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Youth Hunts

In Indiana, youth hunters have many opportunities to help them get outdoors. These include low-cost hunting licenses and special days set aside for youth in addition to the regular hunting seasons. Read below to learn more about these opportunities.

To purchase licenses for your child, make sure they are linked to your account in DNR's license system, the Activity Hub. Instructions are available in this PDF and via video.

If you have questions about which specific license fits your needs, visit the Sport License Finder.

Youth Hunting Licenses

The resident youth hunt/trap license is $12 for any Indiana resident age 17 or younger. It includes all hunting and trapping licenses and stamp privileges, including small game, deer, wild turkey, and waterfowl. No additional licenses are needed, unless a Federal Duck Stamp is required (age 16 and older). All hunters of waterfowl and other migratory birds must have a free Harvest Information Program (HIP) number (see Waterfowl & Migratory Bird Regulations).

The license also is available to nonresident youth (age 17 or younger) who have a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian who is an Indiana resident.

Nonresident youth who don’t qualify for the $12 license can buy the appropriate nonresident youth license — annual hunting, deer, turkey, or trapping — at the same rate as a resident adult license, which is less than nonresident adult licenses. Non resident youth age 17 and younger are also exempt from a fishing license, state migratory waterfowl stamp, and gamebird habitat stamp.

Free Youth Hunting Days

The free youth hunting days for 2025 are Sept. 6-7 and Nov. 29-30. Youth free hunting days are traditionally set as the first full weekend after Sept. 1, when dove and squirrel seasons are open, as well as the weekend after Thanksgiving, when deer, rabbit, squirrel, and other gamebird and furbearer seasons are open.

Any resident age 17 or younger on the date of the hunt can take any legal game in season during these youth free hunting days. To participate, the youth must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years of age. The youth’s adult partner must be close enough to monitor and communicate with the youth hunter at all times. The adult may help the youth hunter with calling game, but may not carry a firearm, crossbow, or bow and arrow, except for a handgun carried lawfully. The adult must possess a valid hunting license unless exempt from needing a license under regular season guidelines. During the free youth hunting days, a hunting license, state migratory waterfowl stamp, or Harvest Information Program (HIP) number is not required for resident or nonresident youth to hunt waterfowl or other migratory birds. All persons 16 years old or older must possess a federal duck stamp.

Youth Waterfowl Season

Youth waterfowl season dates for 2025 are October 11-12 for North Zone, October 25-26 for Central Zone, and Nov 1-2 for South Zone. Zone boundaries can be reviewed here.

Youth 17 years of age or younger on the date of the hunt can participate, but must be accompanied by an adult. A federal duck stamp is required for all persons 16 years of age or older. A state Waterfowl Stamp is not required for resident or nonresident youth hunting license holders to hunt waterfowl or other migratory birds. A HIP registration number is required for all youth hunters during youth waterfowl season.

The youth's adult partner must be close enough to monitor and communicate with the youth hunter at all times. The adult may help the youth hunter with calling game, but may not carry a firearm, crossbow, or bow and arrow, except for a handgun carried lawfully. The adult must possess a valid hunting license unless exempt from needing a license under regular season guidelines

Youth Deer Season

Youth deer season in 2025 is Sept. 27-28. Youth age 17 or younger on the date of the hunt can participate but must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years of age.

The youth hunter can take an antlered deer and one (or more) antlerless deer. The youth hunter's antlerless deer limit is determined by the county antlerless bag limit for the county being hunted. An antlered deer harvested during the youth season counts toward the statewide bag limit of one antlered deer. The statewide antlerless bag limit is six deer. Only one antlerless deer may be taken on properties managed by the Division of Fish & Wildlife, Mississinewa Lake, Salamonie Lake, and Patoka Lake during the youth deer season.

The youth hunter must possess a valid deer hunting license, unless exempt from needing a license under state law. Indiana residents require an apprentice youth hunt/trap license or youth hunt/trap license. Nonresident youth may select any standard nonresident deer license, such as archery, firearms, muzzleloader, multi-season antlerless, or deer license bundle. The youth’s adult partner must possess a valid hunting license of any type that is not an apprentice license.

The youth hunter and adult partner must wear hunter orange. The youth hunter may use a legal rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, air gun, bow and arrow, or crossbow to take a deer. The adult partner cannot take a deer and may not possess a firearm, muzzleloader, bow and arrow, or crossbow while in the field with the youth hunter, except for a handgun carried lawfully. The youth hunter must comply with all other deer hunting regulations.

Youth Turkey Season

The youth wild turkey season is April 18-19, 2026.

Youth age 17 or younger on the date of the hunt can participate, but must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years of age.

The youth hunter must possess a valid license to take a wild turkey. The adult partner must possess a turkey hunting license and gamebird habitat stamp if participating in the hunt (i.e., calling turkeys) unless exempt from license requirements.

The youth hunter may take only one bearded or male wild turkey during spring, which includes both the youth and regular spring turkey seasons. The youth must comply with all other turkey hunting regulations. The youth hunter may use any legal shotgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow. The youth’s adult partner must not possess a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow while in the field, except for a handgun carried lawfully.

Some DNR properties manage Youth Turkey Season through the reserved draw system. To apply to hunt one of the following properties, please follow this link.

If the property you wish to hunt on is not listed, please reach out to its property office directly for specific hunting requirements and guidelines.

Youth Reserved Draw Hunts

Youth in Indiana have the opportunity to apply for youth reserved hunts for deer, gamebirds, and turkey. Most of these opportunities are facilitated through the Indiana DNR Reserved Draw Program. You can apply and find more information on specific opportunities here.

Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge is conducting a special youth deer hunt event on Oct. 31– Nov. 1, 2025. To apply, send a postcard postmarked by Oct. 1 with the youth's name and address to:

Big Oaks NWR,
1661 W JPG Niblo Road,
Madison, IN 47250.

A total of 150 youth (age 17 or under) will be selected by lottery and notified by mail. Selected youth must have a responsible adult hunter as a guide, but only the youth will be allowed to hunt.

If you have any questions regarding youth reserved hunt opportunities, please email DFWReservedHunts@dnr.IN.gov