J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife Area: hunting and access
J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife Area is 8,335 acres open to public hunting in Huntington and Wells counties, next to Markle, managed by the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife. Hunters took 1,272 deer in Huntington 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)Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesOther DNR landCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landJ. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 8,335 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Huntington County and Wells County |
| Deer harvest unit | Huntington County, Wells County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer, Woodcock, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Raccoon, Fox, Turkey and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife |
| DNR contact | J.E. Roush FWA 260-468-2165 |
| On the property (DNR) | shooting range, archery range and camping |
| Hunter check-in (DNR) | Required |
| Nearest towns | Markle (next to it), Huntington (2 mi) and Uniondale (3 mi) |
What can you hunt on J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife Area?
In the DNR's words: Rabbit, squirrel, deer, snipe, woodcock. Put-and-take pheasant hunting (fee is charged). Waterfowl hunting on ponds, marshes and lake. Night hunting for raccoon and fox. Turkey hunting by drawing. Dove hunting during first two days of season by drawing.
What are the rules on J. Edward Roush 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 J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife Area?
J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters took 1,272 deer in Huntington County in 2025, against 1,120 in 2024.
| County | J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington County | 7,033 | 1,272 | 1,120 | 1,188 |
| Wells County | 1,302 | 916 | 814 | 836 |
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 J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Markle (next to it), Huntington (2 miles), Uniondale (3 miles) and Andrews (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-69, US 224 and US 24.
What other public land is near J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife Area?
Properties open to public hunting within 10 miles:
- Salamonie Lake: 704 acres, 6.9 miles away
- Salamonie River State Forest: 951 acres, 9.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife Area
Counting J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife Area itself, 9,220 of the 74,678 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.3%), 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) | 8,335 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 376 |
| County, city and regional land | 277 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 194 |
| Other DNR land | 38 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife Area?
In Huntington and Wells counties, next to Markle.
What can you hunt on J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife Area?
The DNR lists: Rabbit, squirrel, deer, snipe, woodcock. Put-and-take pheasant hunting (fee is charged). Waterfowl hunting on ponds, marshes and lake. Night hunting for raccoon and fox. Turkey hunting by drawing. Dove hunting during first two days of season by drawing.
How much public land is around J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife Area?
9,220 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, J. Edward Roush 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 Salamonie Lake (6.9 miles).
Get a Indiana hunt plan when they open
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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: 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.