Conservation officers in southwestern Indiana conducted a several-year investigation into an Indiana resident linked to multiple individuals from Tennessee who were found to be engaging in hunting violations across several states, including Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The investigation revealed that the Indiana resident was not only assisting but also significantly contributing to the Tennessee individuals' illegal activities in Indiana, specifically in violating game laws. Among the multitude of illegally harvested animals uncovered during the investigation was a velvet-antlered white-tailed buck that had been shot at night with the assistance of a motor vehicle. This deer was killed prior to Indiana deer season opening, transported to Kentucky, and registered as a deer harvested there.

Conservation officers in western Indiana, during their follow-up on a deer investigation, visited a local taxidermist to examine taxidermy records. Upon arrival, the officers observed multiple violations, including discrepancies in the logbooks and untagged animal parts. Among the items confiscated during the investigation was a turkey fan and foot mounted on a wooden board, which the taxidermist was unable to identify in terms of its origin or the individual from whom it was obtained.

Conservation officers in southeastern Indiana were informed that a law enforcement officer from a nearby state had unlawfully harvested a second buck during Indiana deer firearms season. The local conservation officer was already aware that the individual had taken a buck during early archery season as they had posted a photo of it at a local hunting store. As rumors circulated within the community regarding the second buck, the conservation officer initiated an investigation. During the initial conversation with the suspect, he denied any wrongdoing; however, after further evidence collection and additional interviews, he ultimately confessed to having killed the significantly larger second buck.

During the execution of a search warrant at a retail establishment, conservation officers uncovered animal remains associated with an alligator snapping turtle. The individual in question was unable to present any documentation or proof that the animal was acquired legally.

Historical records show that alligator snapping turtles have been found in extreme southwest Indiana since the 1800s; however, sightings have become exceedingly rare in recent decades. The alligator snapping turtle is protected as an endangered species in Indiana and may be locally extinct within the state.

A conservation officer in southwestern Indiana received a report from a fisheries biologist regarding a commercial fisherman operating in Indiana. The officer reviewed the monthly harvest reports required to be submitted by commercial fishermen and found sufficient grounds to conduct an interview. During the interview, it was revealed that the fisherman had been using a hoop net in the Patoka River approximately six weeks prior to applying for his commercial fishing license. The fisherman acknowledged that the net had not been properly tagged during that period due to concerns that it might be confiscated if discovered. He also admitted to having caught and kept over 17 fish during that time. He had also failed to accurately or promptly maintain his monthly logs, which also represented multiple violations.

Commercial fishing in Indiana is limited to a few waterways and requires both a special license and the submission of monthly reports to track harvest. These reports and regulations are help prevent commercial fishing from negatively impacting sport fishing opportunities.

Indiana Conservation Officer detectives were approached by officers from the Idaho Department of Fish & Game who had video evidence of an individual, later identified as being from Indiana, who had unlawfully harvested a bull elk and a doe white-tailed deer using prohibited equipment. Analysis of the footage, which the individual had uploaded to YouTube, revealed that an elk had been illegally taken with the aid of an electronic scope, which is illegal in Idaho. Indiana conservation officers interviewed the individual, who admitted to using illegal equipment to harvest the elk and deer.

A resident of southern Indiana informed the DNR Division of Law Enforcement that he had inherited a mounted owl. Unfamiliar with the regulations regarding mounted birds of prey and the history of the specimen, the individual expressed a desire to relinquish it to the proper authorities.

It is illegal to capture or kill a raptor (bird of prey). It is also illegal to possess a raptor (living or dead), or any pieces or parts of raptors, including feathers, without proper permits from state and federal government agencies.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was one of the earliest laws passed to protect wildlife in the United States. This law was initially an international treaty between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and has now been amended to include Great Britain and Japan. The Act prohibits anyone from taking, killing, or keeping any native bird, its parts, or its nest, without a permit or license. It is generally credited with saving a variety of species that were headed toward extinction at the turn of the 20^th Century. All raptors native to the U.S. are covered by this law.

A conservation officer in central Indiana received information that a deer may have been harvested illegally, and there were inconsistencies between the time and location of the license purchase and the time and location of the harvest. During an interview, the individual confessed to using a .22 magnum (illegal for deer hunting in Indiana) to kill the deer and had not obtained a license before the hunt, instead having his spouse acquire one on his behalf after the harvest.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) received information about an individual in Indiana who was illegally transporting wildlife from Chicago to Canada. After being caught and warned to stop, the individual repackaged an illegal item and made another attempt to ship it. As a result, Indiana Conservation Officers (ICOs) and USFWS agents executed a search warrant at the suspect's Indiana residence. The investigation revealed that the individual was earning significant income by selling animal parts through an online store. These sales extended beyond the United States to international customers. ICO detectives established that the individual had either previously possessed or was currently in possession of animal parts from protected species. The investigation also revealed that the individual was aware of the illegal nature of her activities. Hundreds of illegal animal parts were confiscated, including this kingsnake skeleton.

Conservation officers in southern Indiana, during an extensive undercover investigation into commercial fishing activities on the Ohio River, uncovered numerous violations concerning the unlawful acquisition and sale of paddlefish roe (eggs). One illegal act involved the snagging of paddlefish using this oversized fishing tackle. Although the use of a fishing rod and reel to catch paddlefish from the Ohio River was legal at the time of the seizure, the fish were eventually sold in the commercial market, with their roe and flesh being marketed for human consumption. The sale of fish caught for sport is strictly prohibited in Indiana—only fish captured through recognized commercial methods, such as gill nets and hoop nets, can be sold. This rod and reel were specifically intended for snagging paddlefish and facilitating their sale to commercial fishermen for profit. Catching paddlefish for sport has since been made illegal in Indiana.