Indiana DNR Wild Bulletin: The inside scoop on what's outside * January 2026
Wildlife successes, squirrel hunting workshops, winter fishing, and more!
Winners of New Hard Card License Designs
DNR has chosen the winning images for the second round of hard card licenses, which will be available this year. We received an incredible number of submissions during last year’s art and photo contest for the card designs, with almost 450 entries. This allowed us to select even more amazing images from those submissions and hold a second round of staff voting for the 2026 designs.
It's always an honor to see the work of so many talented Hoosiers. Congratulations to Lesley Nelson (fish art), Mark Luecke (wild turkey photo), Christopher Whalen (frog photo), Christi Bennet (deer photo), Kathleen Gregory (sunlight through trees photo), and Sara Day (duck photo).
2025 Successes Made Possible by the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund
Indiana’s wildlife is majestic and diverse. Rare species such as least terns, crawfish frogs, Franklin’s ground squirrels, and freshwater mussels promote healthy ecosystems and biodiversity, improving quality of life for all. Since 1982, the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund has supported efforts to conserve rare and endangered species and protect our Hoosier heritage for generations to come.
In 2025, Indiana DNR and its partners worked on strategic conservation initiatives for the species listed above and many more. From captive rearing and releasing more than 900 state endangered crawfish frogs to partnering with the National Park Service to promote freshwater mussel populations, DNR biologists’ work is as diverse as the species it benefits. See some of the highlights in this new YouTube Video.
This work (and much more) was made possible largely thanks to donations to the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund, a dedicated source of rare species conservation funding in Indiana. To get updates, subscribe to the Nongame Wildlife Fund quarterly newsletter by emailing mmason1@dnr.IN.gov or by following the Division of Fish, Wildlife & Nature Preserves on Facebook and Instagram.
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.
Upcoming Squirrel Workshop
Start the new year by learning a new skill. Join the Indiana DNR on Saturday, Jan. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon at Sugar Ridge Fish & Wildlife Area for Introduction to Squirrel Hunting. The workshop will cover the basics of squirrel hunting, the biology of squirrels, equipment needed, regulations, and tactics to harvest your first squirrel. Register Here.
New Year – New Fishing Opportunities
Indiana offers a winter wonderland of fishing opportunities. Whether it is 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. Remember, if you plan to be on the ice this winter, check out this page about ice safety and what to know before you go.
Photo courtesy of CAHSS Clearinghouse
Learn More About Reduction Zone Deer Hunting
Deer Reduction Zones give hunters opportunities to harvest deer in defined urban areas and along portions of Indiana highways. Their harvest is in addition to statewide bag limits. Hunters must have permission from landowners or land management groups before hunting a property located in a Deer Reduction Zone. There are specific licenses required for hunting these areas, as well as special regulations and bag limits. This is a great late-season opportunity for deer hunters, but make sure you know the rules and regulations before you go.
New Indiana Mammal Reports Map
Hearing about armadillos in your city? Does your neighbor swear they once saw a flying squirrel in their tree? You can now find which rare or elusive mammals are being seen in your neck of the woods with the newly launched Indiana Mammal Reports Map!
The map displays confirmed and credible reports of Mammals of Interest collected through DNR’s Report-A-Mammal tool. Maps will be updated as biologists review reports and confirm location and species.
View the map or report a sighting of your own here.
Opt In to the Deer Management Survey
Each year, the Indiana DNR invites the public to provide feedback on the management of white-tailed deer via the Deer Management Survey. The electronic survey gathers opinions on deer management at both the county and state levels regarding 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 and questions regarding Indiana DNR’s approach to managing EHD outbreaks.
Anyone can sign up to receive the survey. Learn more by visiting the Deer Management Survey webpage. If you have previously filled out the survey, you will automatically receive one in future years.
Upcoming events
- Jan. 07: Whooper Wednesday, Goose Pond FWA
- Jan. 14: Whooper Wednesday, Goose Pond FWA
- Jan. 17: Introduction to Squirrel Hunting Workshop, Sugar Ridge FWA
- Jan. 21: Whooper Wednesday, Goose Pond FWA
- Jan. 28: Whooper Wednesday, Goose Pond FWA
- Feb. 04: Whooper Wednesday, Goose Pond FWA
- Feb. 07: Wood Duck Box Building Volunteer Day, J.E. Roush FWA
- Feb. 11: Whooper Wednesday, Goose Pond FWA
Recent news releases
- LARE applications due Jan. 15
- Bobcat trapping season reaches quota, closes early
- DNR stocked channel catfish and walleye this fall
- Perfect holiday gifts available from Indiana DNR
More
- Buy a license
- Hunting information
- Where to Hunt
- Fishing information
- Where to Fish
- Fish & Wildlife properties
- Donate to help rare and endangered species
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 motorboat 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.
ndiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife | Copyright 2026
402 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-234-8440
wildlife.IN.gov