General Regulations

Bag and Possession Limits

It is illegal to take more than the daily bag limit of a wild animal in a calendar day. The possession limit is two times the daily bag limit. The possession limit does not apply to a wild animal that is processed and stored at an individual’s primary residence, except for waterfowl and migratory birds. See key definitions. It is illegal to carry, transport, or ship outside Indiana, in open season, in one day, a wild animal that the individual has legally taken in open season, not to exceed the possession limit of the wild animal.

A harvested wild animal that is left unattended while in the field, not in the immediate vicinity of the individual who took the animal while in the field, or gifted to another person must have a tag attached or be in a container or bag that has the following information: the name and address of the person who took the animal, total number and species of wild animals taken, the date the wild animals were taken, and the signature of the person who killed the animal.

You cannot transport a harvested wild animal for another person, which is in excess of your bag limit, unless the animal is tagged as described above. You may carry the carcass of a wild animal for another person while in the field or transporting from the field as long as the person who killed the animal is present with you.

When transporting pheasant, the head and head plumage of the bird must remain attached until processing.

Legal Hunting Hours

Turkey: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset (hours may be different on state-owned property – see Wild Turkey).

Deer: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

Furbearer: Hunting/Running: noon of first day to noon of last day.

Trapping: 8 a.m. of first day to noon of last day.

Deer-Vehicle Collisions

If a deer dies after a collision with a motor vehicle, an Indiana Conservation Officer, DNR property manager, assistant property manager or other law enforcement officer may issue a permit to an individual to possess the deer.

If a deer is found dead from another cause, an Indiana Conservation Officer or person designated by an Indiana Conservation Officer may issue a permit to possess the deer.

Trespassing

It is illegal to hunt, trap, chase or retrieve game on private land without the consent of the landowner or tenant. Always ask permission before entering private property. A sample private landowner permission form can be downloaded here.

Hunting from a Vehicle or Boat

Mammals and birds may not be taken or chased from, by the use of, or with the aid of any motor-driven conveyance (including boats), except:

• By an individual authorized to hunt from a stationary vehicle with a Persons with Disabilities Hunting Permit.
• To check traps that are lawfully set and maintained.
• To hunt waterfowl from a motorboat if the boat is beached, resting at anchor, tied to a stationary object, or otherwise without motion except as provided by wind, water current or hand-operated oars or paddles.

It is illegal to hunt furbearers from any boat. It is illegal to ride an off-road vehicle with a loaded firearm (unless it’s a handgun and on private property in accordance with Indiana Code 14-16-1-23). Except for handguns carried while on private property, the firearm must also be encased or made inoperative with a trigger lock while transported on an off-road vehicle.

Wanton Waste

It is illegal to kill or cripple any wild animal without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the animal to include in your daily bag limit. It is illegal, however, to enter private property without permission to retrieve downed game. Before hunting, individuals must make sure they have permission to track game on land adjoining their hunting area.

Handguns

While hunting, an individual may carry a handgun without a handgun license in accordance with Indiana Code 35-47-2-1 at IN.gov/legislative.

Magazine Plugs

When hunting for migratory game birds and waterfowl (i.e., doves, ducks, geese, woodcock, etc.), it is illegal to use a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler that is incapable of being removed without disassembling the gun (See Waterfowl & Migratory Birds).

There are no restrictions on magazine capacity for hunting of any other species.

Shooting Across Roads or Waters

It is illegal to hunt, shoot at or kill any animal or to shoot at any object from within, into, upon or across any public road. It is illegal to shoot across a body of water, except in the lawful pursuit of wildlife.

Silencers

It is illegal to possess a silencer while hunting.

Laser Sights

Laser sights are legal for all hunting.

Harassment of Hunters, Trappers

It is illegal to intentionally interfere with the legal taking of a game animal by another person on public land, or on private land without permission of the landowner.

Selling of Wild Game

Protected or regulated wild animals, live, dead, or the meat there from, cannot be sold, traded or bartered. (Exceptions: lawfully taken furbearers, squirrel tails, deer hides, antlers, hooves, and cured gamebird feathers may be sold).

DNR, Federal Property Rules

Hunting and trapping regulations may vary on some state or federal properties. Please check with the property manager for current regulations before hunting or trapping on state or federal areas.

Violation Penalties

Any person who takes a deer in violation of any regulation will be penalized $500 in addition to any other penalty under the law. Equipment such as guns and vehicles used in violation of fish and wildlife laws may be seized for evidence and, upon conviction, confiscated at the discretion of the court.

Hunter Orange Requirements

To meet fluorescent orange (or “hunter orange”) clothing requirements, hunters must wear as an outer garment exposed at all times one or more of the following articles that are solid fluorescent orange in color: vest, coat, jacket, coveralls, hat or cap. Minimal logos or patches are allowed.

Camouflage-patterned fluorescent orange garments do not satisfy the requirement.

Fluorescent orange must be worn when hunting:

• Deer (See Deer Regulations)
• Rabbit
• Pheasant
• Ruffed grouse
• Quail
• Turkey (when fall turkey overlaps a deer firearms season. See Wild Turkey for details)
• Woodcock
• Squirrel (Nov. 9, 2012 – Jan. 31, 2013)