Waterfowl & Migratory Bird Regulations

State and Federal Regulations

• Based on an individual’s age, the following are needed to hunt waterfowl in Indiana:
  • Youth 15 and younger: Valid hunting license and HIP number
  • Youth 16-17: Valid youth hunting license, HIP number, and Federal Duck Stamp
  • Adults 18+: Valid hunting license, HIP number, Federal Duck Stamp, and State Waterfowl Stamp
• Lifetime license holders and those exempt from Indiana license and stamp requirements must still obtain a Federal Duck Stamp and HIP number to hunt waterfowl.
• Migratory game birds may be hunted from a motorboat provided it is beached, resting at anchor, tied to a stationary object, or without motion other than that imparted by wind, current acting upon the hull, or hand-operated oars or paddles.
• Hunters may retrieve dead or injured birds by hand or from a motorboat under power but may NOT shoot from a boat under power or in motion due to motor power.
• Migratory game birds in a hunter’s possession must have one fully feathered wing or head attached to the carcass for identification when the hunter is in the field or traveling from the field to home.
• All migratory game birds killed or crippled shall be retrieved, and retained in the custody of the hunter in the field.
• No person shall give, put, or leave any migratory game birds at any place or in the custody of another person unless the birds are tagged by the hunter with the hunter’s signature, address, total number of birds involved by species, and dates birds were killed.
• No person or business shall receive or have in custody any migratory game birds belonging to another person unless such birds are properly tagged.
• Shooting hours for geese and ducks (except for teal season) is one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
• Non-toxic shot is required when hunting waterfowl and migratory birds on DNR properties.

Reminders

• Indiana enforces all federal migratory bird laws. Violating any provision of a state law regarding federally protected migratory birds is also a violation of federal law.
• State stamps are available from hunting and fishing license vendors and online by going to on.IN.gov/INhuntfish. Find where to buy Federal Duck Stamps at fws.gov/duckstamps.

Harvest Information Program (HIP)

HIP is a joint effort of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state wildlife agencies.

The program is designed to derive harvest estimates for migratory game birds nationwide. Once harvest information is gathered, the information is used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and states to ensure decisions regarding migratory game bird hunting seasons are based on sound scientific evidence.

All hunters in Indiana, including those exempt from purchasing a license, must register with HIP before hunting coots, doves, ducks, mergansers, geese, snipe, sora, teal, and woodcock.

Hunters must register at on.IN.gov/INhuntfish or by calling 866-671-4499. At the end of the registration, the hunter is given a validation number to record on their license. This number is valid from the date of registration through the close of the last current migratory bird hunting season.

Lifetime license holders and those exempt from Indiana license and stamp requirements must also register with HIP.

Hunters need to register with HIP only once each season, not each time they hunt; however, hunters must register in each state they hunt.

In addition to providing name and address, hunters are asked questions designed to identify which species they hunted last year and, in some cases, the number of birds they harvested.

Waterfowl Hunting on State Properties

Hunters can apply for reserved waterfowl hunts by completing the reserved waterfowl hunt application at hunting.IN.gov.

For more information concerning waterfowl hunting on state-owned properties, contact the property (Public Hunting Areas).

Restrictions

No person shall take migratory game birds:

• With a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10 gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun, fish hook, poison, drug, explosive, or stupefying substance.
• With 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.
• From a sink box (a low, floating device, having a depression affording the hunter a means of concealment beneath the surface of the water).
• From any aircraft or with the aid or use of a car or other motor-driven land vehicle, except that persons with paraplegia and persons with single or double amputees of the legs may hunt from any stationary motor vehicle or stationary motor-driven land vehicle.
• By the use or aid of live decoys. All tame or captive live ducks and geese shall be removed for a period of 10 consecutive days prior to hunting and confined within an enclosure that substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals such tame birds from the sight of migratory waterfowl.
• By driving, rallying, or chasing birds with any motorized vehicle or any sailboat to put them in the range of the hunters.
• By baiting or by hunting on or over any baited area, if the person knows or reasonably should know that the area is baited. Baiting includes the placing of corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed to serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on, or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them. It is a separate offense to place, or direct placement of bait, on or adjacent to an area for the purpose of causing or allowing hunters to take or attempt to take birds. A baited area is considered to be baited for 10 days after complete removal of any bait. The maximum federal penalties for hunting over bait are $15,000/6 months jail time and for placing bait are $100,000/1 year jail time. For more information on baiting, visit wildlife.IN.gov.
• By the use of recorded or electronically amplified bird calls or sounds, or recorded or electronically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds.