White-tailed Deer Hunting

Deer Hunting

The 2023-2024 deer hunting seasons are as follows:

• Reduction Zone: Sept. 15, 2023 - Jan. 31, 2024 (where open)
• Youth Season: Sept. 23-24, 2023
• Archery: Oct. 1, 2023 - Jan. 7, 2024
• Firearm: Nov. 18 - Dec. 3, 2023
• Muzzleloader: Dec. 9-24, 2023

A full list of season dates, bag limits, and legal equipment can be found on the deer-hunting question and answers page.

Purchase License

A resident youth hunt/trap, deer hunting, or comprehensive lifetime hunting license is required to hunt for deer unless you meet one of the license exemptions. All deer harvested in Indiana must be reported within 48 hours of the time of harvest at an on-site check station, online, through your Indiana Fish & Wildlife Account, or by phone at 1-800-419-1326. There is a $3 charge for the phone service, payable only by Visa or Mastercard. For more information, see our Deer Hunting Questions page.

Carcasses of deer and other wild animals that are lawfully taken cannot be dumped in streams or other bodies of water. Dumping dead deer and other wild animals in a waterway is considered littering and is a criminal offense punishable by a fine. Rotting carcasses in a waterway can also affect water quality for those downstream. Carcasses should not be burned because this can cause air pollution. Carcasses shouldn’t be left in the open for scavengers and others to see without permission from the landowner. We recommend all discarded carcasses and unwanted animal parts be bagged, placed in your trash, and sent to a landfill.

Licensing and Regulations

• License Fees and Exemptions
• Hunting Regulations and Season Dates
• Bonus Antlerless Deer Map
• Carcass Transportation
• Deer Hunting FAQs
• Deer Reduction Zones
• Property Restrictions Bonus Antlerless Deer
• Special Antlerless Firearms Season
• What License do I Need?

Find Hunting Opportunities

• Indiana Private Lands Access
• Getting Permission on Private Land: A Primer
• Getting Permission on Private Land form
• Reserved Hunts
• Where to Hunt

Gear Up: What You Need Before You Hunt

• Bovine TB Information
• Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease
• Deer Scouting Basics
• Hunting Checklist
• Hunter Education Course Registration
• Shooting Ranges
• Sunrise/Sunset Tables
• Tree Stand Safety

Successful Hunter To-Do List and Supplies

• Aging Guide
• Check Stations
• Deer Temporary Transportation Tag
• Hunting Etiquette

Venison Donation Opportunities

• Sportsmen's Benevolence Fund

Venison Recipes

• Sesame Venison Kabobs Grill
• Venison Parmesan
• Venison Pumpkin Chili
• Venison Steak with Bleu Cheese Sauce

Deer Biology

• General Information
• Diseases
• Abnormal Deer in Indiana

Living with Deer

• Report a Sick or Dead Animal
• Abandoned Fawn Help
• Deer Collisions and You
• Feeding Deer: Pros and Cons
• Managing Deer Damage
• Nuisance Deer Help
• Methods for Managing Human-Deer Conflicts

Deer Management

• 2021 Indiana White-Tailed Deer Report
• After-Hunt Survey
• Archer's Index
• Deer Herd Management Survey
• Deer Management County Data.
• Deer Management and Reports

Real time reported deer harvest

Harvest numbers are updated as deer are checked in via CheckIN Game. Numbers are raw data that have not been verified by Indiana DNR.

County harvest data, updated daily.