizens to give back and make a lasting impact. Whether you’re maintaining scenic trails, assisting in nature centers, or helping restore Indiana’s treasured natural and cultural heritage sites, your time and effort will strengthen the places we all cherish.
Join us in continuing his legacy through service, stewardship, and a commitment to building a better future for generations to come.
For more information on volunteering, see on.IN.gov/dnrvolunteer or email DNRvolunteer@dnr.IN.gov.
Winter opens the door to new fishing adventures
Indiana offers a winter wonderland of fishing opportunities. Whether it’s through the ice for panfish, in a trickling stream for smallmouth, or out on Lake Michigan for steelhead, there’s something for every angler. The only thing for you to decide is where to go.
Check out the Where To Fish Map to find public fishing access sites across the state of Indiana. Remember, if you plan on ice fishing this winter, watch this video about safety and what to know before you go!
Natural Resources Foundation: Reflecting on a year of Hoosier conservation
Thanks to the INRF’s generous donors and partners, and the tireless work of Indiana DNR staff, 2025 was filled with accomplishments. These included increased outdoor education opportunities, expanded forests, special habitat projects, and so much more.
Join us in reflecting on the year of rewarding and successful projects you made possible.
2025 wins made possible by the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund
Since 1982, the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund has supported efforts to conserve rare and endangered species, protecting our Hoosier heritage for generations to come.
In 2025, DNR and its partners worked on strategic conservation initiatives for many of Indiana’s most vulnerable wildlife species. From captive rearing and releasing over 900 state-endangered crawfish frogs to partnering with the National Parks Service to promote freshwater mussel populations, our biologists’ work is as diverse as the species it benefits.
The projects, and many more, were made possible thanks to donations to the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund, a dedicated source of funding for the conservation of rare species in Indiana.
Ready to take the next step in supporting Indiana’s rare wildlife? Consider donating to the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund. Thanks to federal match funding, for every $50 donated, Indiana receives an additional $93 for rare and endangered species conservation work.
Learn more about the projects by watching the video above.
Winter and spring IMN classes open for registration
The Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program offers engaging, hands-on experiences that deepen your understanding of Indiana’s rich natural resources.
Beyond learning, it provides meaningful opportunities to share your knowledge and life experiences through volunteer service, helping to inspire and educate others about the value of our environment.
Opt-in to the Deer Management Survey
Each year, Indiana DNR invites the public to provide feedback on the management of white-tailed deer via the Deer Management Survey. This electronic survey gathers opinions on deer management at both the county and state levels, covering deer population management, trends in deer populations, and other relevant topics.
The survey will include questions about this past year’s epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) event in southern Indiana, as well as questions regarding Indiana DNR’s approach to managing EHD outbreaks.
Anyone can sign up to receive the survey by visiting the Deer Management Survey webpage. If you have previously filled out the survey, you will automatically receive one in future years.
DNR receives regional award for project on former mine land near Pleasantville
A DNR Division of Reclamation project completed on Greene-Sullivan State Forest near Pleasantville, in Sullivan County’s Jefferson Township, has received the highest regional award the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) presents annually.
The award, called the Interior States Region Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Award, was presented to DNR Reclamation’s AML program at the National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs conference Oct. 6.
Outdoor Indiana features 2026 calendar, earthworks
Outdoor Indiana magazine’s winter issue features the 2026 calendar, including a shot of the northern lights over Indiana Dunes State Park, as shown on the cover. The issue also includes a feature on Indiana’s many earthworks, some of which you can see at Mounds State Park.
Save money by subscribing for $15 for one year (four issues) or $28 for two years at ShopINStateParks.com or 317-233-3046, where you can also order just the calendar, for $10.
To read article excerpts, go to OutdoorIndiana.org.
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