Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area is 4,673 acres open to public hunting in Starke and LaPorte counties, 3 miles from North Judson, managed by the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife. Hunters took 2,013 deer in Starke 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 landKankakee Fish and Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,673 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Starke County and LaPorte County |
| Deer harvest unit | Starke County, LaPorte County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Squirrel, Deer, Turkey, Woodcock, Dove, Waterfowl, Duck, Goose, Raccoon and Fox |
| Managed by | the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife |
| DNR contact | Kankakee FWA 574-896-3522 |
| Hunter check-in (DNR) | Required |
| Nearest towns | North Judson (3 mi), La Crosse (5 mi) and Hanna (5 mi) |
What can you hunt on Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area?
In the DNR's words: Squirrel, deer, snipe, turkey, woodcock, dove, waterfowl. Duck and goose hunting from blinds (boats provided). Night hunting for hunting raccoon and fox.
What are the rules on Kankakee 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 Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area?
Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters took 2,013 deer in Starke County in 2025, against 1,812 in 2024.
| County | Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starke County | 3,282 | 2,013 | 1,812 | 1,591 |
| LaPorte County | 1,391 | 2,204 | 2,069 | 1,986 |
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 Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: North Judson (3 miles), La Crosse (5 miles), Hanna (5 miles) and San Pierre (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 30 and US 421.
What other public land is near Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area?
Properties open to public hunting within 10 miles:
- Sprig Slough Wetland Conservation Area: 109 acres, next to it
- Turkey Foot Wetland Conservation Area: 148 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Dick Blythe Wetland Conservation Area: 194 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Round Lake Wetland Conservation Area: 47 acres, 5.3 miles away
- Round Lake Wetland Nature Preserve: 138 acres, 5.6 miles away
- Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area: 7,958 acres, 7.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area
Counting Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area itself, 5,065 of the 57,926 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.7%), 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) | 4,782 |
| Other DNR land | 283 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area?
In Starke and LaPorte counties, 3 miles from North Judson.
What can you hunt on Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area?
The DNR lists: Squirrel, deer, snipe, turkey, woodcock, dove, waterfowl. Duck and goose hunting from blinds (boats provided). Night hunting for hunting raccoon and fox.
How much public land is around Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area?
5,065 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Kankakee 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 Sprig Slough Wetland Conservation Area (next to it).
Get a Indiana hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Indiana are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Kankakee 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.