The Indiana Department of Natural Resources enforces restrictions and encourages hunters to stay educated to protect the state’s hunting tradition and wildlife for future generations.
Hunting in Indiana includes waterfowl, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and small game animals. This guide will explore the latest updates, regulations, and highlights.
Indiana Game Species and Their Hunting Seasons
Deer
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Start | Season End |
| Deer - Muzzleloader | December 9, 2023 | December 24, 2023 |
| Deer - Firearms | November 18, 2023 | December 3, 2023 |
| Deer - Reduction Zone | September 15, 2023 | January 31, 2024 |
| Deer - Youth | September 23, 2023 | September 24, 2023 |
| Deer - Archery | October 1, 2023 | January 7, 2024 |
Turtles
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Eastern Snapping Turtle | July 1, 2023 - March 31, 2024 |
| Smooth & Spiny Softshell Turtles | July 1, 2023 - March 31, 2024 |
| 4 (Limit is Individually or combined. Needs a 12-inch carapace) |
Fox
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Fox - Red & Gray | October 15, 2023-February 28, 2024 |
Frog
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Green Frog & Bullfrog | June 15, 2023 - April 30, 2024 |
| A bag limit of 25 |
Beaver
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Beaver | November 15, 2023 - March 15, 2024 |
Coyote
| IN Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Coyote | October 15, 2023 - March 15, 2024 |
Crow
| IN Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Crow (No Limit) | July 1, 2023 - August 15, 2023 |
| December 13, 2023 - March 1, 2024 |
Mink
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Mink | November 15, 2023 - January 31, 2024 |
Muskrat
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Muskrat | November 15, 2023 - January 31, 2024 |
Opossum
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Opossum | November 8, 2023 - January 31, 2024 |
| Opossum - No Hunting (Dog Running & Chasing season only) | February 1, 2023 - October 25, 2024 |
Pheasant
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Pheasant-statewide (cock only) | November 1, 2023 - December 15, 2023 |
| A bag limit of 2 |
Quail
| Indiana Quail Hunt | Season Dates | Bag Limits |
| North of I74 | November 1, 2023 - December 15, 2023 | 4 /day |
| South of I74 | November 1, 2023 - January 10, 2024 | 8 / day |
Rabbit
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Rabbit | November 1, 2023 - February 28, 2024 |
| 5 per day Bag Limit |
Raccoon
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Raccoon - No Hunting (Dog Running & Chasing season only) | February 1, 2023 - October 25, 2024 |
| Raccoon | November 8, 2023 - January 31, 2024 |
River Otter
| River Otter Hunting Season | No Hunting Season |
| River Otter Trapping Season | Nov 15, 2023-March 15, 2024 |
Ruffed Grouse
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Ruffed Grouse | Suspended |
Squirrel
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Gray & Fox Squirrel | August 15, 2023 - January 31, 2024 |
| A bag limit of 5 | |
Skunk
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Striped Skunk | October 15, 2023 - March 15, 2024 |
Turkey
| Indiana Turkey Hunt Type | Season Dates | Note |
| Youth | April 22, 2023- April 23, 2023 | One bearded turkey bag limit. |
| Spring | April 26, 2023 - May 14, 2023 | One bearded turkey bag limit. |
| Early Fall Archery | October 1, 2023 - October 29, 2023 | one turkey of either sex |
| Early Fall Archery | December 9, 2022 - January 7, 2024 | one turkey of either sex |
| Fall Firearm | October 18, 2023 - October 29, 2023 | one turkey of either sex |
Weasel
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | November 15, 2023 - January 31, 2024 |
Waterfowl & Migratory Birds
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Woodcock - Statewide | October 15, 2023 - November 28, 2023 |
| Snipe - Statewide | September 1, 2023 - December 16, 2023 |
| Sora rail - Statewide | September 1, 2023 - November 9, 2023 |
| Early teal - Statewide | September 9, 2023 - September 24, 2023 |
Mourning Dove
| Indiana Hunt Type | Season Dates |
| Mourning Dove - (Statewide Segment 1) | September 1, 2023 - October 15, 2023 |
| Mourning Dove - (Statewide Segment 2) | November 1, 2023 - November 26, 2023 |
| Mourning Dove - (Statewide Segment 3) | December 16, 2023 - January 3, 2023 |
Ducks, Coots, and mergansers
| Ducks, Coots, and mergansers | Season Dates |
