Indiana’s 2025–26 Deer Season Overview
Indiana’s 2025–26 white-tailed deer hunting seasons have commenced, with archery season already underway. Hunters should take note of this year’s adjusted season dates and updated regulations aimed at managing populations sustainably.
The season dates are as follows:
- Reduction Zone: Sept. 15–Jan. 31 (where open)
- Archery: Oct. 1–Jan. 4
- Firearm: Nov. 15–30
- Muzzleloader: Dec. 6–21
Bag Limits and Licensing Changes
Statewide, hunters are permitted to harvest one buck and up to six antlerless deer across all combined seasons. A significant regulatory update for 2025–26 is the shift to a single County Antlerless Bag Limit (CABL), replacing the former “bonus” quota system. This change requires hunters to adhere to antlerless limits specific to the county where they hunt, but it allows moving to other counties after reaching the county-specific antlerless limit.
Firearms licenses remain restricted to buck-only harvest, while antlerless deer may be taken during archery, muzzleloader seasons, or with the multi-season antlerless license. Compliance requires all deer to be checked in within 48 hours through online systems, at a checking station, or by phone at 260-368-5880.
Key Regulation Updates
- The CABL system now defines clearer antlerless harvest limits by county.
- Crossbows are permitted during archery season for the first time under archery licenses.
- Legal firearms now include centerfire rifles with cartridges .219 inch (5.56 mm) or larger on both public and private lands, respecting local regulations.
- The muzzleloader minimum caliber has been reduced from .44 to .40.
- Drones and infrared devices may only be used to locate a harvested deer, not to assist in the hunt.
- Certain Department of Natural Resources (DNR) properties prohibit taking antlerless deer with firearms during the firearms season — hunters should verify these restrictions in advance.
County-Level Limits and Local Hunting Zones
The DNR’s CABL map now guides hunters on specific antlerless limits by county. This approach responds partly to recent epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) outbreaks in portions of south-central Indiana—Bartholomew, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Martin, Scott, and Switzerland counties—leading to reduced antlerless quotas to protect herd health.
Despite local reductions, the overall statewide antlerless cap remains six deer. Hunters are advised to confirm the latest county-specific antlerless limits before heading afield.
Brown County features a Deer Reduction Zone (DRZ) around the Cordry-Sweetwater Conservancy District. In DRZs, which target urban or high-impact deer areas, hunters must first harvest an antlerless deer before taking a buck (the earn-a-buck rule). The DRZ season runs Sept. 15 through Jan. 31, allowing a bag limit up to 10 deer (one antlered). Notably, deer taken on DRZ licenses don’t count against county antlerless limits, but deer taken on other licenses within the DRZ do count toward county and state totals. Hunters must also observe all property-specific rules and local ordinances within these zones.
Licensing Fees and Requirements
Each deer license typically authorizes the harvest of one deer, except for bundled licenses covering one buck plus two antlerless deer. Resident license fees start as low as $3.
Expert Analysis
The adoption of the CABL system represents a strategic move toward precision management of Indiana’s white-tailed deer populations, balancing hunter opportunity with disease control and habitat considerations. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), a viral hemorrhagic condition transmitted by biting midges, can cause significant local die-offs, affecting population dynamics and necessitating adaptive management such as lowered antlerless harvests.
Allowing crossbows during archery season expands accessibility while maintaining traditional deer behavior patterns during the primary rut and post-rut periods. Adjustments to allowable firearm calibers and muzzleloader specifications align with advances in hunting technology, ensuring ethical harvests through effective lethality. Restrictions on drone and infrared use underscore ethical concerns related to fair chase principles. Meanwhile, Deer Reduction Zones highlight the tension between suburban development and deer overabundance, with rules encouraging selective buck harvests only after reducing does to stabilize population growth in urban-adjacent habitats.
Additional reporting and sources from: Indiana’s 2025–26 deer season: what hunters need to know – Brown County Democrat
