Indiana Bird Hunting

Seasons Span October 15 – January 10, 2027

State Drought Monitor – Upland hunting conditions are often highly dependent upon moisture for both habitat production and bird survival.

Official License Fees (Indiana Department of Natural Resources)

All hunters must possess a valid Indiana hunting license and applicable stamps prior to going afield. Licenses are valid for the annual license year (April 1 through March 31).

  • Resident Annual Hunting License: $20.00
  • Non-Resident Annual Hunting License: $90.00
  • Non-Resident 5-Day Hunting License: $50.00
  • Gamebird Habitat Stamp Privilege: $11.00 (Required for resident and non-resident hunters pursuing quail, pheasant, turkey, or mourning dove in addition to a valid base hunting license)
  • Resident Youth Consolidated Hunt/Trap License (Ages 17 and under): $12.00 (Covers all resident hunting, trapping, and state stamp privileges)
  • Non-Resident Youth Annual Hunting License: $20.00
  • Harvest Information Program (HIP) Registration: Free (Required for all migratory game bird hunting, including woodcock, dove, and snipe)

Season Dates, Daily Bag Limits & Possession Limits

Northern Bobwhite Quail

  • North Zone (North of Interstate 74): November 1 – December 15
    • Daily Bag Limit: 4 birds per day (2 per day on North Zone state Fish & Wildlife Areas, Mississinewa Lake, and Salamonie Lake)
    • Possession Limit: 8 birds
  • South Zone (South of Interstate 74): November 1 – January 10
    • Daily Bag Limit: 8 birds per day (4 per day on South Zone state Fish & Wildlife Areas and Patoka Lake)
    • Possession Limit: 16 birds
  • Notes: Requires a standard base hunting license plus the Indiana Gamebird Habitat Stamp.

Ring-necked Pheasant (Cock Only)

  • Statewide Season: November 1 – December 15
  • Daily Bag Limit: 2 cocks (roosters) per day
  • Possession Limit: 4 cocks
  • Put-and-Take Hunts: Managed reserve hunts take place on designated DNR Fish & Wildlife Areas (such as Atterbury, Glendale, J.E. Roush Lake, Pigeon River, Tri-County, Willow Slough, and Winamac). These hunts require an online property reservation ($30 property fee) and carry a bag limit of 2 birds of either sex (except at Pigeon River, Willow Slough, and Winamac FWAs, which are rooster only).

American Woodcock

  • Season: October 15 – November 28
  • Daily Bag Limit: 3 birds per day
  • Possession Limit: 9 birds
  • Notes: Requires a valid hunting license and free HIP registration.

Mourning Dove

  • Split Seasons:
    • First Split: September 1 – October 18
    • Second Split: November 1 – November 29
    • Third Split: December 19 – December 31
  • Daily Bag Limit: 15 birds per day (aggregate with white-winged doves)
  • Possession Limit: 45 birds
  • Notes: Requires base hunting license, Gamebird Habitat Stamp, and HIP registration.

Wilson’s Snipe

  • Season: September 1 – December 16
  • Daily Bag Limit: 8 birds per day
  • Possession Limit: 24 birds

Weather Assessment & Bird Hunting Outlook

Weather & Habitat Conditions

  • Nesting & Brood Conditions: Indiana’s core upland regions experienced typical seasonal temperatures with adequate spring rainfall. The lack of widespread late-spring flooding or severe summer weather patterns supported fair nesting success and insect production across grassland complexes.
  • Habitat Quality: Habitat quality remains closely tied to localized Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage, reclaimed surface mine lands in southern Indiana, and actively managed DNR Fish & Wildlife Areas.

Hunting Outlook

  • Quail Outlook: The South Zone (south of I-74) offers the best wild bobwhite hunting in the state, particularly across public Fish & Wildlife Areas and private lands with brushy field edges and early-successional cover.
  • Pheasant Outlook: Wild ring-neck hunting is restricted to isolated pockets of habitat in northern and west-central counties with high CRP density. Stocked put-and-take hunts on DNR properties provide dependable shooting opportunities for hunters without access to private wild-bird cover.
  • Migratory Outlook: Woodcock hunting depends heavily on cold fronts pushing flight birds through river bottomlands and moist alder/young-hardwood thickets during November. Early-season dove field management on public lands yields good opening-week success.

This summary covers the key details for the 2025-26 Indiana upland bird hunting season. Always consult the official Indiana DNR regulations for complete and current information to ensure compliance.