Deer Hunting Questions & Answers
- Fish & Wildlife
- Hunting & Trapping
- Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide
- Current: Deer Hunting Questions & Answers
Deer Infoline
Questions about Indiana’s deer seasons and regulations can be directed to the Indiana Deer Infoline at INDeerInfo@dnr.IN.gov or 812-334-3795, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
- Licenses
Do I need to purchase a hunting license (general = small game species) in addition to my deer hunting license in order to hunt deer?
No. A hunting license only covers small game species like rabbit, squirrel, red fox, grey fox, coyote, etc. A deer hunting license must be purchased to hunt deer. See hunting guide for more information.
Can I use my firearms license to take an antlerless deer?
No. The firearms license can only be used to harvest an antlered deer and can only be used during the firearms season.
Can I use my firearms license during muzzleloader season?
No. The firearms license can only be used during firearms season.
Can I use my muzzleloader license during firearms season?
No. The muzzleloader license can only be used during muzzleloader season.
Do I have to buy a firearms, archery, or muzzleloader license before I buy a multi-season antlerless license?
No. The multi-season antlerless license can be purchased separately at any time.
Is a multi-season antlerless license valid for all seasons?
No. The multi-season antlerless license is valid for the youth, archery, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons only, and it is valid only for antlerless deer (See property restrictions). The multi-season antlerless license cannot be used to fulfill the deer reduction zone bag limit.
Do I have to shoot an antlered deer before I shoot an antlerless deer? (or vice versa)
Yes and no. There is no required sequence in harvesting deer for statewide seasons (youth, archery, firearms, muzzleloader). If a hunter is using a deer reduction zone license in a deer reduction zone, the hunter must take an antlerless deer with a deer reduction zone license prior to taking an antlered deer. The "earn-a-buck" requirement only applies to deer reduction zone bag limits, which are in addition to statewide bag limits.
How many multi-season antlerless licenses can I use?
The statewide limit for antlerless deer is six, so you can check in no more than six deer on multi-season licenses. If you have used a license bundle, or have taken antlerless deer on a landowner exemption, then the total you can check in on the multi-season antlerless license would be less than 6. You may not take more than the county antlerless bag limit in any specific county. Antlerless deer harvested with archery, crossbow, firearms, muzzleloader, or youth licenses and the deer license bundle count toward the county and statewide antlerless bag limits. For more information, see the Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide.
Is my multi-season antlerless license valid for the archery season?
Yes. The multi-season antlerless license can be used during the archery season using any legal archery equipment, including crossbows. (See property restrictions)
Is my multi-season antlerless license valid for the firearms season?
Yes. The multi-season antlerless license can be used during the firearms season using any legal firearm. However, hunters may not harvest an antlerless deer with a firearm during firearms season on DFW-managed properties, Mississinewa Lake, Salamonie Lake, or Patoka Lake. (See property restrictions)
Is my multi-season antlerless license valid for the muzzleloader season?
Yes. The multi-season antlerless license can be used during the muzzleloader season using any legal muzzleloading equipment. (See property restrictions)
Is my multi- season antlerless license valid for the deer reduction zone season?
No. The multi-season antlerless license cannot be used to fulfill the deer reduction zone bag limit. You must buy a deer reduction zone license to hunt in these zones when working towards deer reduction zone bag limits.
How many licenses can I buy? How many deer can I harvest?
There is no limit to the number of licenses that you can purchase, but there is a limit to how many deer can be checked in. During youth, archery, muzzleloader, and firearms season you can harvest 1 buck and up to 6 antlerless deer statewide. Each county has an antlerless bag limit less than the statewide bag limit. In deer reduction zones, you can harvest 9 antlerless deer and 1 antlered deer, or 10 antlerless deer.
- You can check in up to 10 deer on deer reduction zone licenses (1 deer per license)
- You can check in up to 6 deer on multi-season antlerless licenses (1 deer per license), minus any antlerless deer that have been checked in either on a license bundle or under the landowner exemption.
- You can check in up to 7 deer on muzzleloader licenses (1 antlered and 6 antlerless; 1 deer per license), assuming that you have not checked in any of the statewide limit of deer on other licenses or exemptions.
- You can check in up to 7 deer on archery licenses (1 antlered and 6 antlerless; 1 deer per license), assuming that you have not checked in any of the statewide limit of deer on other licenses or exemptions.
