Winamac FWA advisories
- The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has adjusted services, events and operations to protect Hoosiers and prevent further spread of COVID-19. Please visit on.IN.gov/dnrcovid19 for a listing of what is open, closed, restricted and canceled.
- Properties are operating hunt and trap draws differently in this year due to COVID-19. View the property procedures.
- All visitors must obtain a one-day access permit before entering the field, regardless of their activity. Visitors must keep their one-day access permit on them while visiting and must complete and return their permit to a self-service booth, drop-box, or the office before leaving.
- Description
Please call ahead before visiting the office.
Winamac Fish & Wildlife Area is located in Pulaski County, Indiana, five miles north of the town of Winamac. This area totals 4,850 acres and comprises a wide variety of wildlife habitat types including second growth oak forests, crop and fallow fields, small pine plantations, brushy edges, and small shallow wetlands.
In the 1930s, the U.S. Department of the Interior purchased 6,454 acres of marginal farm ground bordering the Tippecanoe River and Hwy. U.S. 35 to provide jobs for the residents in the community. The land was developed as a recreational demonstration area, with picnic shelters, cabins, and campgrounds constructed mostly along the river. In 1943, the property was transferred to the State of Indiana to be operated as Tippecanoe River State Park. In 1959, 3,710 acres of land west of Hwy U.S. 35 were transferred to the Division of Fish & Game (now Division of Fish & Wildlife). Additional land acquisition has increased Winamac FWA to its present acreage.
Most of the funds used in land acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of this property are derived from the sale of Indiana hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses. Revenue is also received from the federal Pittman-Robertson program for aid to wildlife restoration. These funds are derived from taxes levied on sport hunting, shooting, and fishing equipment. Indiana hunters, fishermen, and trappers are proud to provide this property for wildlife conservation and the benefit of all people. - Activities
Fishing
- There are two 2-acre ponds for fishing on Winamac FWA located 1/4 mile south of the check station building.
- Check-in is not required for fishing.
- Bluegill, channel catfish, and largemouth bass (14 inch size limit) are the major species present.
- Access by walk-in only.
Hunting
- Sportsmen expend nearly 8,000 efforts per year hunting for deer, wild turkey, rabbit, quail, squirrel, woodcock, dove, and furbearers at Winamac.
- Deer hunting is open for self-service registration. A maximum of 160 deer hunters are allowed on the property per day. The only day the property typically meets the 160 hunter quota is on the opening day of deer firearm season.
- On opening day, the office opens at 5 a.m. to register deer hunters. The self-service area is open for deer hunting registration 24 hours a day for all other deer hunting season days.
- Deer tree stands and ground blinds may be used and left unattended from noon, Sept. 15 through Jan. 10. Tree stands and ground blinds must be legibly marked in English with either the owner's DNR customer identification number or the owner’s name, address and telephone number. A fastener used in conjunction with a tree stand and a tree or pole climber that penetrates a tree more than ½ inch is prohibited (anything that penetrates a tree more than a ½ inch is prohibited, i.e. screw-in steps and screw-in bow and gun hangers).
- Bonus antlerless permits are not allowed to be used on the property.
- Waterfowl hunting is offered but is limited due to the small amount of wetlands.
- A self-service check-in is required for deer, small game, waterfowl and night hunting.
- A pre-season drawing is held to allocate turkey hunt periods. Applications are accepted online from Jan. 31 to March 24. A maximum of 16 hunters are allowed per day on the property. Successfully drawn applicants must register at the property office between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. each day of their hunt period to claim their reservation. On days when the hunter quota of 16 is not met, a stand-by drawing will be held at 5:30 a.m. Hunters that would like to enter the daily stand-by drawing must register daily between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.
- Sunflowers are planted to provide dove hunting opportunities. A pre-season drawing is conducted to allocate dove hunting opportunities on Sept. 1 and 2. Applications are accepted online from July 1 to July 28. Successfully drawn applicants can bring a partner. A stand-by drawing will be conducted to fill remaining unclaimed hunting opportunities. Successfully drawn hunters and stand-by hunters must be present and registered by 11 a.m. The stand-by drawing will take place immediately following the registration of pre-drawn hunters. Hunting hours on Sept. 1 and 2 will be noon to 6 p.m. Drawing needs and hunting hours for days after Sept. 2 will be determined based on dove numbers and hunter demands. Dove hunters are restricted to 50 shells per day. Shells must be non-toxic. Lead shells are not permitted for dove hunting.
- Put-and-take pheasant hunts are offered beginning the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving through the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Registration for the hunts is online beginning at midnight on Sept. 1. Registered hunters can claim their reservation by signing in at the office from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. during the day of their hunt. Pheasant hunters cannot begin hunting until 9 a.m.
- Quail hunting is open on the property on the opening day of the season and every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday through the Sunday after Thanksgiving. A drawing at the check station will be conducted each hunt day at 8:30 a.m., and all individuals or parties must be registered before then. A maximum of three parties consisting of no more than three hunters per party will be allowed to hunt each day. Hunting hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The bag limit for quail is two per day per hunter.
- The property offers special youth hunting/shooting events. Call the office for details.
Trapping
- The trapping draw is on the first Saturday in October at 10 a.m. at the property office. All trapping is wetland trapping only with the exception of dog proof traps with pull-type triggers. Special restrictions apply.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Need a reason to get outside and move? You can volunteer alone or in small groups at this property. Some activities include trash pick-up, basic gardening, painting, and more. Call the property office for details.
Wildlife Watching
- The oak forests, crop and fallow fields, small pine plantations, brushy edges, and small shallow wetlands of Winamac Fish & Wildlife Area provide excellent opportunities for hiking, site seeing and bird watching.
- Mushrooms, berries, and nuts may be gathered, however a written permit is required to remove plants, animals, rocks and fossils.
Shooting Ranges
- There are three public shooting ranges. Daily self-service check-in is required at each range. Shooting benches are provided. They are under a cover. Bring your own paper or cardboard targets and a method to affix the target to a plywood backstop.
- The archery range provides shooting stations at 10, 20, 30, and 40 yards.
- The shotgun range is for clay targets only. Users must provide clay targets and throwers.
- The shooting range provides covered shooting stations at 25, 50, 100, and 200 yards. Paper targets only, properly posted on provided target bases. Users must provide paper targets and fasteners.
- Find range hours and closures on Fish & Wildlife Shooting Range webpage.
No camping and No swimming allowed.
Please read and obey all signs.
- Rules
A record of Fish & Wildlife Area property rules can be found on the Indiana Fish & Wildlife Area Rules webpage. Property specific rules can be found below, if applicable. Contact the property directly for specific questions.
Permits
In addition to a hunting and/or fishing license, the following permits are required:
- A self-service check-in is required for deer, small game, waterfowl and night hunting.
- Preseason reservation drawings are held for wild turkey hunting (entire season—daily no-show drawings), and dove hunting (first two days—then daily drawings).
- The put-take pheasant hunt begins the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Put-take pheasant hunters must register in advance online.
- Daily self-service check-in is required at each shooting range.
- Check-in is not required for fishing.
- Quail hunting is allocated through a drawing conducted at the property check station.
- Maps