Game Bird Hunting Regulations
HUNTING GUIDE INDEX
Introduction | Deer | Furbearers | Game birds | Hunting Seasons
Small Game | Waterfowl & Migratory Birds | Wild Turkey
Pheasant
A valid hunting license and Indiana game bird habitat stamp privilege are required to hunt pheasants. Hunter orange clothing requirements must be met while hunting pheasants. The bag limit for pheasants is two male (cock) pheasants.
It is illegal to shoot female pheasants (hens), except during put-and-take hunts in designated areas. If you take a pheasant, you must leave the head and head plumage attached while you are transporting the bird. There are no equipment or ammunition restrictions for pheasant hunting. A 12- or 20-gauge shotgun loaded with 4- to 6-size shot is recommended.
Put-and-Take
Pheasants are released for put-and-take hunting on Atterbury, Glendale, Pigeon River (west of Indiana 3), Tri-County, Willow Slough and Winamac FWAs and Roush Lake. The cost for put-and-take hunts is $15 per person and the bag limit is two birds. A hunter filling his/her limit in the put-and-take hunt may not take any more pheasants that day.
Hunters can reserve put-and-take pheasant hunts online. Hunts are no longer available first-come, first-served at the property. Hunters can select the date, property, and property location for their hunt. Pheasant hunting season is extended on Atterbury and Glendale until Jan. 15. The bag limit is two birds of either sex. See the Reserved Hunt Information page for more information.
Game Bird Area Pheasant
The Division of Fish and Wildlife conducts reserved pheasant hunts on game bird habitat areas in northern Indiana. See the Reserved Hunt Information page for more information.
Quail
A valid hunting license and an Indiana game bird habitat stamp privilege are required to hunt quail in Indiana. Hunter orange clothing requirements must be met while hunting quail. Quail hunting is divided into two regions – north and south. Indiana 26 is the dividing line. There are no equipment or ammunition restrictions for quail hunting. A 12- or 20-gauge shotgun loaded with 6- to 9-size shot is recommended.
Ruffed Grouse
A valid hunting license and game bird habitat stamp privilege are required to hunt ruffed grouse. Hunter orange clothing requirements must be met while hunting grouse. Ruffed grouse may be hunted only in the following counties:
- Bartholomew
- Brown
- Clark
- Crawford
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Johnson
- LaGrange
- Lawrence
- Martin
- Monroe
- Morgan
- Ohio
- Orange
- Owen
- Perry
- Scott
- Steuben
- Switzerland
- Washington
Ruffed grouse may be hunted in these portions of the following counties:
- Dearborn (south of U.S. 50)
- Greene (east of U.S. 231)
- Jennings (south of U.S. 50)
- Putnam (south of U.S. 40)
- Ripley (south of U.S. 50)
Pigeon River FWA area is closed to ruffed grouse hunting.
Ruffed grouse season dates are:
Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2011 on privately owned lands only
Oct. 1 - Nov. 11, 2011 on publicly owned lands
2011 Ruffed Grouse Breeding Indices
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