Hunting in Indiana is an old tradition, gaining official recognition with the sale of the first hunting license in 1901 for $1. Fishing privileges were added a few years later in 1913 for another dollar. Since then, Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has expanded the opportunities for hunters to use public and private land substantially.
Today, Indiana is making a name for itself as a hunter’s haven, especially when it comes to hunting deer.
North American Whitetail reported: “Both the Boone & Crockett and Pope & Young record books confirm that Indiana has been consistently pumping out great whitetails over the past five years.”
One of the busiest hunting seasons in Indiana takes place during the winter, when numerous animals’ open seasons are in effect. Here are five such animals to hunt legally in the winter in Indiana:
ALERT: Should Obama Have More Control Over Guns? Vote Now
1. Pheasant
Pheasant is a game bird that can be hunted from the start of November through December. Hunters need a valid license along with a special Indiana game bird habitat stamp. There’s a bag limit of two male pheasants per day per hunter and it’s illegal to hunt female pheasants altogether. There are no gun or ammunition restrictions for pheasant hunting.
2. Raccoon
For this furbearer, the open season starts in November and goes until the end of January. There are no special licenses required to hunt raccoon outside of the standard hunting permits. However, there are several important guidelines that all hunters must follow in Indiana. For example, a bright burning light that can be seen for 500 feet must be carried while hunting any furbearer. It is also illegal to remove wild animals from any den, or to disturb a raccoon’s nest.
3. Deer
Deer hunting is growing in popularity in the Hoosier State very quickly. Fortunately deer season is long, running from September through January in various capacities. Urban deer hunting lasts for the longest length of time, however firearm hunting only goes from mid-November until the end of the month. Archery season starts in October and goes until the beginning of July. A note of caution, all caught deer must be checked within 48 hours of capture at official deer checking stations.
4. Rabbit
It’s legal to hunt rabbit from the beginning of November until the end of February, however rabbits can be chased with dogs year-round with the purchase of a general hunting license. The daily bag limit for rabbit is five and the possession limit is 10. When hunting rabbits, hunters must wear one or more orange item of clothing, including vests, jackets, coveralls, or hats.
VOTE NOW: Is Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Doing a Good Job?
5. Snipe
The snipe is an early migratory game bird that can be hunted in Indiana from September through December. The daily bag limit is eight and the possession limit is 24. A hunting license is required to catch snipe, along with an HIP registration and an Indiana game bird or migratory waterfowl stamp.
This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.