Upcoming Events At Kingsbury

• Description

  This property is a stop on the

  

  Learn more at www.indianabirdingtrail.com.

  Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area is dedicated to providing quality hunting and fishing opportunities while maintaining 7,280 acres of grasslands, crop fields, thick brush, marsh areas and a 30-acre lake. The Kankakee River forms the south boundary. Kingsbury is located four miles east of U.S. 35 on Hupp Road east of the Kingsbury industrial park. It is 5.5 miles south of LaPorte.

  Kingsbury is a remnant of the old Kingsbury Ordnance Plant which produced shells, cartridges and mortar rounds for World War II and the Korean conflict. The land was deeded to the state of Indiana in 1965 by the federal government, and wildlife management began at that time.

• Activities

  Fishing

  • Public fishing areas are found along the Kankakee River, drainage ditches and the 30-acre Tamarack Lake. The lake is stocked with channel catfish.
  • All size and bag limits apply. View the current fishing regulations for details.
  • Primary species include channel catfish, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike and rough fish.
  • Boat ramps are located at parking area 5G for the Kankakee River and 5A for Tamarack Lake. A maximum 12-volt electric motor is allowed for lakes. Gas motors are allowed on the river.
  • Shoreline fishing is located along the drainage ditches and Kankakee River.
  • Kingsbury has a 30-acre lake that is stocked every other year with channel catfish.
  • You do not need to check in to fish.
  • Resident and non-resident licenses and stamps are sold at the headquarters.

  Hunting

  • Hunting registration is at the self-service kiosk at the check station. All hunters must register and take the appropriate hunt card. The self-service area is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The address of the check station is 5344 S. Hupp Road, LaPorte, IN 46350. There is no cost to hunt.
  • Maps are located in the self-service area and online. Kingsbury has three refuges where hunting is prohibited. These refuges are clearly marked.
  • Deer, pheasant, rabbit, squirrel, furbearers, dove, duck, goose and wild turkey are common.
  • See the Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide for seasons and bag limits.
  • Advanced registration is required for wild turkey, dove hunting and some waterfowl hunting.
  • Reserve waterfowl hunters are required to claim their spot before 4:30 a.m. local time when drawings begin. Waterfowl hunting hours end at 1 p.m. local time during the regular season. Reserve days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
  • Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area office operates a deer and turkey check station.
  • The use of hunting dogs is allowed. A dog training area is provided in area 6 (see map).
  • Only male (cock) pheasants may be taken. Put and take pheasant hunts are not offered.
  • Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area holds multiple events for new shooters and hunters throughout the year. For more information, call 219-393-3612.
  • There are a combination of blinds and stakes for waterfowl hunting. These spots are available seven days a week. Additional spots are available on Wednesdays and Sundays.
  • Kingsbury does not provide boats. The majority of hunting spots will require the use of a boat; however, there are a number of walk in spots to hunt waterfowl.
  • Registration for turkey hunting is typically in January with an online drawing. Kingsbury has 12 spots daily, and holds a no-show drawing at 4:30 a.m. local time.
  • 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).
  • Resident and non-resident licenses and stamps are sold at the headquarters.
  • Fish & Wildlife managed lands do not allow the use of bonus county permits. The same is true of Wetland Conservation Areas, Gamebird Habitat Areas, and Fish & Wildlife Areas
  • All hunting at Reynolds Creek is by pre-season draw. As wildlife populations rebound, hunting opportunities will expand. More information is below.

  Trapping

  • Trapping draw is the first Saturday in October at 10 a.m. at the property office. Kingsbury has five trapping units and the draw is for two-week periods. There is also a youth trapping unit. A valid trapping license is required for each participant.

  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

  • 7,280 acres of fallow land, crop fields, thick brush, grass lands, water ways and scattered stands of conifers and hardwoods attract hawks, owls, bald eagles, shorebirds, wading birds and a wide variety of resident and migrating songbirds.
  • Mushrooms, berries, antlers, and nuts may be gathered, however a written permit is required to remove plants, animals, rocks, and fossils.
  • Registration at the office to scout, fish, hike, berry pick, mushroom hunt and wildlife watch is not required.

  Shooting Range

  • Fees for the shooting range are $4 a day for age 18 and older, $2 a day for younger than 18 (under 18 must be accompanied by an adult), $10 a day for a family (ex: 2 adults and 2 children).
  • The shooting range is ADA compliant, safe, modern and staffed by qualified range officers.
  • The range has 37 shooting positions: 10 positions at 50 yards, five positions at 100 yards, 18 positions at 10, 15 or 25 yards, and four shotgun stations.
  • Bring your own targets and ammunition.
  • Indoor restrooms accessible to people with disabilities are available.
  • Target practice is permitted only in established ranges.
  • An archery range is available to the public on a first come, first served basis.
  • 3-D deer targets are available for rent for archery range use.
  • Shooters must obey all rules and regulations.  Use of eye and ear protection is required of all participants and observers.
  • See the Fish & Wildlife Area Shooting Ranges webpage for hours.

  Neighboring Land

  • Mixsawbah State Fish Hatchery is located on Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area.
  • Fish Lake Wetland Conservation Area is 11 miles from the headquarters.
  • Galena Wetland Conservation Area is 18 miles from the headquarters.
  • The Federally owned Great Blue Heron Rookery (adjacent to Reynolds Creek) has a parking lot available on County Road 600 East. Please obey all signs on the property.
  • Reynolds Creek Gamebird Habitat Area is 24 miles from the headquarters.
  • Place Trail Marsh Gamebird Habitat Area is 5 miles from the headquarters.

  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:

  • Permission to hunt on Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area must be obtained before entering the field. One-day hunting permit cards must be in the possession of the hunter at all times. Harvested game must be recorded on one-day permit cards. Self-service drop boxes are located throughout the property for your convenience. Contaminated areas are off limits at all times. If a wounded deer enters this area, contact property personnel.
  • Night hunting for raccoons is permitted in areas 5, 6, 7, and 8 only.
  • Dog training is available in Area 6 only. Sign up and obtain a permit at headquarters.

  Traffic

  Speed limit is 30 MPH unless otherwise posted.

• Maps
  • Property Map
• Reynolds Creek Gamebird Habitat Area

  Hunting

  • No open hunting is allowed. Hunting is by special permit only.
    • Drawings for archery deer hunts are held the last Saturday of August.
    • Turkey drawings are held the second Saturday of April.
    • Waterfowl drawings are held every Wednesday and Sunday of the waterfowl season.  
    • Dove drawings are held congruently with Kingsbury’s dove drawing Sept. 1 and 2.
    • All drawings are held at the Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area check station.

  Fishing

  • No Fishing is allowed at Reynolds Creek Gamebird Area.

  Trapping

  • Trapping opportunities are allocated by drawing on the first Saturday of October at Kingsbury FWA.

  Wildlife Watching

  • Wildlife watching is allowed from January 11 to September 30. Given the close proximity to Lake Michigan, many bird species have been documented on the property.