- You can check in one buck (antlered deer) on a firearms license, assuming that you have not checked in a buck on a muzzleloader license, license bundle, archery license, or landowner exemption.
- Youth can check in up to 7 deer on a resident youth hunt/trap combo license (1 antlered and 6 antlerless), assuming you have not checked in any other the statewide limit of deer on other licenses or exemptions.
You are permitted to buy one firearms license, 10 deer reduction zone licenses, 1 license bundle, and up to 6 archery, muzzleloader, and multiple season antlerless licenses combined. Each county has a county antlerless bag limit ranging from 1 to 4, and the statewide antlerless bag limit is 6 deer. You are permitted to purchase and use the number of antlerless licenses allowed in a county, up to a total of 6 statewide. Each license will allow you to harvest 1 deer (exceptions: youth license, deer license bundle, lifetime license). Check the deer season bag limit summary in the Hunting and Trapping Guide.
How much do the licenses cost?
Each deer license costs $39 for an Indiana resident and $240 for a nonresident. Subsequent multi-season antlerless licenses cost $24 for residents and $39 for nonresidents. See all license fees.
How much does a deer license bundle cost?
The resident deer license bundle costs $91, the nonresident deer license bundle costs $550, and the nonresident youth deer license bundle costs $91. A resident youth should purchase a youth hunt/trap license for $12, which covers all deer seasons and bag limits. See all license fees.
I bought a(n) archery, firearms, muzzleloader, deer license bundle, and/or deer reduction zone license. Will the first multi-season antlerless license I buy be discounted?
No. Your first multiseason antlerless license will cost $39 for a resident or $240 for a nonresident. Your second and subsequent multiseason antlerless licenses will cost $24 for a resident or $39 for a nonresident.
What kind of license do I need to buy for the deer reduction zone?
A deer reduction zone, resident youth hunt/trap, lifetime comprehensive hunting, or lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license is required to hunt in the deer reduction zones unless you meet a license exemption.
Can I use an archery, deer license bundle, firearms, muzzleloader, or multi-season antlerless license to hunt in a deer reduction zone?
Yes. Hunters may harvest deer with these licenses in deer reduction zones (during the appropriate seasons), but those deer will go toward the hunter’s county and statewide bag limits. Only deer harvested under a deer reduction zone license count toward the hunter’s deer reduction zone bag limit.
What kind of license do I need to have in order to hunt with a crossbow?
An archery license is required to hunt with a crossbow during the archery season unless that individual has a valid resident youth hunt/trap, deer license bundle, lifetime comprehensive hunting, lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license, a multiseason antlerless license, or is exempt from needing a license. Hunters may also use crossbows when hunting with a deer reduction zone license, as long as there are no local restrictions against crossbows in the area they plan to hunt.
What kind of license do I need to buy to register for the military/refuge deer hunts?
In order to register for the military/refuge hunts, you need to possess any valid deer hunting license, including any resident deer licenses, nonresident deer licenses, youth licenses, or a lifetime comprehensive license.
What kind of license do I need to hunt on a military/refuge deer hunts?
In most situations, it is best to use a military/refuge license because the harvested deer will not count against your statewide bag limits. You may, however, use a resident or nonresident deer license (archery, firearms, muzzleloader, multi-season antlerless, deer license bundle, youth hunt/trap, lifetime comprehensive), but these licenses can only be used when the military or refuge hunt coincides with the season in which the license is valid, and the harvested deer will count against your statewide bag limits.
What kind of license do I need to buy to register for the state park deer management hunts?
In order to register for the state park deer management hunt, you need to purchase a resident deer license, a youth license (must be 18 years of age by the first day of the first hunt to apply), or possess a lifetime comprehensive license. The purchase of an additional license is not required when drawn to hunt deer during a state park deer management hunt.
If a youth turns 18, do they need to purchase an adult deer hunting license?
No. If a youth hunter turns 18 after purchasing a youth license, they can continue to hunt with that license until it expires. Resident youth hunt/trap licenses are valid April 1 – March 31. The hunter will need to purchase an adult deer hunting license the following year.
Do youth hunters need to be accompanied by an adult during the regular hunting season?
No. Youth hunters must be accompanied by a licensed adult at least 18 years old at all times during the youth season, free hunting days, and if the youth possesses an apprentice license. Outside of these situations, youth hunters legally do not need to be accompanied by an adult to hunt deer.
