Follow these straightforward steps to obtain an Indiana hunting license:
- Step 1: Complete a Hunter Education Certification course
- Step 2: Select your license type and create an account if purchasing online
- Step 3: Buy your Indiana Department of Natural Resources license through an online purchase or in person through a licensed agent.
IN Hunter Education Certification
How do I get my Hunter Education Certificate (Card)
You have 3 options to complete your hunter education requirements to hunt in Indiana.
- Complete an in-person course through the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife. This class is a minimum of 10 hours of instruction & most classes offered are 1 to 3 sessions.
- An online course through the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife exclusive partner. This course will take you 3-4 hours.
- Or complete our 3-hour online-only, all-video-based Hunter Education Course (Adults 17 and older only). We are an International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) approved provider. The IHEA & TPWD Hunter Education Card you will receive after our course is valid for life and is accepted in all 50 US States and any additional territories or countries that share reciprocity with the IHEA. No in-person requirements are required for our course.
What makes our course the best?
First and foremost, we offer the best technology experience among all the courses on the market. We have students who opt to take our course even though they already hold their Hunter Education Card, as they simply love it that much.
Skip having to attend an in-person field-day course with our 3 hour interactive Hunter Safety course. We provide all the resources to get you fully certified online with our IHEA-approved course.
After completing the HunterSafetyUSA course and passing the final exam, you’ll receive your temporary Hunter Education Certificate.
We submit your course results to TPWD. They will issue and email you your permanent Hunter Education Certificate (Card) in 24 hours (this can take 3-4 days when completed outside of hunting season April-July, however, when taken during peak hunting season August-March its processed in 24 hours). This is valid for use in all 50 U.S. states (including Indiana), Mexico, Canada, and any other country or U.S. territory that has reciprocity with IHEA-USA & State Issued Hunter Education Certificates.
Select Your Indiana Hunting License
Indiana offers a variety of hunting licenses for different age groups, residency statuses, and hunting preferences, all subject to hunting regulations.
Indiana residents and non-residents age 17 or under may purchase a youth hunting license. Non-residents age 17 or under may purchase a resident youth hunting license if a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian is an Indiana resident.
Note: Indiana requires a separate trapping education course for first-time trapping participants born after Dec. 31, 1986. Trapping is capturing animals using mechanical devices (traps) set in advance and checked later.
Below is an overview of the primary license types available:
Resident Licenses
A resident is a person who has lived in Indiana for at least 60 days. All Indiana residents must have a resident hunting license.
- Annual Hunting License – Required for Indiana residents aged 18 and older to hunt small game, furbearers, and participate in trapping activities.
- Apprentice Hunting License – Allows residents to hunt under the supervision of a licensed hunter without completing a hunter education course.
- Deer License Bundle – Provides privileges to harvest one antlered and two antlerless deer during archery, firearm, and muzzleloader seasons.
- Turkey License – Separate licenses are required for the spring and fall turkey seasons.
- Trapping License – Necessary for residents who trap furbearers.
- Hunting & Trapping Combo License – Combines hunting and trapping privileges into one license.
Non-Resident Licenses
All non-residents are required to obtain a non-resident hunting license, which can be linked to an account for easy access and renewal.
- Annual Hunting License – Required for non-residents aged 18 and older to hunt small game, waterfowl, furbearers, and trapping in Indiana.
- 5-Day Hunting License – Short-term license valid for five consecutive days, suitable for non-residents on brief hunting trips.
- Deer License – Non-residents must obtain separate licenses for each deer season (archery, firearm, muzzleloader).
- Turkey License – Separate licenses are required for spring and fall turkey seasons for non-residents.
- Trapping License – Non-residents must have this license to trap furbearers in Indiana.
Youth Licenses & Requirements
- Youth Hunting License – Available to both resident and non-resident individuals under 18 years of age.
- Youth Hunt/Trap Combo License – Combines hunting and trapping privileges for youth under 18.
- Apprentice Youth License – Allows youth to hunt under supervision without completing a hunter education course.
- Hunter Education Requirement – Individuals born after December 31, 1986, must complete a hunter education course before purchasing a hunting license, unless they obtain an apprentice license.
Senior Licenses & Discounts
Indiana does not offer a specific hunting license discount for senior residents.
Lifetime Licenses
Lifetime Licenses – Indiana discontinued the sale of new lifetime licenses on July 1, 2005. However, existing lifetime licenses remain valid. These include:
- Basic Hunting – Covers annual hunting license requirements.
- Comprehensive Hunting – Includes all hunting licenses and state stamp privileges, excluding trapping and federal duck stamp.
- Comprehensive Hunting and Fishing – Combines all hunting and fishing privileges, excluding trapping and federal duck stamp.
Disability & Military Licenses
- Disabled Veteran License – Available at a reduced fee for Indiana residents with a documented service-connected disability.
- Persons with Disabilities Special Permit – Allows eligible individuals to hunt from a vehicle or use other accommodations.
- Active-Duty Military – Indiana residents on active duty outside the state are exempt from hunting license requirements while on leave. Non-resident active-duty military stationed in Indiana may purchase resident licenses.
Required Endorsements & Tags
- Deer License Bundle – Allows the harvest of one antlered and two antlerless deer during archery, firearm, and muzzleloader seasons.
- Bonus Antlerless Deer License – Required to take additional antlerless deer beyond the basic license or bundle.
- Turkey License – Separate licenses are needed for the spring and fall turkey seasons.
- Waterfowl Stamp – Required for hunting waterfowl, including ducks and geese; includes both state and federal stamps.
- Game Bird Habitat Stamp – Necessary for hunting certain upland game birds.
- HIP Registration Number – Mandatory for hunting migratory birds; an account is needed to obtain it annually at no cost.
IN Hunting licenses are good from April 1 to March 31 of the next year.
Where to buy your Indiana Hunting License
As soon as you receive your permanent Hunter Education Certificate from completing our course (you will get it via email from "TPWD Element LMS" within a few business days), you are eligible to go and buy your hunting license in whichever states you plan on legally hunting in, and the NRA provides additional resources on responsible hunting practices.
To hunt in Indiana, you can buy your license online through the INHuntFish Portal or in person through an authorized license vendor. A complete list of approved vendors is available through the Indiana DNR License Vendors Page.
Below are some suggested certified authorized in-person hunting license agents in the state of Indiana:
- Bass Pro Shops – Clarksville, IN Address: 951 E Lewis and Clark Pkwy, Clarksville, IN 47129 Phone: (812) 218-5500
- Cabela’s – Noblesville, IN Address: 13725 Cabela Pkwy, Noblesville, IN 46060 Phone: (317) 565-6400
- Walmart Supercenter – Bloomington, IN Address: 3313 W State Rd 45, Bloomington, IN 47403 Phone: (812) 337-0002
For more information, you can contact:
Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Contact Information: Phone: (317) 232-4200 Email: [email protected] Website: wildlife.in.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Texas Hunter Education Card (Certificate) be accepted in Indiana?
Yes, the permanent Texas Parks & Wildlife Hunter Education Card (Certification) is recognized by Indiana and all other states and provinces with mandatory hunter education requirements due to reciprocity agreements with the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA).
Do you have to take a hunting safety course in Indiana?
Indiana law is clear: due to state regulations, anyone born after December 31, 1986 must complete hunter education before buying a hunting license.
How much is the hunter safety course in Indiana?
$29. We accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, all major credit cards, and signature debit cards. We also offer a 100% money-back guarantee.