IDNR Report
Earlier this month, Indiana DNR’s deer program coordinator, Joe Caudell, Ph.D., explained the recent changes to Indiana’s deer hunting regulations and how they may impact your hunts this coming deer season. View the recording of the webinar on YouTube here.
For questions about equipment, regulations, or which license you need, contact the Deer Information Line at INDeerInfo@dnr.IN.gov or 812-334-3795.
Changes to Indiana’s hunting deer regulations include:
- The statewide bag limit is 6 antlerless deer and 1 antlered deer, except for in Deer Reduction Zones and during youth seasons.
- There is a newly created County Antlerless Bag Limit instead of season antlerless bag limits and the County Bonus Antlerless Quota.
- Hunters cannot harvest an antlerless deer with a firearm during firearms season on Fish & Wildlife-managed properties nor at Salamonie, Mississinewa, and Patoka lakes.
- Only 1 antlered and 2 antlerless deer can be harvested with the bundle license.
- The use of crossbow equipment is now allowed using the archery license.
- The minimum caliber for a muzzleloader was reduced from 0.44 inches to 0.40 inches.
- Portable tree stands and ground blinds can be placed on DNR properties in Deer Reduction Zones between noon Sept. 1 and Feb. 8.
- Drones and/or devices with infrared sensors can be used to locate harvested deer (but they still cannot be used to hunt deer).
- A new change in state law allows hunters to use rifles with a centerfire cartridge that has a minimum bullet diameter of .219 inches (5.56 mm) or larger on both public and private lands.