Can I use a landowner’s exemption if I lease farmland for hunting?
No. The exemption is for farmland owners and lessees of farmland that farm that land.
What are the exemptions to purchasing a hunting license?
- Indiana farmland owners, their spouses, and dependent children living with them.
- Resident lessees of farmland who farm that land, their spouses, and dependent children living with them with permission from the landowner.
- A resident of Indiana engaged in full-time military service and who is carrying leave orders and a valid Indiana driver’s license or voter registration card.
- An individual who is less than 13 years of age, does not possess a bow or firearm, and is accompanied by an individual who is at least 18 years of age and holds a valid license.
- Residents or nonresidents participating in a field trial sanctioned by the DNR director.
- Nonresident military personnel on active duty and stationed within Indiana may hunt and/or fish with a resident license.
- A nonresident youth younger than 18 years old may hunt, trap, and/or fish with a resident license if their parent, grandparent, or legal guardian is an Indiana resident.
- Bag Limits
What is the statewide bag limit?
The combined statewide bag limit during the youth, archery, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons is one antlered deer and six antlerless deer. The antlered deer may be taken with a youth hunt/trap, archery, firearms, or muzzleloader license, or a license bundle, lifetime license, or license exemption. Antlerless deer may be taken with a youth hunt/trap, archery, muzzleloader, license bundle, lifetime license, license exemption, or a multi-season antlerless license. (See Antlerless Bag Limits)
How many antlered deer can I harvest?
You are allowed to harvest one antlered deer per year during the regular deer seasons (i.e., youth, archery, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons) in Indiana. Additional opportunities may be granted to take an additional antlered deer in special circumstances, such as hunting in a deer reduction zone, a military/refuge hunt, or in a state park deer management hunt.
How many antlerless deer can I harvest?
You are allowed to harvest six antlerless deer statewide; however, each county has its own antlerless bag limit. You may not exceed the antlerless bag limit in a given county, but you may harvest deer in multiple counties to reach the statewide antlerless bag limit.
How many deer can I shoot with my license?
You are allowed to harvest one deer per license (with the exception of the deer license bundle, youth hunt/trap license, or lifetime license.)
How many deer can I shoot in one day?
There is no daily bag limit for deer; however, you must stay within the state and county bag limits and the limit for the license(s) you currently have. The state bag limit is one antlered and six antlerless deer. Each county has its own bag limit. (See County Antlerless Bag Limits)
I have already taken my quota of antlerless deer in my county. Can I harvest antlerless deer in another county?
Yes. You are allowed to take up to six antlerless deer statewide. Once you fulfill the county bag limit, you may harvest additional antlerless deer in another county, up to a total of six deer statewide.
How many deer can I harvest with a deer license bundle?
This license includes privileges to harvest two antlerless deer and one antlered deer. The license bundle cannot be used in a deer reduction zone to satisfy deer reduction zone bag limits.
What is the deer reduction zone bag limit?
The bag limit is 10 deer, of which only one can be antlered. Individuals hunting in a designated deer reduction zone who are attempting to satisfy the deer reduction zone bag limit must harvest an antlerless deer before harvesting an antlered deer.
Do I have to shoot an antlered deer before I shoot an antlerless deer? (or vice versa)
No. There is no required sequence in harvesting deer for statewide deer seasons (youth, archery, firearms, muzzleloader). But, if a hunter is using a deer reduction zone license in a deer reduction zone, the hunter must take an antlerless deer with a deer reduction zone license prior to taking an antlered deer on a deer reduction zone license, also known as “earn-a-buck.” The earn-a-buck requirement only applies to deer reduction zone bag limits, which are in addition to statewide bag limits.
Can I take more than one antlered deer per year?
Under specific circumstances, yes. You are allowed to harvest one antlered deer in the regular statewide deer season, one in any deer reduction zone after harvesting an antlerless deer, one for each military/refuge hunt you have access to using a military license, and one for each state park deer management hunt you are selected to participate in. If you are selected for a state park deer management hunt, a license is not required.
How many deer can I harvest during youth deer season?
During the youth season, youth hunters may take the number of antlerless deer that is allowed by the county antlerless bag limit, up to the statewide bag limit of six, as well as one antlered deer. During the youth season, hunters may only take one antlerless deer on DFW-managed properties, Mississinewa Lake, Salamonie Lake, and Patoka Lake (see property restrictions). Deer taken during the youth season count toward the statewide limit of one antlered and six antlerless deer.
