Indiana’s first hunting permit was sold over a century ago in 1901 for $1.
The Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) sold that first license, and is also responsible for the conservation of the local environment and wildlife. Today the IDNR provides hunters with 380 public access sites, 670,000 acres of land for wildlife management, and over 100 fish and wildlife and associated satellite properties.
This gives hunters ample opportunity to catch a wealth of animals over a large expanse of public land. One of the biggest and most popular hunting sites is the Hoosier National Forest.
Deciding where to hunt can by difficult, though in the summer it’s a little easier since it’s the time of year with the fewest open seasons. However, here are five animals to hunt in the summer in Indiana:
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1. Crow
Indiana offers winter and a summer crow-hunting seasons, with the summer option starting in July and going to the middle of August. There is no daily bag limit or possession limit for crows. Also crows can be taken out of season if observed damaging property, flora, or livestock. There are no restrictions for crows for calls, decoys, or firearms.
2. Green Frog and Bullfrog
Frog season runs almost year-round but starts in the middle of June and ends in the following April. The daily bag limit for all frogs is 25 per day per hunter per species. Licenses are required for all frog catchers above the age of 18. Frogs also can be taken with a gig or a spear with a head that’s no longer than three inches. Most firearms are not allowed for frog hunting, unless they are a .22 caliber and are loaded only with birdshot.
3. Squirrel
The most popular squirrel to hunt in Indiana is the fox squirrel, since it’s bigger and more colorful than its relative the gray squirrel. Squirrel season begins in August and continues through the end of January. The daily limit for each squirrel species is five, with a possession limit of 10.
4. Wild Hog
Wild hogs can be hunted year-round because they’re an invasive species. This means that they pose a threat to the local environment and need to be kept under close guard. If a wild hog is found on a landowner’s property, no license or permission is required to hunt it. Also, if a hog is trapped it must be killed only at the trap site and not moved to another location. This helps prevent the accidental spread of the species.
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5. Mute Swan
Mute swans are another invasive species that can be hunted in the summer and all throughout the year. However, a special permit is required for them, though the IDNR will grant these for free. Private landowners also need a permit when hunting the mute swan.
This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.
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