Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area is 2,162 acres open to public hunting in Putnam County, next to Putnamville, managed by the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife. Hunters took 2,721 deer in Putnam County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's DNR property open to hunting data, read 2026-10. Harvest: Indiana DNR deer reports, 2021 to 2025.
Properties open to public hunting (DNR map)Other DNR landCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landDeer Creek Fish and Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,162 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Putnam County |
| Deer harvest unit | Putnam County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove, Woodcock, Waterfowl and Turkey |
| Managed by | the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife |
| DNR contact | Deer Creek FWA 765-653-0453 |
| On the property (DNR) | shooting range |
| Hunter check-in (DNR) | Required |
| Nearest towns | Putnamville (next to it), Greencastle (3 mi) and Cloverdale (4 mi) |
What can you hunt on Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area?
In the DNR's words: Deer, quail, rabbit, squirrel, dove, woodcock, trapping, waterfowl, turkey. Woodcock, squirrel, waterfowl, quail, rabbit are self-serve check-in. Deer firearms season and the first five days of spring turkey are on reserved drawing only.
What are the rules on Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area?
Antlerless deer may not be taken with a firearm during the firearms season on DNR Fish and Wildlife properties and at Mississinewa, Patoka and Salamonie lakes (DNR).
Hunters must check in at the property; the DNR's property page says how.
Indiana's statewide bag limit is 1 antlered and 6 antlerless deer, within each county's antlerless limit (DNR).
How many deer are taken around Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area?
Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area lies in Putnam County. Hunters took 2,721 deer in Putnam County in 2025, against 2,368 in 2024.
| County | Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam County | 2,162 | 2,721 | 2,368 | 2,203 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the property alone: Indiana DNR White-tailed Deer Reports (2021 to 2025 seasons, Table 3-4).
How do you get to Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Putnamville (next to it), Greencastle (3 miles), Cloverdale (4 miles) and Poland (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 40, I-70 and US 231.
What other public land is near Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area?
Properties open to public hunting within 10 miles:
- Owen-Putnam State Forest: 6,710 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Cagles Mill Lake: 6,401 acres, 2.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area
Counting Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area itself, 2,274 of the 40,403 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting property boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Properties open to public hunting (DNR map) | 2,271 |
| Other DNR land | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area?
In Putnam County, next to Putnamville.
What can you hunt on Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area?
The DNR lists: Deer, quail, rabbit, squirrel, dove, woodcock, trapping, waterfowl, turkey. Woodcock, squirrel, waterfowl, quail, rabbit are self-serve check-in. Deer firearms season and the first five days of spring turkey are on reserved drawing only.
How much public land is around Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area?
2,274 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting property boundaries. The closest other public hunting property is Owen-Putnam State Forest (2.8 miles).
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Indiana included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area; Indiana DNR properties with public hunting (managed lands layer).
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's public hunting property boundaries.
- Deer harvest: Indiana DNR White-tailed Deer Reports (2021 to 2025 seasons, Table 3-4).
FilledTag is not part of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.