What can I shoot with a resident youth hunt/trap license?
The resident youth hunt/trap license is an all-access pass for resident youth hunters. They can harvest their full legal bag limits of one antlered deer, six antlerless deer, and 10 reduction zone deer with a single license. The resident youth hunt/trap license can also be used on military/refuge and state park management hunts (hunters must be 18 years old on day of hunt). During youth season, hunters may only take 1 antlerless deer on DFW-managed properties, Mississinewa Lake, Salamonie Lake, and Patoka Lake (see property restrictions).
What can I shoot with an archery license?
Each archery license allows you to harvest one deer of either sex. You are allowed to purchase up to seven archery licenses to fulfill the statewide bag limits of one antlered and six antlerless deer during archery season. With an archery license, you may use conventional archery equipment (longbow, recurve, or compound bow) or a crossbow. If you harvest an antlered deer with an archery license, you will not be able to harvest an antlered deer using a firearms license or a muzzleloader license during those respective seasons.
What can I shoot with a firearms license?
A firearms license allows you to harvest one antlered deer only during the firearms season.
What can I shoot with a muzzleloader license?
A muzzleloader license allows you to harvest one deer of either sex during the muzzleloader season, unless you have taken an antlered deer previously. You may purchase up to seven muzzleloader licenses to fulfill the statewide bag limit of one antlered and six antlerless deer during the muzzleloader season.
What can I shoot with the multiseason antlerless license?
A multiseason antlerless license allows you to harvest one antlerless deer at any time during the regular deer hunting season. You may use the multiseason antlerless license to harvest some or all of the deer allowed by the state and county bag limits.
How many deer can I harvest in the military/refuge hunts?
You are allowed to harvest one deer per license. There are two military areas (Crane NWSC and Atterbury MMTC) and two refuge areas (Muscatatuck NWR and Big Oaks NWR) offering hunting opportunities. Each has its own requirements for hunting deer on the respective properties. If you are selected for a hunt on one or more of these properties, information will be available online.
- Seasons
When is deer reduction zone season?
The deer reduction zone season runs from Sept. 15, 2025, through Jan. 31, 2026.
When is youth deer season?
The youth deer season is the weekend prior to Oct. 1. This year, the season is Sept. 27-28, 2025.
When is archery season?
Archery season runs from Oct. 1 through the first Sunday in January. It is continuous and overlaps with firearms and muzzleloader seasons. The 2025 season runs from Oct. 1, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026.
When is firearms season?
The firearms season starts the first Saturday after Veterans Day and runs for 16 days. The 2025 season is Nov. 15 through Nov. 30, 2025.
When is muzzleloader season?
The muzzleloader season starts the first Saturday after the end of firearms season and runs for 16 days. The 2025 season is Dec. 6-21, 2025.
- Equipment
When can crossbows be used?
Crossbows can be used during the entire archery season. Crossbows can also be used during deer reduction zone season. To hunt with a crossbow, you must purchase an archery license, deer license bundle, multiseason antlerless license, resident youth hunt/trap license, already have a lifetime comprehensive hunting license, or meet a license exemption.
Can I carry and use multiple equipment types at the same time?
Yes. You can carry and use multiple equipment types at the same time if you have the proper licenses to take deer with those equipment types. For example, if you have the license bundle, you can carry and use both archery equipment and firearms equipment during firearms season to harvest deer while following season regulations.
What rifles are allowed in firearms season?
The rules for which rifles can be used in Indiana differ between what can be used on private land versus what can be used on public land.
Equipment on Public Land
Rifle cartridges for public lands (state and federal property) must meet the following requirements:
- Fire a bullet of .357-inch diameter or larger,
- Have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches, and
- Have a maximum case length of 1.8 inches
These cartridges are legal to use only during the deer firearms, youth, and reduction zone seasons (after firearms season has started in zones where local ordinances allow the use of a firearm).
