(INDIANA and MICHIGAN) - Firearm deer hunting season begins Saturday in both Indiana and Michigan--the first time since 2014 the opener lands on a Saturday. The season runs Nov. 15-30 for licensed hunters, with shooting restricted to designated areas such as approved state forests and parks.
Indiana has several rule changes this year. Hunters may now take up to six deer with no antlers and one antlered deer statewide. In deer reduction zones--urban areas in LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart and Kosciusko counties--the limit increases by 10 additional deer.
Firearm options have also expanded. Hunters can now use any firearm firing a bullet larger than .219 inches or 5.56 millimeters in diameter.
Across Michigan and Indiana, about 7,000 deer have been harvested so far this year, and officials expect numbers to rise sharply with the start of firearm season.
Michigan and Indiana hunters should also be aware of differing season dates for archery, muzzleloader and other hunting periods--and remember to report any harvested deer to the state. Ohio's firearm deer hunting season begins on December 1, 2025.