Deer firearms season starts 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.
Photo courtesy of the R3 Clearinghouse
What to do after harvest
Prepare for your successful harvest of deer, turkey, otter, or bobcat by watching this video (click on this link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=zwMnYMCymKc) to learn about post-harvest transportation, check-in, and tagging requirements.
A bounty of hunting opportunities for November
November offers many hunting opportunities beyond deer firearms season, including:
Game Dates
Northern bobwhite quail Nov. 1 – Dec.15 (North of 1-74)
Nov. 1 – Jan. 10 (South of 1-74)
Ring-necked pheasant Nov. 1 – Dec. 15 (statewide-cock only)
Rabbit Nov. 1 - Feb. 28
Bobcat Nov. 8 – Jan. 31 (or until quota met)
Various waterfowl See season info
For more information about upcoming seasons and important regulations, please check out the Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide.
Explore hunting & trapping resources
Tips for fishing in rivers and streams
Photo courtesy of the R3 Clearinghouse
Fishing in rivers and streams can be a challenge when you don’t know how to find the fish but can become very rewarding once you learn how to read these waterways. When considering where to fish in moving water, think about what fish need to survive: food, shelter, oxygen, and proper temperatures. Then find the spots that check those boxes.
For instance, trout are opportunistic feeders that let the current bring food to them. They will hold close to the bottom and in between slow and fast currents watching for food floating by. Drifting your bobber in the edges of the current, deep enough to get your bait down to the trout, can be an effective method for potential strikes.
Smallmouth bass prefer to hang out in still water by structures like boulders and downed timber, waiting to ambush prey that come in range. You can try bouncing a soft plastic crayfish lure in and around these areas to entice a strike.
The more you know about fish behavior, the better chance you’ll find the best spot in any river or stream.
Get the GoOutdoorsIN mobile app
With the free GoOutdoorsIN mobile app, you can view your licenses, buy a new license, and check in your harvest from your smartphone.
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 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.
Hardy Lake gets boost to walleye population from local business
Aisin Drivetrain, Inc. of Crothersville generously funded the purchase of 2,500 walleye for Hardy Lake in southeastern Indiana this fall. DNR issued the stocking permit, and the Indiana Board of Animal Health ensured all fish met disease-free standards before release.
This purchase expands angling opportunities for visitors who already enjoy Hardy Lake’s quality largemouth bass and panfish populations. The stocked walleye, measuring five to seven inches, will also help maintain a healthy balance between predator and prey species in the waters.
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 missing only the 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.
Wild for woodrats
In October, DNR mammalogists conducted their yearly surveys of the state-endangered Allegheny woodrat. After setting live traps baited with apple slices in woodrat habitats and checking the next day, any woodrats caught were weighed, tagged, and had tissue samples taken before being released back into the wild. You can see how this survey process works in this video.
Once genetic testing is done on the collected tissue samples, DNR will know which isolated woodrat populations would benefit most from a boost in genetic diversity. This can be accomplished by introducing woodrats from other states and releasing young woodrats raised in local captive breeding programs.
Rare species conservation efforts like this ensure all Hoosiers have the chance to see unique and diverse wildlife, including the arguably adorable Allegheny woodrat.
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Upcoming events
11/21 | Guided Hike, Loon Lake Nature Preserve
12/5 | Ladies Pheasant Hunt in Partnership with NWTF, Pigeon River FWA
12/6 | Adult Pheasant Hunt in Partnership with NWTF, Pigeon River FWA
Recent news releases
- Indiana Lake and River Enhancement grant applications due Dec. 31
- Indiana DNR modifies 2027 Lake Michigan stocking plan to support larger, healthier fish
- Avian influenza detected in multiple Indiana counties
- DNR to stock more than 750 rainbow trout in northeast Indiana
- Indiana tree nursery program opens spring ordering for native trees
- See all DNR news releases
More
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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.