Some cartridges legal for deer hunting on public land include the .350 Legend, .357 Magnum, .360 Buckhammer (360 BHMR), .38-.40 Winchester, .41 Magnum, .41 Special, .44 Magnum, .44 Special, .44-.40 Winchester, .45 Colt, .454 Casull, .458 SOCOM, .475 Linebaugh, .480 Ruger, .50 Action Express, .500 S&W, .460 Smith & Wesson, .450 Bushmaster, and .50 Beowulf. Full metal jacketed bullets are illegal.Equipment on Private Lands
State law (Indiana Code 14-22-2-8) allows some additional rifle cartridges to be used on private land during the deer firearms season.
A summary of the rifle requirements for deer hunting on private land are as follows:- The rifle cartridges must have a cartridge case length of at least 1.16 inches and a maximum case length of 3 inches.
- The cartridge must fire a bullet with a diameter that is .243 inches (same as 6mm) or larger.
- A hunter may not possess more than 10 such cartridges for each of these rifles while hunting deer.
- These new rifle cartridges may only be used on private land.
- Full metal jacketed bullets are illegal.
- These new rifle cartridges may be used during youth deer season, deer firearms season, and deer reduction season (after firearms season has started in deer reduction zones where local ordinances allow the use of a firearm).
Rifle cartridges that are legal under this law for private land include, but are not limited to, the following:
- 6mm-06
- 6mm BR Remington
- 6mm PPC
- 6mm Remington
- 6.5 Remington Mag
- 7mm Remington Mag
- .240 Weatherby
- .243 Winchester
- .243 Winchester Super Short Magnum
- .25 Remington
- .25-06 Remington
- .260 Remington
- .270 Winchester
- .30 Carbine
- .30 Herrett
- .30 Remington AR
- .30-06 Springfield
- .30-30 Winchester
- .30-40 Krag
- .300 AAC Blackout (.300 Whisper)
- .300 H &H Magnum
- .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum
- .300 Savage
- .300 Weatherby Magnum
- .300 Winchester Magnum
- .300 Winchester Short Magnum
- .300 Remington Ultra Magnum
- .303 British
- .307 Winchester
- .308 Marlin
- .308 Winchester
- .32 Winchester SL
- .35 Remington
- .350 Legend
- .360 Buckhammer (360 BHMR)
- .375 Winchester
- .38-55 Winchester
- .444 Marlin
- .45-70 Government
- 6.5 Creedmoor
- 6.8 SPC
- 7.62x39mm
- 7.62x54mmR
Air Guns for Deer Hunting
Air guns that use non-ignited compressed air or other gas charged by an external high compression power source and meet the following specifications are legal for deer hunting during the youth, firearms, and deer reduction zone seasons when firearms are allowed, during firearms season.- Air rifles .40 caliber or larger that fire a bullet with a single discharge of 400 ft. pounds of energy
- Air bows with an arrow or bolt with metal or metal-edged broadheads and metal points and a minimum speed of 300 feet per second
- Deer License Bundle
What licenses can the deer license bundle cover?
The license bundle is a bundling of three licenses (archery, firearms, muzzleloader, or the multiseason antlerless licenses) that you get to decide how to use. You can use the bundle to cover the one antlered deer you would harvest using your archery license OR your firearms license OR your muzzleloader license AND up to two antlerless deer you would harvest using your archery license OR your muzzleloader license OR your multiseason antlerless license.
In what season can I use the deer license bundle?
The deer license bundle can be used during the youth (nonresidents), archery, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons. The bundle cannot be used in a deer reduction zone to satisfy deer reduction zone bag limits.
What are the benefits of the deer license bundle for multiseason hunters?
The benefits are:
- The ability to hunt multiple seasons (except the deer reduction zone season) and harvest up to three deer (1 antlered deer and 2 antlerless deer).
- The opportunity to hunt antlered deer in the archery/, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons until you harvest an antlered deer.
- Increased cost savings the more seasons you hunt.
What are some examples of things you CAN do with the deer license bundle?
- You can hunt for your antlered deer during archery season while filling antlerless tags. If you do not have an antlered deer come by during archery season, pick up a legal firearm hunt during firearms season.
- You can have three licenses available during firearms season, and if you don't fill them, take your muzzleloader and hunt during muzzleloader season.
- You can have a license privilege that allows you to harvest 1 antlered and 2 antlerless deer during archery season. Flip back and forth using different types of legal archery equipment (long/recurve/compound/cross) during the archery season if you prefer. If you choose not to harvest all three deer with archery equipment, you can pick up a legal firearm and hunt during firearms or muzzleloader seasons until you reach your bag limit for the deer bundle. Just be sure to follow all season and county antlerless bag limits.
