This Year’s Free Fishing Days Announced
On select days each year, Indiana residents can fish the state’s public waters without a fishing license or a trout/salmon stamp. These days, dubbed “Free Fishing Days,” are excellent opportunities to learn to fish on your own, with family or friends, or simply try something new!
2026 Free Fishing Days will be on May 10, June 6-7, and Sept. 26. We hope to see you out on the water!
For anglers who fish year-round, remember that annual licenses and stamp privileges from last season expired on March 31. Purchase your 2026 license online, in person, or by mail. Check out our License Fees webpage for more information on license expiration dates and fees.
Photographer: Mark Luecke
Turkey Hunting: Season Dates, Licenses, and Resources
Sharpen your calls and lace up your boots—the gobblers will be sounding off soon! Youth turkey season is April 18-19, and general spring turkey season is April 22 to May 10. Before you venture into the woods, be sure to grab your spring turkey license and Gamebird Habitat Stamp from a license retailer, the DNR customer service center at 317-232-4200, or GoOutdoorsIN.com. Want to simplify your shopping experience? Opt for the spring turkey activity package! While you’re there, consider upgrading to a license hard card, featuring a new turkey photo for 2026!
Learn about places to hunt; how to preserve your turkey fan, spurs, or feet; recipe options to cook up your delicious gobbler; and more on our DNR turkey hunting video playlist or our turkey hunting webpage. Good luck this season!
Link Your Child’s Account in the License System
Youth turkey season is just around the corner on April 18-19. If you need to link your child’s account to yours, log in now to make any necessary updates. Visit the Help section of the license system for instructions, including a video and step-by-step guide. The instructions describe how to:
- Create an account for a youth under 13 years of age and link it to your own
- Link a youth under 13 years of age with an existing account to your own
- Link an account for someone 13 years and older to your own to purchase on their behalf
Save the Date: Regional Fisheries Webinars
DNR is hosting three fisheries webinars, April 21-23. The webinars will be interactive presentations by fisheries biologists covering topics like survey work and where to fish across Indiana. Each day will feature a different region of the state.
The webinar will include a presentation and Q&A using the webinar's chat function. If you have questions about fishing in Indiana, this is a great opportunity to get them answered. Attend one or attend all; you’re bound to learn something useful for your fishing adventures!
Check out the webinars listed below and mark them in your calendars.
- Northwest and Central Indiana, April 21, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. ET
- Northeast Indiana, April 22, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. ET
- Southern Indiana, April 23, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. ET
2026 Winter Bat Survey is in Progress
While temperatures were frigid, conditions were perfect for DNR mammalogists to conduct surveys for rare and endangered bats. About half of the bat species found in Indiana avoid the cold by seeking out climate-controlled caves where they can hibernate.
During this time, biologists count bats to get a snapshot of roughly how many of each species are present. Regularly conducting surveys provides a better understanding of population trends over time and doing them at the same time every other year helps to minimize disturbance. The surveys primarily target the Indiana bat, but they also include counts for the gray bat, little brown bat, tricolored bat, and big brown bat.
Donations to the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund help the DNR purchase equipment needed for surveys. One critical tool is digital cameras that enable biologists to spend less time in caves disturbing the bats and more time in the office viewing photos to obtain a more accurate count.
While the data is still being tallied for the 2026 winter bat count, the impression DNR mammalogists have from this winter’s surveys is that multiple bat species continue to show signs of population growth.
Want to help bats? You can give them the best chance to thrive by growing native plants, installing bat houses, protecting forested habitat, and minimizing disturbance to bats.
Life is Short – Fish in the Rain!
Don’t let April showers take away from your fishing hours. Fishing in the rain has many advantages and rewards for those willing to brave it.
When rain hits the water, it can increase oxygen levels and result in the fish becoming more active. Rain can also push insects and other food into the water, creating a feeding frenzy.
Additionally, the rain can make water more difficult to see through, so fish must leave their holding areas to go out and hunt their food. The reduced visibility also decreases a fish’s chance of studying your bait, which increases your chances of catching them.
When choosing a lure or bait, look for something dark or contrasting in the water that the fish can easily spot. Remember, always keep safety in mind and do not go out fishing when lightning is present or in the forecast.
Whatever the weather brings, take the first step toward fishing success by purchasing your fishing license.
Earth Day: Healthy Wildlife, Healthy People, Healthy Planet
Every April 22 we celebrate Earth Day - a day to recognize our shared responsibility to protect the natural world and take care of our state’s natural resources year-round.
From the sound of squirrels rustling in the trees to the quiet life of mussels in our waters, our natural resources provide much more than beauty. They offer cleaner water, cleaner air, food, and a sanctuary for fish, wildlife, plants, and people.
This year, we invite you to celebrate Earth Day by playing an active role in supporting the health of our state throughout the year. Here are some ideas to get started:
Planting Native: Choose native plants for landscaping. This will help support our local pollinators and songbirds.
Cleaning Up: Spend time with friends and family picking up litter at your favorite park, public access ramp, or community greenspace.
Responsible Angling: Help reduce waste and protect wildlife by keeping plastics and fishing line out of waterways. Read more here.
Remember, the outdoors isn’t just a place we visit. It’s a legacy that we are leaving behind for generations. Together, we can make Indiana’s future a healthy one!
Permanent Invasive Carp Harvest Permit Established
Indiana DNR now offers an invasive carp harvest permit to open avenues for large-scale removal of invasive carp, foster economic opportunities, and protect native fish populations and recreational users.
Invasive carp species, including silver, grass, and black carp, have become a significant issue across the Midwest, negatively impacting native fish populations and recreational activities like boating and fishing.
The new permit is free in order to encourage commercial fishing interest in removing these fish from public waters and helping protect native ecosystems.
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Upcoming events
- Apr. 13: Forests & Watersheds, Indianapolis
- Apr. 21: Fisheries Webinar: Northwest and Central Indiana, Virtual
- Apr. 22: Fisheries Webinar: Northeast Indiana, Virtual
- Apr. 23: Plant Native Workdays, Indiana State Fairgrounds DNR Building
- Apr. 23: Fisheries Webinar: Southern Indiana, Virtual
- Apr. 25: Introduction to Catfish Fishing Workshop, Sugar Ridge FWA
- May 02: Weed Wrangle and Habitat Plantings Workday, Wabashiki FWA
- May 05: Conserving Hoosier Amphibians with Project WET, WILD, and Learning Tree, West Lafayette
Recent news releases
- Gov. Braun announces LARE grants to benefit 48 lake and stream projects
- Natural Resources Commission to meet March 24 at Fort Harrison State Park
- Indiana DNR establishes permanent invasive carp harvest permit
- Gov. Braun, DNR Open Discover the Outdoors Field Trip Grant Applications
- Otter trapping season reaches quota, closes early
More
- Buy a license
- Hunting information
- Where to Hunt
- Fishing information
- Where to Fish
- Fish & Wildlife properties
- Donate to help rare and endangered species