INDIANA — With the 2026 youth turkey season just around the corner, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding parents and guardians to ensure their digital accounts are ready for opening day.
The youth turkey season is scheduled for April 18–19, 2026. To streamline the license purchasing process, the DNR’s online licensing system now allows parents to “link” their children’s accounts to their own, centralizing all family hunting and fishing documents in one place.
Linking accounts allows a primary user to manage profiles and purchase licenses for multiple family members without having to log in and out of different accounts. This is particularly helpful for families with multiple young hunters preparing for the spring season.
The system currently supports three linking options:
- Youth under 13 with an existing account: Connect an established profile to your primary dashboard.
- Youth under 13 without an account: Create a brand-new profile for a first-time hunter and link it immediately.
- Individuals 13 and older: Link accounts for teenagers or other adults to purchase licenses on their behalf.
The DNR has provided a comprehensive Help Section within the license portal to guide users through the process. Residents can find:
- Step-by-Step Guides: Detailed text instructions for each linking scenario.
- Video Tutorials: A visual walk-through showing exactly where to click.
Officials recommend completing these updates well before the April 18 kickoff to avoid any last-minute technical delays.
Youth Season Reminders
The youth wild turkey season is open to hunters who are age 17 or younger on the date of the hunt. Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years of age. While the adult does not need a turkey hunting license (unless they are also hunting during the regular season), they must possess a valid hunting license unless exempt.
To link your accounts or view the instructional videos, visit the Indiana DNR License System and click on the “Help” tab.