Can I use the license bundle as a multi-season antlerless license on DNR properties?
The bundle can be used to take antlerless deer on a DNR property using archery equipment or using a muzzleloader during muzzleloader season; however, it cannot be used to take an antlerless deer with a firearm during firearms season on select DFW-managed properties, Mississinewa Lake, Salamonie Lake, and Patoka Lake.
- View the County Antlerless Deer Bag Limit webpage for a list of properties not allowing antlerless harvest.
- See the Indiana Hunting and Trapping Guide.
- Contact the DNR property you wish to hunt for exceptions.
Can I use the license bundle in the deer reduction zone?
No, the deer license bundle cannot be used in the deer reduction zone to satisfy deer reduction zone bag limits. It can be used in deer reduction zones when fulfilling regular season bag limits.
- Other
Now that I've harvested a deer, how do I clean it?
Links to deer processing videos:
Deer skinning
Deer Quartering
Deer Loins and Foreleg
Deer Hind QuarterHow do I cook venison to make it taste good?
Links to deer recipe videos:
Sesame Venison Kabobs (Grilled)
How to cook Venison Parmesan
Venison Steaks with Bleu Cheese Sauce
Venison Pumpkin ChiliWhat good manners should I follow when I am hunting?
Review them on the hunting etiquette page.
What are the legal firearms for Firearms Season?
The legal firearms for the Firearms Season are shotguns, handguns, center-fire rifles of specific cartridge dimensions, muzzleloading handguns, and muzzleloading long guns.
What are the legal firearms for Muzzleloader Season?
The legal firearms for the Muzzleloader Season are muzzleloading handguns and muzzleloading long guns only.
What is the minimum acreage to be considered a landowner?
There is no minimum acreage. The only requirement is that the land has to be used for some type of agricultural production (i.e. growing corn, soybeans, wheat, Christmas trees, timber that is harvested, raising cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, etc.) or is assessed as agricultural land for property tax purposes.
If I shoot a deer and it goes on a neighboring property, can I legally retrieve the deer?
Unless you have permission from the landowner, preferably written, you may not go onto his/her property to retrieve/track the deer. Contact your local Conservation Officer for assistance (Central Dispatch, 812-837-9536).
What do I do if a landowner does not give me permission to retrieve the deer I shot?
Contact your local Conservation Officer for assistance in retrieving the deer. He/she can be contacted via the Sheriff's office or the DNR Law Enforcement District for your county. The landowner can still legally refuse to give up the deer.
When must a deer hunter wear orange?
Hunter orange is required for all deer hunters during Youth, Firearm or Muzzleloader season. Hunter orange must be worn at all times during the hunt, including walking to and from the hunting location. A good rule of thumb is: if it's any kind of firearms season, and you have your hunting weapon with you, you need to be wearing hunter orange.
How much hunter orange is required on a ground blind?
A ground blind must have at least 144 square inches of hunter orange material that is visible from any direction during any season in which a hunter is already required to wear hunter orange.
What is "baiting"?
Baiting includes any of the following: 1) a solid or liquid that is transported and intended for consumption, 2) salt, 3) mineral blocks, and 4) food that is transported and placed for consumption, including, but not limited to, piles of apples and corn placed in the field. An area is considered baited for 10 days after the removal of the bait and the baited soil. Hunting an orchard, or another area that may be attractive to deer as a result of normal agricultural activity is not prohibited.
If baiting is illegal, why do stores sell products such as Stump Likker?
Stump Likker and other similar products are not illegal to sell or illegal to use as a supplement to wildlife. However, it is illegal to hunt over these products.
Which counties qualify for the Deer Reduction Zone season?
Please see the Deer Reduction Zone Interactive map for details.
Can I harvest a buck in a Deer Reduction Zone?
Individuals hunting in a designated deer reduction zone and attempting to satisfy the deer reduction zone bag limit must harvest an antlerless deer within the deer reduction zone first before taking a buck. Individuals hunting in an area within a Deer Reduction Zone may take a buck if hunting under a regular deer hunting season license and are not required to take a doe first.
Can I use a crossbow with the deer bundle?
Yes, any legal equipment can be used for the seasons that the bundle can be used
How should I dispose of the carcass and unwanted animal waste?
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. 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.