Save with the 2027 Holiday Gift Pack
The $102.99 State Park Holiday Gift Pack includes:
- A 2027 Indiana resident State Park Annual Entrance Pass.
- A $65 gift card (you choose either an Inns card for hotel lodging or a Camp card for site reservations).
- A one-year (four issue) subscription to Outdoor Indiana magazine.
Holiday Gift Packs are also available for seniors and nonresidents.
Deer firearms season begins Nov. 14
Deer firearms season is right around the corner, running Nov. 14–29. Get prepared by exploring updated deer hunting resources, including season dates, bag limits, in‑the‑field tips, and more to help make your hunt a success.
Be sure to check out videos covering hunter orange and harvest tagging requirements to make sure you’re safe and always in compliance. You can also watch a recent webinar geared toward helping deer hunters prepare for the hunt. For all your license needs, and to check in your harvests, visit GoOutdoorsIN.com or download the app for use in the field.
Celebrate Thanksgiving with Indiana State Park Inns
Gather with friends and family for a festive Thanksgiving feast at one of the scenic Indiana State Park Inn locations. Enjoy a warm, delicious meal surrounded by the beauty of fall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Reservations are required. Please make them by calling 1-877-LODGES1. Hurry! Seats are filling fast.
Help feed hungry Hoosiers
Did you know you can donate your harvested deer to feed hungry Hoosiers?
One donated deer can provide 200 meals for an Indiana family. To donate, follow these simple steps:
1. Enjoy a deer hunting experience.
2. Harvest a deer.
3. Drop off the field-dressed deer at a local participating processor.
4. Processing fees are paid for by Hunt for Hunger (at no cost to you).
5. The processor creates healthy ground venison to distribute to food banks.
Fall special at Indiana State Park Inns
Ends Nov. 25, 2026
Stay two or more consecutive nights, Sunday through Thursday, and get 25% off the best available rate. Some restrictions may apply. Not valid with any other offer or with group bookings. Blackout dates and restrictions may apply. Not valid on holidays or special events.
November delivers a bounty of hunting opportunities
November offers many hunting opportunities beyond deer firearms season, including:
Game Dates
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Northern bobwhite quail Nov. 1 – Dec.15 (North of 1-74)
Nov. 1 – Jan. 10 (South of 1-74)
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Ring-necked pheasant Nov. 1 – Dec. 15 (statewide-cock only)
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Rabbit Nov. 1 – Feb. 28
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Various waterfowl See season info
For more information about upcoming seasons and important regulations, please check out the Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide.
New Tree Shirt, same mission
The Indiana Natural Resources Foundation’s Tree Shirts are making a comeback with a fresh new design. For just $15, each shirt purchase directly supports the Indiana Tree Project and plants a tree in one of the beautiful Indiana State Forests. Shirts will be available beginning Nov. 1.
With your shirt, you’ll also receive an official tree certificate featuring your personal contribution to forest conservation, and the name of the state forest where your tree will grow.
It’s more than a shirt, it’s a statement of support for Indiana’s natural legacy.
DNR celebrates graduation of 23 new Conservation Officers
The Division of Law Enforcement held graduation ceremonies on Oct. 23 at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.
The DNR employs 214 conservation officers who, in addition to enforcing state laws, are often called upon to help during emergencies and natural disasters. They also engage in non-law-enforcement activities such as outdoor instructional programs, including boater, hunter, snowmobile, and trapper education. The division’s specialty response, river rescue, cave rescue, underwater search and recovery units, and its K-9 teams are available statewide as needed.
2027 Happy Little 5K registration is open
The Run for the Trees Happy Little 5K is back, and we're excited for you to join us for another year of happy miles, happy trees, and making a difference for Indiana’s public lands. Since Indiana joined the event in 2023, Hoosiers have raised more than $107,000 for healthy forest initiatives in Indiana State Parks!
Whatever way you choose to reach the finish line – walk, run, or roll – you pick the pace and the place in this virtual 5K. Every participant receives a Happy Little T-shirt, sticker, commemorative bib, and finisher’s medal.
Bass sampling on the Blue River
DNR fisheries biologists recently sampled bass populations in the Blue River as part of ongoing statewide monitoring efforts. The sampling showed that the Blue River continues to provide excellent fishing opportunities.
In total, the team recorded 169 rock bass and 133 smallmouth bass across four sites. Bass sizes varied across the sites, but some of the river’s deeper holes hold the potential for larger fish. Many bass were also found near woody debris and beneath overhanging rocks. This ongoing monitoring helps DNR observe any trends that may be occurring with the species in the river.
If you plan to fish, remember to have a valid fishing license with you. You can get yours at GoOutdoorsIN.com. Not interested in fishing? The Blue River is still a fall destination worth visiting for paddlers, birders, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Visit the Navigable Waterways Roster to find paddler-friendly access points.
New habitat for crawfish frogs at Tern Bar Slough
In September, DNR partnered with Duke Energy to build critical habitat for the state-endangered crawfish frog at Tern Bar Slough. With the assistance of Duke Energy’s personnel and equipment, nine new small wetlands were constructed on the property.
Tern Bar Slough offered two of the three key habitat features for crawfish frogs, open grasslands and crayfish burrows. The site was just missing fishless, seasonal wetlands essential for breeding. These newly built wetlands fill that gap.
In coming years, DNR biologists plan to introduce crawfish frog eggs or tadpoles into the new wetlands to help establish a sustainable population of this rare species on site.
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