| North Zone - Segment 1 | October 28, 2023 - December 17, 2023 |
| North Zone - Segment 2 | December 26, 2023 - January 3, 2023 |
| |
| Central Zone - Segment 1 | November 4, 2023 - November 12, 2023 |
| Central Zone - Segment 2 | November 24, 2023 - January 13, 2023 |
| |
| South Zone - Segment 1 | November 11, 2023 - November 12, 2023 |
| South Zone - Segment 2 | December 2, 2023 - January 28, 2023 |
Geese (Canada, Brant, white-fronted snow, and Ross’s)
| Geese (Canada, brant, white-fronted snow, and Ross's) | Season Dates |
| North Zone - Segment 1 | September 9, 2023 - September 17, 2023 |
| North Zone - Segment 2 | October 28, 2023 - November 5, 2023 |
| North Zone - Segment 3 | November 18, 2023 - February 11, 2023 |
| |
| Central Zone - Segment 1 | September 9, 2023 - September 17, 2023 |
| Central Zone - Segment 2 | November 4, 2023 - November 18, 2023 |
| Central Zone - Segment 3 | November 24, 2023 - February 11, 2023 |
| |
| South Zone- Segment 1 | September 9, 2023 - September 17, 2023 |
| South Zone - Segment 2 | November 11, 2023 - February 11, 2023 |
Youth and veterans only days
| Youth and veteran only hunting days | Season Dates |
| North Zone | October 21, 2023 - October 22, 2023 |
| Central Zone | October 28, 2023 - October 29, 2023 |
| South Zone | November 4, 2023 - November 5, 2023 |
Licensing
- Licenses and permits are required for hunters.
- Online at on.IN.gov/INhuntfish or in person at shops statewide, licenses may be bought.
- Resident, nonresident, youth, apprentice, and lifelong licenses are among the numerous license types.
- For those born after December 31, 1986, obtaining a license requires passing a hunter education course.
- License exemptions are available for specified situations, such as taking part in a field trial authorized by the DNR or going on a resident’s owned or leased farm.
Regulations
- To participate in activities, hunters must get the relevant licenses and permissions.
- There are many different licensing categories, including resident and nonresident, youth, apprentice, and lifelong licenses.
- Anyone born after December 31, 1986, must take a DNR-sponsored hunter education course to get a license.
- License exemptions are available for specified situations, such as taking part in a field trial authorized by the DNR or going on a resident’s owned or leased farm.
- Any kind of game is prohibited during the off-season. For precise dates and limitations, hunters must refer to the Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide or the Indiana DNR website.
- Illegal techniques are forbidden, as are electronic equipment, artificial lighting, and other tools that offer the hunter an unfair advantage.
- When hunting for deer, turkey, or waterfowl, hunters must wear at least 144 square inches of bright hunter orange or fluorescent pink gear.
- In some locations known as “nontoxic shot zones,” hunting or killing game animals using lead ammunition is forbidden.
- Using bait to entice game animals is prohibited. Hunters should know the rules and limitations of particular baiting.
- Hunting is prohibited in defined safety zones, such as those close to inhabited buildings, busy highways, and specific wildlife refuges.
- Hunters are required to behave responsibly and ethically, which includes disposing of garbage properly, respecting the rights of others to their land, and notifying the relevant authorities of any infractions or suspicious activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any reserved hunts in Indiana for 2023?
For each reserved hunt, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) supplies hunters with information containing hunt dates, area maps, and property-specific regulations. During the allotted application time, hunters may submit applications for reserved hunts; however, once an application has been filed, it cannot be altered.
What are the regulations for squirrel hunting in Indiana for 2023?
It lasts from August 15 through January 31, 2023. The bag limit is five fox or gray squirrels per day (total for both species), with a possession restriction of ten.
Jacob Ross is a passionate outdoor enthusiast and skilled turkey hunter who is committed to sharing his love of the outdoors via interesting writing and helpful advice. Jacob's years of field experience and in-depth knowledge of turkey behavior allow him to contribute to readers' hunting knowledge on TurkeySeason.org.
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