Indiana · License · 2026 Edition
Indiana Hunting License Cost 2026: Fees, Deer & Turkey Permits
A year costs $20 for residents and $90 for nonresidents.
Indiana's nonresident spring and adult fall turkey permits are the steepest markup in this project relative to the resident price: $175 against $32, more than 5x, while nonresident youth turkey stays at the resident $32 rate. Deer runs the more usual pattern — a nonresident archery, firearm or muzzleloader permit is $240 against $39 resident, and the bundle (two antlerless plus one antlered deer in one license) is $550 against $91. The reduced-rate second antlerless deer license ($24 resident / $39 nonresident) only unlocks after buying a first multiseason antlerless license at full price — no other deer license counts toward it. Left out of the tables below: the Deer Military/Refuge license (federal military and wildlife-refuge land only) and the Deer Reduction Zone license (reduction zones only), both property-specific rather than general-purpose, and priced the same as the equivalent regular deer license anyway.
01 — Base hunting license
| Type | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Hunting & Fishing Combination License | $32 | Apprentice version available. |
| Resident Youth Consolidated Hunt/Trap License (17 and under) | $12 | Apprentice version available. Valid for the whole license year even if the holder turns 18 during it, as long as it's bought before that birthday. |
| Resident Annual Hunting License | $20 | Apprentice version available. |
| Resident Disabled American Veterans Hunting & Fishing License | $2.75 | Does not include deer or turkey. A 10-year version costs $27.50. |
| Nonresident Annual Hunting License | $90 | Apprentice version available. |
| Nonresident Youth Annual Hunting License (17 and under) | $20 | Apprentice version available. |
| Nonresident 5-Day Hunting License | $50 | Apprentice version available. |
02 — Deer permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Deer License Bundle | $91 | One license covering two antlerless deer and one antlered deer, usable in the youth, archery, firearms and muzzleloader seasons. Does not satisfy reduction-zone bag limits. |
| Resident Deer Archery Permit | $39 | |
| Resident Deer Firearm Permit (buck only) | $39 | |
| Resident Deer Muzzleloader Permit | $39 | |
| Resident Deer First Multiseason Antlerless License | $39 | |
| Resident Deer Second & Additional Multiseason Antlerless License | $24 | Only after buying a first multiseason antlerless license at full price — no other deer license counts toward this rate. |
| Nonresident Deer License Bundle | $550 | |
| Nonresident Deer Archery Permit | $240 | |
| Nonresident Deer Firearm Permit (buck only) | $240 | |
| Nonresident Deer Muzzleloader Permit | $240 | |
| Nonresident Deer First Multiseason Antlerless License | $240 | |
| Nonresident Deer Second & Additional Multiseason Antlerless License | $39 | Only after buying a first multiseason antlerless license at full price. |
03 — Turkey permits
| Permit | Total |
|---|---|
| Resident Spring Turkey Permit | $32 |
| Resident Fall Turkey Permit | $32 |
| Nonresident Spring Turkey Permit (18 and up) | $175 |
| Nonresident Fall Turkey Permit (18 and up) | $175 |
| Nonresident Youth Spring Turkey Permit | $32 |
| Nonresident Youth Fall Turkey Permit | $32 |
04 — Waterfowl & migratory bird permits
| Stamp | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfowl Stamp Privilege | $11 | Same price for nonresidents. |
| Game Bird Habitat Stamp Privilege | $11 | Same price for nonresidents. |
Waterfowl hunters 16 and older also need HIP registration and a Federal Duck Stamp. Indiana duck season dates →
05 — Other permits
| Permit | Total |
|---|---|
| Resident Annual Trapping License | $20 |
| Resident Bobcat Permit | $15 |
| Nonresident Annual Trapping License | $140 |
| Nonresident Bobcat Permit | $120 |
06 — Hunter education
Indiana requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Required of anyone born after Dec. 31, 1986 (IC 14-22-11-5) — a Hunter Education Number has to be on file to buy any hunting license that isn't an apprentice license. Apprentice hunting licenses skip the requirement entirely, for residents and nonresidents, any age, up to three in a lifetime, as long as an accompanying licensed adult of 18 or older stays close enough to communicate at all times and isn't already minding a second apprentice.
Indiana hunter safety course — options, costs and where to register →
07 — Where to buy
Licenses and permits are sold through GoOutdoorsIN, the state's official portal.
Where to hunt public land in Indiana — WMAs by county & access rules →
Indiana's annual licenses and stamp privileges run April 1 through March 31 the following year, not the calendar year — a license bought in early 2026 actually belongs to the 2025 license year and expires that March 31. Season-specific licenses (archery, firearms, muzzleloader) are valid only for their own season under 312 IAC 9. On top of every price below, add a tech fee: $1 at a retailer, DNR property or by mail, or $3 per license bought online or through the GoOutdoorsIN app, plus a non-refundable card-processing fee online.
FAQ
Can I hunt on my own land in Indiana without a license?
Indiana farmland owners (resident or nonresident) and the spouse/children living with them may hunt, fish, and trap without a license on land they own; a resident lessee who actually farms it gets the same right. This applies to farmland only — non-farm acreage doesn't qualify — and a nonresident owner needs to be from a state that grants Indiana landowners the same right, plus carry proof of ownership.
How much is a hunting license in Indiana?
A resident annual Indiana hunting license costs $20, and the nonresident annual license costs $90. Species permits for deer, turkey and waterfowl are charged on top — see the tables above. Prices are set by Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife and were read from their own license document on Aug 7, 2026.
How much is a nonresident hunting license in Indiana?
$90 for the annual nonresident license. Species permits come on top of the base license.
How much is a deer permit in Indiana?
Resident Deer License Bundle — $91. Resident Deer Archery Permit — $39. Resident Deer Firearm Permit (buck only) — $39. Resident Deer Muzzleloader Permit — $39. Resident Deer First Multiseason Antlerless License — $39. Resident Deer Second & Additional Multiseason Antlerless License — $24. Nonresident Deer License Bundle — $550. Nonresident Deer Archery Permit — $240. Nonresident Deer Firearm Permit (buck only) — $240. Nonresident Deer Muzzleloader Permit — $240. Nonresident Deer First Multiseason Antlerless License — $240. Nonresident Deer Second & Additional Multiseason Antlerless License — $39. A deer permit is charged on top of the base hunting license.
What do I need to get a hunting license in Indiana?
Indiana requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Licenses are sold through GoOutdoorsIN, the state's official portal. Indiana's annual licenses and stamp privileges run April 1 through March 31 the following year, not the calendar year — a license bought in early 2026 actually belongs to the 2025 license year and expires that March 31. Season-specific licenses (archery, firearms, muzzleloader) are valid only for their own season under 312 IAC 9. On top of every price below, add a tech fee: $1 at a retailer, DNR property or by mail, or $3 per license bought online or through the GoOutdoorsIN app, plus a non-refundable card-processing fee online.
Do I need a hunter safety course to buy an Indiana hunting license?
Yes, for most first-time buyers. Required of anyone born after Dec. 31, 1986 (IC 14-22-11-5) — a Hunter Education Number has to be on file to buy any hunting license that isn't an apprentice license. Apprentice hunting licenses skip the requirement entirely, for residents and nonresidents, any age, up to three in a lifetime, as long as an accompanying licensed adult of 18 or older stays close enough to communicate at all times and isn't already minding a second apprentice.
Verified · Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-07
Publisher's note. Prices read from the IN DNR license offerings document, retrieved 2026-08-07. Review due 2027-08-01. Fees are set by the state and change without notice — confirm current prices before purchase.