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Indiana Hunting Laws

Indiana rewrote its deer rifle law in 2025 (Senate Enrolled Act 280): the old straight-wall and case-length limits are gone. Any centerfire cartridge with a bullet diameter of .219" or larger is now legal on both public and private land, with a 10-cartridge possession cap.

Rules checked against Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife regulations, August 30, 2026.

At a Glance

Wildlife Agency
Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife
Regulations Year
2026
Coverage
Verified against primary sources
Verified Rules on File
8
Rules Pending Review
0
Zones With Special Rules
0
Official regulations → Verify with Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife →

Check a Cartridge in Indiana

Results update as you choose.

Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.

Sourced Rules

Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it.

Rifle

3 rules
White-tailed / Mule Deer

Deer rifles must fire a centerfire cartridge.

"The rifle must fire a centerfire cartridge with a bullet diameter of .219 of an inch (5.56 mm) or larger."

Equipment — legal rifles (IC 14-22-2-8, as amended by SEA 280, 2025) · verified Aug 2026

White-tailed / Mule Deer

Since July 1, 2025, any centerfire cartridge with a bullet diameter of .219" (5.56mm) or larger is legal for deer — on public and private land alike. The old straight-wall and case-length limits no longer apply.

"there is no longer a difference to the type of firearm that can be used on public vs. private land. Senate Enrolled Act 280 (2025) changed IC 14-22-2-8."

Equipment — legal rifles (IC 14-22-2-8, as amended by SEA 280, 2025) · verified Aug 2026

White-tailed / Mule Deer

A hunter may not possess more than 10 rifle cartridges per rifle while deer hunting.

"A hunter may not possess more than 10 such cartridges for each of these rifles while hunting deer."

Equipment — legal rifles · verified Aug 2026

Muzzleloader

1 rule
White-tailed / Mule Deer

During the muzzleloader season, only muzzleloading handguns and long guns may be used.

Equipment — muzzleloader season · verified Aug 2026

Air Gun

2 rules
White-tailed / Mule Deer

Air guns for deer must be at least .40 caliber, firing a bullet with at least 400 ft-lb per discharge; legal in youth, firearms, and deer-reduction-zone seasons.

Air Guns for Deer Hunting · verified Aug 2026

White-tailed / Mule Deer

Air gun projectiles must deliver at least 400 ft-lb in a single discharge.

Air Guns for Deer Hunting · verified Aug 2026

All Weapons

2 rules
White-tailed / Mule Deer

Hunter orange is required for all deer hunters during youth, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons.

Hunter orange requirements · verified Aug 2026

All species

Indiana repealed its ban on hunting with a silencer in 2013, and suppressors are legal for any species with no state permit and no land-type limit. What the 2013 law added instead were two penalty enhancements: taking or possessing a deer or turkey unlawfully or by illegal methods while using or possessing a suppressor is a Class C misdemeanour on top of the underlying offence, and hunting private land without the owner's consent while using or possessing one is a Class B misdemeanour.

Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices

"SECTION 5. IC 14-22-6-11 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013]. Sec. 11. ... (b) An individual may not: (1) use or possess an apparatus designed for use with or on a firearm commonly called a silencer; or (2) use or po..."

HEA 1563 (2013) SECTION 5 (repealing IC 14-22-6-11), SECTION 17 (IC 14-22-38-4(e)) and SECTION 18 (IC 14-22-38-4.5) · verified Oct 2026

Federal Rules That Apply in Every State

These federal requirements apply in Indiana on top of state law.

Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species. 50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist. 50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge. 50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm. 50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules. 50 CFR § 32.2(k)

Sources

Indiana DNR — Deer Hunting Questions & Answers (Equipment) Indiana Department of Natural Resources · retrieved August 30, 2026
Indiana House Enrolled Act No. 1563 (2013) — repeal of IC 14-22-6-11 (silencer while hunting) and new suppressor penalty provisions Indiana General Assembly · retrieved October 11, 2026

How to Use This Page

Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it. Rules marked needs review come from summaries rather than the regulation text, and never produce a green answer in the checker. The checker's energy figures are typical factory loads, so where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, check your own load's rating. This page covers equipment only, not seasons, tags or local ordinances, and it isn't legal advice. The current Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife regulations are the final word.