Indiana deer muzzleloader, late archery seasons begins Dec. 4

Both muzzleloader and late archery seasons start Dec. 4. Muzzleloader season runs through Dec. 19 and late archery season ends Jan. 2.

“These seasons are a great way to extend your deer hunting season and are crucial in managing the state’s deer population,” said Chad Stewart, deer management biologist.

In 2009, muzzleloader hunters took 18,553 deer, 80 percent of which were antlerless deer. This accounted for 14 percent of the total deer harvest.

Last year, late archery season accounted for 1,598 deer, 1 percent of the total harvest. Eighty-one percent of the late archery season harvest was antlerless deer. Crossbows are legal during late archery season without the use of a disabled permit. Crossbow hunters took 182 deer statewide during last year’s late archery season.

A muzzleloader and late archery license allows you to harvest one deer of either sex. If you have already taken an antlered deer, you can only take an antlerless deer.

If you purchased a bonus antlerless license during firearms or early archery season and didn’t use it, then you are able to use that license during muzzleloader and late archery season.

Find out more information at hunting.IN.gov.