It’s deer hunting season in Indiana.
If you’re planning to hunt but unsure about purchasing licenses, processing and safety during hunting, here’s what to know.
When is deer hunting season in Indiana?
Indiana has the following 2025-26 deer hunting seasons, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:
Legal deer hunting hours in Indiana
Hoosiers may hunt from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset.
Indiana changes deer hunting regulations
Indiana implemented the following changes to hunting regulations for the 2025-26 season:
How to buy a deer hunting license in Indiana
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has an online portal that allows hunters to purchase licenses and stamps, apply for reserved hunts, submit game check information and more. The portal can be found at GoOutdoorsIN.com.
Hoosiers can either create an account or purchase a license through the guest checkout.
Licenses can also be purchased at state properties, the DNR customer service center in downtown Indianapolis, and certain outdoor retailers throughout the state. Visit on.IN.gov/HuntFishLicenseRetailers for more information.
Deer hunting licenses cost $39 on average, with license bundles typically costing $91. Residents can choose among hunting licenses for archery, firearms, muzzleloaders and more.
Temporary transportation tags
Hunters can also visit traditional check stations to receive a confirmation number for their temporary transportation tags for free. There is also a phone-in option at 260-368-5880. Any available piece of paper can be used for the temporary transportation tag, but these templates are available online.
Deer processing in Indiana
The IDNR provides step-by-step guides and visual tutorials on how to process deer on its website. The department also offers resources on grinding and freezing the meat.
The step-by-step guides on how to hang, skin, quarter and process deer can be found here.
Processing differs depending on the part of the deer, but here are the general steps:
Deer processors in Indiana
A list of more than 100 commercial deer processors, along with their address and contact information, can be found on the IDNR website.
Deer hunting safety
Purdue University compiled the following safety tips for those participating in deer hunting season:
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Hunting licenses and other things to know about Indiana deer regulations
Reporting by Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY NETWORK / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
