Deer Seasons, Licenses, & Equipment
Archery |
Crossbow |
Handgun |
Muzzleloading Handgun |
Muzzleloading Long Gun |
Shotgun |
Rifle |
Air Guns |
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Youth Season – Sept. 24-25, 2022 |
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Resident Youth Hunt/Trap License |
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Nonresident Youth Deer License |
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Reduction Zone Season* – Sept. 15, 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023 |
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Deer Reduction Zone License |
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Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting License |
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Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting/Fishing License |
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Youth License |
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Archery Season – Oct. 1, 2022 - Jan. 1, 2023 |
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Archery License |
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Crossbow License |
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Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting License |
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Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting/Fishing License |
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Deer License Bundle |
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Bonus Antlerless License |
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Youth License |
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Firearms Season – Nov. 12-27, 2022 |
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Firearms License (antlered deer only) |
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Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting License |
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Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting/Fishing License |
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Deer License Bundle |
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Bonus Antlerless License |
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Youth License |
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Muzzleloader Season – Dec. 3-18, 2022 |
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Muzzleloader License |
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Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting License |
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Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting/Fishing License |
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Deer License Bundle |
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Bonus Antlerless License |
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Youth License |
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Special Antlerless Firearms Season – Closed |
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• Indicates the equipment that can be used during a season with a particular license. * If allowed by local ordinances, firearms may be used to hunt deer in designated Reduction Zones from Nov. 12, 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023. NOTE: The Bonus Antlerless License (and bonus county deer under the Deer License Bundle) may not be valid for all DNR properties. Contact the property you want to hunt for details. |
Deer Bag Limits |
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Season |
Bag Limit* |
Youth Season |
1 antlered deer AND the number of bonus antlerless deer per county quota; exceptions apply on some DNR properties |
Reduction Zone Season |
1 antlered deer (see “earn-a-buck” page 25) AND 9 antlerless deer OR 10 antlerless deer |
Archery Season |
2 antlerless deer OR 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer |
Firearms Season |
1 antlered deer |
Muzzleloader Season |
1 antlered deer OR 1 antlerless deer |
Special Antlerless Firearms Season |
Closed in 2022-2023 |
Additional Opportunities |
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Bonus Antlerless Deer |
1 antlerless deer per license not to exceed the bonus antlerless county quota; bonus deer can be taken during the archery, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons with the appropriate license |
State Park Hunts |
3 antlerless deer OR 2 antlerless and 1 antlered deer (reserved hunts; visit hunting.IN.gov) |
Military/Refuge Properties (by reserved hunt drawing or invitation only) |
1 deer of either sex per Military/Refuge Deer License |
Deer Equipment Chart |
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Equipment |
Specifications |
Legal Season |
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Firearms |
Rifle |
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAND: Bullet diameter: .357” minimum Casing length: 1.16–1.8” • full metal jacketed bullets are illegal |
Youth, firearms, deer reduction zone |
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PRIVATE LAND ONLY: Bullet diameter: .243” (6 mm) minimum Casing length: 1.16-3” • a hunter must not possess more than 10 of these cartridges while hunting deer • full metal jacketed bullets are illegal |
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Handgun |
Barrel length: 4” minimum Bullet diameter: .243” minimum Case length: 1.16” minimum, except for 10 mm • 10 mm also legal cartridges (i.e. 10 mm Auto and .40 S&W) • rifles with barrel less than 18” are NOT considered handguns • .25-20 Winchester, .32-20 Winchester, .30 carbine, and .38 special ammunition are prohibited • NOT permitted for hunting on military areas |
Firearms, deer reduction zone |
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Shotgun |
Bore: 10, 12, 16, 20, or 28 gauge or .410” • shooting slugs and saboted bullets only • combination rifle-shotguns are allowed |
Youth, firearms, deer reduction zone |
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Muzzleloaders |
Muzzleloading Rifle/Shotgun |
Barrel caliber: .44” minimum Bullet diameter: .357” minimum • powder and bullet loaded from muzzle and single bullet* • saboted bullets permitted • multiple barreled guns permitted * can have powder loaded from the breech end only during the youth and firearms seasons |
Youth, firearms, muzzleloader, deer reduction zone |
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Muzzeloading Handgun |
Barrel length: 12” minimum, measured from the base of the breech plug (excluding tangs and other projections to the end of the barrel, including the muzzle crown) Barrel caliber: .50” minimum Bullet diameter: .44” minimum • loaded from muzzle and single shot |
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Archery |
Vertical Bow |
Long bows, compound bows, or recurve bows and arrows |
• bows drawn, held, or released by means other than by hand or hand-held releases may be used • arrows must have metal, metal-edged, napped flint, chert, or obsidian broadheads |
Archery, youth, deer reduction zone |
Draw weight: 35 lbs. minimum |
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Crossbow |
Defined as a device for propelling an arrow by means of limbs mounted on a stock and a string, and having a working safety that may be drawn or held Draw weight: 125 lbs. minimum |
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Air guns |
Using non-ignited compressed air or other gas charged by external high compression power source Projectiles: Must shoot .40 caliber or larger single bullet generating 400 ft. lbs. of muzzle energy; or an arrow or bolt with a sharpened metal or metal-edged broadhead at minimum of 300 fps at release |
Youth, firearms, deer reduction zone |
Deer Hotline
If you need information about deer, take advantage of our Deer Hotline. Call 812-334-3795, 8:30 a.m - 4 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday or email [email protected] with your questions. Find additional information at deer.dnr.IN.gov.