Indiana State Parks to open applications for deer management draw hunts next week

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Indiana State Parks will open applications on Monday for their deer management draw hunts.

Beginning just after midnight on Oct. 7, you can fill out your application.

Hunters will have until Oct. 27 to apply, either for firearm hunts or archery hunts.

"Across Indiana's public lands, we work throughout the year to assess and properly manage our wildlife populations, designed around promoting healthy ecosystems," Anthony Sipes, natural resources manager for Indiana State Parks, said in a news release. "We invite hunters to apply to help us with this vital mission at our state parks."

A random drawing will choose the hunters, and the results will be posted online.

The early hunts are Nov. 18 and Nov. 19, and the late hunts are Dec. 2 and Dec. 3. You must have a hunting license to participate.

According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, deer management draw hunts "follow science-based wildlife management to maintain healthy deer populations in the regions where the hunts are hosted."

The agency provided this list of state parks that will be participating:

Brown County
Chain O'Lakes
Charlestown
Clifty Falls (archery only)
Fort Harrison (archery only)
Harmonie
Lincoln
McCormick's Creek
O'Bannon Woods
Ouabache
Pokagon
Potato Creek
Prophetstown
Shades
Shakamak
Spring Mill
Summit Lake
Tippecanoe River (archery only)
Tyrkey Run
Versailles
Whitewater Memorial

For more information and to apply when the application period opens, click here.

Indiana has a deer population of close to 700,000. The Hoosier state's deer season started statewide with archery hunting on Oct. 1. Gun hunting starts in November.

Deer hunting seasons in Indiana for the 2024-25 year are listed below:

Reduction Zone: Sept. 15, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025 (where open)
Youth Season: Sept. 28-29, 2024
Archery: Oct. 1, 2024 - Jan. 5, 2025
Firearm: Nov. 16 - Dec. 1, 2024
Muzzleloader: Dec. 7-22, 2024

You must have a license to hunt. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources said a resident youth hunt/trap, deer hunting, or comprehensive lifetime hunting license is required to hunt for deer in the state, unless you meet one of the license exemptions.

All deer harvested in the Hoosier state have to be reported within 48 hours at an on-site check station, online, or through an Indiana Fish & Wildlife Account.

DNR officials said Indiana is the "No. 1 Big Buck State," based on Boone & Crockett Records. Officials said the state has been the top trophy white-tailed deer state per square mile since 2016, citing a large and healthy deer population and "successful population management methods."

To look at regulations for deer hunting season in Indiana, click here.

To purchase a hunting license, or learn more about them, click here.

For more information about hunting seasons and dates in Indiana, click here.

For more resources, click here.

Related Stories: